For Olivia Auman, beating St. Francis Prep was a tangible indication of Christ the King progress and her own.
The 6-0 victory over the host Terriers in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens softball Monday is the first in the three-year varsity starter’s career and the first for the Royals in nine seasons. Auman allowed just three hits, walked none and struck out five and was 4-for-4 with three RBIs at the plate.
“I’ve had pretty much the full experience,” she said. “Now I can just calm down and stay focused more easily because I am older and more mature.”
Auman had a run-scoring single in the first inning and Gabby Gonzalez drove in two more with hits to make it 3-0 Christ the King (3-1) against SFP ace Katie Derby. The Royals added a run in the second on a groundout by Kim Velez that scored Nicole Iorio and another in the third on an Auman single that brought home Melanie Suarez to extend the lead to 5-0.
St. Francis Prep (4-2) threatened in the fourth inning with Nicole Lomangino and ToniAnn Groth both singled to start the inning. Auman would get a pop up, a force out at third and ground out to the pitcher to wiggle out of trouble. CK coach Frank Florio said that was an inning that might have blown up on his team in the past, but this year the Royals have been able to close the door on rallies thanks to Auman and solid defense.
“She is pitching much better as far as locating spots, moving the ball and changing speeds,” he said. … “She was throwing pretty hard.”
The win puts a cap to the three-game stretch that has shown CK will be force in the league this year. It nearly knocked off defending champion Archbishop Molloy, losing in eight innings, and beat Mary Louis and not last year’s runner-up St. Francis Prep.
“It shows that we have come very far as a team,” Auman said.
Archbishop Molloy 11, Mary Louis 0: Melissa Kump was 4-for-4 with triple, four RBIs and two runs scored for Archbishop Molloy (4-0) in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens. She and Sabina DeLorenzo both had two run singles in a six run fourth innings. Jackie Perillo went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, including a two-run double in the seventh. Maria Palmeri allowed six hits, struck out four and walked 3. Mary Louis is 3-3.
St. John Villa 11, St. Peter’s 2: Brittany Smith connected for a three-run homer and Nicole Cadero had a double, a triple and drove in four for St. John Villa (3-3) in CHSAA Staten Island. Briana Cancel had two hits for St. Peter’s (0-7).
Monsignor Scanlan 18, Mt. St. Ursula 12: Jalen Hart was 4-for-5 and three RBIs for Monsignor Scanlan in CHSAA Bronx/Westchester Class B. The win is Scanlan’s first in two seasons. Alexa Alicia went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Jocelyn Ocasio had three hits and two RBI. Melody Martin added a 3-for-4 and three-RBI effort at the plate.
OTHER SCORES
Maria Regina 17, Preston 12
Bishop Kearney 16, St. John’s Prep 1
