Pearl River Softball Avenges Earlier Loss at South

Pearl River got another shot at Clarkstown South Friday and took full advantage, jumping out to an early lead on the way to a 7-3 victory on the road.

Pearl River racked up 15 hits Vikings pitcher . 

"Everything fell into place today," Pearl River junior pitcher Mandy McCarthy said. "Maybe it was just (because) it was our first game last time. New coach. New outfield. Everything was new. Now we're playing together more. Everything is starting to gel. We started to put it together a little more today."

Pearl River started fast, scoring three runs in the first inning, with McCarthy hitting an RBI single and catcher Deirdre O'Malley adding a sacrifice fly. McCarthy said that big inning became even more important after Clarkstown South catcher Sara Herkowitz responded with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second.

"To still have the lead, even after they got the hme run, we stil had the lead coming out of the inning," McCarthy said. "To be able to come back from that inning and have such strong defense after that, the plays that were made, that is confidence boosting."

Clarkstown South hit three home runs off McCarthy in a victory over Pearl River last season, but Friday she managed to hold the Vikings down until the ninth, when Carly Fever doubled, moved to third on Caitlin Grogan's single and Carly Hausner's groundout. McCarthy gave up only the one run in the inning before closing the Vikings out despite Clarkstown South putting the first two hitters on base. 

"We didn't get timely hits and we didn't find the gaps when we needed to," Clarkstown South Head Coach Maura Heebink said. "Both teams hit the ball well. We hit the ball hard, but we hit them right to them and they made the plays. If you make the plays and you hit well, that's the team that's going to win."

Pearl River added four runs in the fourth inning with McCarthy hitting a two-run single. She finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI while giving up three runs on six hits and a walk in the victory.

Pearl River Head Coach Carisa Gaylardo was encouraged by the team's complete performance Friday, which was good enough for the Pirates to improve their record to 4-2-1. Clarkstown South is 3-2.

"It would be our bats one game, our defense one game. Now they are both on," Gaylardo said. "When you have that, you are going to come out with a win."

Softball
Pearl River 7, Clarkstown South 3
Pearl River            300 400 0 -- 7 15 1
Clarkstown South 200 000 1 -- 3  5  1
WP: Mandy McCarhty: LP Briana Keaveney