RallyNorth.net

Maloney carries Phillips to title

Sunday, May, 22 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

ANDOVER — Until yesterday, there had been no detailed record keeping at the Big East softball tournament.
But, after the performance of Phillips Academy junior and tourney MVP Kayla Maloney of Windham over the weekend, that is likely to change.
Maloney delivered a performance of the ages to lift the Big Blue to their first Big East crown since 2006, capping it off with a no-hitter in the 12-2 championship game victory over previously unbeaten Nobles.
That win avenged a heartbreaking 4-3 loss earlier in the day to the same Nobles team, which scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Then, to earn the rematch, Phillips rallied with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat Tabor 8-5.
For the tournament, Maloney threw two no-hitters and allowed just 10 hits in four games. And yet her pitching was almost secondary to her hitting.
After hitting two grand slam homers Saturday, she hit two more blasts yesterday and was a stunning 7 for 10 on the day with nine RBIs and four runs scored. Thus, for the tournament, she finished 10 of 17 with four home runs, 17 RBIs and seven runs scored.
“It was definitely a good weekend,” deadpanned Maloney. “I’ve always been pretty consistent at the plate, but not for home runs.”
Maloney’s hitting shouldn’t overshadow her pitching by much, however. She was forced to throw to backup catcher Nikki Pelletier of Andover, a JV catcher who was thrown into the fire and responded brilliantly when All-Scholastic catcher Sarah Onorato was diagnosed with mononucleosis and unable to play.
“It was a huge adjustment,” said Maloney. “I really did miss Sarah, but Nikki did a good job of stepping in.”
All in all, Phillips coach Peter Drench could not hesitate to use superlatives when talking about Maloney’s performance.
“Every tournament has an MVP, but I can’t remember an MVP like this,” said Drench, who is in his 24th year with the Big Blue. “I’ve never seen one player do so much for a team in a tournament, and in every phase of the game. It’d be like, in football, she was the quarterback, middle linebacker and kick returner.”
In the championship game, Phillips jumped onNobles with two runs in the first when Kristen Mendez led off with a walk, Caitlin Clancy had her first of two doubles and Abby Chung and Maloney delivered RBIs.
Nobles tied it in the third with a pair of runs courtesy of three errors, but a two-run double in the fourth by Mendez put Phillips ahead 4-2. Eight runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by two-run doubles by Maloney and Ann Doherty, ended the game due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Maloney finished the game with nine strikeouts and only one walk in six innings. She retired the last 11 batters that she faced.
Not only was Phillips (10-2) playing the entire tournament without Onorato, but standout shortstop Shannon McSweeney missed the last two games due to a national field hockey commitment.
“To come back and win this tournament like we did is definitely one of the most satisfying days in my coaching career,” said Drench. “It would have been great just to make it to the finals, but ti win it is something else. I’m just very proud of this group.”