by Warren Kozireski
Julia DiMartino shut out Athena and was named tournament MVP. She also allowed one run against Fairport (May 30) as Brockport advanced to the West Regionals.Sophomore Julia DiMartino struck out 18 batters and drove in the winning run to lead Brockport to a 2-0 victory over Greece Athena to win the Class AA2 Section V softball championship – the school’s first since 1998.
Neither team could get their offense going through the early innings, but the Blue Devils left runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings before finally breaking up the scoreless duel in the sixth.
Shortstop Anna Fisher led off with a walk and advanced to second on a bloop single to left-center by Shelby Perry. DiMartino then wasted little time in lining the first pitch for an RBI single scoring Fisher. DiMartino advanced to second on an overthrow. After a failed suicide squeeze, Sara Jurhs and Taylor Light were intentionally walked to load the bases before pinch hitter Ashley Gilmore was hit by a pitch to force in the second run.
That was all DiMartino needed though she did get into trouble in the seventh issuing a leadoff walk and a one-out single before striking out the final two batters, sending the Blue Devils into their first celebration in 15 years.
“It feels pretty good, I’m not going to lie,” DiMartino said. “We’ve talked about it (winning the title) all year. I was just trying to play the game the way we know how. I knew what their hitters were like, so I tried to keep them off the plate a little bit.
“She (DiMartino) had a great game all the way around,” Brockport head coach Chris Carr said about his pitcher who set a seven inning career high in strikeouts. “She was great in the circle and had her “A” stuff in the biggest moments. Every big game we have had she rises to the occasion.
“Brockport has always had a strong legacy in softball, we wanted to revive that tradition and the girls put all the time and effort into it.”
Shannon Allen scored the game winner and was swarmed by team mates after crossing the plate.Four Blue Devils were named to the Class AA2 All-Tournament Team in Taylor Light, Shelby Perry, Anna Fisher and Most Valuable Player Julia DiMartino. Churchville-Chili’s Leanne Pettis also was named to the squad while Carr was awarded Coach of the Year.
One day later, the Blue Devils defeated Fairport in the state play-in game to advance. They defeated Clarence from Section VI, who entered the game with a 21-2 record, in the first round 1-0 to move on to the state tournament at Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury.
DiMartino got on base with a one-out single in the fourth inning of the scoreless contest and went to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Jurhs. First baseman Taylor Light lined an RBI single to right scoring DiMartino with the game’s only run.
Brockport worked out of trouble in each of the last five innings as Clarence left runners in scoring position. Over the final three innings, each ended with DiMartino striking out at least one batter to end the threat; she finished with 12 strikeouts in all with seven of those over the final four innings.
“I just felt like I really owed it for my team and my coaches,” Light said about her game-winning RBI single. “I just hit where it was pitched and I’m happy I was able to get it done.”
“It’s been somebody different every game almost all season for us,” Carr said. “Taylor was able to come through with a great hit today. It’s been a great run.”
