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Photo Vincent Guadazno
Sammy Lomba pushes a bunt. |
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Lady Fishermen trample Chatham
By Kevin Mullaney
Banner Correspondent
Good hitting, aggressive base running and solid fielding have earned the extremely young Provincetown High School softball team a spot in the post-season tourney for the second year in a row.
At 5-5, the Lady Fishermen had to win two of their last four games to make the tourney, beginning with a double-header on Thursday against Cape Tech up at Motta Field. Team captain Holly Rose homered and the home team found itself down by one, 4-3, in their last at bat. And they nearly pulled it off. With runners on second and third, left fielder Molly Costa was robbed by a fine catch off her hard shot to center field that ended the game.
The Lady Fishermen found themselves trailing by three, 10-7, in the nightcap and needed a rally in the last inning to keep their playoff hopes alive. And Emma Silva began it with a bunt single. She then made second, third and scored on pass balls. The Cape Tech pitcher got wild and walked the next three batters, loading the bases for a bloop single by Holly Rose that scored two runs. Sammy Lomba then drove in two runs. Relief pitcher Chelsea Roderick held for the 13-10 win. Holly and Simone Rose, Sammy Lomba and Molly Costa each had two hits in the game.
With a record of 6-6, the girls walloped Chatham 29-13 on Sunday to clinch the playoff spot, scoring 21 runs in one inning — a rally that included 18 walks. PHS coach Michael Manley said that Chatham came in shorthanded, including missing their two pitchers.
“We hit pretty well, but their pitchers couldn’t get it over the plate,” he said.
“I think everybody had us losing that second game [against Cape Tech],” Manley said of the come-from-behind win. “Win or lose, I told them I was proud of them.”
Manley said the girls practiced 100 hours in the last two months and he told the team to take a break after the Chatham game, but the girls wanted more practice.
“This team is really together,” said Manley. “They’re swinging the bat and making contact. Base running is a highlight, very aggressive.” They’ve only been thrown out stealing twice, he said. “They like to run.”
“Holly makes the team go,” he said of third baseman Rose. “She keeps them together and she made some tremendous plays in the Chatham game.”
He described how she stopped a rally with the catch of a line drive and tagging third base for a double play. “Teams don’t want to pitch to her. She’s always on base. Sammy Lomba is always on base, always scores,” he said of the freshman shortstop. Eighth grader Simone Rose has now moved permanently to center field, from pitching, where her glove is invaluable. And with Molly Costa in left and right fielders Natalie and Brittany Silva, Manley has great confidence in his outfield.
“Molly is 12 for 12 in stolen bases,” Manley said. “Brittany Silva has been tremendous behind the plate,” he said of his catcher.
Now 7-6, the softball team plays at Mashpee on Thursday for their regular season ender.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” said John White, athletic director and baseball coach, of the girls’ season. “Mike does such a great job with those girls,” he said of Manley and also complimented assistant coach Heather Roderick on her contribution. “They‘ve won some big games. It’s a good group of girls, in all sports. Just to get into the playoffs is an accomplishment. These girls deserve it.”
The baseball team lost to the playoff-bound Chatham Blue Devils 10-1 on Thursday and 16-1 at home on Monday. Now 2-13, the Fishermen play a double-header against Cape Tech, then end the season at Mashpee on Thursday.
“Have we improved? Yes we have,” White said of his young squad. “Improving was our goal for the year. Hopefully we can build off this.”
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PHS Sports
Nauset Sports |
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May 22nd, 2008