SOMERS, N.Y. - On Friday, May 1, Somers put its undefeated record on the line at Primrose against Croton-Harmon, and the Tuskers wasted no time getting to work.
After Emily Boyle struck out the side, Somers got right into its familiar mix of small ball and power in the bottom of the inning. Julia Peanamanda walked, Gianna Peanamanda moved her over with a groundout, and in the three spot, it was business as usual.
“Katie Cole is Katie Cole,” said coach Theresa Ricci, as a run-scoring triple set the tone for a 5-0 victory.
The Tuskers weren’t done. Caitlin Fitts drove in Cole with a sacrifice fly, and Boyle added two more scoreless innings. In the third, Cole joined the small-ball effort. After Gianna Peanamanda slapped an infield single down the third-base line and stole second, Cole advanced her with a groundout to first, and Fitts followed with her second sacrifice fly of the game.
Up 3-0, Somers made a pitching change. Ricci wanted to give Mia DiChiaro a few innings, but the reliever needed a moment to settle in. Admitting to some early nerves, DiChiaro walked the first batter she faced.
She quickly found the strike zone, however, and with Cole behind her at shortstop, she settled down. “I was thinking Katie is going to get it,” DiChiaro said after a ground ball up the middle turned into a force out at second for the first out.
A popout to Cole followed, but another walk and two wild pitches created more trouble. With runners on second and third, DiChiaro delivered, striking out the next batter with an off-speed pitch.
“When Mia is focused, she is lights out,” Ricci said.
More breathing room didn’t come immediately, and DiChiaro again opened an inning with a walk in the fifth. The defense stepped up behind her, as Keira Griggs charged a slow roller up the third-base line and threw out the runner at first. A single to right put runners on the corners, but DiChiaro fielded a popup and induced a flyout to center to end the threat.
After escaping the jam, DiChiaro was rewarded with some insurance. Taking advantage of three walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch, Somers extended its lead to 5-0 heading into the sixth.
Croton-Harmon’s response amounted to little more than loud bench chatter.
“It was distracting for sure, but I just took a step back and regrouped,” DiChiaro said.
She retired the final six outs, and Ricci praised her composure.
“Mia did a great job channeling herself and staying focused,” the coach said.
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