Bishop O'Connell handed Paul VI its first WCAC loss of the season.
Paul VI pitcher Julia Moore hurled a no-hitter in her team's 1-0 loss.
By Andrew Zuckerman
To Bishop O'Connell softball coach Tommy Orndorff, Thursday's game against Paul VI wasn't necessarily about payback. Yes, earlier this season, the Panthers handed Orndorff his first conference loss in 122 games. But Orndorff expects to win every time his team takes the field, so this game was no different than the past 18 this year.
Try telling that to the O'Connell players, though.
To them, it was
all about payback. They had been the first O'Connell team to lose a WCAC game since 1999, and that didn't set too well. So when Paul VI visited O'Connell, the Knights had one thing on their mind: revenge.
"We really wanted to get them back from last game," Madeleine Giaquinto said.
Senior ace Colleen Carty pitched a two-hitter, and Giaquinto's suicide squeeze in the bottom of the sixth broke a scoreless tie, as O'Connell got its revenge by beating Paul VI 1-0 in a pitcher's duel.
"It’s two good teams, to my estimation probably the two best teams in the WCAC," Orndorff said. "So you knew it was going to be a one-run ballgame. To refer to it as payback – it feels good. So if that’s what it was, it’s a good feeling."
Carty struck out eight, retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced and didn't allow a Paul VI runner past second base. Her counterpart, Julia Moore, was just as good. In fact, Moore pitched a no-hitter in the losing effort, but constantly got herself into jams by issuing nine walks.
As the game progressed, it was evident that one run would very likely be enough to win the ballgame. And that run came in the sixth inning.
Catcher Sophie Giaquinto led off the inning with a walk and Tori Portell came in to run for her. Maria Zavala laid down a bunt, but the throw was low and Portell raced around to third base. That's when Madeleine Giaquinto stepped up and received the sign for a suicide squeeze.
"I was kind of nervous when I got the signal," Madeliene Giaqeuinto said. "But I just knew I had to get it down there."
She executed the bunt so well that there was no play at the plate as Sophie Giaquinto scored to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.
Even though O'Connell couldn't muster a hit, Orndorff was still pleased the Knights were able to take advantage of Paul VI's mistakes.
"I’ve done this for 40 years. I’ve seen it before, but it’s been rare," Orndorff said of being no-hit in a winning effort. "We capitalized when the opportunity presented itself. So much in this sport – people don’t realize – it’s a game of missed opportunities and mistakes. Fortunately we capitalzed."
From there, Carty retired the final three Paul VI batters with ease, like she had done all game.
Carty came into the game remembering how Paul VI (14-2, 13-1 WCAC) had beaten O'Connell (15-4, 11-3) earlier this season, and she didn't like that losing feeling one bit.
"Well, they had beat us once, and I really did not want to lose again," Carty said. "So the mindset was pretty much focused and mad and just wanting to win."
Paul VI can still clinch the WCAC regular season title with a win in one of their final two games against Elizabeth Seton and Bishop Ireton. And if these two teams meet again in the postseason, it will be the Panthers looking for payback this time around.
Paul VI @ Bishop O'Connell softball
P - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 1
B - 0 0 0 0 0 1 X - 1 0 0
W - Colleen Carty
L - Julia Moore