The interlocking CC on the hats are initials for Cathedral Catholic High School. They could also stand for confidence and camaraderie for the Dons’ No. 4-ranked softball team.
Visiting C.C. showcased both intangibles in shutting out Patrick Henry 6-0 in a key Western Leagu.e game Friday, April 19.
“I do believe we have the team to take it all the way,” said junior slugger Sinalei Talataina, whose two-run home run completed the scoring in the fifth inning. “Everyone has stepped up their game this season and proved they belong on this team. It’s been a lot of fun. We’re all such good friends, and that helps.”
Sophomore Mimi Botticelli (9-1) was superb in the circle for Cathedral (14-4, 2-1), tossing a four-hitter with 16 strikeouts and two walks (both in the first inning). She was working on a one-hitter until 13th-ranked Patrick Henry (12-8, 1-2) loaded the bases in the sixth inning on singles by Izzy Ervin (2-for-3), Sophia Sanchez and Belle Will.
Botticelli also struck out three to escape any blemish and finished with five consecutive strikeouts. Her ERA is now 2.01 with 93 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings.
“I came in with a lot of focus, playing a good hitting team like Henry,” Botticelli said. “Like my dad kept saying, ‘Keep your foot on the pedal.’ ”
Botticelli normally shares duties with junior Sophia Clark, but she underwent surgery on Friday after sustaining a foot injury in a 9-3 loss to Our Lady of Peace one week ago.
Dominating throughout, Botticelli said her drops and risers were working well.
“Working low to high and keeping batters off balance, I was able to get a lot of Ks.”
The Dons scored all they would need in the first inning. Shea Johnson singled and scored on a fielding error on a fly ball hit by Talataina. Ellie Davis drove in another with a single between shortstop and third.
Kayla Walton led off the second with a double to right-center and scored on an RBI groundout by Kathleen Clark.
In the fifth, Sereniti Trice beat out a dribbler to third and Johnson reached on an error. A double steal allowed Trice to score when the throw to third sailed into left field. No matter, really, because Talataina cleared the bases with a no-doubt shot over the left-field fence.
“I just swung as hard as I could, and it worked well,” Talataina said. “I knew it was gone. It just felt really good off the bat.”
Joe Hallare has been at Cathedral since the school moved to its current site in 2005. He took over as head coach from legendary Margaret Mauro five years ago.
“Our confidence is running very high,” he said. “The girls know how to turn it on when they need to.
“They are sincere. They love each other. They get along really well and have a great time playing the game.”
Henry coach Bud McCombs and Hallare are friends.
“Every time you play Cathedral Catholi,c you have to play a near-perfect game, or you are not going to beat them,” McCombs said. “We did not come close to a near perfect game.
“If we put it all together, we’re very good. We’ve been Jekyll and Hyde all season.”
