The Westmoreland Lady Bulldogs Softball team entered today's Center State Conference matchup with the visiting Rome Catholic Red Wings with a fine season under their belts so far, amassing a record of (9-2) overall and (5-2) in the CSC-3. The Red Wings, on the other hand, are very young, relatively inexperienced and have struggled a bit starting out (2-7) in league play and (2-9) overall.
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As Spring conditions once again took hold today, Westmoreland pitcher Christina Rondenelli got the ball for the Lady Bulldogs, facing Rome Catholic's Jessica Hartman.
Rondenelli got RCH's first three hitters on just seven pitches in the top half of the first to give the home club a nice momentum boost early.
(Westmoreland pitcher Christina Rondenelli (10) fires a first inning pitch.)
The Lady Bulldogs did what they do best, HIT THE BALL HARD, in the bottom of the first when Molly Peckham reached base on a bunt single.
Two outs later, Westmoreland's Ciara Nolan and Allie Schremmer rapped consecutive singles to score Peckham, giving the Dogs a 1-0 lead.
The young Red Wings mounted a threat in the top of the second when Mya Domenico singled to start things off.
A one out walk to Megan Melioris and a quick stolen base put runners at second and third. Rondenelli worked her magic however, getting RCH's Sydney Reynolds and Shelby Dillman to fly out and ground out respectively to end the threat.
(Westmoreland shortstop Molly Peckham (3) throws around RCH baserunner Mya Domenico (40) on a 4th inning double play try.)
The home half of the second saw the older, more experienced Lady Bulldogs not only growl at their fine feathered opponents, but also chase them down the street like scared mail carriers.
Marissa Pietruch, Tiffany Rundle, Jessica Gerace, Molly Peckham, Gabby Murphy, Jen Munn, Ciara Nolan and Allie Schremmer all came around to score for the Lady Bulldogs before Rome Catholic could manage an out.
Rundle would score her second run of the inning, Westmoreland's 10th run of the game, when the Lady Red Wings committed their fouth error of the inning with two outs.
The big hits of the inning were two RBI doubles by Ciara Nolan and Schremmer, sending the Lady Bulldogs to a 11-0 advantage after two innings.
Christina Rondenelli went out and methodically set the Red Wings down 1-2-3 in the top of the third, giving Westmoreland a quick return to offense.
(Westmoreland's Ciara Nolan (11) turns on a second inning pitch.)
Gabby Murphy led the home half of the third with a stand up triple and later scored on a one out fielder's choice off the bat of, who else, Ciara Nolan, to make it 11-0 Westmo, which is the way we'd go to the fourth.
The Red Wings showed some real moxy in the visitor's portion of the fourth when Megan Melirois ripped a double to score Mackenzie Spellacy and Mya Domenico to pull the red team within 11-2.
Rondenelli dug deep again and ended the RCH threat getting Shelby Dillman to pop out to first to end the inning.
RCH pitcher Jessica Hartman had her best inning in the bottom of the fourth, facing just 4 Lady Bulldogs hitters and getting 3 quick outs.
Rondenelli was on cruise control in the 5th, 6th and 7th frames, facing just 11 Lady Red Wings batters, without allowing a hit or another run.
(Rome Catholic third baseman Mackenzie Spellacy (10) watches her throw sail to first base for a third inning put out.)
Westmoreland tacked on 3 runs in the bottom of the fifth when Minn, Nolan and Schremmer scored, with the big bang coming off the 2 RBI single from Schremmer, who was later brought in on a single by Tiffany Rundle, to make it 14-2 after five.
Westmoreland's 15th run of the contest came in the home half of the 6th when Miss RBI - Ciara Nolan, singled home Gabby Murphy to put this away for the Lady Bulldogs, 15-2.
Christina Rondenelli got the win of Westmoreland (6-2, 10-2), going all 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on just 4 hits, while striking out 5 and walking just 3.
Jessica Hartman suffered the loss of RCH (2-8, 2-10), giving up 15 runs on 11 hits, striking out 3 and walking 4.
Ciara Nolan was 4 for 5 for Westmoreland, with 3 singles, a double, 4 runs scored and 4 RBI in the winning effort.
Westmoreland 15 Rome Catholic 2
Box Score
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
RCH 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 8
Westmoreland 1 9 1 0 3 1 x 15 11 1
