Softball: Kelly, Liguori shine as Arlington edges rival John Jay-East Fishkill
The overall vibe isn’t the same this season, and that was to be expected, as the Arlington softball team graduated a large senior core. This group now is filled with newcomers, others adjusting to new roles, and everyone seeking to build chemistry with a rebuilt roster.
“Right now, we’re developing skills, getting settled in and seeing who can step forward,” said Admirals coach Dave Ballantyne, whose team returned only three players from last spring. “Many of them haven’t been teammates before, so it’s a lot of me and coach (Steve) Bronzi getting to know them and them getting to know each other.”
In a dugout full of somewhat unfamiliar faces, it certainly was welcoming for Arlington to see a familiar sight Monday: Catherine Kelly delivering a clutch hit and Alyssa Liguori thriving under pressure in the circle.
Kelly drove in a third-inning run and Liguori ensured that was enough, pitching a shutout to lead the Admirals in a 1-0 victory over rival John Jay-East Fishkill.
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“It’s definitely an encouraging win,” Ballantyne said. “Our offense has been hit and miss and we’re a work in progress, but you obviously want to get wins while the team is figuring things out. It’s gonna take some time, but I think we’ve got the talent to compete with anyone.”
Arlington stifled an opponent that entered averaging 13.1 runs in its first six games.
Liguori allowed four hits and a walk and struck out 13 in a complete game, the right-hander complementing a hard fastball with a sharp curve. John Jay’s Nicole Barosa also was dominant, effectively keeping hitters off balance and inducing soft contact.
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But the Admirals broke through in the bottom of the third. Katelyn Wiehe singled and Giovanna Corbin entered as a courtesy runner for the catcher. Harleigh Whalen’s fly ball resulted in an outfield error, putting runners at first and third, and Kelly lined a two-out single to right that scored Corbin.
Kelly earned a reputation the previous two seasons, having come through with several tying and go-ahead hits during Arlington’s runs to the Section 1 Class AA semifinals.
The Patriots did threaten in the fourth, though. Morgan Doughty singled and was bunted to second, then Hannah Greer singled to put runners at first and third with one out. Liguori, however, induced a pop up and then got a strikeout to end the frame.
“She’s had a little wildness at times this year,” Ballantyne said of the junior, “but she’s been able to battle through it. She’s composed and has the velocity to work out of trouble.”
Kelly was 2 for 3 and Liguori hit a double for Arlington (5-2). Wiehe, Whalen and Kylie Rattigan each singled.
Greer, a University of Pittsburgh commit, went 2 for 3 with a double. Barosa gave up six hits and struck out one in a complete game for the Patriots (5-2).
Wiehe is among the returning starters, and she has flourished thus far, despite a shift from first base to behind the plate. That transition, Ballantyne said, has been almost seamless and the senior is batting close to .600.
Whalen, an outfielder who is among the newcomers, has made a strong early impression as a contact hitter. Jocelyn Pepe, the younger sister of former star pitcher Morgan Pepe, is an emerging power bat in the middle of their lineup.
Both the Admirals’ losses came in narrow, nail-biting games. They dropped a 1-0 decision to North Rockland, the defending section champion, and lost 4-2 to Roy C. Ketcham on a two-run walkoff homer.
“Earlier in that game, they robbed a home run from Jocelyn on a catch over the fence,” Ballantyne said of the Ketcham loss. “Both games, against good teams, we had a chance to win. There are positive signs, and I think once we get everything going, we’ll be a contender again.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Softball: Liguori, Kelly lead rebuilding Arlington over rival John Jay
