Weaver's Big Day Leads Cardinals to Sixth Straight Win

For the sixth straight game, the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals won via mercy rule.

The Cardinals swept Hagerstown with a 9-1 victory on Wednesday. Freshman second baseman Katie Weaver (Eastern Tech) led the way with an inside-the-park homerun and a diving circus catch.

After Hagerstown struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Cardinals responded immediately. The bottom of the first saw two sac-flies by Catonsville to give them a 2-1 lead. A third sac-fly gave the Cardinals a 3-1 lead after three innings.

The highlight of the first three innings came in the top of the second. A line drive was heading for the outfielder when Weaver made a diving mid-air catch to get the out.

"Honestly, I didn't think I had caught it," Weaver said afterward. "It was a hail-mary dive, but it was an amazing feeling when I grabbed it."

Weaver kept the momentum going for the Cardinals in the bottom of the fourth. A fly ball into right field off of Weaver's bat settled into the corner, allowing Weaver to round the bases and beat the throw home for her first career Catonsville home run. What made it more special was that it was an inside-the-park home run, a rare occasion in softball.

"My teammates kept telling me to 'RUN! RUN!'," Weaver said. "Next thing I know I'm at home plate."

The rest of the Cardinals roster took it from there. After sophomore outfielder Abigail Heagy (Eastern Tech) launched a bomb over the centerfield wall to make it 5-1, the Cardinals erupted in the bottom of the fifth. A triple by freshman third baseman Tori Bache (Northeast) made it 6-1. Then, three straight RBI singles brought the score up to 9-1, ending the contest via mercy rule. Fittingly, Weaver scored the final run.

"We all have confidence in ourselves," Weaver said. "It's just a great feeling. These six straight wins have really boosted us."

Weaver finished the day with a home run and an RBI. Sophomore outfielder Mackenzie Brooks (Hammond) scored two RBIs off of sac-flies. Freshman designated player Madelyn Golt (George Washington Carver) added two RBIs, while Bache had a triple and an RBI. Heagy added a home run, an RBI, and a stolen base.

With their six-straight wins, the Cardinals have moved from seventh to fourth in the Region XX standings!