Julianna Russ pitches Ward Melville past Sachem East
Ward Melville's Julianna Russ throws a pitch in the first inning during a Suffolk softball game against Ward Melville on Monday at Ward Melville. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Julianna Russ is a force with the bat, but her ability to limit damage in the circle may be her best asset.
Russ allowed two unearned runs over seven innings as Ward Melville defeated Sachem East, 5-2, in Suffolk II softball on Monday. Russ had three hits, a double, triple and two RBIs.
A single by Samantha Madigan, an error and a Gianna Prisco walk loaded the bases with one out for Sachem East. Russ induced a grounder to get a force out at second, while a run came home.
“I just focus on the next out,” Russ said. “Can’t think about the past, only what’s happening in the current moment.”
With two outs, a walk to Angelina Cornand loaded the bases again and Russ got a grounder to third to end the threat and preserve a 5-2 lead.
Sachem East had at least one baserunner in six innings.
“I trust Jules [Julianna] fully,” first baseman Isabella Parente said. “She knows what to do if she’s down in the count, she knows the pitches to throw and she trusts the defense behind her.”
Cameron Buckstein hit a one-out single in the top of the first for Sachem East. She advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Xiomara Llerena’s single to give Sachem East a 1-0 lead.
Russ hit a single in the first inning with runners on first and second. The lead runner stopped at third and the trail runner was caught in a rundown between second and third. An errant throw during the rundown allowed Avery Wierzbicki to score a run and tie the score at 1.
“I had no concerns trailing early,” Ward Melville coach Joseph Burger said. “Obviously you prefer not to take your first at-bats trailing, but I’m confident in our group.”
Parente doubled in the following at-bat, scoring Sara Kropp and Russ to give the Patriots a 3-1 lead.
“I had two girls on base and all I was thinking was that I wanted those RBIs,” Parente said. “I had two strikes, but I found my pitch and tried to drive it to the opposite field.”
Russ hit a double in the bottom of the third, scoring Kropp to increase Ward Melville’s lead to 4-1. In the fifth, Russ hit a two-out triple to drive in Wierzbicki and extend the lead to 5-1.
“Just go up there and swing the bat, whatever happens, happens,” Russ said. “Don’t think too much in the box. The first good pitch you see, swing and take the results.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
