Independence closed out its spring break trip at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex with a 4-3 win over Egg Harbor High School (NJ).
The Blue Devils, who reached a Division III regional championship game last season, had several question marks entering this season. After a 4-0 week in Florida and a win over a New Jersey powerhouse, head coach Garry Moore believes his team has what it takes to make another post-season run.
“The questions were answered,” Moore said. “You never know how they’ll react when the pressure is on. I was very surprised but very pleased. I thought I knew what I had but you never really know until the pressure is on.”
The pressure wasn’t any higher than it was in the bottom of the seventh inning of the win over Egg Harbor. Independence led 4-3 but the Eagles had runners at first and second with no outs.
Junior first baseman Mallory Trombetta, a standout on the Independence volleyball team who hasn’t played softball since she was 10, snagged a screaming line drive headed for the right field line and stepped on first base to double up the Egg Harbor runner at first.
Junior Katie George then fielded a ground ball at shortstop and threw out the runner at first to seal Independence’s fourth straight win and hand Egg Harbor its first loss of the season.
“That shows a lot,” Moore said. “That team came back in the bottom of the seventh to score two runs on us and we pulled a nice double play to win it. It shows a lot of character in these kids. That’s the best team we’ve played in the last couple of years. They’re stacked.”
The Blue Devils scored two runs in the second off a double steal and senior Victoria Sirna blasted a solo homer in the fifth.
“She crushed it,” Moore said of Sirna’s blast. “The fence was 240 (feet) and she had to put it about 260. Even the fans on the other side were in awe when she hit that ball.”
Freshman Kim Rega tripled and stole home to close out the scoring for the Blue Devils.
Sirna struck out seven to pick up her third win of the year and senior Nicole Ferrara was 2-for-3. Senior catcher Halle Dorko threw out two runners attempting to steal.
Independence will fly back to Ohio on Friday and is scheduled to open Chagrin Valley Conference play at Aurora on Monday.
