By: Kyle Moylan
EWING Erin Kelley started Allentown’s first-inning rally by lining a ball that went through the legs of the West Windsor North’s shortstop.
Kelley finished off Allentown’s first-inning rally by blasting a ball over the head of the West Windsor North’s right fielder.
Thanks to Kelley’s ability to both set the table and clean it off, Allentown scored eight runs in the first inning on the way to a 12-0 win over West Windsor North in the quarterfinals of the Mercer County Tournament this past Monday at Armstrong Park in Ewing.
With the win, Allentown advances into tonight’s semifinals to face Ewing.
"The offense has really been going for a few games now," noted Bob Dubina, who coaches Allentown with Mary Ellen McCarthy. "Ever since the Hun game, we’ve been hitting the ball consistently."
Kelley reached on an error to start the game, but it was a very hard hit ball. Katie Sansouci then walked and Caitlin Ryan was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.
Ally Walsh drove home the first run with a walk. Amie Ballo followed with an infield single, plating Sansouci with the second run. A bases-loaded walk by Jen Richard sent Ryan home with the third run.
West Windsor North pitcher Flynn Eisenman seemed to settle down by striking out the next two batters. With the bases still loaded with two outs, however, Brittany Bakacs walked. Kelley then followed with a grand slam well over the head of West Windsor North’s Jessica Westermeier in right.
"That felt good," Kelley noted of her second grand slam of the season. "I hit that ball right on the money."
Caitlin Ryan, who had allowed a hit in the top of the first and had to pitch out of a mini-jam, now had more runs than she would almost ever need.
"It definitely makes it a lot easier," Ryan said. "You don’t have to worry about them scoring a run here or there. That first inning took the pressure off of everyone."
The irony of not having to worry about giving up a run or two is that Ryan was relaxed enough to make sure West Windsor North wouldn’t score any.
Ryan improved to 4-1 on the season by tossing a two-hit shutout. Ryan didn’t walk a matter and she struck out five in her five innings of work. The game was stopped by the blowout rule after West Windsor North batted in the fifth.
Sanscouci, Allentown’s other pitcher, is also 4-1 on the year. While at times it can be hard to find enough work for both talented pitchers, that’s not a problem this week. In addition to Monday’s MCT win, Allentown was scheduled to face Hamilton on Tuesday and Hightstown yesterday. Allentown will play in the MCT semifinals at Armstrong tonight. On Friday, Allentown is scheduled to face Ewing in a regular season game. Allentown could also be in action in the finals of the MCT on Saturday if it wins Thursday night.
"I’m used to it (sharing the pitching load)," Ryan said. "It’ll be good this week to keep us fresh because we have so many games."
As far as McCarthy and Dubina are concernced, it’s be silly to have two such talented pitchers if you weren’t going to use them.
"We’re fortunate enough to have two young talented pitchers," McCarthy said. "We might as well share the wealth and share the talent."
Besides, both girls play even when they aren’t pitching. It would also be silly to take their bats out of the lineup. Sansouci singled in the third and was tripled home by Ryan.
Carly Machiz and Ballo had RBI in Allentown’s three-run second. Kelley might have had a grand slam and Ryan a shutout, but everyone played a part in this win. Stephanie Stibulus even came off the bench to hit a long triple.
"This has been a very enjoyable season," noted Dubina. "It’s such a good group of girls that it makes it that much easier."
Back on Wednesday, April 27, Allentown overcame an early three-run deficit to pound out a 9-4 win over Nottingham.
Sansouci and Ryan both homered in the comeback. Ryan and Reardon finished with two RBI each in the game. Walsh and Richard also had RBI.
NEHS
With wins in two of the three games it played last week, the New Egypt High School softball team improved to 12-3 on the year.
New Egypt continued to show off one of the best offenses in the area in a 10-8 win over Note Dame on Tuesday, April 26.
New Egypt was down 2-0 after two innings and 6-3 heading into the last of the fifth, but it had too much power for Notre Dame to hold back.
Pulvermuller struggled a bit on the mound for New Egypt, but pounded out four RBI on offense. Molly Dixon had three RBI and Shannon Houston two.
The same great offense was on display the following day in an 11-1 win over Westampton Tech. Brooke Kennedy had two hits and three RBI. Sara Messinger had a homer and three RBI. Shannon Houston had a double and three RBI.
Brittany Kennedy was the beneficiary of all this offense. She limited Westampton Tech to just one hit while picking up the win.
This past Friday, New Egypt’s offense was shut down for a day at Hillsborough, 4-1.

