Baylor sparks Interboro’s playoff push
UPPER DARBY — Miranda Baylor was amped up when she stepped into the box for the first time Friday afternoon.
Who could blame Interboro’s leadoff hitter and slick-fielding shortstop for wanting to set the tone in a must-win game?
Baylor’s solo home run off Upper Darby pitcher Kerianne McGee in the first inning jump-started the Bucs’ offense and spirits.
It was exactly the sort of thing they needed to have happen.
“The first pitch was pretty much right down the middle, and the last pitch she threw, it was a little higher,’ Baylor said. “I just swung at it.’
And the ball went far.
Baylor whacked the pitch down the left-field line … and the ball rolled and rolled. She sprinted around the bags and crossed home plate with ease. Interboro led the entire way for a 7-4 victory in the nonleague game.
Needless to say, every game the Bucs play at this point is of major importance. Coming into the week, Interboro (12-6) was sitting in 24th place in the District One Class AAAA power rankings. A loss Wednesday to Council Rock South set the Bucs back a bit, but they can set themselves up nicely for a postseason berth with a Central League sweep. The Bucs, who placed second to Chichester in the Del Val League, have Haverford and Penncrest on the docket next week to close out the regular season.
“We’re really battling to get in the playoffs right now,’ said Baylor, who reached base all five times she was at the plate, walked twice and scored three times. “We need these next three games to make it in, hopefully.’
Baylor was in the middle of every Interboro scoring rally Friday. She started off the second inning with a walk and came around to score on a fielder’s choice. Later in the frame, impressive sophomore catcher Amber Seamen (3-for-4, two RBIs) roped a triple to the outfield gap and eventually scored on an Upper Darby error.
Baylor reached base on another UD blunder in the fourth and came home on Brandi James’ RBI single to left field. Seamen followed James’ clutch at-bat with a two-run single to give Interboro a 6-0 cushion.
Seamen, oh by the way, gunned down two runners trying to swipe bags.
“She’s actually probably one of the better catchers we’ve had,’ said Baylor, a senior. “She has a great arm (and is) always throwing people out. She’s a good hitter, both sides. She’s a great player, especially for a sophomore.’
James, a senior who bats cleanup, suffered a serious foot injury during basketball season. She rehabilitated throughout the winter and returned in time for softball season. It was a long and arduous recovery for James, who will be a two-sport athlete at PSU-Brandywine.
“I don’t have the bat speed like I used to have,’ she said. “So, that’s something I had to keep working on.’
The Royals’ bats broke through against Rachel Reifer in the fourth inning. Danielle Hotz, Carli Benozich and Alex Turchi all hit singles as the Royals plated four runs in the inning. Reifer settled down and worked out of a jam in the fifth, then retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh. The junior allowed three earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout.
“It was a little scary, but I knew my team could do it,’ she said.
UD’s Erin Redden played shortstop, right field and pitcher. She did most of her damage from the circle, allowing just two hits in 2â…” scoreless innings.
