Cheverus hands Windham softball second loss of season

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High’s varsity softball team faced rival Cheverus at Cheverus on Monday, May 4 in the first of two regular season games it will play against the Stags. Cheverus jumped to an early 5-0 lead after two innings as Windham struggled to get a runner on base. While Windham was able to stop Stag pitcher Addison DeRoche’s no-hitter opportunity, the Eagles lost, 8-0.

Windham senior Nola Bryant rounds third base after a steal
during a girls' varsity softball game against Cheverus at
Cheverus High School on  Monday, May 4.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“We approached this game knowing we’re going to see them (again), and hoping we’ll be where we want to be in June and possibly seeing them a third time,” said Windham varsity softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “A big thing we stress is wanting to win, but if you can’t win, where are the little wins? The second and third time through the lineup, a lot of the batters made adjustments – that was really nice to see from my hitters, facing a pitcher like (DeRoche).”

The Cheverus defense was strong throughout the game and sent the first three Windham batters back to the dugout. After one full inning Cheverus led, 3-0.

In the fourth inning, senior Nola Bryant destroyed any chance of a Cheverus no-hitter when she crushed a double that landed against the outfield fence.

“It definitely felt great,” said Bryant. “I hit a double off of her in the regional final last year and it was a really big deal because she’s such a talented pitcher and it means a lot to get on base and break the no-hitter. I think it was getting my foot down early and getting out of my head; I talked myself through it. We wanted to take the pressure off ... we knew we were coming in and facing a talented pitcher as well as a talented team.”

According to Bryant, outfield plays went really well. They got the ball in quickly. She said they need to get their bunts down, make adjustments earlier at bat and make routine plays.

The Lady Eagles’ defense sent the first three batters from Cheverus back to the dugout in the fourth inning after junior Kiley Card made two stellar catches in left field and senior pitcher Lacie Higgins struck out the third batter.

The top of the sixth inning had senior Addison Caiazzo single on a bunt.

“I knew what was coming (with DeRoche),” said Caiazzo. “I trusted my hands and knew I couldn’t get anything up in the zone at all, I got to get this ball down on the ground or line drive was my mentality (at bat). I think Lacie Higgins did a phenomenal job. She started the game pitching, then I went in and she ended up coming back ... I really liked how she stayed on the gas pedal and continued to push everyone and get more strikeouts. We need to clean up our defense and trust each other and trust ourselves with the plays that we made. (Working on) bunting and small ball will be pretty beneficial to us.”

There was one last effort for Windham to make up the difference in the seventh inning, but they did not.

Card said they did a great job working as a team; they communicated in the field and trusted each other.

Eagle softball will get another chance with Cheverus again on May 16 at home, and Card said adjusting on those pitches and certain batters, because DeRoche has a great rise ball, so they all need to choke up; they need to work on getting that foot down before swinging.

“Where we’ve got to be better, especially in a game like this is separating offense and defense; two totally different aspects of the game,” said Gardiner. “Being able to not let a play from our defense bleed into our at-bats and vice-versa. We’ve got to stay focused on every pitch. We’re going to keep working on slashing; the big thing with DeRoche is timing. We haven’t really tested their defense. So, finding ways to put the ball in play to put pressure on their defense.” <