It used to be axiomatic that pitching was 75 or 80 percent of your club. Great pitching, for the most part, subdues superior hitting. That was the given.
But then came day baseball, the crowd’s desire for more action (read: offense), closer fences and aluminum bats.
Maybe the idea wasn’t for pitchers to bail out, but glamour, clearly, had switched to the bat. Sudddenly, pitching, while still important, didn’t seem carry the 75 or 80 percent anymore.
But don’t try to apply that batsare-better be-bop to the 2000 NEWS of Delaware County’s Girls’ All-Star Softball Team,.
Practically every high school softball club in the NEWS’of Delaware County coverage area had a dominant rising fastball pitcher who made bats close to inconsequential.
Unusual is the fact that perhaps the most dominating was a 9thgrader. That would be Catholic South pitching MVP Crissy Wontroba of Prendergast.
A senior, Vicki Andrel, pitched Upper Darby to the Central League title. And a junior, Katie Reisch, walked just one batter in the last 11 games ~ yes, games ~ to spark Haverford’s second-half season surge.
First- and second-team players were picked after consultations with area head coaches.
Brief player profiles follow.
First Team
VICKI ANDREL ~ Senior righthanded pitcher from Upper Darby… Had a 15-4 record with a 0.94 ERA… Enjoyed six shutouts, one no-hitter (vs. Penncrest)… Struck out 97 in 125 innings… Batted .424 with three doubles… Scored 11 runs, knocked in seven… Had .593 on-base percentage… Excellent change-up to complement fastball…Also plays field hockey…Hopes to play softball and study physical therapy at Elizabethtown College… KATE REISCH ~ Junior righthanded pitcher from Haverford… Finished with 12-4 Central League mark…In 107 2/3 innings, gave up 73 hits and just 11 earned runs… Had a 0.72 ERA…Struck out 168 and walked only seven…Walked just one batter in final 11 games…Three types of fastball: straight, riser, drop… Also throws curveball and a screwball…The rising fastball breaks in on righthanded batters…As a leadoff hitter, batted .296 with six walks and just two strikeouts…Hit one double and one triple…Made just one error for a .967 defensive average…
DANIELLE FOLLOSCO ~ Senior righthanded pitcher from Marple Newtown…Struck out 184 in 134 innings with just 14 walks…Enjoyed a 0.59 ERA with a 14-6 record… Recorded 10 shutouts and pitched a perfect game against Lower Merion in season opener…Began starting on mound in second half of freshman season …Rising fastball breaks at last moment… Key to Marple Newtown finishing second to Upper Darby in Central League…Also played basketball and volleyball at MN…Going to Kutztown as a special education major (elementary)…Hopes to play college softball…
CRISSY WONTROBA ~ Freshman righthanded pitcher from Prendergast…Named Catholic South Pitching MVP as a 9thgrader…Struck out 161 and walked just 28 in 118 innings… Enjoyed 0.54 ERA…Batted .453 with two doubles, three triples and 19 RBI… Prendie coach Delores Martino saw her hurl for Aldan Del Val team because no starting pitcher was returning at Prendergast: “I saw that fastball riser and I knew we’d be okay,” the coach said …Freshman started all 20 Prendie games this spring (missed just seven innings)…Her record same as team’s: 19-2… Pitched Pandas to Catholic League title game… DEBBIE SULECKI ~ Senior righthanded pitcher from O’Hara… Finished with a 1.02 ERA and made second-team All-Catholic…Struck out 98 and walked just five in 114 innings…Had a 10-6 overall mark and led O’Hara to Catholic League playoffs… Superior change-up …Batted .375… JEN DILLON ~ Senior catcher from Prendergast…Batted .440 and led team in RBI with 22…Had eight doubles…Two-year starter, firstteam All-Catholic …Played first base last year…Her leadership behind plate was invaluable to freshman sensation (Wontroba) on mound…Hopes to play softball in college…
CHRISTINE McCARTY ~ Junior catcher from O’Hara…Catholic South MVP (position player), batted .394 with .574 on-base percentage… Made Second-Team AllCatholic last year …Had two doubles…Exceptional at calling pitches and standout on defense with a strong throwing arm…
JACKIE GIACOBETTI ~ Junior first baseman from O’Hara…Made First-Team All-Catholic.. Batted .358 with a .509 on-base percentage…Led team with 22 RBI…Had one homer, two triples and a double…Also plays high school field hockey…
JESSICA LEAHY ~ Freshman second baseman from Haverford… Hit .390 with 12 runs scored and 14 RBI… Tripled twice, with one double and a home run…Converted outfielder had 18 putouts, 29 assists and just two errors for a .959 defensive mark…Also plays basketball…
BRITTANY TEAL ~ Sophomore second baseman from Marple Newtown…Batted .368 with 13 RBI.. Had four doubles and three triples… Scored a dozen runs… Started as a freshman last season …Also started for soccer and basketball teams…
ROBIN BERRY ~ Junior shortstop from Upper Darby…Batted .552 with three doubles, three triples and four home runs for Central League title team…On-base percentage: .597… Scored 18 runs, batted in 21…Fielding percentage: 961 (just three errors)… Threeyear starter…All-star in basketball and volleyball…
BETH YOUNG ~ Junior outfielder from Marple Newtown… Centerfielder and leadoff hitter, she batted .447 and scored 18 runs with four RBI…Very fast on basepaths (eight steals)…Excellent bunter…
AMANDA CELLUCCI ~ Junior outfielder from Prendergast… Batted .442 and led team in hits (26) and walks (16)…Knocked in 14 runs in 20 games…First-Team All-Catholic …Played leftfield last year, center this season…No obvious weakness in game….Excellent defensive instincts in outfield…Also plays field hockey and member of bowling team…
JANET KOSKINEN ~ Junior outfielder from Upper Darby… Centerfielder batted .403 with four doubles and a triple…Knocked in six runs, scored 12 times…Speedy in outfield, reduces potential doubles to singles by cutting off the ball quickly…Going to Holland on a people-to-people trip this summer to teach softball…Also plays soccer…
Second Team
MELISSA CIURLINO ~ Freshman right-handed pitcher from Springfield…Had a 1.45 ERA with a 9-9 record…Struck out 104 and walked just 17 in 130 innings… Throws fastball, off-speed pitch and a breaking ball… Opponents hit just .238 against her…
KRISSY BROWN ~ Senior catcher from Upper Darby…Batted .263 with three doubles…On-base percentage: .491…Tough out: Walked eight times and hit by pitch five times…Scored a dozen runs, knocked in nine…Superb defensively with strong arm…Hopes to play softball at Philadelphia University and major in business…
SHANNON MURPHY ~ Senior catcher from Springfield…Had two triples and a double.. On base 43 percent of time…Played centerfield last year, moved to catcher…Made just five errors…Also plays soccer…
JACKIE WESTERMAN ~ Senior first baseman from Penn Wood …Led team in hits and RBI (12)…Batted .300…Team captain… Started all four years at Penn Wood…Known as clutch hitter… Also plays volleyball and basketball…
RACHEL ARMES ~ Sophomore first baseman from Haverford… Batted .277 with nine RBI and a double… Made just three errors for .970 mark…Back-up pitcher for Reisch, had tendinitis this spring …Could pitch some next season…
MEGAN KASMER ~ Senior second baseman from Springfield… Doubled twice this season… On base over 38 percent of time …Made just four errors…Varsity basketball star…
KIM SALMON ~ Senior second baseman from Upper Darby… Batted .208 with seven runs scored… Strong suit was defense: Made six unassisted double plays… Also plays basketball… Hopes to play softball and major in biology at Ursinus…
JACKIE LAWSON ~ Junior shortstop from O’Hara…Strong defensively…Batted .303 with a triple and two doubles…On-base percentage: .497…Made Second-Team All-Catholic… Also plays soccer…
VAL TURNER ~ Sophomore shortstop from Springfield… Leadoff hitter, smacked seven doubles… Also plays basketball and tennis… Played a solid shortstop…
KYLE POTTER ~ Junior outfielder from Upper Darby… Rightfielder batted .346 with two doubles and three triples… Knocked in four runs…Going on people-to-people trip to Hawaii this summer to play softball…Threw out three runners trying to score…Also plays soccer…
