Jessica Signore made sure her Preston team celebrated a playoff win before they got to do the same for her birthday.
“I’m happy we won,” the 17-year-old shortstop said. “I’m happy I got a hit."
Signore was the Panthers leadoff hitter her first two seasons, but moved to the No. 3 spot this year. She showed off both skills in a 7-3 win over visiting Notre Dame Academy at Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park in the CHSAA Archdiocesan softball semifinals Saturday. She led off a two-run third with a single and scored a run, had an RBI single in the fifth and a two-run double in the sixth. Her team sang "Happy Birthday" after and celebrated with cupcakes.
Denis Gostev
Preston's Jessica Signore had a big day at the plate against Notre Dame Academy.
Photos: Preston-Notre Dame
Denis Gostev
Preston's Julianna Orrico delivers a pitch in relief.
Photos: Preston-Notre Dame
“She’s just a real gamer," Preston coach Rachel Mazza said. “She shows passion, leadership. She is just a true captain.”
Mazza told her team before the contest that these were the games she prepared them for all year, by playing some of the city’s best squads. Preston lost in the quarterfinals last season and has not been able to break through into the diocesan final.
Both Mazza and Signore believe this team gives the Bronx school its best chance in recent years because of its versatility, even with the graduation of four-year star Laura Montalto. The Panthers (14-1) host defending champion Moore Catholic 2 p.m. Sunday in the semis. The Mavericks came back in the last inning to win two games against Preston back in late March and Mazza said her team will need to play better than it did against NDA to come away with a victory.
“We are very evenly matched,” she said. “They know they should have never given those games away.”
The CHSAA Bronx/Westchester division champion needed a boast after Notre Dame (3-10) took a 2-1 lead in the second inning thanks to a two-run single from Gabby Piscopo. Preston, with help from four walks, scored twice on a Gators throwing error in the second and Julianna Orrico and Kitty Lajqi both drove in runs in the third to extend the lead to 5-2. Panthers starter Megan Kelly allowed five hits and struck out five in five innings of work before Orrico came on in relief.
“When we see a team takes the lead it just sparks us even more that we got to hit,” Orrico said.
Gators coach Tony Curatolo left pleased with the strides his young team – three seniors, three freshmen – showed. He felt the third inning and the walks by starter Amanda Guarino helped take the momentum they had built away. His squad did get a run back in the fifth on a Leanne Forsyth double and had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, but could not score.
“I thought we played well, not too many mistakes,” Curatolo said. “I’m happy with them. They are yong and we played tough all year.”
Tough is exactly what Preston is trying to be on Moore in the semifinal. Signore has been the epitome of that during her three years on the varsity. Even as her role has changed, the production has not.
“I like batting one or two, but being with a young team as a junior now they had to put me somewhere else," Signore said. "That third spot is good enough for me. If I can get those hits with people on base and bring them it that’s fine.”
jstaszewski@nypost.com
Jessica Signore, Notre Dame, Notre Dame Academy, Julianna Orrico, Julianna Orrico ebook download, Panthers, Preston coach Rachel Mazza, Preston, CHSAA Archdiocesan
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น