Talk about a fired up bunch of Pirates. The Mohawk Valley Lady Pirates 12U girls softball team played like a team on a mission, a championship mission, that is. With Tuesday night's 14-0 win over Whitesboro in the Senior Girls Softball League, the Pirates sent notice to the league that they are the team to beat.
How good is this team? Well, first of all they laid a licking on a roster full of 14U players, some good ones at that.
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The winners entered the league semi with a record of (9-1) in the regular season and now own a (2-0) playoff record as they await Thursday's finals. The Pirates roster is made up of players from New Hartford, Utica, Marcy-Deerfield, and Whitestown.
Manager Pete Acquaviva and coach Frank Curriere get an "A" in chemistry for the way this team has come together as an all-for-one, one-for-all, band of Pirates.
(MV Pirate starter Leah Harter wheels and delivers.)
Whitesboro entered play (4-6) in regular season action and end the post-season with a record of (1-1).
At this level, the first thing you need to watch for in warmups are the pitchers. If you see a smooth, powerful pitcher pop the catchers mitt in warmups you usually see the winning side.
Mackenzie Holbert races home with an early run.
While watching Pirates starter Leah Harter warmup, I had a sense that she was ready to go.
When the dust settled and the Pirates put a big W in their collective pockets, Harter had not only shut out Whitesboro, but she also struck out 7, walked none and allowed just two first inning hits.
The righty got stronger as the game moved along to its swift conclusion. So strong that Leah was named the MTHS/Babe's Macaroni Grill & Bar Player of the Game.
(#10 Kara Karratt tries to corall throw as Dana DelGenio slides into second.)
An honor that could have been dispensed to several members of this well oiled machine. Harter's battery mate Emily Acquaviva had a great night behind the plate defensively and did plenty of damage at the dish, rapping an RBI triple and scoring a run.
Second basemen Courtney Morton ripped off three singles and drove in 3 runs for the victors. Marlena Irizarry had two hits and scored 2 runs.
Ondrea Bradley hopes to make her way home.
Third basemen Mackenzie Holbert was in a groove at the plate, driving in 3 runs, singling twice and scoring 2 runs. It was that type of night for the Lady Pirates!
Whitesboro had the first shot to establish some offense and had its best chance to rattle Leah Harter in the first inning. After a quick strikeout, catcher Alexa Wojtowycz beat out an infield single and ended up in scoring position.
(Emily Deck got the start for Whitesboro.)
Second basemen, Rachel Mahoney, hit a nubber that rolled out in front of the plate. It looked like trouble and back to back hits for Whitesboro, until Pirates catcher Emily Acquaviva displayed cat like reflexes and sprung up from behind the plate to pounce on the slow roller and whip a throw to first basemen Brianna Parks to pick up the second out of the inning.
Starting pitcher Emily Deck had a chance to help her own cause and did, singling down the third baseline to keep the early threat alive.
The rally ended when Harter reached back and struck out the next Whitesboro batter.
Good teams look for knock out punches early in big games.
The Pirates delivered a haymaker to the team in blue as they sent 10 batters to the plate and speaking of the plate, plated 6 big runs to let Whitesboro know it would be a long, but short night.
Courtney Morton got the carousel ride in motion as she stepped to the plate and singled to right. Morton would score the team's first run when she was chased home by Emily Acquaviva who tripled to deep left and slid safely into third giving her team a 1-0 lead.
The speedy catcher bounced up in a hurry to celebrate her triple and said excitedly, "Oh my God.. did I do that?" You sure did.
(Emily Aquaviva motors into third after blasting a triple.)
The next run batted in was earned by Brianna Parks, who singled to right. When the circus ride stopped, six runs had scored and Whitesboro was on the ropes.
An inning ending double play, started by pitcher Emily Deck, ended the first.
Three more runs in the bottom of the second, by the marauding Pirates, left little doubt about who would reach the league finals.
Ashley Robinson rips a double for the Lady Pirates.
Ashley Robinson doubled to deep right to start the rally and later scored to make it 7-0. Mackenzie Holbert doubled to drive in two runs and Dan Delgenio singled to pick up an RBI of her own. It was 0-9 after just two at bats.
The deal was sealed in the fourth when four more Pirates circled the basepaths. Mackenzie Holbert was at it again with and RBI single.
(Pirates get ready to celebrate big win.)
It was Mary Kate Alessandrini's turn to drive in a run of her own. It was 14-0 when the at bat ended.
From there Leah Harter and company cruised home for the big playoff win.
To put an exclamation point on the night, Harter struck out the side in the fifth. The game was shortened to five innings due to the league's mercy rule.
Congratulations to both teams and good luck to the Mohawk Valley Pirates in the finals on Thursday night.
For Whitesboro coaches Bob Balfe, Rick Mahoney and Tim Beha the season ends, but the future looks bright for their up and coming team.
Special thanks to, my good friend, Jeff Robinson for the invitation. The MHTS Summer Fun Tour was glad to visit.
( Player Leah Harter Babe's Player of the Game poses with coaches and her dad. Left to right: Frank Crurriere, Leah Harter, Pete Acquaviva, John Harter.)
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Mohawk Valley Pirates 14 Whitesboro 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 R H
Whitesboro 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 2
Mohawk Valley 6 3 0 5 X X 14 12
