Defense lifts Redbird softball in MCT

It was the kind of move that can be lost in a boxscore. It was also the kind of move that prevented a loss.

By: Kyle Moylan
   It was the kind of move that can often be lost in a boxscore. It was also the kind of move that prevented a loss in the linescore.
   Allentown Coach Bob DiBernardo inserted Courtney Kubik into right field as a defensive replacement late in Saturday’s game against West Windsor South. Kubik responded with the defensive play of the game.
   With Allentown holding a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning, West Windsor South had a runner on third with two outs when Samantha Crist lined what appeared to be a run-scoring single to right. Kubik, however, charged the ball, fielded it cleanly and fired a strike to third base to throw out Crist and end the threat and inning.
   "We play defense," noted DiBernardo. "It was a really nice play."
   West Windsor South got another threat going in the seventh when Katy Hubbard led off with a double. This time, Allentown’s Abby Cotrell took matter into her own hands. Well, at least from her hands to those of catcher Colleen Keeley. Cotrell responded by striking out the next three batters.
   "Abby was Abby," DiBernardo noted as if any other praise would have just been redundant.
   Another popular topic with DiBernardo is plate discipline, making contact. Ironically, it was Allentown’s inability to hit the ball that led to both of its runs.
   Both of the runners who scored for Allentown in the game reached base after the catcher was unable to hold on to the ball after a third strike. Ali Van Horn led off with a strikeout and, eventually, came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brian Feola. Cotrell also reached after striking out. Her courtesy runner, Kristin Kuzma, ended up scoring the second run on a wild pitch.
   These two runs and Kubik’s great defensive play were just enough to get Allentown by and into the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals. Allentown will face off against Notre Dame at Antiel Field in Ewing on Saturday.
   "You have to play defense to win and we did," DiBernardo noted.
   Saturday’s game was the second one during the week in which Allentown scored 2 runs and Cotrell turned that into a win. Allentown and Cotrell defeated Hopewell Valley, 2-0, on April 24.
   Allentown had 8 hits and Hopewell had 4 errors, but the Redbirds were limited to just a run in the third and another in the seventh. Brian Feola singled home the run in the seventh.
   Cotrell had retired 10 batters in a row before an error, walk and wild pitch put runners on second and third. Allentown was then helped out by some bizarre softball decisions by Hopewell.
   First off, Hopewell bunted and had a runner erased at the plate. Kim Demkowitz, who threw out Lindsay Sorg at the plate, also started the game-ending play which soon followed. Demkowicz fielded a grounder, threw to first baseman Margaret Ryan for one out. Ryan then threw home to retire Heidi Rarich at the plate to end the game.
   From a strategic standpoint, this was the kind of play that made no sense. It was, however, a nice one to watch.
   "It was a pretty double play," DiBernardo noted.
   Allentown’s game scheduled against Lawrence last Thursday was rained out.
   Allentown was scheduled to play at West Windsor North on Tuesday and against Steinert yesterday. Allentown will host Northern Burlington today. Allentown enters action this week with a 9-3 record.