Liberty softball team dominates rival Heritage, 10-0

Liberty pitcher Janessa Giugliano delivers a pitch against Heritage. (Photo by Action Captures Media Group)

 
By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Liberty High School softball team won its matchup with crosstown rival Heritage 10-0 Friday afternoon.

Bison pitcher Janessa Giugliano finished with 11 strikeouts in the five-inning game, allowing just two hits with zero walks. This is her second game with 10 or more strikeouts and her fourth with five or more.

However, she said she doesn’t think she’ll ever get fully used to it.

Her coach, Nichole Chilson, said she is grateful to rely on such a routinely well-performing pitcher.

“She’s just amazing,” she said. “I really just can’t ask for more than what she did today. She’s lights out on the mound and what more can I ask for as a coach?”

Giugliano was one who felt like her team showed up for her in their offensive performance to pair with her pitching.

“They’re all just ballers. They can hit the ball whenever we need it,” she said.

The team racked up 13 hits on the day, including a home run from catcher Jolie Thompkins and a double from second baseman Brooklyn Abeyta.

Heritage had two hits in the game. Transfer student and pitcher Jahzira Hogan recorded five strikeouts with just one walk.

“She really is someone we’re so excited about,” said Heritage head coach Lexi Blevins, a teammate of Chilson's in their playing days for the Patriots. “She just keeps fighting and doesn’t give up and we love that about her.”

With Hogan on the roster, Blevins said she is looking forward to improving their energy in the games to come, while working with a roster that is significantly smaller than it was when the season started.

“We have had to adjust a lot because of grades and other reasons,” she said, noting that her original 16-player roster is down to 11. “But we’ve been trying to have more fun and we’re just trying to find whatever it is that will work for us.”

Heritage will look for its first win of the season in its next matchup at Paloma Valley on Tuesday afternoon. Liberty will also face Paloma next week in a Thursday matchup at home.