Steve Lee, Times Correspondent
Friday, March 4, 2011
LITHIA — The last time Bailey Schinella's father watched her pitch was tragic. Friday night was a happier occasion with the senior pitching host Newsome to a 6-1 win over East Bay.
Jerry Schinella, who went into cardiac arrest during the seventh inning of a Feb. 8 game against visiting Chamberlain, watched from the parking lot Friday. He is recovering just fine, his daughter said.
"He's always been my coach and it's important for him to come out and see me play," Schinella said.
Schinella scattered four hits and struck out 11 in the decisive win over the Wolves' Class 5A, District 8 rival.
The Indians (5-5) scored their lone run in their first at-bat on Nicole Kennedy's RBI triple. Starting pitcher Sierra Rock hit a two-out single and pinch-runner Hannah Heathley scored on Kennedy's hit.
Newsome (4-1-1 including the forfeit vs. Chamberlain) went ahead with two runs in the bottom of the second. Nicolette Levine and Kylie Brown hit singles with Levine scoring on a wild pitch and Brown racing home on a subsequent throwing error by East Bay catcher Aliceson Holliday.
The Wolves broke open a close game with a three-run fifth highlighted by Schinella's two-run double and two-base error. Caitie Lytle led off that inning with a double and Felecia Heason singled with both runners coming in before Schinella.
"She bats third for me," Newsome coach Dawn Vanella said. "No doubt, she's one of our top hitters."
As for Schinella performing well in front of her father, Vanella said: "I think it means a lot for the whole team."