Kinnally to DeMilio is quite a combination.

Valhalla pitcher Alex Kinnally kept batters off balance and her catcher Maddy DeMilio not only called the pitches, she drove in the winning run Thursday as the Vikings defeated Dobbs Ferry 4-1 in a Section 1 Class B semifinal. The game was played at Westchester Community College.

The Vikings (18-4) will travel to Nanuet Friday for the Class B final. Dobbs Ferry finished its season at 16-6.

Kinnally allowed just three hits made things tough for the Eagles batters by mixing pitches and throwing to spots.

“I know I can depend on Maddy to call pitches and know what pitches the batters are looking for,” said the sophomore pitcher. “She is aware of everything that’s going on.”

DeMilio, whose base hit in the fifth snapped a 1-1 tie, was a worker behind the plate, checking fielders, evaluating hitters’ swings and calling the game.

“Alex has late movement on her fastball and it did a great job getting it up there,” DeMilio said. “She doesn’t give hitters much. We try to make good pitches and the fielders always do a great job. They got to everything and made big plays.”

The Vikings infield seemed to gobble up everything the Eagles hit, including making two double plays to cut off scoring chances in the first and the third innings.

Valhalla coach John Hayes said his team played well in all phases of the game.

“Maddy is on every hitter and every pitch – she knows the game and helps the pitcher,” Hayes said. “Alex threw well and we made plays and took advantage of the opportunities we got.”

Third baseman Kiana Oliva played strong defense and drive in two runs in the fifth inning to give the Vikings a 4-1 lead.  

"I wanted to hit the ball hard and try to get another run in," Oliva said. "Our defense was very good and the game was still close, so the hit was important."          

Dobbs Ferry’s Andrea Abbatiello, who was the winning pitcher in the 5-0 quarterfinal victory over Kennedy Tuesday, said the game turned in a couple of plays.

“We didn’t hit the ball well, but we fielded the ball and were in the game all the way,” Abbatiello said. “They got two big hits and that was the difference.”

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