NEWTOWN SQUARE — When it comes to softball pitcher-catcher duos, you won’t find a better one in Delaware County than Episcopal Academy juniors Maddie Masiko and Hanna-Mae Legaspi.
Masiko and Legaspi’s bond is so strong, it’s not a surprise EA is undefeated and eyeing a third consecutive Inter-Ac League title.
Since their freshman year, Masiko and Legaspi have worked in harmony to confuse hitters. When Masiko recorded her 400th career strikeout in the first inning of a 10-0 win over Germantown Academy, she immediately acknowledged Legaspi, who called her every pitch.
Masiko, the reigning Inter-Ac League MVP, gave a master class performance against the Patriots that saw her hurl a complete game over six innings, allowing but one hit and two walks while ringing up 12 strikeouts. The Churchwomen improved to 12-0 overall and 8-0 in the conference.
“I’m so proud of her,” said Legaspi, a Georgetown recruit and two-time All-Delco catcher. “She works so hard and she definitely deserves everything she’s earned. It’s amazing to see her from freshman year to now, just how much she’s become more consistent, always hitting her spots and her speed increase and the way she pitches. I think we have a lot of trust in each other when it comes to pitch calling.”
Masiko has complete trust that Legaspi is going to make the right decision behind the plate. Masiko has five pitches – fastball, rise, curve, change and screw – and Legaspi just seems to know when to call for each one.
“She knows what pitch needs to be thrown or if the batter is going to be late or early on a swing …. all of that stuff,” Masiko said. “I honestly couldn’t have reached this milestone without her pitch-calling. And just how impressive her approach to the game is. She is so smart. I know that she takes a lot of time to really read the other team. I feel like she deserves a lot of credit for it.”
Legaspi and Masiko bat third and fourth, respectively, in EA’s deep and talented lineup.
First-year head coach Bernadette Moran is fortunate to have Masiko and Legaspi leading the team to another amazing season. In particular Moran, who was an assistant coach at the school last spring, challenged Masiko to become a player the underclassmen can look up to and emulate with her actions on and off the field.
“The athletic ability is uncanny in every way – throwing, fielding and hitting,” said Moran, a former Archbishop Prendergast and St. Joseph’s star. “The challenge for her was to become more of a leader and not just a stud pitcher. Maddie has stepped up. There are little things she has really taken to this year, helping our two freshman pitchers, just during practices and being there to help coach them. … She has been a quasi pitching coach for our younger girls, which is so huge. I can’t ask for much more than that.”
Masiko walked the third batter she faced, Ava Fiumara, who made the unfortunate decision to attempt to steal a base off Legaspi, who showed off her cannon of an arm to throw Fiumara out with ease at second.
Masiko went 2-for-2 with an RBI single and a walk. She led off the second with a single and eventually scored on a ground ball by Maia Contreras. EA added two runs in the third when Legaspi hit a sacrifice fly and Masiko ripped a single to left, scoring Anna Gallagher.
It was 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, but the Churchwomen decided they wanted to go home early. Masiko led off with a walk, Sofia Foulds doubled, and Anna Hennessey smacked a two-run single to make it 5-0. Contreras followed with an RBI triple, Alyssa Sterner reached base with a bunt single, and Dominique Barist was hit by a pitch. With the bases juiced, leadoff hitter and sophomore shortstop Sophia Santinelli drilled a pitch to right field for a single. GA’s right fielder let the ball zoom past her, enabling all three runners and Santelli to score, ending the game due to the 10-run rule.
Masiko had a no-hitter brewing with two outs in the sixth inning, but it was ruined when GA’s best hitter, Zoey Clark, smoked a triple. After walking Alex Johnson to set up runners at the corners, Masiko bore down and struck out Fiumara for the final out.
EA will look to clinch the Inter-Ac title Tuesday against second-place Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. EA has outscored Inter-Ac opponents by 100-5. The only team that gave the Churchwomen a competitive game was SCHA, a 2-1 decision April 16.
Masiko, Legaspi and the Churchwomen are looking for a third championship in a row.
“We play so much better when we are upbeat and looking forward to having a good game and winning,” Masiko said. “Our approach to every game and our mindset is so positive. It’s just a game and we don’t try to put pressure on ourselves.”
“Our coach does a good job of keeping us humble,” Legaspi said. “Even though we are proud of the season we’ve had so far, we all try our best to keep working hard.”
