Photo by Richard L. Gaw        Unionville pitcher Madison Parisi fired a two-hit, nine-strikeout, 4-0 shutout against Sun Valley on April 24.

By Richard L. Gaw, Staff Writer 

In softball, just as in baseball, there is no more important relationship on the field than the one between a pitcher and his or her catcher, and during her masterful, two-hit, nine-strikeout, 4-0 shutout pitching performance against visiting Sun Valley on April 24, it seemed no one in the world mattered as much to Unionville pitcher Madison Parisi than her catcher, Madeline Tomasco.

The battery mates were in perfect synch the entire game, limiting Sun Valley batters to mostly squibbed dribblers and late swings, while the Longhorn defense helped snuff out two Vanguard rallies.

After surrendering a single to Sun Valley pitcher Jordyn Skarren in the top of the first, Parisi held the Vanguards hitless – and without a runner – through the fourth. Meanwhile, Unionville punched a run across in their half of the second on a walk to Jillian Heimberger, who stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a walk to Addison Smith who tried to take second base that allowed Heimberger to score during an ensuing rundown.

It took the fifth and sixth innings for the Vanguards (1-8 overall and 1-7 in the Ches-Mont) to mount their only scoring threats against Parisi. In the fifth, she surrendered a two-out walk to Lacie Gilpin, who reached second base on an infield error off the bat of Ogurko McKenna, but with two on, Parisi fanned Annabelle Hertz to end the inning. Sun Valley attempted another two-out lightning rally in their sixth when Layla Murphy reached on an infield error and Devin Warner walked, but on Carly Hess’ infield grounder to Levendis at short, she quickly threw to Heimberger to force the runner at third and end the scoring threat.

Carrying a slim 1-0 lead into their half of the fifth inning, the Longhorns tacked on a three-run scoring rally that began on a walk to Shannon Megill, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Levendis and came home on Parisi’s stinging double to left center. Parisi then came around to score on an infield grounder by Catherine Stone that led to an infield error. A Heimberger groundout sent Stone to third base, who then scampered home on a wild pitch to round out the scoring. 

“Madison is a very good pitcher,” said Unionville head coach Leah Tymeson. “She keeps the game in her hands and knows how to read hitters and put the ball in different locations. Our catcher Madeline Tomasco has been working with Madison for a very long time. They are not only a great battery but great friends. Madeline knows how to keep the ball in front of her and read the other team’s hitters and their pitchers.”

The win gives Unionville a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 record in the Ches-Mont, with a chance to better their standing with upcoming games against West Chester East on April 26 and Great Valley on May 1.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].