In one that came down to the wire, the Lions were able to pull out the victory.
Game photos click here.
In one that came down to the wire, the Lions were able to pull out the victory.
In a 5 o’clock matchup between the Notre Dame Cathedral Latin Lions and the Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Royals, the second and final game of their regular season series, NDCL won in walk-off fashion, 6-5.
With both teams coming into this one 11-5, it was bound to come down to the wire.
The Lions entered the game riding momentum, going 9-1 in their last 10. This momentum showed from the first pitch. Senior ace Alex Mould was dominant in the circle, striking out 16 batters on the night, a performance that kept CVCA’s offense largely in check and gave NDCL the footing it needed to control the game.
Mould credited her pregame preparation for her dominance in the circle.
“During warmups, I focus on stretching and going through my normal routines,” she said. “Staying focused during warmups translates into the game and helps me control what I can.”
NDCL built a 4-2 advantage heading into the fifth inning, but CVCA, a talented squad sitting at 11-6 on the season, refused to go quietly. CVCA’s pitcher was equally as dominant, as sophomore Shaye Tepley punched out 19 batters of her own.
The Royals rallied to tie the game, with momentum shifting in part on a bunt call the umpires had a tough time judging.
“There was a call that went against us on a bunt,” NDCL Head Coach Tiger Alexander said. “The umpires could not make a decision whether or not it hit the girl out of the batters box. That set them up to that pendulum swinging a little bit.”
Despite the adversity, the Lions didn’t flinch. Senior Izzy Bair-Pennington pinch-hit for fellow senior Bella Longano and started the rally by getting hit by a pitch, putting the winning run on base.
Sophomore Sadie Wurm knocked a single to move Bair-Pennington into scoring position. Then sophomore Sienna Steinmetz stepped up with the runner on second and delivered the walk-off RBI single to seal the win, and the sweep.
“We’ve been in tight games all year long,” Coach Alexander said. “We probably have had about seven or eight games with a one-run differential, and girls have learned to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.”
That comfort in pressure moments didn’t happen by accident. NDCL’s dugout energy has been a driving force throughout the season, with players keeping the atmosphere electric regardless of what’s happening on the field.
“The energy that you hear really drives this team to want to perform, no matter if it’s something good or something bad,” their coach said. “We rely on that energy. That’s part of our DNA.”
With the sweep now secured, the Lions’ attention turned to their May 5 matchup against arch-rival Lake Catholic — and preparations were already underway.
“You’ve got to do your homework,” Coach Alexander said. “That means we do our advanced scouting of every opponent, and we want to know them more than they know themselves. We identify what we do well, what we have weaknesses with, and we look for edges that create opportunities.”
NDCL appeared to be peaking at the right time, anchored by a pitcher who has been a cornerstone of the program. Coach Alexander didn’t hesitate when reflecting on what Mould has meant to the program.
“Every time she touches the ball, she puts us in a position to compete and win,” he said. “You just don’t wake up and get 500 strikeouts. She’s a special player to this program.”
“Achieving 500 Ks means a lot to me — it was one of my biggest goals since freshman year,” Mould said. “This program has made me the player I am today, and I have learned so many things from both my teammates and coaches both on the field and as a person.”
