Mount de Sales went to Randazzo Park yesterday looking to duplicate last season's upset victory over Spalding in the Catholic League tournament final, but six Sailors errors and a terrific defensive play by the Cavaliers' Andrea Loepker doomed the Sailors' hopes.
The No. 5 Cavaliers took advantage of the No. 6 Sailors' mistakes for a 5-0 victory in the season opener for both teams. There was only one earned run -- a Christine Sheridan home run.
"We couldn't catch the ball. That's it," said Sailors coach Pete Waskiewicz. "You just can't play error ball and give it away like that."
For the Cavaliers, who had won four straight Catholic League tournament titles until last year, the game-saving play occurred in the fourth inning after Cynthia Clark singled to lead off for the Sailors.
In left field, Loepker made a sensational running catch on Julie Bahr's sinking fly ball. With the sun in her eyes, Loepker made the grab with her glove just barely off the ground.
"That was a nice catch out there," said Waskiewicz. "If that ball is not caught, it could be a different ball game. If that gets by her, that's two runs and we're on top, 2-1."
Instead, the Cavaliers maintained their 1-0 lead and added three more in the bottom of the inning.
"We really fed off Andrea's play," said Spalding coach Linda Taylor. "In left field, where she's catching the ball to her right, down, in the sun -- that lifted this team. People do not realize how difficult it is to play left field here, because you're blinded."
After Loepker's catch, Amy Kolodzieski moved Clark to second with a sacrifice bunt, but she was stranded there. Cavaliers pitcher Sabrina Ryals, who threw a two-hitter and struck out six, fanned Erin Riggins to end the threat.
In the bottom of the inning, everything fell apart for the Sailors, who played without injured starting third baseman Stephanie Waskiewicz. Three errors led to three Cavaliers runs.
Sheridan, who was 3-for-3, laid down a bunt single to advance Jen Datz, who had reached on an error. Both scored on another error. Ryals later had a single which drove in Missy Gunther, who had also reached on an error.
Spalding added its final run on Sheridan's fifth-inning homer. Bridgette LaPorte followed the home run by driving a double down the left field line, but Sailors pitcher Christy Urban followed with two of her six strikeouts to end the inning.
No. 2 Northeast 6, No. 4 Severna Park 1: Sophomore Rachel Herrick, temporarily filling in for injured senior standouts Stacy Smith and Deana Benner, threw a three-hitter to lead the visiting Eagles over the Falcons in the season opener for both teams.
Northeast senior shortstop Amanda Shifflett supplied most of the offense with two triples, two runs scored and an RBI.
Pub Date: 3/23/99