By Ed Muniz-Photos by Morgan Gonzales
**Additional Photos are Available at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/p598545871 **
Reaction time in fastpitch softball can make the difference in successes or failures.
Whether at the bat or playing the field, your ability to react quickly can be the difference in winning and losing.
Pitches come at you from 43 feet away with velocities reaching 60-70 MPH.
Defensively, with bases just 60 feet away, a batted ball headed your way will get to you quickly if you’re an infielder.
In the outfield, being quick to the ball is a must as runners will move around the bases fast.
At the 16-Under level of play, teams like the Blazers and ESA Futures have talented players that are highly skilled, but errors still occur.
In their pool-play game at the Seminole Sports Summer Sizzler Tournament on June 24, you saw speed, timely hitting, power and defensive prowess by both teams.
You also saw mistakes that gave teams extra at-bats or offensive errors that ceased an advantage.
Playing mistake free is the ultimate goal that gives you the best chance at victory.
For Sarah Marcheske, her day was one that began with mistakes, but ended with success for her and her ESA Futures team with the 7-5 win over the Blazers.
“I made a few errors in the field so I was just wanting something to make me feel better,” said a giggling Marcheske. “I was very nervous in that at-bat, with two runners on and two outs, my coach was telling me to hit the ball, so I made contact, and we scored those runs.”
Her 3-run home run put ESA ahead for good managing to maintain a lead until the time-limit expired in tournament play.
Marcheske wasn’t perfect but the adversity and want to makeup for her team made her clutch when she had to be.
“Sometimes I have low confidence especially when I make errors like I did today and gets into my head, but I am learning to let it go and come through when I need to.”
The Blazers started the scoring when they plated two runs to start the game.
Singles by Peyton Lupo and Julia Grenier turned into runs with some added help from an outfield error.
ESA answered right back in their first at-bats against Blazers starting pitcher’ Julianna Stock, tying the game at 2-2
A triple by leadoff hitter’ Katie Cravatta, scored an out later when Gianna Caravella also tripled. Caravella then scored on a ground out by Marcheske.
The Blazer did start the second inning with a single by Isela Garcia but was left stranded as the next three batters popped out, followed by two strike outs as ESA pitcher Abby Hendricks clamped down.
Hit by a pitch, ESA leadoff batter’ Sofia Rampson later scored on Sydney Oldham’s Sac Fly to give ESA a 3-2 lead after two innings.
Adding her second hit of the game, Lupo would again score for the Blazers and tie the game on Grenier’s double, her second hit as well.
Tight games like this in tournament pool-play tend to be decided on time. With a 75-minute time limit, getting ahead is vital.
ESA used runs by Charlotte Popchock, Caravella and Marcheske to jump ahead for good in their third at-bats. A Marcheske home run plated them all and gave ESA a 6-3 advantage after three innings.
Relieving ESA starting pitcher Hendricks, Margreta Lucey ran into some trouble with the Blazers bats.
After striking out the initial batter she faced, the next six Blazers reached base. Two Singles by Litzie Bucio and Evie Capraro, along with a couple walks and a fielding error saw the Blazers score three runs which included Caravella.
The 6-5 ESA lead was down to one run as time ticked away.
ESA answered back when Oldham walked and ended up scoring on Noeli Schutten’s infield hit to up the score to 7-5.
As the Blazers were about to take their swings in the fifth inning, the umpire informed both teams that another inning would not start as the time limit was about to expire.
Lucey’s pitching was better in her second stint, managing to strike out the Blazers first two batters and then getting Blazer’s Garcia to fly out to left for the final out, sealing the 7-5 win and ESA’s second of the tournament.
Starting pitch Abby Hendricks had just enough from the mound to limit many of the Blazers hitters. Her three innings saw her give up 3-runs on 5-hits, but it was her ability to control her pitches that impressed, allowing no walks.
Despite defensive errors also added to her facing extra batters, Hendricks shrugged it off, battling each hitter she faced.
“I kept with the energy, but I was a little nervous in this game,” said Hendricks. “The hardest part is finding what will work for each batter and what will get them out. I’ll try everything the first time around and adjust and know what works.”
Hendricks felt she needs to have more knowledge of the strike zones when there’s a new umpire. She felt it can be difficult to adjust at times.
Hendricks carries a bevy of pitches, but her change-up is special, which has batters whiffing at a pitch that hasn’t arrived yet. She also felt her team could improve on communication during games.
ESA new assistant coach Beth Lucey added; “It was a nice win for us, but it was a little frustrating on the errors we made in this game. I’m happy we are getting the bat on the ball, I think everybody made contact, they’re getting out there running the bases and being smart at it.”
“I think generally we are a pretty good hitting team. We need to clean up the errors, we’ve had quite a few in the two games. This a fun team to be a part of with the unity and the lack of drama, always encouraging each other on plus the parents are helping out with that too.”
Other ESA players that contributed were Addison Dannhoff, Maya Hornung and Cheyenne Matthews.
Among the Blazers stand-outs was speedster Peyton Lupo. Her two hits and two-runs scored gave the Blazers a reliable threat at the top of the order.
“I really wanted to get a hit with the bases loaded,” said Lupo. “I took the walk instead of swinging at a bad pitch because it’s too risky, I’d rather see the pitch I like to hit. If the pitcher has to throw more pitches and walks you, I feel it gets more in her head.”
Lupo talked of her successes when at bat.
“My biggest thing is I just swing the bat. I don’t think, the second I start thinking about my at-bat, I lose it all, I miss the ball, so I just swing at a pitch I feel I can hit. As a team we just have to keep picking each other up even if there’s mistake, the best thing is support.”
“For myself, I have to realize that I will make mistakes and just put in the work, same for the team.”
Also giving their all in the tight game for the Blazers was Arrianna Amella, Grace Bruno, Marilu Villapando and Natalia Holguin,
