1 day Ago By Matt Smith
SPRINGFIELD — There was no shortage of good vibes for Springfield in Monday’s Central League showdown against Haverford. Chief among them was ace Payton Feeney reaching a major milestone: her 500th career strikeout. The junior was honored after the game with flowers from her family and a celebratory photo with her teammates at home plate.
Feeney was in total command from the start, carving up the Haverford lineup. She entered the seventh inning three outs away from a no-hitter, but Lucy Ardizzi broke it up with a perfectly placed bunt single down the third-base line. It was a heads-up play from a speedy hitter, so Springfield had no issue with the Fords trying to manufacture offense.
“I kind of knew I had a no-hitter,” Feeney said. “But it’s fine, I don’t care.” All that mattered was sealing the 4-0 victory.
The All-Delco Feeney tossed yet another complete game shutout – one of many in her excellent high school career – allowing just the lone infield hit while racking up 13 strikeouts. And while Feeney was nearly untouchable in the circle, Springfield’s power trio of Fiona McLaughlin, Arianna Maccario and Maggie Poiesz stole some of the spotlight with a home run apiece to power the Cougars’ offense. The early fireworks came courtesy of McLaughlin, who absolutely torched a pitch to dead center in the first inning, a no-doubter that brought home Feeney (who had singled) and gave Springfield a quick 2-0 lead.
“We definitely have a lot of power on the team and we were laying off on the riseballs, which was really good today,” said the sophomore McLaughlin, who later tacked on a single in the sixth. “I know we’re home run hitters and we definitely hit home runs today.” Then came Arianna Maccario, who decided it was her turn to make a little noise at the dish.
The lefty roped an opposite-field shot for her first high school home run in the fourth inning, and as she rounded first base with arms in the air and an expression of pure shock-meets-joy, it was clear she wasn’t quite expecting it. “I was pretty hyped,” Maccario admitted. “I’ve been working on trying to do that.
” Like trying to hit the ball the other way? “No, just like hitting a home run in general.” Mission accomplished. And not to be left out of the long-ball lovefest was leadoff hitter Maggie Poiesz, whose sixth-inning blast, a laser to left, gave the Cougars a 4-0 cushion and completed the home run hat trick.
Poiesz also had a single in the first inning. Feeney became the second Delco softball hurler to reach 500 career strikeouts this month, joining Cardinal O’Hara’s Hayden Sissons. “It feels pretty good,” she said.
Feeney credited her batterymate, senior catcher Nikki Morrison, for helping her achieve the big milestone. “I have a great catcher, and Nikki always calls a great game, too,” Feeney said. Feeney dazzled from the circle all day.
After issuing a lead off walk to Mya Hubley to begin the game, she retired 18 in a row and at one point struck out seven straight Fords (8-4). “My riseball and screwball are my two most dominant pitches,” Feeney said. “I threw them to the majority of batters and they were really working today.
” The Cougars (7-3) are a relatively young squad still finding their stride, with Morrison serving as the team’s only senior. After dropping their first two games to undefeated Marple Newtown, the reigning District 1 Class 5A champion, and Inter-Ac League powerhouse Episcopal Academy, they’ve been on a roll. Springfield has won seven of its last eight contests, with the lone blemish in that stretch being a 4-3 loss to rival Conestoga.
“I just feel like we’re morally a really good group altogether,” Maccario said. “And we’re getting better.” Ali Daly pitched well in defeat for Haverford, allowing five hits and four runs in four innings of work.
She struck out three and walked none. In other Central League games: Garnet Valley 17, Penncrest 4 >> Sophie Maitland had a big day at the dish for the Jaguars, going 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs. Zoey Rogers added a triple, two RBIs and four runs scored, while Arieanna Mendoza went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.
Ashlyn Thompson pitched a six-inning complete game, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out seven. Charlotte Goldstein had a hit and two RBIs for the Lions. Marple Newtown 15, Upper Darby 0 >> Siena Adams collected three hits, including a double, scored two runs and knocked in two from the leadoff spot.
Catie Thomas legged out a pair of doubles, scored three runs and drove in two. Kirsten Adams went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Nicole Semerjian went 2-for-2 with a double, four runs scored and three RBIs.
Ava Kelly and Maggie Coupe combined to throw a one-hitter. In the Ches-Mont League: Downingtown East 8, Sun Valley 3 >> Abby Moran and Madison Chadwick, who doubled, each had a hit and an RBI for the Vanguards. Jordyn Skarren struck out eight in the circle and had two hits.
In nonleague play: Interboro 10, Central Bucks South 5 >> Olivia Bulovas had a seven-RBI game for the Bucs (7-2). She blasted a three-run homer in the first inning, a two-run shot in the third, and smoked a two-run double in the fifth. Vanessa Harrity singled and knocked in two runs, while Ava Rudolph and Ava Magee both doubled.
Jules Bergen (five K’s) pitched a complete game. Villa Maria 8, Archbishop Carroll 6 >> Dakota Johnson went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs for the Patriots. Emily Russ contributed two hits and a pair of ribbies.
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