LINWOOD – After opening the season with three straight losses, two of them by one run, it was only a matter of time before the Mainland Regional softball team notched its first victory.
That came Friday when the Mustangs rallied from an early deficit to defeat Middle Township at home 4-2. In a season that started full of hope, in which Mainland showed a glimpse of the offensive firepower many thought they would have, the Mustangs plated 2 runs each in the fourth and fifth innings.
Bella D’Agostino struck out 10 batters and came up with the big pitch several times to work out of jams to preserve the victory, which coach Brian Smith said he hopes will break the ice for the Mustangs this season.
“We’ve played three quality teams in Egg Harbor Township, St. Joe’s Hammonton and Millville,” Smith said. “The last two were tough one-run losses. So, to come out here and get the ‘W’ against Middle Township is something we really needed as a team.
“In this game, we made some improvements from the first three games. We made better plays and we were more focused today.”
Smith said the Mustangs were able to capitalize on some offensive opportunities at the plate that he hopes will snowball into situations in future games as Mainland continues through its difficult Cape-Atlantic League division schedule.
“We got a couple of key hits and executed a couple of things that we’re looking to do,” Smith said. “We ran the bases pretty well today and put pressure on Middle. We were able to force them into some mistakes.
“Then we just made the plays when we needed to make them. That’s what we needed to do to get that first win.”
It was D’Agostino’s second consecutive double-digit strikeout game. She rang up 17 in Mainland’s 9-8 loss to Millville in a game that went 10 innings. In that game, the Mustangs scored one run in the 10th inning to take the lead, only to give up 2 runs in the bottom of the inning in a contest in which Mainland committed five errors.
“It feels great to get that first win because we really needed it as a team,” the junior pitcher said. “I think it will really help us, like a confidence booster. We just needed to get that winning feeling again so we can go out and get it next time. It gives us a better mindset.”
Junior Bella Virgili reached base three times, providing a single in the fourth inning that eventually turned into Mainland’s first run and then drilling a two-run double down the left-field line in the fifth inning that put the Mustangs in the lead for good.
“I just put the bat on the ball and was hoping for the best,” Virgili said humbly about her game-changing hit. “This game, honestly, is going to build my confidence a little bit. Sometimes when I’m in a slump, it kind of brings me down. Now that I’m putting the bat to the ball, I’ll be more confident going up to the plate.”
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Farley O’Brien reached base on a two-out infield single, scoring Virgili and Denver Obermeyer, both of whom singled ahead of her.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Panthers took advantage of a walk and infield error and moved runners to second and third with one out. D’Agostino, though, was able to force a line out to second and then a strikeout to get out of the inning.
Middle Township threatened again in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases and then an error cut the Mustangs’ lead to one. Again, D’Agostino came up with a strikeout to end the Panthers’ rally.
“I’ll give Middle Township credit. They came out here and they battled us today,” Smith said. “They put the bat on the ball and they made us work. So, I give them a lot of credit for coming out here ready to play.”
Then in the seventh inning, Middle Township moved runners to second and third on a single and double but D’Agostino again came up with a strikeout to end the game.
“I play travel softball so I’ve been in a lot of situations like this that I had to pitch myself out of,” D’Agostino said. “I’m just used to being in those positions and working to get out of them. I have a team behind me but I know it starts with me and the balls I’m throwing.
“I just have to get into my mind about the pitch before I throw it. Then, I really just apply everything I’ve got to try to get myself out without hurting us.”
Smith said he continued to be impressed with D’Agostino’s composure in difficult situations.
“I thought Bella pitched a heck of a game again,” Smith said. “She had 10 strikeouts, limiting the damage, and was able to come up with big pitches when she really needed them. That was nice to see here compete like that.”
D’Agostino said as her strikeout numbers have improved, her walks have dropped, preventing teams to getting extra base runners against her.
“I’ve definitely cut down the number of walks that I had this game and that obviously helps in throwing fewer pitches,” she said. “I think as a team, we didn’t really let our guard down as much. We put ourselves in a mindset where we knew that we had to win.
“We knew what we needed to do to get it done. I think that for the most part, we did everything that we needed to do to get it done.”
Smith said he can see the small changes in his team that will lead to positive results as the season continues.
“That’s what we hope and we’re preaching to the girls,” Smith said. “We hope this is the first of many more to come this season. We’ve got to build on this and use this game as a building block. We play in a very tough division. We’re going to have to compete in every game and every game is going to be a battle.”
Mainland is scheduled to play four games this week. The Mustangs played Vineland on Monday and then will take on Hammonton on Wednesday and Cedar Creek on Thursday before a rematch at Egg Harbor Township on Friday.
Photos by DAVID NAHAN
Story by CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
