Tennent Softball Team Falls to 0-3 on the Season

As a coach, Gary Bisacquino faces an interesting challenge: opposing teams won’t pitch to his best player.

Bisacquino, the softball coach at William Tennent High School, has one of the most talented two-sport athletes in the area in senior first baseman/pitcher Ashley Alden; however, things are proving to be quite difficult in the early stages of the Panthers’ season as their star player isn’t seeing many pitches near the plate.

Alden, who also plays basketball for Tennent, has already signed a letter of intent to play NCAA Division I softball next spring at Rutgers University. In her junior year, she hit .517 with four home runs en route to being named Suburban One League National Conference Player of the Year. Unfortunately for the Panthers, their opponents are well aware of her offensive prowess and generally try to avoid her altogether anytime she comes up to bat.

“I had a chance to talk to Ashley, and I told her straight up that I wasn’t going to pitch to her,” said Norristown coach Jon Kandrick, whose Norristown Eagles defeated Tennent 3-2 on Tuesday. “I told her that it wasn’t an insult to her, but rather a sign of respect.”

For the most part, Kandrick’s strategy worked. Norristown pitched around Alden in her first two at bats, adding to her already growing walks total. Then, in the bottom of the fifth in a tight game with the tying run on first base, Norristown pitcher Gwyn Botley made a mistake and gave Alden an outside fastball she could handle. Alden connected and launched one to deep center field, but brisk late-March temperatures and blustery winds helped knock the ball down into center fielder Sammi Kidd’s glove. In normal weather conditions, the ball probably would have sailed over the outfielders’ heads and at the very least tied the game.

“It was a mistake that she still hit about 250 feet,” Kandrick mused. “Luckily I had Sammi playing way back and she was able to catch up to the ball."

He said that Alden was one of the best hitters he has ever seen in softball.

Unfortunately for Bisacquino, opposing teams’ willingness to pitch around his star player has handcuffed the Tennent offense. The Panthers have stumbled out to an early 0-3 record, including close losses to Norristown and Conwell-Egan. Of course, Bisacquino understands the other team’s often similar approach.

“Let me put it this way,” he says. “If I was playing against us, I wouldn’t pitch to her either. Some teams will challenge her, but they don’t want to lose games by pitching to her. As a coach, I’m spoiled to have her, but I’m pretty sure other coaches don’t feel the same way when it’s time to pitch to her.”

In addition to her renowned skills as a hitter, Alden is also a pretty good pitcher, too. Rotator cuff surgery prevented her from spending any time in the pitching circle last season, but she’s slowly transitioning back into her dual role as first baseman/pitcher. On Monday against Conwell-Egan, Alden tossed four scoreless innings before the Eagles broke through late.

Still though, the question remains as to how Tennent will be able to win games if Alden continues to get free passes down to first base. Coming off a 7-13 season in 2010 (including a 4-10 mark in the rigorously tough Suburban One National Conference), the Panthers hope to enjoy a winning campaign in Alden’s final season before she heads to Rutgers.

In the game against Norristown, the Eagles scored all three of their runs via defensive gaffes, something Bisacquino says must be cleaned up quickly.

“I’d say we’re 0-3 because we’re struggling to get defensive outs,” he said. “If you give teams five or six outs an inning then you’re usually going to have bad luck. We haven’t had much timely hitting yet either, but the offense will come.”

Bisacquino was quick to point out Alden’s younger sister, Nikki, a freshman pitcher for the Panthers.

Although Ashley may be in her final season, Nikki has already shown flashes of being able to fill her older sister’s legacy, contributing a double and a home run in the loss to Conwell-Egan. Bisacquino also singled out seniors Kirsten Doherty (shortstop), Melissa Simpson (outfield), Nicole Meleta (pitcher) and Danyelle
Meleta, a catcher, pitcher and infielder.

“Our strong points are our pitching and infield defense, though we haven’t really shown the latter yet,” the second-year coach said. “If we’re going to compete in this league, we’ll have to play small ball and come through with timely hitting. If we do that on a consistent basis then we’ve got a shot to have a really good season.”

Of course, much of the Panthers’ success or failure will depend on how many pitches Ashley Alden gets to hit… if any.

“I’ve coached Ashley all four years she’s been here,” Bisacquino said. “Before I saw her I had heard bits and pieces of how good she was, and on the first day she stepped on the field I said ‘WOW!’"

He said not only is she a great player, but she’s a great leader both on and off the field, just a really special kid.

"She has respect for everyone on the field, and that’s what really separates her from the rest of the pack" he said.

"I’ve been lucky to have her, and I look forward to having her for one more season," said Bisacquino. "Rutgers is getting one heck of a softball player, and I can’t wait to watch her continue to develop as a player and person in the years to come.”