Indians try, but can't rattle Rangers
SHICKSHINNY — Natalia Ninotti put all the pressure on her shoulders when she was tasked with taking over pitching duties in the fifth inning of her first varsity playoff game Tuesday evening.
With teammate Jenna Robaczewski set to face Muncy's lineup a third time, Northwest's coach called on the freshman Ninotti to give the Indians a different look.
Those nerves never surfaced for Ninotti, who also hit the game-winning home run, as she didn't allow a hit in a 4-2 victory in a District 4 Class 2A quarterfinal.
With the win, the Rangers play Troy on Thursday at Elm Park.
"It was a close game and I was going to the [circle]. I didn't want to let anything up," Ninotti said. "... I was just trying to shut them down and keep them from scoring as best as I could."
Ninotti achieved such by getting the Indians to chase high fastballs and outside curveballs to the tune of three strikeouts. The only Indian to reach base against Ninotti was Taylor Shannon, who was intentionally walked as a precaution after she pulled a two-run home run to right against Robaczewski in the fourth.
With the way she pitched and hit, Ninotti admitting she had any nerves surprised Harvey.
"She didn't look nervous. She can hide it well," Harvey said. "She looked great. I'm actually surprised she said she was nervous because she was in full command today. For a freshman who doesn't throw a lot to get thrown into that today, she did fantastic. She also had a great day at that plate and didn't look like someone playing in her first playoff game."
The decisive home run came via patience.
After a four-pitch leadoff walk to Ava Ruckle, Ninotti, the Rangers' cleanup hitter, turned on a 2-0 pitch and hit it well out to left. She felt she was due for such after not getting in on the team's power surge in the season finale against Montgomery when they hit six home runs.
The Rangers' other two runs came due to baserunning aggressiveness.
With Olivia Nevel — one of three Rangers with a multi-hit performance — aboard with a single, Callie Moyer singled up the middle and the two got into scoring position on the throw to the plate.
The two proceeded to score in the next at-bat when Muncy's center fielder, Jailyn Baker, dropped a pop-up hit by Ashlyn Hermanofski.
Coming up in the winning column is a positive, but Harvey wants to see the offense make adjustments as they get deeper in the playoff pool.
"[Chevelle Bauman] pitched a lot inside to us today and we didn't adjust," Harvey said. "Too many popups and we have to hit the ball on the ground more. We have more success when we hit the ball on the ground more. It's something we'll hopefully work on more, but no bonus points. It's ugly but we won."
Thankfully, Harvey has the same strength to his advantage moving forward. Even though he relieved Robaczewski, the junior struck out eight, gave up three hits and hit one batter in 4 2/3 innings of work.
"I felt their hitters were starting to catch on a little bit and making more contact as they went. That third time through the batting order, I decided to make the change and throw something a little different. Natalia throws a little harder and gives a totally different look. I just didn't want them settling in on Jenna and catch them off guard. I think the change worked really well."
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