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Spartans prove too much for Rosary
Updated: April 25, 2011 6:26AM
Before the season started, Rosary softball coach John Kazmierczak thought St. Francis might be the class of the Suburban Christian Conference's Blue Division.
On Thursday, the Spartans demonstrated why.
Staging what could have been termed a power-point presentation, the visitors backed winning pitcher Taylor Ronchetto in her three-hit shutout by pounding 11 hits in an 11-0 five-inning decision.
It lifts the Spartans to 11-3 overall and 6-0 in the league.
"I was glad to see Ariana Stone hit the ball well today," Kazmierczak said. "Ronchetto is a pretty tough pitcher. She's 10-2 with her only losses coming to Downers Grove North and Glenbard South. She's one of the best pitchers we'll face all year.
"They're a solid team, period. I think they could make a long run in the postseason but they're in a very tough regional and that might hurt their chances."
Stone, the Royals' right fielder, went 2-for-2 with a pair of sharply-hit singles up the middle off the Spartans' right-hander. Maddie Merritt had the other hit, a bunt single in the fifth. That was the only inning the Royals had two runners reach.
Tara Pfeiffer was Rosary's only other runner, reaching on a walk in the fourth inning. Ronchetto struck out five.
"I think she was around the plate enough; we had them swinging," St. Francis coach Ralph Remus said. "I think their pitcher did a nice job but we just came out and hit the ball well."
His cleanup hitter, shortstop Paige Davis, led the way with a double, two singles and three RBI. Ten of the Spartan hits were singles.
Audrey Ruddy (2-2) took the loss for the Royals.
"She's pitched a great game for us eight or nine days ago against St. Ed's," said Kazmierczak, "but we hadn't played a game since until yesterday's (win against Marian Central). One thing (Ruddy) has done this year is reverse her strikeout-to-walk ratio."
Not this day, though. She walked seven and struck out just one, but, truth be told, she wasn't the only person on the field struggling to find the strike zone.
"She may have been squeezed a bit," Remus said.
Rosary falls to 6-6 overall and 3-2 in the league but is still in second place in the division.
"We're 6-6 overall, with 10 cancellations," said Kazmierczak, "so there's your checkerboard and haphazard play."
Rosary was also without regulars Ali Keenum and Mackenzie Astling (spring break trips) and Emily Meyer had her wisdom teeth pulled Thursday morning and missed the game.
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