43
S. Range blanks E. Palestine
By TOM WILLIAMS
EAST PALESTINE
The luxury of two dominant pitchers has the South Range High softball team poised to win its first Inter Tri-County League championship.
One day after junior Madison Yanek outdueled East Palestine’s Karly Pence in an 11-inning victory for the Raiders (17-1, 11-0), freshman Carly DeRose baffled the Bulldogs (13-3, 8-2) on Wednesday at East Palestine City Park.
DeRose tossed a two-hit shutout, striking out 13 batters in South Range’s 6-0 victory.
Both coaches agreed that the Raiders switching pitchers was a key factor.
“I think the fact that we played back-to-back [and they] having seen Karly yesterday was an advantage to them,” East Palestine coach Dan McKinstry said. “Throwing DeRose instead of Yanek again was somewhat of a disadvantage to us.
“[But] the better team won,” McKinstry said. “DeRose was very good pitching and we just couldn’t lay off the riseball.”
South Range coach Don Feren agreed.
“The different style of pitching hurt them and seeing the same pitcher twice helped us,” Feren said.
DeRose is 8-0 while Yanek is 7-1. Freshman Darrian Yanek (2-0) also has seen action on the mound.
“The nice thing about it is that they all have different styles of pitching,” Feren said.
Feren’s formula is working. In 18 games, the Raiders have allowed 14 runs.
“With our pitching staff, we feel that if we can get one [or] two runs, we’re going to be in the game,” Feren said.
A third-year starter, Madison Yanek said sharing the pitching duties is not a problem. “I still have to keep up my [pitching] game, but at the same time if I need a break I have those two,” said Yanek who had three hits and scored two runs. “Carly and I are a tag team, and we support each other all the way.”
When she’s not pitching, Yanek plays third base.
“I like being really close to the batter,” Yanek said. “I like where it’s fast.”
An early break helped the Raiders jump ahead, 2-0, in the second inning. After Julia Coburn singled and took second on a passed ball, DeRose bunted her way on base. With two outs, Laura Biroschak loaded the bases when third baseman Paige Peterson fielded the ball off her bat and chose not to throw.
Emily Seman hit a short pop-up that second baseman Logan Gatchel dove for and couldn’t hold, allowing Coburn to score. A wild pitch sent DeRose home for a 2-0 lead.
“We didn’t help Karly with some plays in the second inning,” McKinstry said. “We probably should have been out of the inning with it nothing-nothing.
“They are the best team in the league,” McKinstry said of the Raiders. “Right now, they are probably the best hitting team in the league.”
Seman said it was crucial for the Raiders to grab the early lead.
“It’s very important to start [scoring] early,” said Seman who doubled in a run in the fourth inning. ”Obviously [Tuesday], we did not start off like we could have and should have.”