Softball: Hot bats abound on cold day as Springfield beats Cardinal O’Hara

SPRINGFIELD — Whoever expected a low-scoring contest between two of the best softball programs in Delaware County had another thing coming.

Maybe on a more spring-like Friday afternoon, Springfield and Cardinal O’Hara would have struggled for hits and runs.

This was no ordinary day at Veterans Memorial Park on Saxer & Powell.

Springfield starting pitcher Tori DePietro crushed a two-run homer and Emily Crockarell blasted a grand slam as the Cougars kept their undefeated record alive by handing O’Hara its first loss of the season. Springfield defeated O’Hara, 16-8.

It was a slugfest. The teams combined for 24 runs on 24 hits. Four home runs were hit. Every starter reached base at least one time, and not once was a side retired in order.

There were errors, outstanding defensive plays, double steals and plenty of balls that travelled well. For DePietro, who battled through 5 1/3 innings for the win, and All-Delco Molly Rafferty, Friday was just one of those days that a pitcher goes through.

“It was cold and the ball could get wet sometimes, which could be a problem,” said DePietro, the slugging sophomore who has done nothing but produce since the start of her freshman year. “It could be tough to pitch in, I guess. If it gets too cold, it can (also) be hard to hit.”

Well, the weather was perfect for hitting.

O’Hara and Springfield aren’t two teams that have to scrap and sacrifice bunt to squeeze out a few runs. Offensively, O’Hara and Springfield are the real deals. And they put on a clinic against each other.

“I don’t think the score of this game portrays how we can play overall as a team, or how I pitch. The umpire was squeezing both pitchers, so we were forced to pitch over the plate. … ” said the senior Rafferty, who uncharacteristically allowed nine earned runs and nine walks over six innings. “(First baseman) Grace (Boston) comes up to me and says, ‘Throw it down the middle of the plate and we’ll defend it for you. That’s all you can do.’ Somehow we got out of every inning.

Springfield is a great team, so I am not going to take anything away from them. They played great.”
The Cougars (6-0), who are the No. 1 team in the Super 7, showed they might be the most lethal-hitting team in the county.

“That today, one through nine, was the best hitting performance that I’ve ever had,” Springfield coach Todd Odgers said. “You always have years that you might have your one through five (produce), but one through nine, there were smart at-bats all day long. It really was impressive. They were smart, making the pitcher work and throw strikes, and they were hitting the ball hard.”

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