Girls Softball: Panthers Survive Tigers

Five runs in the bottom of the sixth helped Pleasantville girls softball (4-5) prevail 11-9 over the Class B Catholic Division's Maria Regina High School (7-6).

“It was an ugly win,” said Pleasantville girls softball head coach Gina Perino.

Despite the overall result, low energy from the start, inexperience and confidence proved difficult for Perino’s players.

“We were flat,” Perino said, adding some of it had to do with her players gaining the necessary confidence and knowledge to play to their full potential.

There is still time to make noise in Section 1 softball with upcoming games against Croton-Harmon, Ossining, Rye and Briarcliff.

“Hopefully we can get past it and put it together,” the coach said.

Meaghan Twomey, Miranda O’Brien and Taylor Forte scored off of junior pitcher Nicole Gagiliara’s three RBI triple to give the Panthers their first lead since the bottom of the first inning, 4-2.

Maria Regina’s early 2-0 lead quickly diminished until four unearned runs in the top of the second put the Tigers in front 6-4.

Alicica Marino’s bunt and Liz Manley’s infield grounder knotted it at 6-6 in the bottom of the third.

The see-saw battle then continued on three Tiger RBI’s in the bottom of the fifth for the 9-6 Tiger advantage until the Panthers five run spurt for the 11-9 final.

Even though a loss might frustrate and disappoint a coach, Maria Regina’s Head Coach Liz Pugsley said she is pleased with the tenacity her players demonstrated.

“They never ever quit,” Pugsley said.

The Tigers entered Saturday’s game off a 7-1 loss at the Bronx’s Cardinal Spellman Friday where bats were dormant.

“We hit today,” Pugsley added.

Stellar defensive play and effort in the field still proved troublesome for the Tigers.

“It’s the little things,” Pugsley said about Gagliara, Panther center fielder and senior captain Taylor Forte’s crucial catches in the outfield that could have made or changed the Panther’s chances. “You can’t hate on them for that."

Gagliara had one strikeout and five walks in seven innings pitched for the Panthers heading into Monday’s 4:30 p.m. home matchup with Croton-Harmon.

Michelle Zanzano tallied five strikeouts and one walk in four innings pitched. Melissa Mulvaney walked three with one strikeout in one inning leading into Tuesday’s 4 p.m. road matchup with Our Lady of Victory.