Eastchester Alexis Ventarola’s RBI single snapped a scoreless tie with Tappan Zee in the top of the eighth inning, but it was a two-out, two-run double by Mikayla DiNapoli that proved to be the difference Monday.
Tappan Zee made it close but the visiting Eagles held on for the 3-2 victory.
Winning pitcher Francesca Chiodi led off the top of the eighth with a hit to right field and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Casey Dell’Aera. Ventarola followed with a single to left to drive in Chiodi.
“She had been working the corners a lot,” Ventarola said of Tappan Zee ace Paulina Gutkin, who allowed eight hits and struck out 10. “I knew I needed to go with the pitch instead of trying to pull it.”
Victoria Biancavilla reached on a fielder’s choice, and advanced to second on a base hit by Jen Tomany. DiNapoli’s two-run double provided what proved to be the winning run.
“I just knew I needed to help my team out,” DiNapoli said. “I knew I needed to get the run in. I just knew I had to put the ball in play.”
The Eagles needed all three runs because the Dutchies, the reigning Section 1 Class A champions, didn’t make things easy for Chiodi in the bottom of the inning.
Gutkin led off with a double to center. Meagan Trozzo reached on a two-base error, allowing Gutkin to score. Kelly Connolly doubled home Trozzo to cut the Eagles’ lead to 3-2.
“When I walked in that box I knew I was getting a hit for my team,” Connolly said. “The momentum started to change and I really thought we were going to get either a run to tie or two more to win it.”
Chiodi settled down and retired the next three batters to nail down the win. She allowed one earned run and eight hits while striking out 11.
Best of the rest:
Sara Herskowitz went 5 for 5 with a double and four RBI in Clarkstown South’s 10-4 win at Mamaroneck. … Ellen Gardon had a double, a home run, a walk and two RBI in Pelham’s 3-2 win over New Rochelle. Teammate Kiera O’Conner gets her first varsity win, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two. … Molly Leitner allowed two earned runs and struck out nine in Holy Child’s 9-3 win over King. … Catie Bradshaw went 4 for 4 with a triple and two RBI in Ursuline’s 13-0 win over Kennedy.
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