Pearl River Powers Past Port Jervis

Pearl River took the field for Monday's first-round state Class A playoff game at Minisink Valley against Port Jervis looking for a fast start.

Senior catcher Jamie DeGennaro gave the Pirates one with a home run to center field that sparked the offense in a 5-0 victory, giving Pearl River (24-1) a spot in the quarterfinals 5:30 p.m. Monday against Elmira Free Academy at Nanuet.

"She definitely started us off," Pearl River senior pitcher Katie O'Flynn said. "We needed that push. That definitely set the tone for the game."

"It was very big," Port Jervis coach John Faggione said. "It kind of took our sails out a bit."

It also provided a big boost after Port Jervis (13-8) had turned a popped-up bunt into a double play.

"After the double play, the home run gave us the momentum back," Pearl River Coach Mike Carlacci said. "We got more in the second inning. It was nice to put some runs up early."

It was a big help for a Pearl River team that had some tired players after the school's senior prom the night before.

"Going into the game, we knew because of prom and everything like that, not getting a lot of sleep, we had to jump out early and try to get our energy up," DeGennaro said. "Get everybody motivated. Then we could put pressure on them."

"We really are (dragging)," Pearl River senior pitcher Katie O'Flynn said. "I'm dead right now. My voice is gone."

O'Flynn had enough in the tank to ensure that the first-inning run was all the Pirates would need.  She struck out seven, walked none and hit a batter in a five-hit shutout.

"Phenomenal, especially early," Carlacci said. "She was really hitting her spots. All of her pitches were working. It was tough in that heat. They made some adjustments later. I don't really think she was losing it. I think it's more they made some adjustments. I thought she was hitting her spots great all game long."

O'Flynn retired the first 14 batters she faced before hitting Sarah Bierne with a pitch with two outs in the fifth. Kelsey Powrie followed with a single down the left-field line and Samantha Outwater bunted for a hit to load the bases, but O'Flynn retired Sarah Henderson on a fly ball to center field.

"I think as you see a pitcher a few times, they are going to start chipping away," O'Flynn said. "Also, I was getting a little bit tired. It's a little hot, but you've got to work through it. My defense really helped me there."

"We moved back a little in the box," Faggione said. "She was overpowering us a little bit. We wanted to give ourselves a little more time. We were able to see teh ball better, put the bat on the ball and get some hits, but we dug too much of a whole to dig out of at this stage."

Powrie and Outwater each singled with two outs in the seventh, but O'Flynn induced a pop-up to first by Henderson to end the game.

Pearl River had no such problems capitalizing on its opportunities. Freshman Mandy McCarthy led off the second inning with a long double  over the head of center fielder Tori Ostram. Junior third baseman Amanda Hartigan drove her in with a single to left, though she was thrown out at second base to end the inning.

The Pirates added two more in the third. Junior center fielder Kristyn Neroda led off with a bunt single, stole second and moved to third on senior shortstop Gemma Mahoney's bunt. DeGennaro hit a hard grounder off the glove of shortstop Amber Butenhoff to score Neroda.

"My dad always says if you hit the ball as hard as you can, good things will happen," said DeGennaro, who was 2-for-4 in the game.

Courtesy runner Sam Alicandri ame all the way around to score from first on a long single by O'Flynn to push Pearl River's lead to 4-0.

O'Flynn came through with her bat again with a fifth-inning single that scored Mahoney for the Pirates' final run O'Flynn was 3-for-3 in the contest.

"We have a good offensive team," Carlacci said. "When we get good at-bats, we can make things happen. We hit the ball hard early in the game."