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Sports

Another Shutout Victory For Harrison Softball

Harrison improves its season record to 5-0 behind the strength of another great outing from Ashley Marino.

Ashley Marino tossed a no-hitter and the Harrison bats exploded for 15 runs in a blowout victory over Byram Hills Wednesday night in Armonk. Harrison won th game 15 - 0.

The game started out differently than any other game this season. Harrison switched regular first baseman Alijah Webb and catcher Gigi LoDolce defensively. Being that this was the fifth game of the season the move was made to allow LoDolce an opportunity to rest her knees and keep her fresh for later in the year.

One would think that the catching change could hurt Harrison's pitching during the game. However, Ashley Marino put forth one of the best pitching efforts of the season and both the sophomore Webb, and the senior LoDolce, proved to be formidable defenders at more than one position.

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Marino, the Harrison ace, found herself in the circle with the unenviable task of facing a very strong middle of the Byram Hills lineup. Needless to say, Marino was up for the challenge.

As a senior, Ashley Marino continues to a and her domination of the competition has become nearly laughable. In her seven innings of work on Wednesday Marino not only didn't allow a run for the fifth consecutive game, but she also picked up her first no-hitter of the season. In the win Marino tied her season high with 13 strikeouts.

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After defeating Byram Hills 7 - 0 earlier in the week, the Harrison coaching staff was displeased with the team's lack of plate discipline. 

"The offense was frustrating," Harrison Coach Dean Marino said after the first game against Byram Hills. "The girls were swinging at bad pitches and that could have created bad habits for us later in the year."

Harrison was much more offensively aware on Wednesday. The team scored a total of 15 runs, more the then twice as many as they had in the first game against the Bobcats.

The offensive leader for Harrison was the team's number three hitter Sam Lagana. The junior went 2-for-5 at the plate and added four RBI.

Ironically, Gigi LoDolce who didn't catch in order to save her knees for later in the season, got plunked by a wild pitch in the knee in her first plate appearance. Though she may have a bruise, there were no ill effects from the wild pitch as LoDolce finished the game going 1-for-2 with a walk and a run.

In any no-hitter there is normally one or two game saving defensive plays, Marino's no hit bid nearly ended late in the game when a line drive popped off the bat of a Byram Hills batter. The ball seemed as if it was destined to land between first and second base and roll into right field for the Bobcat's first hit. But just before the ball could touch down safely in the dirt Harrison second baseman Allyson Brabant lunged and caught the ball, saving the no hitter for Marino and the Huskies.

"The catch she made was a big play," said LoDolce. "Allyson is a clutch player and she has made plays like that for us in the past. She is selfless and she is willing to get dirty in order to make a play and help us win a game."

Harrison will look to go for its sixth straight win when they take on Horace Greeley on Friday.

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