There might be some extra noise around the Moore Catholic softball team and will have nothing to do with it losing just one starter from a team that lost in the CHSAA Archdiocesan championship game.
“I think the fundamental thing we were lacking last year was communication,” first-year head coach Kristine Knuth said. “They were quiet in the field from what I saw. … This team likes to talk. They are on each other. Even if someone makes an error the first thing they are going to do is pick each other up.”
The former Mavericks star won a state title in her tenure and graduated in 2004, before playing softball at Dominican College. Knuth, who was the JV coach, takes over for the highly successful Ralph Moroni. The longtime coach was not retained because the school wanted to go in another direction. From the start, Knuth has stressed fundamentals, small ball and making sure everyone is on the same page. Moore got hot last season when it tightened up defensively.
“She is tough,” junior slugger Taylor Baggs said. “It’s a good thing. We are disciplined on the field, our batting. She knows what we are doing.”
Baggs, also a basketball star at the school, is one of the key players back from a squad that went 14-4 and handed St. Joseph by the Sea one of its two losses all season. She will move from third to shortstop to replace the graduated Brielle Kerscher and sophomore Alexa Aliberti will play third. Baggs is a complete hitter and will make up a dangerous middle of the order, with senior first baseman Courtney Strype and centerfielder Danielle Doscher, that can pound even the best pitching.
“They all are .300 hitters,” Knuth said. … ”I’m solid basically one through nine. I don’t have a weak spot.”
Alberti and Krissa Sagona will give the Mavericks speed and senior second baseman Dominique DeMatteo is as scrappy and as solid as they come in both the batter’s box and the field. Junior Jen Coughlan, back from an ACL injury, will platoon at first and catcher.
One of the Mavericks’ strengths last year was their superb outfield play. Doscher asked to be moved from the infield to shore things up. She and Sagona in left cover plenty of ground and have the knack for making tough plays on the run. Jackie Heinz, Maria Genovese and Chelsea Lucas will battle for the right field job and could play left when Sagona is catching.
“They came out kind of like the secret outfield,” senior pitcher Emily Horihan said. …“Out of now where we came up with this great outfield.”
That was good news for Horihan, who has added a screwball, in the circle. She isn’t overpowering, but is smart and a fighter with excellent movement. She and classmate Gina Palmeri make up a dynamic 1-2 punch that was one of the best in the league. Knuth feels the rubber moving from 40 to 43 feet will only help improve both pitchers’ movement.
“They are always throwing strikes,” Doscher said. “They never get into trouble.”
That is what the Mavericks are hoping to be for their opponents again in a difficult division that includes three-time defending champion Sea. The Vikings are the squad the Mavericks’ six seniors are hoping to eventually supplant.
“We want to win the title this year,” Doscher said. “I know it’s my senior year so I want it really bad.”