ORCHARD LAKE — A severe area thunderstorm skirted the campus at St. Mary’s Prep on Monday afternoon, but though the temperature hovered around 70 under a sunny, partially cloudy sky, there was a chill in the air from winds that consistently ranged between 30-50 mph.
There was nowhere for the Eaglets softball team to cope with the storm that Farmington Hills Mercy’s No. 1-ranked team created.
The Marlins took the doubleheader, 8-0 and 15-7, to increase their overall record to 9-1 (5-1 in the Catholic League Central Division) and reduce St. Mary’s to 4-6 overall (1-3 league).
The eye of the storm was located in the middle of the diamond, precisely on the pitcher’s circle, where senior Kaitlyn Pallozzi, the best high school softball pitcher in the state, has been wheeling and dealing from her freshman year.
She pitched all seven innings of the opener (a no-hitter, third of the season, 15th of her career; fifth shutout, 43rd career) and four innings of the second game. Combined, Pallozzi struck out 33 batters, giving her 146 Ks in 59 innings (1,045 career). You’ll need a microscope to see her .012 ERA and .053 batting average against.
Pallozzi accepts the role and responsibility of being team captain along with the pressure of getting all the attention.
“I’m always trying to improve myself,” she said. Way back as a sophomore she intended to play college ball at Alabama, which she made official a couple of months ago. “I throw a fastball, changeup and riser. I guess I‘m going to have to learn the drop ball.”
She’s had the opportunity to visit the Alabama campus and experience the program’s culture. “The players are really for one another, supporting and enjoying someone else’s success.”
It’s a similar culture at Mercy, senior catcher Evelyn Miller said. “We’re a family off the field as well as on. In practice we wear shirts that have ‘Beyond the game’ printed on them.”
This is Miller’s first time catching Pallozzi. “It’s always entertaining. We sometimes make jokes between pitches. I call the pitches. She can shake me off but not much. I’m happy to have the opportunity to catch her. She’s not only a great player but a great friend and teammate as well.”
Mercy combined for 24 hits in the two games. Miller (Loyola Chicago) had six hits and four runs batted in. Outfielder Sophie Chaput had five hits and four RBI. Shortstop Charlie Lambert had three hits and three RBI. Third baseman Meg Kowalyk (Adrian) smacked three doubles and batted in three runs in the second game.
Mercy coach Corey Burras inserted sophomore Anna McGavin for three innings on the mound in the second game. The Eaglets took out their frustration against Pallozzi with seven runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batters.
Burras, in his fourth year at the helm, urged his squad in a postgame chat to “individual accounting for what they could do better. Take personal responsibility and support the team’s growth. We’re a 14-player team, not just one.”
The Marlins have at least 12, perhaps 14, games on tap. They’ll be seeking a fifth consecutive CHSL Bishop Division championship on May 19.
State playoffs begin May 30. The ultimate goal is to bring home a state trophy to sit alongside the one won in 2016.
Contact Don Horkey at [email protected].
