Delaware North out of Carpenter Cup

PHILADELPHIA — Delaware North, went 1-2 in the 18^th annual Phillies Softball Carpenter Cup, which began June 19 at the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy fields at FDR Park.

The North played all three games on Monday. They started at noon with a loss to Tri Cape (N.J.), defeated Chester County (Pa.), 3-0, then finished up with a tough 6-5 defeat at the hands of Berks County (Pa.). The team, coached by Archmere Academy softball coach Dan Pisani, did not advance.

The First State team fell behind against Tri Cape, 4-0, after three innings. They scored the next three runs to pull within one after six innings, but the opponents added an insurance run in the seventh. Brianna Russo of Appoquinimink had a big game offensively. She went 3-for-3 and walked, and she scored two runs. Her high school teammate, Ayla McCatern, pitched the final four innings, allowing a run and two hits while striking out eight.

Delaware North picked up its win in the middle game against Chester County. The teams combined for just six hits, with Delaware getting four of them. Red Lion’s Kimorah Neal drove in a run in the second, and Russo had the other two RBI on a double in the third. In the circle, Delaware Military Academy’s Emily Trzonkowski and McCathern combined for the shutout. McCathern struck out nine in her four innings.

Finally, the team battled Berks County. Delaware North took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but after four innings, they found themselves trailing, 5-2. Each team scored a run in the fifth. The North scored twice in the top of the seventh, but that was as close as they would get.

Gabriella Pudimott of Odessa had two hits and a run batted in, and Russo ended a strong offensive day with two hits and a walk with three runs scored. Cate Schrader of Padua had a hit and walked three times, and she drove in a run.

Pisani’s assistant coaches were both from Newark Charter, Patriots head coach Tori Brooks and one of her assistants, Anna Zebley.

Delaware South is scheduled to play three games on Tuesday. If they advance, they will play Wednesday. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship are all on tap that day.