Sofia Fiore’s running grab enables Ridley to survive marathon with Penncrest
MEDIA – The marathon game Monday between Ridley and Penncrest all came down to Sofia Fiore’s hustle and glove in right field.
The visiting Green Raiders were an out away from winning a 10-inning game over their Central League rivals, who had the tying and winning runs in scoring position. Ridley had scored three runs in the top of the 10th, but Penncrest wouldn’t go down quietly.
Ridley pitcher Jolie Torrens, in her eighth inning on the mound (she re-entered at the position after being relieved by freshman Addison Najmola earlier in the day), was telling herself to “keep fighting, keep fighting.” She was running on fumes, but confident in her ability to get the final out in the bottom of the 10th. Isabella Green had other ideas when she barreled up a two-strike pitch, sending a scorcher out to deep right. Fiore sprinted back, stuck her glove in the air and reeled in the catch.
Ridley coaches and players rushed out to right field to celebrate a wild 12-11 victory. Each team smashed three home runs and combined for 32 hits in a game that lasted 3½ hours.
The Green Raiders (7-0) remained undefeated and tied for first place in the Central League with Garnet Valley.
“I knew I had to track it down, I had to get there,” Fiore said of her running catch. “There is no hesitation.”
It wasn’t Fiore’s only big moment. She supplied the insurance runs Ridley would need in the 10th inning. After Sydney Schaefer singled home Haley McMenamin from third base to give Ridley a 10-9 lead, Fiore belted a bomb to the gap in center, driving home two runs with a double. She also clubbed a two-run homer in the third inning.
The star of the game was Torrens. Coach Brooke Roark loves the senior, who captured a medal in diving at the PIAA Championships in March. Roark mentioned how Torrens was feeling a bit on the sore side and wanted to give her a breather from pitching. In the sixth inning, Green crushed an RBI double off Torrens to cut the Ridley lead to 7-4. That’s when Roark decided to replace Torrens with the rookie Najmola.
Torrens told her coach she would be available to come back in to pitch, if the situation called for it. The Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a two-run homer by Bridget Gavin and an RBI single by Genny Lilly. Torrens was called back in from her spot in the outfield.
“That’s a tough spot for any pitcher to be in, let alone a freshman. I know Addison’s nerves were jacked at that point,” Roark said. “I knew I needed somebody that I know has been here before and get the job done. Somehow we got out of that inning. Jolie is so tough. She said, ‘If you need me, feel free to bring me back.’ That’s Jolie for you.”
Penncrest was almost certain to win it in walk-off fashion when Torrens re-entered at pitcher with runners on second and third with nobody out. Torrens faced Green and struck her out, but a dropped third strike allowed Green to scamper to first safely. That put Torrens in a heck of a difficult spot: bases juiced, nobody out.
“I had this feeling, in the bottom of my stomach, to just keep fighting,” Torrens said. “It was crazy and I was stressing a little bit, but I was happy. It’s different when you’re looking out on the game from the outfield compared to when you get on the mound and you’re in control of the game.”
A fielder’s choice out at home plate, a strikeout and a groundout to second base allowed the Green Raiders to fight another inning. In the eighth inning the Green Raiders hit three straight singles including Caitlyn Senkrow’s RBI knock to put them ahead 8-7.
“I feel like I’m in a spot in the lineup where I know the players before me are going to produce and I’m not worried about after me. I know everyone will step up and find their role.”
Genny Lilly, whose single in the seventh tied the game at 7-7, delivered another game-tying single in the bottom of the eighth. Both teams failed to score in the ninth inning.
The ghost runner rule was triggered for the top of the 10th inning. Haley McMenamin, who homered in the third, stole third base. That gave Schaefer a lot of options at the plate. She smacked a single over the head of shortstop Maggie Allison, scoring McMenamin to put Ridley in front 10-9.
“I knew I had to make contact because I trust her to get that run in, to get home,” Schaefer said. “I had to put the ball in play and make something happen.”
Torrens went 2-for-5 with a homer and an RBI double out of the leadoff spot. Maddie Gordon had a double and two singles, while Schaefer and Senkrow each had three singles for the Green Raiders. Fiore finished 3-for-5 with a homer, double and sacrifice fly. Maddie Smith added an RBI double.
“Every inning we play, we’re coming together more,” Roark said. “And every time Jolie pitches she’s getting better and stronger and she knows what she needs to do. I have seen more out of her now than I did at the start of the season. Hitting-wise, if we keep doing what we’re doing, I’m not worried at all.”
Gavin was the losing pitcher, but like Torrens, gave everything she had from the circle. Gavin also had a huge day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a homer, double and three RBIs. All-Delco catcher Riley Signor, Charlotte Goldstein and Gavin all hit long balls for the Lions. Selena Psaris had a run-scoring single to keep the Lions alive in the 10th inning. Hayden Campbell added three hits, including a double.
In other Central League action:
Haverford 13, Radnor 0 >> Annabelle Knese collected a triple and three RBIs and winning pitcher Lucy Wolf (six strikeouts) helped herself with two ribbies. Megan Kent doubled and drove in three runs for the Fords.
Garnet Valley 13, Strath Haven 0 >> Anna Sidlowski pitched her second perfect game of the season, recording 10 strikeouts.
Elisabeth O’Connor saved Sidlowski’s perfecto with a spectacular diving play at second base. O’Connor helped paced the GV bats with three hits and three runs scored.
Zoey Rogers racked up five RBIs on two base knocks for the undefeated Jaguars. Emily Orsini (two RBIs) and Jenna Fulmer added two hits apiece.
