Jackie Cautela found a way to dominate on both sides of the ball during a busy week for St. Joseph by the Sea.
The Vikings played six games in seven days and Cautela, the team’s ace, was in the circle for three of them. She turned in three superb and overpowering performances against Bishop Ahr (N.J.), St. John Villa and Moore Catholic. Cautela allowed just three runs, 11 hits and struck out 20 in those starts.
The week concluded with a 4-1 victory over the rival Mavericks, giving Sea a win in the first meetings between the two rivals. She gave up just one hit after the first inning. The Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the city by The Post, didn’t lose a game last week.
“I just worked with my pitches that were working best, moving inside out and I felt pretty good,” Cautela said. “My defense was behind me once again.”
She shook off an RBI triple by Maxine Jasko in the first inning and settled down after that against Moore. From there on out Cautela, who pitched on the varsity as a freshman, masterfully worked her curve and screwball along the corners to keep the Mavericks hitters off balance.
“When I get it I try to go a little more out or in and see what I keep getting,” she said.
Added Sea coach Mike Ponsiglione: “Once she gets in a groove and she’s around the plate all the time you are going to get those borderline pitches.”
Cautela didn’t just produce in the circle. She got it done at the plate as well. The Vikings No. 3 hitter dunked a single over third to drive in a run against the Mavericks. Her best performance in a week where she drove in seven runs came against Notre Dame Academy in a 9-0 win where she collected three hits, three RBIs and scored three runs for a Vikings team that has relied on small ball at times.
“We use a lot of small ball and it usually works for us,” Cautela said. “We are going to keep doing it.”
Her teammates hope she keeps doing what she is doing as well.