Fontbonne Hall softball coach Frank Marinello stood in front of his team and told them they played well.
They had, they just didn’t win the game.
The Bonnies dropped a 1–0 matchup to Archbishop Molloy April 10, a closely contested showdown that Marinello couldn’t quite bring himself to be disappointed over.
“You know my line, right? If you blink you lose,” Marinello said. “We’re a young team. I’m very happy. No one is happy losing, but I’m happy with how competitive this game was.”
Fontbonne came up on the wrong end of a pitcher’s duel as both squad’s starters battled in the circle. Arianna Heinsch led the charge for the Bonnies, while Molloy’s Kelsey Carr set the tone for the Stanners.
Heinsch – who had big shoes to fill this season, stepping into the circle after Fontbonne graduated former standout Bianca Marletta – gave up just two hits in the bottom of the fourth, but they both proved costly.
Jessica Hickey connected on a leadoff double into left field and notched the game’s only run on a short single from Taylor Torres.
The Bonnies were half-a-second away from making the play at the plate, but the throw came just a moment too late as Hickey slid into home.
“Ari threw 85 pitches and really gave up a hit and a half,” Marinello said. “I wouldn’t even call it two hits. It was a great game, though.”
That was as much as Molloy would get, but it was all the Stanners would need as Carr continued to fan batters down the stretch.
The Molloy freshman racked up 16 strikeouts on the day, giving up just two hits and four walks.
“I’m just trying to throw strikes,” Carr said of her approach in the league matchup. “That’s pretty much it. I’m just trying to get into a rhythm.”
Fontbonne’s best chance came in toe top of the sixth inning as Alexa Bertelle connected on a leadoff single and Abigal Fogliano followed two batters later with a walk.
The Bonnies, however, couldn’t take advantage. Natalie Lacognata hit into a fielders choice, forcing Bertelle out at third, and a fly out wrapped up the inning without a run crossing home.
Fontbonne connected on its final hit – a two-out single from Sydney Lacognata – in the seventh inning, but the Bonnies offense failed to completely hit its stride.
“We’ve got to move the ball around a little bit,” Marinello said. “I think if we start to move the ball around a little bit, we’ll be alright.”
It’s the second time Fontbonne has come up short against Molloy this season, but the Bonnies aren’t discouraged yet. The squad is just as confident as ever, anxious to prove itself sooner rather than later and, most importantly, certain it can win another pitcher’s duel as the season continues.
The Bonnies are young, but they’re competing and, right now, that’s all Marinello cares about.
“It looks like we can play with everybody right now,” Marinello said. “We’re going to live to see another day and I’m sure we’ll see [Molloy] again down the road.”
