PINE HILL—Ava Fisher struck out 10, including the 500th of her high school career, as St. Joseph Academy’s softball team edged Vineland 4-3 to win the Battle of the Conferences Tournament at Overbrook High School on April 14.
St. Joe took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and held on for the win, their fourth of the tournament. Fisher was excellent in the circle, while at the plate, Elaina Portalatin drove in a pair of runs.
St. Joe reached the finals after edging Gloucester 1-0 in the semifinals.
Fisher allowed just two hits to earn the shutout, striking out 10.
Riley Hunter tripled in the win for St. Joseph and Alaina Dorsey scored the game’s lone run.
The two games marked the first time this season that the Wildcats’ ace has pitched twice in the same day as she recovers from off-season ankle surgery.
“I told Coach Les [Olson], I’m good to pitch the second game. He didn’t tell me anything, so I asked and he said you’re pitching, and I said ‘alright.’”
The Wildcats opened the tournament with a 17-3 win against Clayton, taking control with a five-run rally in the top of the first inning.
Giada Franscesconi had three hits and three RBI for St. Joseph, while Adrianna Cassidy, Lanie Giovanazzi and Gisella Pescatore each added two hits. Genevieve Muhaw tripled in the win and scored twice. Maddy Longwith added two hits and two runs.
Leylani Muniz earned the win with six strikeouts in three innings of work.
In the quarterfinals, St. Joe defeated hosts Overbrook 17-2.
That game saw Dorsey go 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI and Isabella Ramos add a triple and four runs batted in, while Kylie Tomlin had a pair of singles to help lead a 16-hit attack for the Wildcats.
Portalatin went four innings to earn the win, striking out four.
Earlier in the week, St. Joe topped rival Hammonton 6-1 (see page 42 for full story) and lost to Egg Harbor Twp. 7-0.
In the loss at EHT, the Wildcats failed to collect a hit as they suffered their second loss of the season.
Earlier this week, St. Joseph hosted Cedar Creek, but that game ended too late for this edition. On April 17, the Wildcats host Audubon at 4 p.m.