PAC champion Perkiomen Valley sinks Spring-Ford in second round, 10-4
GRATERFORD >> The Perkiomen Valley softball team has done a good job creating happy memories this spring.
There have been none greater to date for the Vikings than the validating Pioneer Athletic Conference championship win of last week.
But the start of the Vikings’ District 1-6A playoff run meant facing down one of the undesirable memories of the season. It came in the form of a second-round matchup with Spring-Ford, their neighbor, PAC rival and the only team to defeat PV on its home field.
Yet lately, it seems like nothing can steal the Vikings’ sunshine.
With multiple runs in four at-bats and three-hit games from pitcher Maci Strechay, second baseman Bella Reedy and catcher Erin Carosi, No. 8 seed Perk Valley exploded for 15 hits en route to a 10-4 blitzing of No. 9 Spring-Ford Wednesday on PV’s home field.
Perkiomen Valley’s Bella Reedy connects with a pitch against Spring-Ford during a District 1-6A playoff game on May 22 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
“We were hitting consistently throughout the game,” Carosi said. “Usually against (Spring-Ford pitcher Jess Fliszar) we’ve struggled and had a lot of strikeouts. I feel like today we had none or just a few (1).”
“We definitely have come together as a team and worked off of each other’s personalities. The team bonding really helps,” Reedy said. “Everyone in the dugout definitely helped contribute to our success on the field.”
The win was the 11th straight and 20th of the year for Perk Valley (20-3), which advanced to the quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Downingtown West, which escaped Council Rock North 2-1 in its second-round game, on Friday (4 p.m.) in Downingtown.
Perkiomen Valley pitcher Maci Strechay delivers to the plate against Spring-Ford during a District 1-6A playoff game on May 22 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
The loss ended the season for Spring-Ford (16-5), which was the PAC’s best team in the regular season and playoff No. 1 seed, but couldn’t find the same mojo in the postseason. The Rams fell 1-0 to Boyertown in the PAC semifinals on May 14, then needed a late rally over Owen J. Roberts for a 7-4 victory in its District 1 first rounder on Monday.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for a Perk Valley program that was 9-12 a year ago. Under first-year head coach Mickey Marsilio, the players are thriving in a positive environment.
“It’s definitely something we see with this team. We interact so well. We have the chemistry that we need,” Strechay said. “Talent can work well together but chemistry is really what we need.
“I think that’s the only thing that’s really been different this year. We have better chemistry than we did last year.”
No. 2 hitter Reedy was the spark and the lighter fluid in her 3-for-4, three-RBI day. Her RBI double opened the scoring in the first and her two-run single in the fourth inning broke things open in a four-run frame that opened an 8-1 lead.
Carosi, the No. 3 hitter, team leader and pitch caller, was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Battery-mate Strechay was 3-for-3 with an RBI out of the leadoff spot.
Also joining the hit parade were third baseman Ashley Carosi was 2-for-4 (RBI), shortstop Peyton Mears (2-for-4) and Audrey Powers (triple, RBI).
Perkiomen Valley’s Peyton Mears connects with a pitch against Spring-Ford during a District 1-6A playoff game on May 22 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
In the circle, junior right-hander Strechay allowed four hits and four runs (zero earned) over seven innings with five strikeouts. Strechay’s elevation has given PV a true No. 1 pitcher. She has gone four starts without allowing an earned run, dating back to May 8.
“I mean, it’s been a little bit stressful. But I’ve been waiting to do this for my entire life,” she said. “My sisters played; I was watching them. I’ve been waiting for my turn and finally getting the opportunity. I take it as an opportunity to help my team out and know that I can help in certain spots and know that they’re relying on me so that I can do my best.”
Though Spring-Ford was the only team to win on PV’s field – 9-5 on April 5 – their most recent prior meeting was one of those happy memories for the Vikings, a 3-2, 11-inning win at Ram Park on April 26.
“Everyone had the most fun game ever,” Strechay recalled. “Everyone was cheering each other on. That was the loudest I’ve ever heard the dugout.”
PV struggled mightily against Spring-Ford starter Jess Fliszar in their previous meeting but rode their recent wave Wednesday.
“I feel like (our level) carried over from the Boyertown game in the PAC championship; that definitely carried over,” Reedy said. “Since we already got used to adjusting to Jess and her pitching, we definitely got on top of her a lot faster this time around.”
Spring-Ford pitcher Jess Fliszar delivers to the plate against Perkiomen Valley during a District 1-6A playoff game on May 22 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Fliszar gave up eight hits and seven runs over 3 2/3 innings. Reliever Katie Cecconi went the final 2 ⅓ innings, allowing two runs on seven hits.
It was a second straight season of being knocked out in the second round of districts for Spring-Ford. A lack of timely hitting – the Rams managed four for the game – didn’t allow them to keep pace. Kayla Naylor’s bases-loaded double in the fifth inning was S-F’s brightest moment.
“We did not get the big hits early in the game. We had second and third in the first inning with one out. Couldn’t get either of those two runs in,” said S-F head coach Shawn Corropolese. “If we get those two runs in I think it’s a little bit different of a game. It’s going to be paced differently.
“We had one big hit, and that was Kayla’s bases-loaded double. But they played well. I can’t take anything away from them. They’re a good team. Pitched well. We were prepared for what they were going to do, and they just beat us.”
Spring-Ford will graduate a senior class that includes Naylor, three-year starting shortstop Riley Gancasz, Nova Legassie, Katie Cecconi, Nicole Cecconi, Jordyn Jacobe and Caitlin Ashley.
“It’s a successful season. We made it to districts, we were the No. 1 team in the PAC going into the PAC championship, and had two (postseason) losses that could have gone either way in my eyes,” Corropolese said.
“We had a good group of seniors who are gonna be surely missed for next year. We’re gonna need some younger kids to step up and be leaders.”
Between their PAC title and prevailing through the PAC mini-tournament that was their segment of the bracket, the Vikings have validated their success and given themselves the chance to keep making happy memories.
“(Early on) everyone thought, ‘Oh, they’re just getting lucky,” Strechay said. “But I think we really put it together and showed everyone that we’re a good team and they shouldn’t take us for granted.”
