Thursday, December 7, 2023

Defense, pitching key in Independence’s 5-1 win over St. Basil

Independence’s run to the Division III regional finals last season didn’t happen by accident. The Blue Devils used dominating pitching, defense and clutch hitting to win their first district title and come within one win of playing in the state tournament.

After a 5-1 win over St. Basil (PA) on Monday at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando it appears the Blue Devils haven’t changed their winning formula.

Senior Victoria Sirna allowed just one run on two hits to pick up the win and senior Nicole Ferrara threw out a runner at the plate to preserve Independence’s early 2-1 lead.

“We’re happy,” said Independence coach Garry Moore. “As much as we struggled we made the plays when we had to. We played good defense, not all of them, but they made the plays when they had to. It’s a work in progress.”

With Independence leading by a run in the second, Ferrara fielded a ball in center field and threw a strike to senior catcher Halle Dorko to end St. Basil’s threat.”

“Not gonna’ lie, but after I released it I thought it was way over Halle’s head but it wasn’t,” Ferrara said. “It was perfect. It was a great feeling because at the time the score was 2-1 and we stopped the rally they had going. Halle acted as the wall and did not let the girl reach home. It was awesome.”

Dorko finished the game 2-for-3 with a run batted in and Sirna also was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Kim Rega, Mallory Trombetta and Ferrara all had hits for the Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils, who play a pair of games on Tuesday, are much younger than last season.

Sirna, Dorko and Ferrara return up the middle and junior Katie George is back for her third straight season at shortstop and senior Larissa Adams is a returning starter in right field. The rest of the Independence lineup features freshmen Maggie George and Sophia Trombetta, at third base and left field, respectively, sophomore Sophie Piteo at second base and junior Mallory Trombetta at first. Mallory Trombetta is in her first season with the Blue Devils.

“There are a lot of questions that need to be answered (early in the season),” Moore said. “We still don’t have the answers but we’re finding out.”
 

Steve Hare
Steve Harehttp://www.ohiovarsity.com
Steve Hare is the Chagrin Valley Conference's Sports Information Director. He also created and publishes OhioVarsity.com, an online publication dedicated to providing hyperlocal coverage to area high school athletic programs. Hare began covering high school sports for the Lake County News Herald in 1997. Hare attended Willoughby South High School through the middle of his senior year, then graduated from Berkshire High School in Burton in 1986. He played football, wrestled and was an all-Geauga county baseball player (1986). He lives in Chardon with his wife Paulette and their children.

Related Articles

Stay Connected

1,045FansLike
3,810FollowersFollow
364SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Articles

Madison rallies for win over Geneva in key Lake Division contest

Madison rallied back from a 15-point halftime deficit to defeat Geneva in a key CVC Lake Division Contest, 52-48.

CVC lands 20 on Division IV/V All-Ohio Teams

The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association on Tuesday released its Division IV and V All-Ohio teams, which included 20 players from the Chagrin Valley Conference.

CVC lands 21 on Division VI All-Ohio Team

Kirtland senior linebacker Rocco Alfieri headlines a group of 21 Chagrin Valley Conference football players to earn Division VI All-Ohio honors.
00:00:00

2023-2024 CVC Winter Sports Media Day-Cardinal

CVC TV closes out its 2023-2024 Winter Sports Media Day tour at Cardinal High School on Sunday, Dec. 3.

Edgewood tops West Geauga in home opener

Good teams protect their home court and Edgewood did just that in their home opener on Saturday against West Geauga.