In their 13-7 win against Hopkins at home on April 30, senior co-captain Melanie Mandell went four for four with two home runs and crossed the milestone of 100 RBI, finishing the game with 104.
By Melanie Cane
In their 13-7 win against Hopkins at home on April 30, senior co-captain Melanie Mandell went four for four with two home runs and crossed the milestone of 100 RBI, finishing the game with 104.
Rye Country Day pulled off a decisive win, but the game was close until the bottom of the fifth inning. Hopkins scored twice in the top of the first. But by the time the inning ended, Mandell singled, Kristen Brown moved her to second with another single and she stole third. CeCe Brown drove Mandell home on an RBI double closing the gap to one. The Wildcats scored three in the bottom of the second inning on hits by senior co-captain Micki Carver, Rohina Sinha, and Annie Hauser.
Hopkins added four runs in the top of the fourth, tying the game at six. The Wildcats pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth on a homer to center field by Mandell and an RBI double by Casey Linehan. In the bottom of the fifth, Rye Country Day put the game out of reach scoring five runs to take a 13-6 lead. Mandell drove in two more runs on her second home run and Payne also homered in two runs. Brown and Hauser both had doubles.
This win was especially impressive because every player in the Wildcats lineup got a hit and their starting shortstop was absent forcing players to play positions they were not used to. Leadoff hitter and catcher Hauser went three for five with two doubles and three RBI. Pitcher Carver went two for four at bat and only gave up two earned runs. Mandell went four for four with two home runs and five RBI.
On crossing the 100-career RBI milestone, Mandell said, “I owe it all to my teammates. I couldn’t have driven in runs if they hadn’t gotten on base.” She is currently three hits short of 100, as well.
Mandell, who is going to play softball at Middlebury, attributed the win against Hopkins to a total team effort. “It took a few great plays in the field and some good at bats to get through that game. Micki and Kristen, did a great job on the mound. Hauser did a great job leading off and Payne’s home run was a confidence booster. We have been coming together as a team and that is the key to our success.”
The Wildcats are currently 7-1. After beating Hopkins, Brown pitched a no-hitter (16-0) against Dalton on May 2.
Coach Margaret Scarcella is thrilled with the team’s success. “At the beginning of the season we had no idea we would play so well. Every player has given their all and many girls have surprised me.”
Their next home game is May 6 against Holy Child.