Kent White Sox Softball Sets the Standard

KENT – The Kent White Sox 16U softball team recently closed another strong summer season. The White Sox, under the guidance of coach Michelle Lopane, posted their second unbeaten season in the last three summers.

Sami Duffy Kent dominated the majority of its opponents this summer, out-scoring the opposition by a 124-17 margin, and finishing with a record of 14-0-1 to win the WPBA’s 16U North softball championship.

Unfortunately, the WPBA still has no playoff system in place for girls softball, so the season ends leaving a void, a situation that many hope will be addressed.

Kent’s success has been a revelation. The team went 15-0 in 2007, then finished in second place with a 13-2-1 mark last summer, giving the team an impressive three-year record of 42-2-2.

Lopane said this summer’s edition of the White Sox has been exceptional.

“This was my 20th year coaching, and once I saw the girls together as a team, I knew it was going to be a special year,” Lopane said. “This is a young team – several of the girls are 14 – and they came every day to battle. The talent on this team was very deep. With either of our pitchers on the mound we were always confident we could get a win. And I’ve always preached that we don’t have to be best friends, but these girls were close… and that made this a very fun team to coach.”

Brianna Ciuffi Any coach will tell you that in softball or baseball, pitching is the name of the game. And the White Sox had a tandem that dominated just about all opponents.

Brianna Ciuffi, who will be a senior at Carmel High this fall, went 6-0 for Kent. Ciuffi – a five-year veteran of the White Sox, and a switch-hitter - posted a remarkable .60 ERA, with 39 strikeouts and just two walks all season. She allowed a total of 11 hits.

Alyssa Rodia Sami Duffy, who will be a freshman at CHS this fall, also impressed. Duffy was 7-0-1 with a stingy .50 ERA. She fanned 65 batters and walked 15, giving up 15 hits all summer.

And both pitchers had quite an arsenal. Ciuffi baffled batters with no less than six pitches – a fastball, change, curve, screw, drop and knuckleball. Duffy utilized five pitches – a rise ball, fastball, change, screwball and a drop.

“Obviously, they were (virtually) unbeatable,” Lopane said. “They pushed each other, were very supportive of each other. And as a coach, it’s a real luxury to have them – and the number of pitches. They both have phenomenal control.”

The rest of the lineup was just as impressive.

Kent’s defense included Angie Periccelli (C), Emily McDonagh (1B), Kristina Maguire (2B/CF), Duffy, Ciuffi and Nadia Kemp (SS), Alyssa Rodia (3B), Ashley Viola (LF), Oriana Peterson (CF) and Judi Barcavage (RF). Brittney Craig and Erica Block played outfield, Stephanie Leone saw time at catcher and Katie Harlin also played second.

Oriana Peterson “Our infield and outfield were solid all-around,” Lopane said. “It’s true, they weren’t tested too often (because of such effective pitching), but at times our defense made our pitchers look good. We turned double plays, and they worked well together.”

Lopane will lose three players, who will graduate from the program – Ciuffi, Maguire and Viola.

“Brianna will be tough to replace,” Lopane said. “And over the last five years, Maguire has worked hard and developed into a great player. It will be hard to replace the double-play combo of her and Ciuffi. Ashley has also developed into a great left fielder. Anything out there, she gets. They’ll all be tough to replace, but we have young talent on this team, and we’ll pick up a few kids in tryouts. And the girls returning next year and mostly 14, so I expect to be a very tough contender the next two years.”

Pearlman Kristina Maguire Lopane expressed thanks to the town board and the Kent rec. department, who worked together to allow the team to return to Ryan Park to play home games this summer. The Sox played their home games at Kennedy Catholic High School last summer. She also thanked Jim Maguire (bookkeeper), Joanne Viola and Patti Maguire (announcers), John Periccelli (first base coach) and Stephanie Ciuffi (team mom).

“It was an honor, a privilege and a pleasure to have all these girls,” Lopane said. I have been lucky to have them… these players made this team what it was.”
Judi Barcavage
Angie Periccelli