DIVISION III SOFTBALL Palombaro's single has Mooney heading to district final, 3-2

The freshman drove in the winning run in the seventh against South Range.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BEAVER TWP. -- Cardinal Mooney High's Mara Palombaro may have started the season as a freshman, but she doesn't talk like one -- or play like one.
"We're 28 games into the season," said Mooney coach Mark Rinehart. "They're all older now."
With the score tied at 2 with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Palombaro hit a bases-loaded single to score Gina Fabian, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 victory over South Range in a Division III district semifinal at Green Beaver complex on Wednesday.
"I just knew I needed to get a hit to win the game," Palombaro said with a shrug. "I'm confident in myself and everyone that comes after me."
Fabian also had a two-run single in the fifth inning, as the Cardinals (20-8) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to advance to today's district final at 5 p.m. against Minerva, which blanked United 4-0.
"We knew it would happen sooner or later," Palombaro said of the comeback. "We've been down before, so we knew we could come back."
Chasing the title
The Cardinals, who broke last year's school record for victories, are still looking for the first district softball title in school history. They finished second in Div. II last year and in 1999 before dropping to Div. III for the first time this year.
"We're hoping to do better," Rinehart said.
So is Minerva, which lost to Marlington in last year's district final. The Lions are also 0-2 in district finals.
"We're hoping the third time is the charm," said Minerva coach Ed Haught. "Mooney looked pretty good. They've got a solid defense and they do the little things well. It should be a tough game for both teams."
Stefanie Grimaldi (11-5) held South Range to three hits, striking out three. Mimi Vitello, Petrina Morocco and Pam Walko each added two hits for the Cardinals, who had 11 hits.
Skye Walley (8-10) struck out five for South Range (8-12), which got both its runs in the second. Jessica Spickler doubled and scored and Jaymi Payne had an RBI single for the Raiders.
Strong pitching
Minerva sophomore Meghan Simons was perfect through 4 2/3 innings and held the Eagles to two hits, striking out eight.
"She's a real nice pitcher," Haught said. "She pitches like a veteran."
Simons also had two doubles and scored twice for the Lions (12-13), who start six freshmen and two sophomores.
"We're real young," Haught said. "But we play a mostly Division I-II schedule, so I think having a tough schedule helps them."
United pitcher Mandy Foster had both hits for the Eagles (20-8).
scalzo@vindy.com