Tomkowicz's Gem Gives 'Canes Its First Win
ADAMS, Mass. — Caroline Tomkowicz's sparkling debut on Monday not only gave the Hoosac Valley softball its first win of the year, but it also may have saved the Hurricanes' season.Not bad for a sophomore pitcher making her first career varsity start.
Tomkowicz was just too much to handle for Saint Joseph's on Monday, tossing a complete-game one-hitter to lead Hoosac to a 2-0 win at home. Tomkowicz stuck out 13 batters, walked just one and didn't allow a hit until the Crusaders' Hannah Kibbe singled with two outs left in the top of the seventh inning.
"Caroline got her first varsity start and did a fantastic job on the mound for us today," Hurricanes head coach Morgan Shafer said. "This was a huge win for us. We needed this. Defensively, our team was behind Caroline, having only one physical error on a dropped third strike on a pitch that went to the backstop. Caroline kept their bats at bay, and all the balls that were hit were fly balls to the outfield or ground balls."
It was a tough break for Crusaders' starter Marissa Avanzato, who only allowed one earned run on four hits to take the loss. Her one mistake came in the bottom of the second inning, when junior Alexis Bushika hit her second solo home run of the season with a shot to the gap to left-center field. Hoosac (1-6) added an insurance run in the fifth when senior Tanelle Ciempa made it to second base on a throwing error by the St. Joe's infield. Junior Carly Kondel then drove her home by lining an RBI single to right-center field.
The 'Canes next play at Lee at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.