JFK's Pico tosses two-hitter

She helped her area fastpitch team remain in the PONY winners bracket.
By ZACH STIPE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
LORDSTOWN -- Led by pitcher Rachel Pico's two-hit complete game, Valley Extreme 16U Red defeated Spring-Ford Sting of Vienna, Pa., 5-1, Wednesday at the PONY National Softball Tournament at Lordstown Park.
The win advanced Extreme further in the winner's bracket of the tournament. The team continue play today at 9:45 a.m. at Packard Park in Warren.
Extreme won in dominating fashion. Offensively, the team had 10 hits to score five runs, while Pico didn't give up a run or a hit after the second inning.
The 15-year-old recorded eight strikeouts and allowed only five opponents on base the entire game.
The Sting were only able to rattle Pico in the first inning, scoring one run on two hits, including a lead-off triple.
"I was thinking that I need to work on my location," said Pico, after the first inning.
On a roll
Pico's location improved and over the final six innings she was unhittable. She retired the final seven batters of the game.
"Once you get into the groove, it's pretty easy to get going," she said.
Coach Rick Mills said Pico, a pitcher for Warren JFK, only needs one time through an order and then it is very tough to get a hit off of her.
"She's a very smart pitcher," Mills said.
Extreme quickly took the lead, recording two hits and scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Center fielder Carly Sabat hit an RBI triple while shortstop Meghan Williams hit a bloop double to score another run.
Sabat almost turned her triple into a home run, but was tagged out at the plate.
Errors helped
Two Sting errors led to another Extreme run in the second inning, punctuated by left fielder Bianca Biondillo's RBI single.
Extreme scored its last two runs in the fourth inning.
Clinging to a two-run lead, right fielder Sam Kozbial led off with a double.
Biondillo followed with a bunt single, then third baseman Carrie Fiol hit a single that scored Kozbial. Sabat hit a sacrifice fly that brought Biondillo home.
Biondillo was a terror on the basepaths and at the plate. The left fielder stole two bases and led Extreme with three hits, including a double and a RBI.
"Bianca has just been attacking the ball," Mills said.
Sabat had two RBIs for Extreme, while Fiol smacked two singles.
Williams and Kozbial each had doubles.
Extreme improved to 4-0 with the victory in the second round of bracket play.
Mills said Extreme's goal is to win the national championship, with an immediate goal being to make the "Sweet 16."
"We're peaking at the right time," he said.
Extreme needs two more wins to complete its immediate goal, which would make the squad one of the top 16 teams in the 113-team tournament.
They get to make their push for the title right in their backyard, too. Extreme is mostly made up of girls from Trumbull and Mahoning County, while the games at the tournament are being played at several Valley sites.
"This is wonderful for us because we are local," Mills said.
Kozbial said the team has played in tournaments in Detroit and Pittsburgh this season.
"[This tournament is] nice because you get to sleep in your own bed," Kozbial said.
"You don't have to worry about getting lost, either."
Biondillo is excited to play in the tournament's upcoming games.
"We're 4-0 and feeling good," she said. "[Our goal] is to just keep winning."
zstipe@vindy.com