McNeice Fires No-Hitter as ACS Swat Claims League Title
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Haley McNeice did not get a badass bruise or a fun story to tell out of Wednesday’s Berkshire County Softball League 16-and-under division final.
She had to settle for a no-hitter and a league title.
McNeice struck out nine and allowed just two baserunners in leading the Adams-Cheshire-Savoy Swat to a 10-0 win over the Berkshire Liberty at McCann Tech High School.
The Hoosac Valley High School junior flirted with perfection while sporting a conspicuous contusion on her non-throwing arm, a souvenir from a different travel softball game.
“I got hit with a line drive,” she said after celebrating the title with her teammates. “We had a tournament in Greenfield this weekend. Line drive, last play of the game. Our shortstop got it – it went up in the air, and she got it and got a double play.”
She did not have to sacrifice her body on Wednesday night, but her defense still made all the plays behind her.
The Swat played error-free ball, and one big play late helped keep the no-hitter alive.
With one out in the top of the sixth, the Berkshire Liberty’s Emily Steuernagle laid down a well placed bunt on the third base line.
ACS catcher Maryn Cappiello popped out, grabbed the ball and fired to Paige Rochelo, who was able to stretch out to get the throw that just beat Steuernagle to the bag.
The Swat offense, meanwhile, gave McNeice a lead to work with right out of the gate.
Maddie Saunders was hit by a pitch and raced around the bases from first on an outfield error that left Ari Rivard on second in the bottom of the first. Rivard eventually came home when Courtney Kanelos was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
ACS took a 2-0 lead into the third, when it scored three runs on four hits. Emily Raschdorf (2-fo-4) had a two-run single, and Trinity Brackett drove in a run with a single to left to make it 5-0.
Cappiello (2-for-4) drove in a run in a two-run fourth and picked up another RBI in a three-run sixth against Liberty starter Julia Devoti (seven strikeouts).
The most trouble McNeice saw in the circle came in the top of fifth.
Samantha Ullrich worked a walk to get the Liberty its first baserunner, and Lily Brancato drew a walk right behind her to give her team first and second with nobody out.
“I just had to think to myself, ‘I have to stand up tall,’ “ McNeice said. “I just had to get it together.”
She got the first out of the inning on a fly ball to Rochelo at first and then sat down the next two hitters on strikeouts to get out of the jam.
Relying on her fastball and mixing in an effective drop pitch, McNeice then retired the next six hitters in a row, ending the game on a strikeout for her first career no-hitter.
“It actually feels really cool,” she said. “It’s cool that it was a championship game and everyone all played together. It’s really nice.”
12U Tournament
ADAMS, Mass. -- Gianna Witek had four hits and drove in five runs Wednesday to lead the Greylock Thunder to a 19-1 win over Dalton in the 12-and-under league final at Russell Field.
Witek also struck out five to earn the win in the circle.
K.J. ivingston had three hits, including a pair of doubles. Avery Lane and Maria Welch had three hits apiece, and Abby Wilson doubled.
"Greylock played tremendous defense, especially Kyleigh Cooper, who made five plays at second base, Abby Wilson catching a fly ball in centerfield and Elin Reinhard making a great play at third base to end the first inning," Thunder caoch Mike Ameen said.
Kaylee, Layla and McKinley each had a hit for Dalton. Kaylee also struck out five in taking the loss in the circle.
