By Angela Watts
Assistant GM, Washington D.C. Metro Area
** Click the links to access a full photo gallery and dozens of video highlights from Friday’s game!
Yorktown’s softball team kicked off its ****** cancer awareness and fund-raising campaign in grand fashion Friday night, downing National District rival Wakefield, 15-0, in its home-opener.
The Patriots — who donned pink T-shirts that read “Yorktown Cares” over their navy blue uniforms — showed their strength and their consistency throughout the lineup, as 13 different players combined for a whopping 21 hits in the six-inning victory.
But from the first pitch, which was thrown out ceremonially by Arlington County Board Chairman — and ****** cancer survivor — Barbara Favola, this game was about much more than softball statistics.
“On a personal level, my mother has suffered and she’s a survivor of ****** cancer … three times,” first-year Coach Julie Fetter said of her mother, Jeanne Fetter. “She’s very fortunate. And the girls need to be aware of it. Hopefully we’ll find a cure. And it was nice that Barbara could come out … it was nice of all of Arlington that everyone came out to support us.”
Fetter isn’t the only one in the Patriots’ softball family with a history of the disease. Assistant coaches Deb Litman and Laura Rubinchuk both have personal histories as well — Litman’s grandmother died from ****** cancer and Rubinchuk’s mother and grandmother are both survivors.
Those are just some of the reasons why Yorktown will be donating portions of its ticket, T-shirt, concession and raffle sales to ****** cancer research from now until it hosts its biggest rival — Bishop O’Connell — on May 2.
“Tonight was the start, and we’re going to end against our biggest rival, Bishop O’Connell,” Fetter said. “So you’ll see a lot more people in the stands that night.”
But there were plenty in attendance on Friday, and all were witness to the Patriots’ power.
Leadoff hitter Kristen Soroka, the team’s starting shortstop, went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, with two singles, two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. But Soroka wasn’t the only one.
Ten different Patriots scored in the game, six registered multiple hits — including Soroka, pitcher Annie Blaine, first baseman Olivia Merrion, second basemen Emily Panyard, right fielder Gretchen Schneider, catcher Stephanie Severn — and six totaled more than one RBI.
“We’ve been hitting that consistently,” said Fetter, whose team improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the National District. “They’ve really come together as a team. They love each other, so that makes a difference. We have a lot of talent all-around, so it makes them easy to coach.
“But, at other times,” Fetter added, laughing, “it can also be the most difficult to coach.”
That’s because there is so much talent on the Patriots’ roster that Fetter and her assistants are forced to rotate some extremely skillful players.
Blaine was remarkable Friday night, allowing one hit while striking out nine batters and walking none in four innings of work. She struck out the side in both the first and third innings.
But she isn’t Yorktown’s only standout pitcher: Senior Hannah Bauman shines for the Patriots as well. The same can be said at catcher, where Friday’s starter — Severn — also splits the work-load with Panyard.
“We’re very fortunate that we have that problem,” Fetter said, laughing. “We have, I feel, two of the best pitchers and two of the best catcher in the league. And they’re all hard-headed and they all want to win. So our battery is fun. They’re a fun group to coach, and they’re equally talented.
“I’m really happy we have them on our team.”
Email: awatts@digitalsports.com
Wakefield 000 000 X — 0 1 0
Yorktown 613 221 X — 15 21 1
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