Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Abbey Mayse scattered four hits and struck out seven as St. Mark’s opened its softball season with an 11-1 win over St. Elizabeth March 22 at Canby Park. Mayse, a sophomore, went the distance on a cool, sunny afternoon.
Mayse also had two hits for the Spartans, and her courtesy runner came around to score both times. The primary offensive star for St. Mark’s, however, was sophomore Maria Mendez, who had two singles and knocked in three runs. She also scored a run.
The Spartans opened the scoring with four runs in the second inning and never looked back. Mayse started the inning with a single to left, then gave way to Danielle Mendez at first base. Paige Thomas followed with a single, and the Spartans’ catcher was lifted for courtesy runner Brianna Castagna. Danielle Mendez scored the first run when the next batter, Jayde DiRocco, bunted and the throw skipped into right field. Castagna and DiRocco crossed the plate on Maria Mendez’ first hit, a single to right. Maria Mendez later scored on an error.
St. Elizabeth would get a run back in the bottom of the second, but that would be the only mark against Mayse. Grace Dunleavy scored from second base on a double by Olivia Donahue that ticked off the glove of a leaping center fielder. Mayse followed by retiring the next three batters.
Maria Mendez added her third RBI of the afternoon in the fifth, scoring Joanne Cheng with a single. The Spartans added four insurance runs in the seventh inning, which began with Mayse’s second single. The final run crossed the plate on a double steal, as Cheng took off for the plate when Emily Coyle drew a throw while stealing second.
On the mound, Mayse managed just two one-two-three innings, but she kept the Vikings off-balance with a mix of heat and off-speed pitches. She also had help from her defense, including a runner thrown out at home on a wild pitch and a diving catch in right field by Cheng in the fifth.
The Spartans (1-0) are right back on the field Wednesday at William Penn at 4 p.m. before taking a week off. St. Elizabeth (0-1) travel to Archmere on March 30 at 3:45 p.m.
