Emma Pietrzak hit a three-run home run in an 8-5 win over visiting Edgewood that moved the Pirates back into the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division title hunt.
With the win, the Pirates improved to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Edgewood remains in first place with a 5-2 conference record. Perry has three conference games remaining while Edgewood has two.
“It was a huge confidence boost for us,” said Perry coach Michelle Carino. “We had to move our Senior Night to tonight, so the kids were all pumped up for that and one of our seniors, Emma Pietrzak, came up in a big way with a three-run homer in the first inning when we were down, 1-0. She hit a liner over center field, and it really sparked us. We had an 8-1 lead at one point, and the hit was huge for the team.”
Perry opened its conference schedule this season with a 9-7 loss at Edgewood on April 4. That loss snapped Perry’s 78-game conference win streak.
The Pirates had Thursday’s rematch circled on their calendars.
“That loss hurt,” Pietrzak said. “Luckily for us, tonight was Senior Night and the positive energy from start to finish was impressive and inspiring. Winning this game was arguably the most important of the season, and I’m so proud we were able to turn the tables on a talented team.”
Edgewood could have clinched at least a share of the title with a win and the Warriors went right to work in the first.
Gianna Ianetta drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Mckenna Vencill then singled her home for an early 1-0 lead.
Perry answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning when Lilly Agostine drew a one-out walk, Rosalyn Tharp singled with two outs, and Pietrzak hit the fourth pitch she saw over the center field fence.
Pietrzak hasn’t been herself this season after missing most of her junior campaign recovering from an injury. She had extra motivation to find her stroke against the Warriors.
“I’ve been struggling to make solid contact this season, but as soon as I hit that ball, I knew it was gone,” Pietrzak said. “On Senior Night, the day after attending the funeral of my grandma, that home run meant so much more to me than what meets the eye.”
The Pirates added four more runs in the second.
Maddie Rupert reached on an error and moved to second on Kendra Konrad’s sacrifice bunt and later, pinch runner Tatum Christian scored on a wild pitch. Elise Strahan drew a walk and Agostine doubled to put runners on second and third. Calli Thompson and Tharp hit back-to-back RBI singles, and Sydney Collins added a two-out RBI single that pushed the Perry lead to 7-1.
Rupert walked to start the fourth and scored on Agostine’s sacrifice fly.
The Warriors closed the gap with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
Sophia Paolillo started the Edgewood rally in the sixth when she was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to third on Mackaylee Overly’s single. Lucianna Paolillo followed with an RBI single and Makenna Rhodes later hit a two-out RBI single.
Vencill’s one-out single started the Warriors’ sixth-inning rally.
Sophia Paolillo followed with a double and Overly walked to load the bases for Lucianna Paolillo, who doubled home two runs to close out the scoring.
“They could have let the hits and their offense stream roll into some big innings, but the girls did a nice job buckling down and they made some nice plays to get us out of some jams,” Carino said. “We came through defensively for sure. We had a nice game all the way around, pitching, hitting, and fielding. It all came together today for sure.”
Tharp led the Pirates with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Pietrzak knocked in a team-high three runs.
“In softball, there is nothing more powerful than a lively dugout,” Pietrzak said. “Coming off an emotional Senior Night ceremony, this energy allowed for our early offensive momentum and the seven-run advantage. Edgewood was loud, but we made sure to be louder and make it count.”
Rupert picked up the pitching victory. She allowed five runs on nine hits and fanned two.
Vencill and Lucianna Paolillo both had two hits for Edgewood.
Perry has now won three straight games after a tough stretch in the middle of the season.
“I truly believe we have the offensive depth and defensive talent to make a solid playoff run this year,” Pietrzak said. “We’ve certainly hit our stride, winning three impressive games in the past week or so. Again, this momentum will showcase that Perry is indeed still a softball powerhouse.”
Edgewood can clinch a share of the Lake Division title with a win over Grand Valley on Thursday or a Perry and a Geneva loss. The Pirates need to win out and root for an Edgewood loss to earn a share of the conference title.
