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Yanek’s gem of efficiency
By Brian Dzenis
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
Gallery
Caragyn Yanek took care of Springfield’s batters with just enough time and plenty of pitches to spare.
Not only was the South Range senior’s two-hitter during Monday’s 3-0 win one of her better outings, it’s one of her most efficient games. She needed just 64 pitches to go the distance.
“A lot of my screwballs were doing really well. We were just in Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and I was working on it and it really came together today,” Yanek said. “I depended on that pitch a lot and my catcher [Hanna Dennison] — she’s amazing.
“She sets everything up perfectly. She knows my pitches and when I’m on and off. It just worked like a gem,” Yanek said.
Yanek carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, striking out one and walking none in a contest that took roughly an hour to complete. It began raining in the seventh inning and she closed out the game before it fell in earnest.
While Springfield (14-2) made a lot of contact, the Tigers hit into grounders and pop-ups.
“We threw a lot of inside pitches today on purpose because we knew they’d get the bat on the ball, but nothing with authority,” South Range coach Jeff DeRose said.
The team the Raiders — ranked No. 3 in the state — beat was no slouch. Springfield is ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press state softball poll of Division III teams.
Tigers starter Josie Applegarth also did not walk anyone, giving up eight hits. The defense did few favors for her with five errors and as a unit, the defense had a couple moments of indecisiveness that allowed Raider runners to advance.
“Every single error led to a run. It’s the type of thing where if we don’t make errors, we’re still playing,” Springfield coach Bill Amero said. “Josie is a good pitcher.
“She doesn’t quite have the stuff Yanek has, the ball is going to get hit against her,” Amero said. “We have to support her with good defense and I think our infield defense let her down.”
South Range (10-3) got on the board in the bottom of the second. The Raiders got two runners on base thanks to errors before Dennison hit a single to bring home Madison Weaver.
The Raiders added one run each in the fifth and sixth on errors.
Springfield outfielder Marlie Applegarth broke Yanek’s no-hit bid in the top of the sixth with a single to left field.
Yanek’s most troublesome inning was the last one. Back-to-back errors put runners on base. Cassie Bacon hit the ball to center field, but the runner at first was out at second for a fielder’s choice.
Yanek coaxed pop-outs from Josie Applegarth and Jacqueline Kish to close out the game.
“It was great to take out that team and show them what we had,” Yanek said. “I don’t think our bats were as alive as they have been, but anybody on our team would have said that.
“We usually have solid hits all-around and we’re still stringing those together. We wouldn’t have won without having each other’s backs and great chemistry between us all.”
Yanek’s start is a gift that keeps giving to the team. Because she threw so few pitches, she can get some extended work when the two teams meet again today, DeRose said. It’ll be a big boost in the final Inter-Tri County League Red title chase.
“When we were down in Myrtle Beach, I don’t want to say the girls were looking past the teams they were playing, but they had their eyes on today,” DeRose said.