White Sox Softball Team Gets Off to Blazing Start

The Kent White Sox 16U softball team has continued the dominance it has shown over the last three years by getting off to an impressive 9-0 start this season.

In last week’s action, the White Sox swept two double headers. Last Wednesday, the team defeated a young Yorktown team 22-1 and 20-3 at Ryan’s Field. Those victories came after Kent swept Taconic 11-0 and 17-5 last Monday. Those games also took place at Ryan’s Field.

In the 22-1 victory in the first game against Yorktown, Shanon Martinez picked up the win on the mound by pitching five innings, striking out four and walking six batters. The game ended after five innings due to the 10- run rule.

Second baseman Tateum Valentine went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Third baseman Oriana Peterson went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and four RBIs. Identical twins Tina and Sarah Navarro each went 2-for- 3 with two singles and a walk. Tina played centerfield and Sarah was in right field. Leftfielder Casey Farrell went 2-for-4 with an RBI and shortstop Angelique Perricelli went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs.

The team’s offensive prowess has been on display all season and even coach Michelle Lopane has been impressed by it.

“They are extremely disciplined at the plate,” she said. “Once it is close to the zone or in the zone, they hit the ball hard.”

Lopane also praised Deanna Mihalco, who caught that game and threw out four runners who were attempting to steal second base.

In the second game, a 20-3 victory, Martinez once again was the winning pitcher. Like the first game, this one also ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule. Martinez pitched all five, struck out 12 batters and walked three.

Perricelli went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a walk. Valentine also went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Peterson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Sarah Navarro went 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs.

The offensive balance that the team has show has been impressive but it has not been a surprise to Lopane.

“Depending on who our competition is, everyone on the team can contribute and they have been,” Lopane said.

In the first game against Taconic, an 11-0 victory, 14-year-old Alexia Faulkner pitched a no-hitter. She had eight strikeouts and to walks in improving to 3-0 on the season.

Lopane said Faulkner has been getting better as the season goes on and has great talent.

“If I was a college coach, I would be keeping my eye on this kid,” she commented. “The pop in the glove is louder than it has ever been.”

Despite the score, Kent surprisingly had no extra base hits.

Valentine went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Perricelli went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

The White Sox’ defense also played well this game and did not commit any errors.

“We had a great defense,” Lopane said.

In the second game, a 17-5 victory over Taconic, Kelly Becker got the win after pitching four innings, striking out two hitters and walking four. Sam Duffy pitched two innings in relief and had three strikeouts while not walking a batter.

Lopane credited Becker with pitching a solid game.

“She kept her team in the game and gave us an opportunity to win,” she said.

On offense, Valentine went 2-for-5 with two singles and three RBIs. Mihalco also went 2-for-5 with two singles and three RBIs. Leftfielder Casey Farrell went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks. Duffy had a key triple that drove in two runs.

The success that the White Sox have enjoyed this season, the team’s fourth in existence, is nothing new. In its history, Kent has lost only two games.

Many of the girls who played on last year’s team were too old to come back this year. When you combine that with the fact that Kent has quite a few 14 and 15-year-olds because there is no 14 and under team this year, you realize that many of this year’s players were new to the team. The White Sox pull players from Carmel, Kent and other surrounding towns. Many of them had played against each other when playing on school teams but had never been teammates. At first, Lopane was worried that this might be a problem but it has not been.

“They meshed well,” said Lopane. “I thought this would be a rebuilding year for us. They have a great determination. They love the game. It took some time to get in sync with each other. After the first game, they were in sync.”

The White Sox were to play North Salem and Ossining earlier this week. However, those games took place after press time.