Mahopac Goes Down Fighting in 2-0 Loss to Pearl River

On Sunday May 21, 20 seeded Mahopac traveled to Pearl River for a quarterfinal match up against the fifth seed, and Ava Lichtenberger definitely welcomed the competition from her counterpart on the mound. “Pitcher’s duels, " she said, “I think they make it more exciting.” Thirteen frames and 12 zeroes, the Indian and Kiera Luckie of the Pirates really did justice. But the crooked number went up in the first inning, and it wasn’t in the top half of the inning.

Pearl River scored two in the first, and while the output was enough to end Mahopac's season, Christina Giansante could only praise her starting pitcher. “You can’t ask for much more than giving up just three hits,” the coach asserted.

Nonetheless, Luckie led off and took matters into her own hands. She doubled to center, and the bench in an early uproar, Grace Serima and Cat Arnold followed with walks. So the bases loaded with nobody out, the day looked to be a long one when Bella Capperelli stroked another double to right.

Good for two runs, Lichtenberger reached back anyway. The junior got Heather Collins on strikes, and Kayla Damon popped to Emma Behun at second. Lichtenberger settled down in the second with two more strikeouts and then showed she could field her position in the third inning. After Capperelli singled with two out and went second on a wild pitch, Lichtenberger grabbed a come-backer by Collins and the shine on the pitcher’s slick glove went in search of a little momentum.

Getting hit by Luckie would have to do for Lichtenberger and Mahopac wasn’t apologizing either when a wild pitch put the pitcher in scoring position. But Ally Wanner struck out and Gianna LaFaro’s drive to right got gobbled up by Capperelli to end the top of the fourth.

The bottom half had the home team threaten too. A walk to Ella McHugh and a sacrifice by Damon put a runner on second. So Lichtenberger did a double take on the Donnelly clan. Brooke went down looking and Taylor grounded to short.

Not to be outdone, Luckie struck out the side in the fifth, and the intense duel doubled down in the bottom. After Luckie walked to lead off the bottom, Caitlyn Wolf snared Serima’s line drive and stepped on first for the double play.

Capperelli fly to center ended the inning and Mahopac teed up again. Unfortunately, Behun was thrown out on her bunt attempt, Sam Ereditario grounded to short and Camdyn Wilson flew to center.

Undeterred, the Mahopac bulldog got the side in order and now it was Lichtenberger’s turn to take matters into her own hands. “It was a good feeling for a second,” said the pitcher, but luck would have her long drive go foul.

Then hit by Luckie’s pitch, the tying run seemed like it was coming to the plate. Instead, the umpire ruled that the batter didn’t attempt to get out of the way, and Lichtenberger had to gear up again.

A called third strike sent Lichtenberger down and Luckie retired Wanner and LaFaro for the complete game shutout. Still, the loss had Behun looking at the positive. “Even being a 20 seed, we showed that we have fight,” said junior.

And Lichtenberger predicts plenty of carry over. “We almost have everyone returning,” she said. “I think we can make a run next year.”

No doubt, Giansante agrees. “A super young team,” the coach concluded, “there’s lots of room to grow.”

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