Small ball hasn’t been something Moore Catholic has had to rely on this season with a lineup driven by power hitters like Maxine Jasko, Nicole DeMartino and Corinna Strype.
“It’s always been there,” Mavericks coach Kristine Knuth said. “We have some big hitters so we haven’t had to use it as much, but as long as the top of our lineup gets on it’s going to be more of a comfort with our big hitters up.”
Moore broke it out in the sixth inning, leading to five runs and a much more comfortable 7-1 win over Maria Regina at Monsignor Scanlon in the CHSAA Archdiocesan softball quarterfinals Saturday afternoon.
All of it started with leadoff hitter Alexa Aliberti. The senior went 4-for-4, scored twice and drove in a run during the big sixth inning. Kelly Graham was also 3-for-4 with a double.
“With the way the other team was playing defense on us it opened it up for small ball,” Knuth said. “We have a lot of speed in our nine and one spots so we were able to make things happen.”
The defending champion Mavericks (9-4) got five hits in the frame, with three coming on bunts. Strype, DeMartino and Kirsten Reina also each drove in runs during that inning. Moore led just 2-1 through five innings. Jasko, who had three RBIs on the day, delivered a two-run single in the third to drive in Aliberti and Krupa, who singled along with Graham to lead off the frame. Nicole Guzzone allowed just a fourth-inning run, while allowing four hits and striking out six. Maria Regina is 9-6.
Moore returns to The Bronx on Sunday to face Bronx/Westchester division champions Preston at 2 p.m. at Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park. The Mavericks beat Preston twice back in March in come-from-behind fashion.
“We just have to keep hitting,” Knuth said.
St. Joseph by the Sea 15, St. Barnabas 5: Alexandra Prescia had two doubles, a triple and three runs scored and Stefanie Abolt collected three hits and three RBIs for St. Joseph by the Sea (13-0). Jackie Cautela added three hits. Alexa Tedeschi allowed no runs in three innings of work and Lianna Jordan surrendered earned two runs over three frames. The Vikings host St. John Villa 2 p.m. Sunday in the semifinals.