Playwrights Theatre Wins Softball Crown

The Playwrights Theatre team beat MACA 8-4 in the 3rd/4th Grade Madison Softball Finals to win the season championship.

Playwrights advanced to the June 15 final by beating Harris Landscaping 3-2 in a pitchers duel the day before.

The Playwrights came through with strong pitching performances from Megan Tierney, Julia Anderson, Camille Miller and Lilianna Decaro.

The game ended in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the sixth inning with a game winning, walk-off base hit by Playwrights' Hope Pratt, which scored Josephine Piacenti with the winning run.

MACA also advanced to the finals in dramatic fashion, beating second-seeded McCool's 5-1 in an epic game of nine innings that lasted over three hours. The Thursday night victories set up the championship game between the top seeded Playwrights and number three seeded MACA.

The stage was set for the Friday night finale with perfect weather and a huge crowd of cheering spectators.  The Playwrights got off to a fast start with Megan Tierney pitching a scoreless first inning and the Playwrights hitters striking first in the bottom of the inning.

After MACA’s defense made good plays to convert two hard hit balls into outs, Tierney and Amelia Kennedy ignited a two out rally with back to back singles.  Camille Miller followed with a booming double to deep left field to drive in the game’s first two runs.  Olivia Hunt followed with an RBI single to make the score 3-0 at the end of the first inning.

MACA closed the gap in the top of the second inning, scoring two runs on base hits by Karina Kaplan, Anya Kaplan, Ximena Arrocha and Sanaya Mody. MACA’s Julia Olesen pitched a scoreless second inning and MACA tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the third inning on consecutive singles by Olesen, Emma Torkelson and Karina Kaplan. A good defensive play by Playwrights Hope Pratt on a ball overthrown to first prevented further scoring and Playwrights Tierney got a strike out to end the MACA rally with two runners on base.

MACA continued to build momentum with Olesen pitching a scoreless third inning. However, Playwrights' Miller countered by pitching a scoreless 4th inning which also featured two good defensive plays by Hunt at second base to maintain the 3-3 score. The Playwrights then struck back in the bottom of the fourth inning with Julie Anderson, Annabella Devincenzo and Tierney starting the inning with consecutive base hits.

Kennedy then ripped an RBI single to give the Playwrights a 4-3 lead with Hunt following with a dramatic, bases-clearing triple on a monster drive to deep left field to open a 7-3 lead.  Lea Magnani then finished off the inning with yet another RBI single to extend the Playwrights lead to 8-4 at the end of four innings.

It seemed time was quickly running out for MACA at this point as Playwrights Miller pitched a scoreless 5th inning, including two strike outs.  The Playwrights exhibited an outstanding defensive play from Tegan Murray who made an exciting catch on a hard hit ball to left field to help protect the lead. But the resilient MACA team continued to fight as Kaitlyn Bland pitched a scoreless 5th inning and MACA’s Olesen lead off the top of 6th inning with a tremendous home run to close the deficit to 8-4.  However, Miller retired the next three batters in order to seal the 8-4 win and a 2012 Playwrights Championship.

The well played game was a true team effort for both teams with all players contributing.  Playwrights catchers Danielle Cenicola and Josephine Piacenti showcased great defense behind the plate in catching the hard throwing Playwrights pitchers, and Lilianna Decaro and Madeline Shannon added base hits and solid defense to contribute to the win.

MACA also played outstanding defense, including solid defensive plays by Margaret Sheeleigh, Alexa Slabaugh, Emmy Smith and Emma Torkelson.