Playoff softball: Shorthanded Lincoln Park Academy bounced by Cardinal Gibbons
FORT PIERCE — Ashley Langel knew Friday she would be without her ace pitcher and leadoff hitter for at least the regional quarterfinals.
The Lincoln Park Academy softball coach had time to prepare for the loss of Makayla Megnauth.
Still, it was going to be a tall order entering the regionals without a key figure.
The Greyhounds gave it a game effort but came up a little short at the end.
Cardinal Gibbons out of Fort Lauderdale broke a tie in the sixth inning and tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh for a 5-2 win over Lincoln Park Academy in the Class 3A-Region 4 quarterfinals Wednesday evening at Layne Chesney Softball Complex’s Field 2.
Megnauth is not your average seventh-grade softball player. She carries a .459 batting average that includes nine extra-base hits.
More importantly, the right-handed pitcher has a 10-6 record with an 0.82 earned run average with 228 strikeouts in 110 ⅓ innings, including 30 Ks in a 12-inning game on April 29 against American Heritage.
Langel said that Megnauth, who was in a brace, entertained the thoughts of pitching.
“As a coach, she’s young. Can’t put her at risk,” Langel said. “Definitely didn’t want to do anything to put her future at risk.”
The Greyhounds had a capable replacement in freshman McKenzie Brown in the circle. Entering with a 2-2 record and 0.62 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 22 ⅔ innings, Brown allowed eight hits and five runs while walking two and striking out seven Wednesday.
“My pitcher did amazing tonight,” Langel said. “She stood her ground. Our defense backed her up pretty well. Her pitches were working. We’ve just got to get timely hitting in our lineup.”
Lincoln Park Academy (12-9) answered Cardinal Gibbons’ first two runs.
After the visitors took a 1-0 lead in its first at-bat, the Greyhounds tied it in the second. Cleanup hitter Jade Brown singled, was sacrificed to second by Kayci Lee, took third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Brown.
Cardinal Gibbons went up 2-1 in the third only to have Lincoln Park Academy tie it in the bottom of the inning. Paislyn Ankiel singled, took second on a hit by Justice Monds and crossed on an error.
Cardinal Gibbons' cleanup hitter Morgan Beavers broke the 2-all deadlock with a home run to open the sixth inning. Beavers also had the big hit in the seventh, a two-run double.
It was the top four in the Cardinal Gibbons’ lineup who did all the damage, going 8-for-14 with all five runs scored and all five runs batted in.
“I looked at their stats and figured those hitters would make the impact,” Langel said. “We tried to throw them off a little bit, but good hitters are going to hit the ball. It’s part of the game.”
Defensively for Lincoln Park Academy, Chaniya Saintil made a huge effort, going over the portable fence in an attempt to catch Beavers’ home run. Center fielder Kanosha Hartwell made a fine running catch in right-center field.
The Greyhounds graduate one senior: Lee, who began her run with the team in seventh grade. Lincoln Park Academy won the district title in Lee’s first and last year with the team.
“She brought experience,” Langel said. “She also brought leadership, but it wasn’t a dictator type of leadership style. She won the award for best team player. She knew when was the right time to speak up and how to say things.”
Langel, who just completed her third year as varsity coach after two seasons on the junior varsity level, sees the season as a learning experience for her young team.
“A good experience,” Langel said. “Hopefully, in the offseason most of them will put in the work, which I know they will. Next year, we’ll have better team chemistry, a season of experience and pick up a few new players.”
Third-seeded Cardinal Gibbons (17-6) moves on to Tuesday’s semifinal at second-seeded Somerset Academy, a 10-0 winner over American Heritage-Delray Beach.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lincoln Park Academy softball bounced from playoffs by Cardinal Gibbons
