West Chester East puts it together, eliminates Spring-Ford 11-4
By Owen McCue
ROYERSFORD >> With a new coaching staff taking over the program, the West Chester East seniors weren’t sure what to expect in 2016.
Rather than setting their sights on a district title or a state playoff berth the Vikings decided to set a different kind of goal for themselves: have fun.
Using that philosophy No. 19 West Chester East knocked off No. 11 Spring-Ford, 11-4, on Friday at Spring-Ford High School to clinch a spot in the PIAA State Playoffs and advanced to the District 1-AAAA semifinals.
“Our goal was always to have fun,” senior center fielder Olivia Francomano. “And it got us here. … We’re having a lot of fun, the most we’ve had all year.”
One game after tallying 16 hits and scoring 10 runs themselves, Spring-Ford found itself on the other side of a hit parade on Friday. West Chester East tallied 14 hits during the contest.
Vikings pitcher Kristen Fuertes limited the Rams to four hits and allowed one earned run, while striking out just one batter. After giving up two runs in the first inning and one run in the third inning, Fuertes did not allow a hit in the last four innings.
“We hit it hard,” Spring-Ford head coach Tim Hughes said. “We hit it at them it seemed like every time. But they made the plays, and they deserved to win today.”
West Chester East got production throughout its lineup.
Francomano and senior shortstop Leah Ritchey ignited the Vikings’ offense in the No. 1 and No. 2 holes, respectively. The pair combined to go 7-for-8 and score six runs. Ritchey also had four RBI.
Catcher Sam Gomez added two hits, including a triple in the seventh inning. Fuertes and first baseman Spencer Baldyga both went 2-for-4 at the bottom of the order.
“We’re not an overpowering team,” Ritchey said. “But we can definitely find the gaps.”
The Vikings started the scoring in the first inning when Francomano led off the game with a bunt for a base hit, and Ritchey reached by error. The next two batters moved Francomano over and in with two ground balls to the right side, and Gomez drove in Ritchey with a single.
Spring-Ford grabbed the runs right back in the bottom of the first when designated player Abby Files started a two-run rally with a base hit up the middle. An error by Ritchey kept the inning alive, and Rams’ right fielder Sophia Ciniti and first baseman Jess Della Guardia knocked in the two runners to tie the game.
The Vikings jumped on Spring-Ford freshman pitcher Sam Lindsay once again in the top of the second. A two-out hit from Fuertes and a two-out walk from Francomano set the table for Ritchey, who knocked them both in to give West Chester East a lead it would not relinquish, as the Vikings tacked on runs in three of the next five innings.
“We kind of have the mindset that we’re the underdog, so to kind of keep chipping away is really important for us,” Francomano said. “We’re not an overpowering team, so it’s important.”
Spring-Ford’s loss kept Hughes’ team from reaching the state playoffs for the second year in a row. His team brings back everyone next season except for Della Guardia, who is a senior.
Catcher Megan Kern, who went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk on Friday, and seven other starters will hope to advance further in the district and state playoffs next season.
“This will give them an idea of ‘Be ready to go, remember this feeling,’” Hughes said. “We’ve got this far many times. We’ve been to states about seven or eight times in the last 20 years. … We were trying to win a district title, but we came up short. These girls are salty and I think it’s going to help us out next year.”
