Cape Jr. softball posts 4-3 victory
It was clear early Monday night that the Cape Coral Softball Junior All-Star team was not as sharp as in their opening pool play win Saturday.
In the end, though, manager Bob Nuccio may have learned even more about his group of 13 girls.
In a thrilling, nine-inning battle Monday, Cape outlasted North Carolina 4-3 in the final round of pool play in the Southeast Regional Softball Tournament at Fleishman Park.
This victory required heart, resiliency and clutch performances from many players as the coaches moved them around in the late innings.
“It showed that we can come back and fight,” Nuccio said. “We had errors like we didn’t have last game, but as a team we stuck together.”
Cape (2-0) moves on as the Pool A winner and faces Pool B runner-up Tampa (2-1) in the first of two semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Fleishman Park. North Carolina (1-1), the Pool A runner-up, plays Pool B winner Tennessee (3-0) at 6 p.m.
The championship game is Wednesday to determine which team advances to the Junior League Softball World Series in Kirkland, Wash.
“We have the skills and everything but we need to bring heart,” Meghan Sullivan said of the team moving on to the semifinals.
Cape began pool play Saturday with an impressive 6-0 victory over Georgia. After not committing a single error in that contest, they had three by the third inning Monday, and finished with four.
Monday’s game was delayed twice by lightning and that may have contributed to an awkward, sluggish start for both teams. The conclusion more than made up for it.
In the bottom of the seventh, North Carolina tied the game with a two-out RBI double by Shelby Lowman. She tried for third on the play, but catcher Amber Plaza made a good throw to record the out and send the game into extra innings.
Cape scored the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. Sami Fisher, who was hit by a pitch, ran home from second after North Carolina made a throwing error on a grounder hit by Plaza.
It took the combination of good defense and composure by pitcher Alyssa Langdale on the mound to finish off North Carolina in the bottom of the ninth, after getting the potential tying run to third.
“I knew my defense was behind me,” said Langdale, who pitched the final five innings after relieving starter Maddy Peres. Peres recorded eight strikeouts and allowed one run, following a complete-game, one-hitter on Saturday.
Myranda Reed did not start the game for Cape, but ended up playing a pivotal role.
She came in as a special pinch-runner in each of the first three innings, and scored one run, and made a bigger impact defensively at shortstop in the final five innings.
Reed showed quick reflexes in grabbing a line drive in the bottom of the fifth, and flipped to second for an inning-ending double play.
In the sixth, she made another great catch on a short fly ball to right center. It appeared that no Cape player would have a play on the ball until Reed tracked it down at the last second.
“She’s a real good player with a lot of talent,” Nuccio said. “I had to put her in at shortstop when I moved Alyssa (Langdale) to pitcher, and she did a great job. It’s good to have that type of utility player.”
Cape Coral 010 200 001 – 4 8 4
North Carolina 100 010 100 – 3 8 4
W – Alyssa Langdale. L – Cassie Saunders.
2B – Jessica Nuccio 2 (C), Shelby Lowman (N).