South Blanks Pearl River Softball

Pearl River tried to bring Erin Woods home with a squeeze bunt by Jules Madigan in the sixth inning of Thursday's home game against Clarkstown South, but the Vikings were ready.

"I knew they were going to do a suicide squeeze," Clarkstown South catcher Sara Herskowitz said. "I called bunt. I saw her lay it right to the pitcher. I just called for it and swept across. That was huge. The game would still be going if that didn't happen."

Pearl River put runners on third base in the sixth and seventh innings, but could not score the tying run as Clarkstown South held on for the 1-0 victory at Pearl River.

"It's nice to win an opening game. It's extra special to beat such a good team," Clarkstown South Head Coach Maura Heebink said. "For a young team, and I have a very young team, they stood their ground, played solid defense and connected with the ball."

Thursday's game was the first for Carisa Gaylardo as Pearl River's head coach.

"It's one pitch. One hit," Gaylardo said. "They made the play on the suicide squeeze. Going in, I thought, let's test their defense. Defense wins games and that is what set us apart.

"Every ball we hit was to someone. They were finding holes and they got one over our heads."

That came in the first inning when second baseman Alana Kurtti hit a two-out double deep to right field to bring Herskowitz around all the way from first base with the game's only run. Nicole Ritsick started the rally with the first of her two singles in the contest. Herskowitz followed with a grounder to second baseman Woods, who bobbled it but recovered in time to get the lead runner at second base.

"(Pearl River pitcher Mandy McCarthy) is one of the best pitchers in the county, so if you're hitting her, hopefully we are going to maintain this standard," Heebink said. "The contact we made was very important for their confidence."

McCarthy shut Clarkstown South own the rest of the way. She gave up just the one run on five hits and no walks, striking out three. She also went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles in the contest.

"She did settle in," Gaylardo said. "I think she did great after the first inning."

Heebink said she expected the close game and knew that one run might be all her team got.

"I went back to (sophomore pitcher) Briana (Keaveney) and I said make it stand. Make the run stand," Heebink said. 

Keaveney did just that in her first varsity start, shutting Pearl River out while striking out two, walking three and giving up only four hits.

"She was good," Gaylardo said. "She moved the ball a lot. Our girls were chasing her ball high. She did very well."

The Pirates had opportunities. McCarthy led off the second inning with a double, but she was stranded at third base. The Pirates were also unable to score after putting two runners on in the fourth.

Woods led off the sixth inning with a walk, then stole second base with one out. She advanced to third when McCarthy's high fly ball to right field dropped in for a double after nearly being caught. That led to the squeeze play with Woods being thrown out at home. Katherine Gilbride flew out to center field to end the threat.

Junior third baseman Caroline Kardashian singled with one out and stole second in the bottom of the seventh. She advanced to third on a groundout by Caroline Alicandri, but leadoff batter Sam Alicandri flew out to left field to end the game.

"We will learn from our mistakes and we'll come back Monday and get the next one," Gaylardo said. 

Pearl River's next game is Monday at North Rockland. Clarkstown South will play 11 a.m. Saturday at home against Albertus Magnus.

Softball
Clarkstown South 1, Pearl River 0
Clarkstown South 100 000 0 -- 1-5-1
Pearl River            000 000 0 -- 0-4-0
WP: Brianna Keaveney; LP: Mandy McCarthy
2B: CS - Alana Kurtti; PR - Mandy McCarthy 2