June 8, 2016 // Uncategorized

Pitcher’s duel and perfect season highlight CYO softball tourney championship game

Todays Catholic

By Ron Busch

FORT WAYNE — Posted last week was the final 3-0 score in the CYO final softball tourney game. The game occurred on Monday, May 16, at the Queen of Angels field. This one proved to be a duel between two very capable and talented pitchers. The hurler for St. Rose/St. Louis was Isabella Roussey. Roussey started the game by pitching 5 scoreless innings against a tough-hitting St. Jude team. She continued in the path of her regular season success for St. Rose/St. Louis. Wet weather had resulted in an abbreviated regular season in which they finished with 3 wins and 1 loss. St. Rose/St. Louis was coached by first year head coach Mindy Castle. Castle was quick to compliment Roussey’s demonstrated skill and team leadership.

Pitching for St. Jude was undefeated ace Josie Fett. She was pitcher in 8 of the St. Jude squad’s 9 season victories. Through 5 innings both pitchers were able to extinguish any offensive firepower. Finally, St. Jude was able to break through with RBI’s by Delaney Hogan and Josie Fett (helping her own cause). It was a hard-fought team win by St. Jude.

St. Jude first year head coach Jason Sylvester was equally impressed with the pitching efforts of both Isabella Roussey and Josie Fett. Fett’s shutout capped a perfect 9-0 season for the St. Jude softball squad. Coach Sylvester acknowledged the leadership of his 8th grader Delaney Hogan. Hogan and Fett both had batting averages hovering near .600 for the season. Utility “do it all” player Elly Doyle followed close behind with a .500 season batting average. Elly Doyle’s sister Emma was team catcher. Emma also picked up a victory in her one pitching appearance for the 2016 season. Other student-athletes on the team included Belle Hogan, Hope Nitza, Addison Krebs, Maggie Wright, and Lucy Pfluegger (another utility player). As testimony to the bright future for St. Jude… the varsity team also included a pair of 5th graders this year… Sara Sylvester and right fielder/second baseman Abbie Dunifon. As if it wasn’t enough to field a dynamite team this year, coach Sylvester also mentioned that St. Jude’s JV team also won their tourney this year as well.

The tournament victory capped a perfect season for the first year head coach and his talented team. Adding expertise were assistant coaches this year — Dave Fett, Lisa Krebs, and Cindy Kelly. Everyone contributed, the team blended well. Certainly the team has had a memorable season and tournament. The future looks bright as well for the team from the corner of East State and Randalia. It appears that area teams will want to prepare for St. Jude — quite possibly the league favorite and the “team to beat” next year as well.