Daria Yohe leads Mount Saint Joseph past Gwynedd Mercy

LOWER GWYNEDD >> Mount Saint Joseph Academy’s Daria Yohe got things done in the batter’s box and the pitcher’s circle against Gwynedd Mercy Academy Tuesday afternoon. The freshman threw a complete game and went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in the Magic’s 9-2 Athletic Association of Catholic Academies win at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School.

Yohe scored the first run of the game with one out in the top of the first inning and the Mount (7-5, 5-2 AACA) led the rest of the way. Yohe and Emily Vinal hit back-to-back one-out singles and Charlotte Gale worked a walk to load the bases. Jewel Schaefer followed with a two-run single.

Yohe doubled to lead off the top of the third inning and courtesy runner Mary Kate Martin scored for her on an error to put the Magic ahead, 3-1.

Yohe led off again in the fifth inning, singled and scored – alongside Vinal – on Gale’s two-run single to make it a 5-1 game.

On the mound, the right-handed Yohe scattered five hits across seven innings. She allowed two runs – one earned – while striking out three batters to one walk. She credited her curveball and screwball for the successful outing.

Her biggest jam came in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 6-2 lead. The Monarchs (10-4, 6-1 AACA) had runners on first and second with one out and were one batter away from the top of their lineup. Mount second baseman Vivian Moore snagged a hard-hit line drive and touched second base to turn an unassisted double play and end the threat.

The Magic carried that momentum to the top of the seventh. Emily Markowski hit a solo home run before Kayla Funk and Meghan Martin scored on an error to make it 9-2.

“That was incredible,” Yohe said of Moore’s play. “That was such a good play. That was awesome.

“A lot of us took AP tests today. A lot of us are really tired. (Moore’s play) brought the energy back into the game and really helped us finish it off.”

Vinal, who bats in the No. 3 spot behind Yohe, finished the game 4-for-4 with two runs scored, one RBI and one stolen base. Her two-out single in the top of the sixth gave the Magic their sixth run.

“Our first couple games we had sporadic hits,” Yohe said. “As our team bond has become a little closer, we’ve definitely built off each other and the hits are really contagious.”

GMA scored in the first and fifth innings. Jenna Morrison got the Monarchs on the board when she hit a two-out single, stole second and scored on an error. Brea Maloney singled, stole both second and third and scored on a Morrison groundout in the fifth.

“(Mount is) a good team,” GMA coach Charlie Ball said. “We have to step up against a good team. You can’t just put cleats on and think you’re going to win.”

Kerstein Dunlap and Alexis Mulado split the game in the circle for Gwynedd. Dunlap started and went four innings, allowing four runs on six hits with three strikeouts to one walk. Mulado allowed five runs across three innings with one strikeout to two walks.

The result puts Mount Saint Joseph and Villa Maria Academy within one game of Gwynedd Mercy in the AACA standings.The Magic’s win also improves their chances of earning a spot in the 12-team District 1-5A playoffs. They entered Tuesday as the No. 10 seed.

“We need someone else to beat (Gwynedd) and then we’re tied for first in the league,” Yohe said. “Last year we had not-so-great of a record. This year I think we’re stepping it up. This is my freshman year, so it’s pretty exciting for me.”

Gwynedd hosts Villa Maria Thursday.

“Any game is a league championship game,” Ball said. “Any time you play. Any time you walk on the field.”

Mount Saint Joseph Academy 9, Gwynedd Mercy Academy 2

Mount Saint Joseph Academy 201 021 3 – 9

Gwynedd Mercy Academy 100 010 0 – 2

WP: Daria Yohe 7 IP 3 K 1 BB 5 H 2 R

LP: Kerstein Dunlap 4 IP 3 K 1 BB 6 H 4 R

2B: MSJ: Daria Yohe.

HR: MSJ: Emily Markowski.