Henry takes advantage of opportunities, wins league opener

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 4, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

DEL CERRO – On the opening day of City Western League play, runs were a premium as the Patrick Henry Patriots (9-3, 1-0 CWL) held onto beat the visiting Cathedral Catholic Dons 3-2 on Tuesday (May 4).

Both teams came into the contest highly ranked in the latest edition of the MaxPreps rankings for Division One with the Patriots No. 9 and the Dons at No. 11.

Early on Patrick Henry was able to take an early lead thanks to a two-out base hit by Olivia Gigante (2-2, RBI) to score Kaiah Altmeyer (R, SB) who led off the inning with a walk.

Cathedral Catholic (9-6, 0-1 CWL) would threaten in the top of the second inning as Ava Torre led off with a walk and Jenna Mello (1-2, SB) followed with a base hit. But Gigante who got the starting nod buckled down and was able to get out of the inning without any harm.

Still leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning the Patriots were able to mount a two-out offense starting with a walk by Dezianna Patmon (RUN), Gigante followed with a base hit and Savannah Sutton walked to load the bases.

With two outs and the bases packed the next batter Sydney Newton (2-3, R, 2B) on a 1-1 count was able to hit an infield single that brought home Patmon to make it 2-0.

The Dons though scratched a run back in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out base hit by Sophia Manos (1-3, RBI) to pull within 2-1.

With both teams pitching not allowing any ground to be had the game would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Patrick Henry scored what would be an insurance run to lead 3-1.

Leading off the bottom of the sixth inning McKenna Gieger (1-3) singled to left field, she would be replaced by Lily Glenn (RUN) to run, she would advance to second on a wild pitch and would score on a sacrifice by Malia Savage.

The run by the Patriots would be an important one as the Dons were able to get a run back in the top of the seventh inning to pull within 3-2. Dons Mallory Axline (2-3, RBI) would drive in Shea Johnson. Cathedral with two outs would have the game-tying run on second base thanks to a walk but Gigante was able to get the next batter to ground out to end the game.

Dons starter Anna Herrmann who took the loss allowed three runs on five hits while walking six and striking out four in six innings of work.

For the Patriots, Gigante went the distance for the complete-game victory in which she allowed two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out four on the day.