Ryan tops St. Hubert for second straight PCL softball crown
"Let's go," an impassioned Kerri Dadalski yelled from first base. A hearty clap followed. It was the first inning, she'd just knocked in the first run of the game, and the Archbishop Ryan senior was already fired up.
"Let's go," an impassioned Kerri Dadalski yelled from first base. A hearty clap followed.
It was the first inning, she'd just knocked in the first run of the game, and the Archbishop Ryan senior was already fired up.
The Catholic League softball championship at Arcadia was still young when the Ragdolls' ace yelled the phrase for the first time, but it would become her mantra throughout the contest.
Her teammates listened to their emotionally charged leader, and the Ragdolls won their second consecutive title, this time over St. Hubert, 5-2.
Ryan (17-0) hasn't lost against a Catholic League opponent since 2013.
"I know that my girls don't give up," Dadalski, a Central Connecticut recruit, said. "That's what I love about my team. We could be down the bottom of the seventh inning but I know my girls are going to fight tooth and nail."
The Bambies (14-5) made sure the Ragdolls were going to have to fight for the victory, thanks to a terrific effort from pitcher Melissa Hess and some timely hitting.
But Ryan has Isabel Hoch.
Hoch gunned the ball home to make the play at the plate during a pivotal double play in the fifth inning that stopped the Bambies from scoring more than two runs in the frame. She also did it with her bat for the Ragdolls.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Hoch hit a fly ball to right field. The wind took hold of it and it dropped close to the foul line, scoring two runners to give Ryan a 3-2 lead.
"Let's go," Dadalski again. This one was said with a little more behind it, and followed a chest bump with fellow senior Michelle Hooten.
"I was so freaking happy for her and so excited when she did that," Dadalski said of Hoch. "It was amazing. I'm so proud of her."
Back-to-back RBI-singles followed and Ryan extended its' lead. All four runs were scored with two outs.
Let's go.
One last time, Dadalski said it - this time her voice a little hoarser - as the Ragdolls took the field in the top of the seventh.
"That's just who she is," Hoch said. "She gives 110-percent, 110-percent of the time. She's awesome and she wanted it more than anyone."
Fallon Kerr ran around the bases after the game, as the Ragdolls convened in left field. Dadalski looked at Kerr, 11, whose older sister Reilly plays first base for the Ragdolls, and thought about the future of the program.
"She's going to be taking my spot," Dadalski said, still beaming.
Her position maybe, but her spot? That seems unlikely.
St. Hubert 000 200 0 - 2 5 0
Archbishop Ryan 100 004 0 - 5 8 2
WP: Kerri Dadalski. LP: Melissa Hess. 2B: SH-Julia Vizza; AR- Isabel Hoch.