Somers Chistens New Softball Field with 4-0 Victory Over John Jay

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On Thursday April 17, the Somers home opener was just a little more special this year. A brand new field, Coach Theresa Ricci had no problem justifying the work of art. “The girls have worked so hard for this and deserve something as beautiful as this,” she assured. In return, the Tuskers showed their appreciation.

On a two hit, 4-0 shutout by Emily Boyle, Somers proudly took the grand opening.

Now 5-1 on the season, Boyle quickly left her mark on the circle and mostly did so by staying put. She fielded to consecutive grounders for the outs, and then left it to Katie Cole to gobble up the third out at short.

Switching settings, Cole devoured Lyla Dwyer’s one out offering. To deep right center, the lefty went full steam into third for the field’s first hit.

Unfortunately, she was stranded there, so Boyle had to work without a lead. No problem, a ground ball to Alyssa Pirraglia at second, a line drive to Cole, and a fly ball to Kaleigh Conti in center had everyone doing their part, and the bats got another turn.

Dwyer did not give ground, though. She got Boyle on a fly to center, Kiera Griggs to ground to first, and Conti to line out to short.

Onto the top of the third, Boyle remained ready to duel. However, a slow roller to third by Danielle Gonzalez turned into an infield hit, so Katherine Papa put her primary mindset in motion. “I’ll do anything to help my pitcher,” said the catcher. “I don’t want her to throw extra pitches.”

In this case, Leah Barone missed a bunt attempt, and with Caitlin Fitts in to field the play, Gonzalez got a little too comfortable off first. “Alyssa (Pirraglia) snuck right behind her, and I knew we could get her,” said the catcher.

Papa was right, and Boyle yielded two more ground outs to move the game into the bottom of the third. There, Dwyer continued to match up. A walk and a hit by pitch aside, the Patriot struck out the side, and Boyle took her turn.

Of course, the John Jay bats did no better. Around two ground outs, Boyle went off speed and baffled Grace Furry for a strikeout swinging.

The circle mastery seemed like it was going to continue into the bottom of the fourth too. With two outs and Boyle on first, Dwyer looked ready to retire the side.

But Conti had other ideas. The lefty put the bat on the ball, her little bloop to the opposite field dropped, and the misplayed bounce scored Boyle.

Conti at second, Victoria Morel knew there was a premium on insurance and went back to her coach’s words to allay the anxiety. “You always have to go into the box with a plan,” the right fielder conveyed the words.

Ground ball her preference, she settled for a line single to left center, but still credited being ahead of the curve with the bat. “The mindset really helped me,” she said.

A 2-0 lead, Boyle initially remained at the minimum despite giving up a leadoff walk. Katie Cole smoothly fielded Alaina Lugo’s grounder, stepped on second but had some help at first. The throw wide, Fitts made the stretch up the right field line and kept her foot on the bag. “She’s gotten so much better at making sure the ball stays in her glove with her stretches,” boasted Ricci.

Still, a single to left sent Boyle one over the limit. But a ground out to first held the two run margin, and Cole was about to double down. Her one out, opposite field slap had the left side of the outfield converging and the gap proved too big. No collision, the ball still found the ground, and the shortstop pulled up again at third.

Cole’s fists pumping away, this time Fitts delivering her teammate. Softball 101, the first basement went with the pitch, and a ground ball out was enough to extend the lead to 3-0.

Taking the added cushion, Boyle had help keeping it to a minimum again. After a one out walk, Pirraglia started a 4-3-6 double play, and Somers was three outs away.

Not so fast, more insurance was first. Griggs singled to right, and after a wild pitch, Morel had herself a day. The righty went opposite, and another run was in.

4-0, Boyle applied the bow. Two ground balls and a strikeout, the first victory went in the books, which still amounted to Boyle doing her regular number, according to Ricci. “She comes out and puts on a show every single time,” the coach concluded.