PEABODY — The Bishop Fenwick softball team kicked things off in style Friday afternoon with a 16-0 victory against Salem Academy.
If you want great pitching, look no further than Jaleila Aupont, who threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts. If not for a walk in the first inning, it was a perfect game as she was, quite literally, unhittable.
“She pitched well. She was good last year and she’s going to have a good year for us,” Fenwick coach Brian Seabury said. “She has probably improved from last year, which is hard to do. We have a tough schedule, so she’ll be tested along the way.”
And if you came to see offense, the Crusaders didn’t disappoint in that regard, either. Fenwick scored in each inning, including eight runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Meagan Burkinshaw put Fenwick ahead in the first inning. After she walked, her speed-stealing was on full display as she flew past third base and home plate to give the Crusaders an early 1-0 lead.
The one-run lead quickly tripled as Gabriella Maiuri drove in two on a base hit. After Aupont struck out the side in the top of the second, Sophia Savino got on base for the Crusaders and stole every base to make it 4-0.
After that, it was cruise control for the hosts.
“When we did hit it, we put it in play and put some pressure on the players on Salem Academy – which is what we’re trying to do,” Seabury said. “We were just trying to see pitches and make solid contact early.”
Seabury was pleased with the offense, and said his team will look more comfortable as the spring progresses.
“Our approach is still a little behind, but that’s because the weather has been tough,” Seabury said.
When asked, frankly, what his team is made of, Seabury said there are lots of returning players from last season and “expectations are pretty high.”
“We expect to be pretty competitive and have a good season,” Seabury said. “I loaded our schedule with some good non-league games, so we’ll be tested and it should be good.”
Seabury believes this year’s squad needs to be “solid defensively” to go with its strong pitching.
“We have the pitching and the catching. She’s [Aupont] going to strike out a bunch of people,” Seabury said. “So the balls they put in play – we have to be solid and be able to get outs and make routine plays, and then we’ll be fine.”
Bishop Fenwick returns home April 11 against Bishop Feehan with first pitch scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
RBI leaders (Fenwick)
Maiuri: 4
Aupont: 2
Mia Mercurio: 2
Natasha O’Brien: 2
Megan Donnelly: 1
Alani Timson: 1
Morgan Medeiros: 1
Emily Shaan: 1
