MEDIA – Sydney Scarpato, Marissa Contino and Riley Harris have big plans for the 2024 softball season.
The Chichester sluggers crushed it Wednesday afternoon, leading the Eagles to a 13-7 victory over Penncrest. It was Chi’s first win in three games in the new campaign.
“The goal is making the playoffs and just keep on grinding,” said Scarpato, a senior catcher and Moravian University recruit.
Chichester hasn’t qualified for the District 1 playoffs too often in recent years. The Eagles got there in 2021 when Scarpato and Harris were freshmen. They’ve come close the previous two years, but this year have the talent to compete with the best teams in District 1 Class 5A.
“I think our goal is to just be a force,” Harris said. “No one’s expecting it for us.”
Chi’s also eyeing those three matchups with Interboro, which has ruled the roost in the Del Val League for the past several years. The Bucs haven’t lost a Del Val game since 2019. The Eagles are poised to end that incredible winning streak.
“We’ve been really working hard,” Scarpato said. “I think we have a good chance.”
Tuesday’s performance was precisely what the Eagles (1-2) needed. Playing a solid Central League program in the Lions (0-1), the Eagles showed they can swing the bats and play very good defense. Contino and Harris each belted over-the-fence home runs in the fourth inning when Chi batted around and scored four runs. Harris smashed a three-run dinger and Contino hit a line drive for a solo jack.
“Right off the bat, it was really nice,” said Contino, who pitched four innings of relief to earn the win behind starter Valerie Wilkins.
Pulling up to Barrall Field at Media Elementary the Eagles noticed the short mesh fence in the outfield. Needless to say they had ideas.
“As soon as we pulled up, we knew someone was going to get it,” Harris said.
Contino, Camryn Wildrick and Scarpato led off the game with singles as Chi jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Penncrest took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. The Eagles tied the game 2-2 in the second, then exploded for six runs in the third to go in front 8-2. The clutch knock came from Kylie Becker, who socked a three-run triple to the gap in left-center. Wildrick knocked in a run with a groundout and Scarpato blasted an RBI double.
“In the past we could play three or four innings with anybody and then we would just kind of wear down,” coach Marty Scarpato said. “But now that we have a good pitcher in freshman Valerie Wilkins, it takes a lot of the pressure off. And when we hit the third- or fourth-inning mark, we can make the switch and have a fresh arm come in for us. That really makes a difference.
“Our bats were awesome. They have the pop in them and our one-through-five can really hit the ball. It’s all about keeping them selective on what they are swinging at and being smart at the plate. I was very impressed with the win today.”
Coach Scarpato pointed out the great defense of shortstop Hannah Guth, who made several great plays. Harris, at first base, turned an unassisted double play and made a diving snag on a line drive.
“I feel like defensively in the past we’ve struggled a lot, so that was our main focus this year and I think it’s really starting to show that our practice is paying off,” Harris said.
Scarpato was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Harris went 3-for-5 and Contino finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Maura Anstotz clubbed a three-run homer for Penncrest. Natalie Cacciola and Julia Weber each had an RBI single.
In other nonleague action:
Interboro 16, Upper Darby 0 >> The Bucs cruised to victory in four innings.
Vanessa Harrity slugged a three-run homer and tripled. Erin O’Shea finished 4-for-4 with a double, while Mare Nagle supplied two hits and two RBIs. Ava Rudolph had a three-base knock and scored three runs. Olivia Bulovas was the winning pitcher.
