West Xtra: Rule change helps Sto-Rox show team strength
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Sto-Rox's Erin McBane calls time after sliding safely into second during a lopsided victory against Cornell last week.
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Veteran softball coach Bill Palermo likes the fact that the pitching rubber in softball is now 43 feet away from home plate.
Moving the rubber back 3 feet this year has opened things up and in Palermo's estimation it means that not necessarily the best pitcher, but rather the best team will win.
"I like that idea," Palermo said.
And why wouldn't he? Many word argue that Sto-Rox is the better team every time it takes the field.
The Vikings are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in Section 3-A heading into a game scheduled for today at home against Vincentian Academy.
Moving the pitching circle back has made things more difficult on pitchers. Moving Sto-Rox down from Class AA to Class A has made things really difficult for Class A pitchers.
Through nine games, the Vikings have scored 11 runs in a game twice, 18 runs three times and 25 runs once.
"I haven't seen offensive production like this ever," said Palermo, who has led the Vikings to 14 WPIAL title-game appearances and 10 WPIAL championships.
Senior co-captain and second baseman Erin McBane leads Sto-Rox with a .531 batting average. She also has 16 RBIs and 18 runs scored. The other senior co-captain is shortstop Chelcie Washington, who is batting .478 and has scored 16 runs. Senior third baseman Vicky Vuljanic is a returning all-section player who is batting .500 with 12 runs scored. Senior center fielder Danielle Priddy is hitting .440 with 13 RBIs and 18 runs scored, tied for the team lead with McBane in that category.
The offensive numbers have been staggering but so have the numbers from junior pitcher Natalya Smarra, who has 48 strikeouts in 39 innings and a 0.71 ERA.
Although pitching in eight games, she has thrown only 39 innings because in six of those eight game the mercy rule was put in effect. Smarra has also gotten in on the fun at the plate where she is batting .478 with 15 RBIs.
First Published April 28, 2011 12:00 am
