Archbishop Wood shines on Senior Day in win over William Tennent

WARMINSTER >> With a tremendous two-way performance by their pitcher along with a big fifth inning in which their bats came screaming back to life, Archbishop Wood slugged its way to a happy Senior Day on Saturday afternoon against visiting William Tennent.

Dakota Fanelli’s right arm again applied plenty of pretty penmanship, authoring a complete-game that included nine strikeouts, and she along with fellow senior Maggie Devlin helped power a four-run fifth in a rousing 4-1 win over the Panthers in a non-league battle.

“We definitely came out here with energy today because of Senior Day and we pulled through,” said Fanelli.

“This is huge honestly. It was a fun day to begin with and this just adds something on top of it,” Devlin said. “We have a big week coming up too so this is a good start to it.”

The Vikings raised their overall record to 11-5 and get ready for another home non-league contest on Monday at 3:45, against Central Bucks South. The Panthers are now 9-5 overall and will host Upper Moreland on Tuesday afternoon.

“Great win,” Vikings coach Jackie Ecker said. “Every time we play Tennent it’s a great game. We haven’t come out on top in the past but this year we did.

“This is good because it helps us gear up for the PCL Playoffs.”

Tennent dented the scoreboard in the third, on an RBI single by leadoff hitter Morgan Kocher.

But Fanelli blanked the Panthers the rest of the way and the Wood offense found its swing.

“We really needed that inning,” Devlin said of the fifth. “I think our energy was pretty high to begin with and then we just got up there, got it done, and our energy stayed up the whole time.”

Dylan Miller and Biz James led off the inning with singles to get the Vikings going in the fifth against right hander Riley O’Toole, who had a strong start for the Panthers.

Carly Nydick came on for Tennent and would try to hold the lead.

But with the bases loaded and one out, Fanelli belted a towering double over Kocher in center, scoring two to make it a 2-1 Wood advantage. Devlin later followed with a two-run single to left and it was 4-1 Vikings.

Said Ecker: “It’s good because we’ve really been working on hitting and Maggie has really been working hard the last couple games and has gotten some decent hits. And Kota too. That was clutch there, a clutch double.”

Fanelli fanned three of the final four batters she faced to lock it up for Wood.

“I couldn’t do it without my team behind me – they were amazing in the field today,” said the righty. “Without their support, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Archbishop Wood 4, William Tennent 1
William Tennent 001 000 0 — 1 4 0
Archbishop Wood 000 040 x — 4 9 1
WP: Dakota Fanelli (7IP, 1R, 1ER, 4H, 9K, 0BB, 1HBP).
LP: Carly Nydick (2IP, 2R, 2ER, 3H, 4K, 1BB).
2B: WT-Giselle McLaughlin; AW-Fanelli.
Multiple Hits: AW-Maura Yoos 2-for-3, R; Devlin 2-for-3, 2RBI.