PERRY–Perry plated 10 first-inning runs, eventually leading to a 14-0 five-inning nonconference win over visiting Wickliffe on Friday.
“Madeline Infalvi, she’s a fire starter; it’s contagious, and they just keep hitting,” said Perry head coach Michella Carino. “It was good to see. We made solid contact, did a nice job coming out and getting after the pitcher right away.”
Ari Rogers broke the ice with a two-run triple and scored on a Rosalyn Tharp single. Madelyn Rupert singled home Tharp, and Sophie Sivon drove in two more runs with a double for a 6-0 lead.
Infalvi picked up an RBI single, Rogers delivered with a two-run double, and Tharp followed with an RBI double for a 10-0 lead after one.
Perry continued to apply pressure, scraping across two more runs in the second with a Sivon RBI single, then Emma Brainard scored on an error for a 12-0 lead after two.
Sivon singled with two outs in the fourth and scored on an Elise Strahan two-out RBI single, then Rogers capped off the five-inning win with her RBI single.
“We did a nice job today against a really good pitcher, so that’s encouraging, and we did well against a good Jefferson team yesterday as well,” Carino said. “Things are starting to come together. The things we practiced early in the season have shown up the last two days, and it’s good to see that things are starting to click going into the postseason. We have some good teams to play next week, and it’s going to be a good test to see where we’re at.”
On deck is a date with the Canfield Cardinals, the reigning 2024 Division II state champions. The Cardinals were the state runners-up in 2023.
“It’s exciting that we are able to play a school of that caliber, and we’re comfortable to go in there to play,” Carino said of facing the reigning champs next week. “They wanted us to play them, and that’s a big compliment to our kids.”
One final cherry on top of the win over Wickliffe was Sivon pitching a five-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts.
“She was phenomenal today,” Carino said of her starter. “She came out and went right after (Wickliffe). Rosalyn Tharp and her have such great chemistry and they worked so well together. Those two are awesome to have on our team, and we’re lucky to have them both.”
Rogers led the offense, going 4-for-5 with five RBI, while Sivon went 3-for-3 with three RBI. Tharp finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Infalvi picked up three hits, while both Rupert and Strahan added two hits with an RBI each.
Sivon earned the win, pitching a no-hitter, allowing three walks with seven punchouts.
Wickliffe dropped to 10-7, with Sophia Ervin, Audrey Musgrave, and Maddie Kita all working walks.
Leigha Blazetic took the loss, going four innings, giving up 11 runs on 16 hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Perry travels to Canfield on May 12, while Wickliffe hosts Kenston on May 10.
