Temple University Athletics
Friday, October 5
Villanova, PA
5 p.m.
Temple University
2
at
1
Villanova University
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Softball Takes Co-Championship at Rocci Pignoli/Nick Cinquanto Memorial City Six Championship
10.9.12 | Softball
Owls defeat Villanova and La Salle; play to tie with Saint Joseph's
PHILADELPHIA – The Temple softball team took part in the Rocci Pignoli/Nick Cinquanto Memorial City Six championship this past Friday and Saturday, sharing the title with cross-city rival Saint Joseph's after going 2-0-1. Drexel, La Salle, Penn and Villanova rounded out the field that featured all six of the Division I softball programs in Philadelphia. The tournament honors the late Rocci Pignoli and Nick Cinquanto.
The six Philadelphia schools were split into two pools for this tournament; with the winner of each pool advancing to the championship game. Pool A featured Saint Joseph's, Drexel, and Penn, while La Salle, Temple and Villanova comprised Pool B.
The Owls traveled to Villanova for their first game on Friday, October 5, defeating the Wildcats, 2-1. Junior Sarah Prezioso was 2-for-3 in the win with a double and a two-run triple to drive in Temple's runs. Sophomore Jessica Mahoney picked up the win on the mound, allowing four hits, striking out two and walking one.
TU then hosted La Salle on Saturday morning at Ambler Field, handing the Explorers a 6-3 loss. Junior Brooklin White was the winner for the Owls, not allowing a run in six innings of work, while giving up five hits, fanning five and walking one. Prezioso, senior Ali Robinson and sophomore Lacey McKeon each had two hits in the game.
With a 2-0 record in its pool, Temple headed to Saint Joseph's for the championship tilt on Saturday evening. The Cherry & White took on the host team, and the two teams played to a 3-3 tie through the fourth inning before the game was called due to darkness, giving the squads a co-championship.
Mahoney was on the mound again, striking out four, allowing four hits and issuing four walks in the shortened game. The Owls entered the third inning trailing 3-0 before McKeon and Robinson led off the frame with back-to-back singles and moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Prezioso then drove them in with a single to centerfield to cut it to 3-2. In the fourth, senior Kayla Cook walked to put a runner on. Junior Daniele Raneri pinch ran for her, and freshman Annie Marcopolus sent a two-out triple to left field to knot the score at 3-3. The game was called at the conclusion of the fourth inning.
The tournament wrapped up TU's fall season. The 2013 Owls get the season underway on February 22 at the Elon Invitational, squaring off against Hampton in a 6:45 p.m. game.
About Rocci Pignoli: Rocci Pignoli was the head coach of Temple softball for eight seasons (1998-2005) and amassed 175 wins throughout his time, which ranks second all-time in Temple history. Five times Pignoli guided his team to the Atlantic 10 tournament with his most successful stint coming on in 2004, where his squad captured the Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA tournament bid.
Rocci was a very passionate coach and cared more about helping a player with heart and guts to play than simply talent. In his honor his family created a non-profit organization called the Heart & Guts Foundation as an opportunity to foster the softball career of young players. The foundation seeks out and awards scholarships in Rocci's honor for individuals to attend summer camps, training in the advancement of their game and to help create more opportunities for these athletes to play when funding would normally be an obstacle.
About Nick Cinquanto: A former Atlantic 10 Coordinator of Softball and Soccer Officials, Nick Cinquanto spent 20 years in various capacities with the Atlantic 10. He began his career with the league evaluating officials in 1988.
A retired officer for the Pennsylvania Board of Pro-bation and Parole, Cinquanto was regarded as one of the premier Fast Pitch Umpires in the United States. He was inducted into the Inter-national Softball Federation and the Philadelphia Softball Hall of Fame. He also worked for the National Football League Drug Testing. Nick's NCAA officiating experience dated back to 1978 and includes rising to the Division II level in basketball and Division I level in soccer, softball and baseball.
For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball and www.twitter.com/TUSB_owls.
The six Philadelphia schools were split into two pools for this tournament; with the winner of each pool advancing to the championship game. Pool A featured Saint Joseph's, Drexel, and Penn, while La Salle, Temple and Villanova comprised Pool B.
The Owls traveled to Villanova for their first game on Friday, October 5, defeating the Wildcats, 2-1. Junior Sarah Prezioso was 2-for-3 in the win with a double and a two-run triple to drive in Temple's runs. Sophomore Jessica Mahoney picked up the win on the mound, allowing four hits, striking out two and walking one.
TU then hosted La Salle on Saturday morning at Ambler Field, handing the Explorers a 6-3 loss. Junior Brooklin White was the winner for the Owls, not allowing a run in six innings of work, while giving up five hits, fanning five and walking one. Prezioso, senior Ali Robinson and sophomore Lacey McKeon each had two hits in the game.
With a 2-0 record in its pool, Temple headed to Saint Joseph's for the championship tilt on Saturday evening. The Cherry & White took on the host team, and the two teams played to a 3-3 tie through the fourth inning before the game was called due to darkness, giving the squads a co-championship.
Mahoney was on the mound again, striking out four, allowing four hits and issuing four walks in the shortened game. The Owls entered the third inning trailing 3-0 before McKeon and Robinson led off the frame with back-to-back singles and moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Prezioso then drove them in with a single to centerfield to cut it to 3-2. In the fourth, senior Kayla Cook walked to put a runner on. Junior Daniele Raneri pinch ran for her, and freshman Annie Marcopolus sent a two-out triple to left field to knot the score at 3-3. The game was called at the conclusion of the fourth inning.
The tournament wrapped up TU's fall season. The 2013 Owls get the season underway on February 22 at the Elon Invitational, squaring off against Hampton in a 6:45 p.m. game.
About Rocci Pignoli: Rocci Pignoli was the head coach of Temple softball for eight seasons (1998-2005) and amassed 175 wins throughout his time, which ranks second all-time in Temple history. Five times Pignoli guided his team to the Atlantic 10 tournament with his most successful stint coming on in 2004, where his squad captured the Atlantic 10 title and an NCAA tournament bid.
Rocci was a very passionate coach and cared more about helping a player with heart and guts to play than simply talent. In his honor his family created a non-profit organization called the Heart & Guts Foundation as an opportunity to foster the softball career of young players. The foundation seeks out and awards scholarships in Rocci's honor for individuals to attend summer camps, training in the advancement of their game and to help create more opportunities for these athletes to play when funding would normally be an obstacle.
About Nick Cinquanto: A former Atlantic 10 Coordinator of Softball and Soccer Officials, Nick Cinquanto spent 20 years in various capacities with the Atlantic 10. He began his career with the league evaluating officials in 1988.
A retired officer for the Pennsylvania Board of Pro-bation and Parole, Cinquanto was regarded as one of the premier Fast Pitch Umpires in the United States. He was inducted into the Inter-national Softball Federation and the Philadelphia Softball Hall of Fame. He also worked for the National Football League Drug Testing. Nick's NCAA officiating experience dated back to 1978 and includes rising to the Division II level in basketball and Division I level in soccer, softball and baseball.
For more information on Temple softball, visit www.facebook.com/Temple-University-Softball and www.twitter.com/TUSB_owls.
Ep. 29: Last Episode of First Semester from David & Amelia
Wednesday, December 17
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Adam Fisher)
Sunday, December 14
MBB Press Conference vs. Saint Francis (Derrian Ford & Gavin Griffiths)
Sunday, December 14
Ep. 28: Vice President/Debbie & Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson
Friday, December 12
