o'connell softball

PVI, O’Connell in Prime Position as Playoffs Approach

By David Steinbacher
Special to the HERALD
(From the Issue of 5/3/07) kelly engman

The WCAC playoffs in baseball and softball are just around the corner and two local teams are in prime position to capture league titles.
In WCAC baseball, five teams are clearly in the upper echelon of the conference.
As of April 30, Paul VI, coached by Billy Emerson, leads the field with a 20-3 overall record (11-2 in WCAC play), and has hit a school record 28 home runs this season. St. John’s, coached by Kevin Gibbs, is 18-5 (11-2 in WCAC), and has won its last seven consecutive games.
Gonzaga, coached by Pete Schourek, is 17-8 (10-4 WCAC); DeMatha, coached by Charlie Sullivan, is 16-9 (9-4 WCAC); and Bishop O'Connell, coached by Rick Hart, is 12-7 (9-5 WCAC).
Good Counsel, last season’s surprising champion with a 14-12 win over Paul VI, is below .500 in league play this season. Bishop Ireton, St. Mary's Ryken and Bishop McNamara round out the lower tier.
Carroll, which has consistently finished in the WCAC basement, recently dropped the sport.
In WCAC softball, O’Connell leads other local teams thanks to a talented pitching pool.
O’Connell, coached by Tommy Orndorff, is clearly on top with an overall record of 19-2 and an undefeated conference record (14-0). The fourth-ranked Knights defeated Good Counsel 15-0 on April 30, Bishop Ireton 9-0 on May 1 and Paul VI Catholic 4-0 on May 2. They have outscored their conference opponents 154-2 this season.
“I like the way that we are playing,” said Orndorff. “We’re hitting the ball very well and in (senior pitcher) Kelley Engman we certainly have one of the top pitchers in the entire area.”
Three pitchers have logged innings for the Lady Knights this season: Engman has a 16-2 overall record; junior Colleen Carty is 2-0 overall and freshman Sarah Eidt is 1-0.
Engman, one of a host of standout O’Connell pitchers in the past few decades, has signed with Boston University.
“We will be going for our fourth consecutive WCAC title this season,” said Orndorff.
Shortstop Erin Marrone (.559), starting pitcher Engman (.558), catcher Katie Nutaitis (.385), right fielder Carty (.365) and second baseman Eidt (.364) lead the Knights in batting average.
In addition, Marrone — with four home runs and four doubles — and Nutaitis — with four triples — pace the Knights in those three categories.
The other teams rounding out the top five in the conference, as of April 28 included: St. Mary’s Ryken, at 10-3 in conference play; Paul VI, coached by E. J. Thomas, at 9-4; Ireton, coached by Mark Heiser, at 8-3; and Elizabeth Seton at 7-3.
Good Counsel, Holy Cross, St. John’s and McNamara are all below .500 in the WCAC softball standings. Carroll does not field a varsity softball team.
The WCAC playoffs are scheduled to begin May 8, with the semifinal roundscheduled for May 10 and finals set for May 12.