The hit of the party
Canon-McMillan coach Michele Moellercongratulates Abby McCartney after McCartney hit a three-run homer in the third inning during Thursday’s game against Peters Township.
Peters Township’s Kellyn Perich pitches during the fifth inning Thursday.
MCMURRAY – When pitcher Alayna Astuto had a line drive deflect off her glove and then her forearm in the fifth inning of Thursday’s softball game against Peters Township, the Canon-McMillan senior assured everyone she was OK with a smile visible through her face protector.
Dodging such a bullet – literally and figuratively – was certainly a sigh of relief, but Thursday’s 7-0 win for the Big Macs gave Astuto something else to celebrate: the fact that she doesn’t have to face catcher Abby McCartney or third baseman Olivia Lorusso.
The pair crushed back-to-back home runs in the Big Macs’ five-run third inning, McCartney’s a three-run blast that landed atop the hill in left center at Elm Grove Park, Lorusso’s a laser to left.
“I’m glad they’re on my team,” Astuto said.
With regular catcher Giorgiana Zeremenko out another week or two with a shoulder injury, McCartney has taken over behind the plate. The prolific hitting – a .934 slugging percentage as an all-state freshman last spring – well, yeah, that’s there, too.
“We’re a strong hitting team,” McCartney said. “We’re definitely our power hitters, and we can’t wait to have Giorgiana back in our lineup.”
Or Linda Rush, the team’s freshman shortstop and No. 3 hitter. Or her sister, Kirsten, who already has two homers.
“It’s nice to have their bats,” Canon-McMillan coach Michele Moeller said. “We expect them to hit, and I think they expect to hit.”
Astuto gave up an infield single to start the game, then allowed three baserunners the rest of the way on a hit batter, a walk and an error. None advanced past second base, as Astuto racked up eight strikeouts.
The win helped Canon-McMillan (5-0, 5-1) take sole possession of first place in Section 4-AAAA and gives the Big Macs seven or more runs in four of their five section games.
Left fielder Tara Fowler led off the third with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from right fielder Taylor Bruno. Center fielder Yaszmin Kotar reached on an error that scored Fowler before McCartney turned on a 1-2 pitch. A few minutes later, so did Lorusso.
“Couple missed pitches ahead in the count,” Peters Township coach Bob Bowers said. “We paid the price.”
McCartney walked and Lorusso doubled to start the fifth. Second baseman Ally Bellaire’s grounder scored one, and Fowler’s third hit of the game made it 7-0.
“That’s great for her confidence, and that’s what we need for her to do,” Moeller said of Fowler.
Peters Township’s Hannah Berardino legged out an infield single and pitcher Kellyn Perich struck out eight, but there was little the Indians (4-2, 10-2) could do against McCartney, Lorusso and the rest of Canon-McMillan’s hot-hitting lineup.
Save, maybe, for hiding their bats or lobbying to have the fences pushed back.
“Oh, c’mon. It’s crazy,” Moeller said when asked what it was like to have McCartney and Lorusso hit back-to-back. “That’s something we talk about, how one swing can change the game, whether it’s for us or against us.
“A lot of teams have hitters who can put it over. Years ago you didn’t see it that much. And (McCartney and Lorusso) really aren’t the only two who can do that for us.”