Ashley Moore drove home a lesson for the Aurora Central Catholic softball team.
Teams receive 21 outs in a regulation softball game and it’s wise to use them all.
There are four freshmen and two sophomores in coach Mark Pasqualini’s lineup. Moore, who is one of those freshmen, didn’t appear to be fazed by the moment.
“I wasn’t scared,” Moore said. “I felt I could do it. I was confident. Basically, I wanted to put the ball in play.”
That’s just what Moore did Tuesday when she stepped into the batter’s box for the second time in the bottom of the seventh against Rosary.
Moore led off the inning with the Chargers trailing 11-6 and reached on an error, coming around to score the first of five runs that would tie the game in a 12-11 victory.
Now, the bases were loaded with just one out.
Moore, who came into the game hitting .333, rapped a grounder toward junior shortstop Kayla Montes, who moved laterally to field it cleanly before firing home to try for the force out.
Freshman Madalyn Torrance, however, was off with contact and beat the throw. It capped a come-from-behind win that required just 19 outs.
Senior catcher Olivia Hernandez summed it up for ACC.
“It might be the craziest game I’ve played in, for sure,” Hernandez said.
There’s no doubt it was for Moore, who was credited with a walk-off single.
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“I thought it was going to be an out when I hit it,” Moore said. “Then I was scared.”
ACC (4-3) likely benefited from a four-game trip on spring break.
“I tell ’em to be confident in themselves and play their game,” Pasqualini said. “We’re so young, they have to believe in themselves, work through their mistakes and realize it’s never over until it’s over.”
It was only the second game for Rosary (0-2), which has its share of inexperienced players too.
Both teams struggled in the field, each committing five errors. There were some mental lapses as well.
Sparked by Montes’ RBI double in the fifth and a three-run homer that became a two-run homer in the sixth, Rosary rallied from a 6-4 deficit to take the 11-6 lead.
Both big hits from Montes came off ACC senior Amanda Lohrey, who relieved freshman Brooklyn Marks. Lohrey and Montes are travel teammates.
Reagan Lightfoot and Brooke Pfeiffer pitched for Rosary.
“The home run felt amazing,” Montes said. “I was running the bases and screaming and yelling I was so happy.”
One of the runners ahead of her was later called out, however, after Pasqualini appealed to the plate umpire.
“My assistant coach noticed she didn’t touch home,” Pasqualini said. “I asked and the umpire said, ‘Yeah and it wasn’t even close.’ You have to appeal it.”
Each team’s big boppers — Rosary senior Emily Hurst and ACC’s Hernandez — were factors as well.
Hurst was hit by a pitch in the first, then had a two-run homer and a double before being intentionally walked twice.
Hernandez singled and doubled in three at-bats and also drew a walk.
“Teams pitch around Olivia,” Pasqualini said. “But we have to do the same thing with Emily. When you have two girls who can put the ball out at a moment’s notice you have to.
“We put Hurst on twice and Lily Cooper comes up with a hit the next two times up for them. Sometimes you pay.”
Rosary co-coach Rich Capparelli nodded knowingly.
“Olivia for them and Emily for us,” Capparelli said. “We think they’re the two best hitters in this area
Moore, who was the designated player Tuesday, could be well on her way.
“She’s earned her way into that No. 2 spot in our order,” Pasqualini said. “She’s a great contact hitter. She has no fear and that’s what I love about her.
“She plays first base but is behind two seniors but also plays outfield. We have to find a spot for her. We need her.”