Becahi advances to PIAA 3A softball semis thanks to 1-0 win and Cuttic no-hitter

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

There was a good reason why Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Elyse Cuttic (in file photo at left) was not super excited when she walked away from the pitching circle after striking out Caitlin Conner for the final out of the Golden Hawks' 1-0 win over Radnor on Thursday.

Not only didn't Cuttic know she completed a no-hitter, she didn't even think the game was over.

"I thought there was another inning," Cuttic admitted.

But there was no more to be done on this day. Becahi's win puts the Golden Hawks (19-6)  in the PIAA 3A semis on Monday against either Lansdale Catholic or Berwick.

It's the program's first trip to the semis since the Hawks advanced to the 2009 state championship.

Senior catcher Jean Markovic celebrated her graduation day with a RBI double in the first inning that scored Angelys Cotto who had reached on an error by the Radnor third baseman.

Markovic, a lefty swinger, drove a pitch to left-center for the game's only run.

Not only did she have the game's biggest hit, but she also called the pitches for batterymate Cuttic because Becahi's assistant coach Chuck Billy, who normally calls the pitches, couldn't make the game at Souderton Area High School.

Cuttic, a lefty thrower, struck out nine and walked one. She allowed two other runners -- one an error and another on a wild pitch on a third strike.

And she received a big assist from right fielder Brooke Rau who made a running, juggling catch on a deep drive by Radnor's Isabel Schaefer with a runner on second and two out in the sixth.

"She saved me," Cuttic said of Rau.

Rau said: "Elyse was working so hard. I just wanted to do what I could to help her. It was probably the best catch I ever made."

Head coach Rich Mazza is just thrilled his team is in the Final Four again, especially after a disappointing second-round loss to Nazareth Academy last year.

"We've got to hit the ball better if we're going to do anything next week, but I'm happy we're here," Mazza said. "Elyse pitched a great game, moving the ball around, and Brooke made an unbelievable catch in right field. I'm disappointed in our hitting, but I can't complain."

Radnor, the District One champs, finished 18-6.

Bethlehem Catholic         100 000 0  -- 1 3 1

Radnor                            000 000 0 -- 0 0 1

Cuttic and Markovic; Schaefer and Pachella.