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Stamford softball coach Tony Esposito is as curious as anyone. Are the Black Knights the team that cracked 22 hits in Monday's 15-2 win over previously unbeaten New Canaan? Or is it the team that managed just three hits in Friday's 3-0 loss to Danbury?
"I don't know,'' Esposito said after the Black Knights improved to 6-1 with Monday's win at Waveny Park. "I think we'll know after about 10 more games."
Krista Robustelli led Monday's hit parade with four hits, four RBIs and two runs scored. Her two-run single in the first inning opened the floodgates for an eight-run frame. Lindsay Yanicky added three hits and two RBIs. Eight Stamford batters had at least one hit. Taylor Zito benefitted from offensive attack and allowed seven hits in six innings. The contest ended via the mercy rule in the sixth.
"After the Danbury game, we needed to come out and playing like this,'' senior second baseman Chelsea Sciarretta said. "That lost to Danbury hurt our confidence. We just came out and hit the ball today."
Stamford put the game away in the second. Melissa King singled to lead off and after an out, Angela Altamara reached on an error. After another out, Robustelli fought off a pitch for a single to right. Yanicky followed with a two-run double, a blast into deep left field. Sciarretta's single added another run. King and Altamara also added RBIs in the inning as Stamford sent 13 batters to the plate. All of the runs came after two outs.
"The kids hit the ball,'' Esposito said. "It was one of those games where we put everything together."
Zito, in just her second game of the season, struck out two and walked one. Shortstop Robustelli and Sciarretta turned a sweet double play to end the fifth inning. It was a terrific all-around performance by the Black Knights, who look like they will be factor in the league playoff race especially if they can hit like they did Monday.
"This was a very big win,'' Esposito said. "Especially after losing to Danbury. If it goes the other way, who knows what happens."
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