It didn’t take long for the Marian softball team to set the tone against rival Mahanoy Area on Wednesday afternoon.

Using a first-inning eruption and riding the talent of pitcher Morgan Kelly, the Fillies sauntered past the Bears in five-short innings, 12-0, in Schuylkill League Division 3 play.

Kelly was nothing short of stellar, hardly breaking a sweat. She allowed three singles, and set down 10-would-be batters via strikeouts while walking just one.

That surely brought a smile to Marian coach Joe DeAngelo, who’s usual calm demeanor belies his take on things.

“She’s a year older, and she knows where the (strike) zone is - and hits it with consistency,” said DeAngelo.

Kelly is going to be tough for most teams to figure out in the Division 3 chase of the Schuylkill League, as the Fillies improved to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the league.

The sophomore ran up only two full counts in five innings of work.

While Kelly was tossing strikes, her teammates were swatting away to the tune of 14 hits. And, it was Kelly who had the biggest club in the bag on this particular afternoon as she blasted an early two-run homer, helping her team jump out to a 6-0 lead after one inning of play.

While Kelly supplied the power, Rhiannon Brady provided the volume.

Brady had a huge day at the plate with three singles and four RBIs, while hitting out of the No. 8 spot. Two of her RBIs came in the opening inning.

“We don’t have any (easy) outs up and down the lineup,” DeAngelo said. “We’ve have a solid hitting group of girls. Anyone can produce, whether it’s at the top of our order, the middle or at the bottom.”

Nine of the Fillies’ hits came from the five-through-nine spots. Besides Brady, Julia Meiss had two singles and drove in a run, Anna Grabosky singled twice and Delaney Erickson, the No. 9 hitter, singled and drove in a run.

“What I like about our team is that we’re deep,” DeAngelo said. “Grabosky, hitting out of the seven-hole, has been huge so far this year.”

Marian used its heady play to scrape out a solo run in the second that was knocked in by Brady.

The Fillies then rang up a five-run third, sending nine batters to the plate. There were five hits in the rally, one each by Alise Heisey, Eden Fleming (RBI), Meiss (RBI), Gracie Gallagher (RBI) and Brady (RBI).

After that, all that remained was for Kelly to finish off the decision.

QUOTABLE

… “She’s a little more dominate now and more relaxed now. She really works at her skill,” DeAngelo said of Kelly.

ON THE BASES

… Marian plays heads up ball - with aggressive base running - under DeAngelo. The skipper said that the team practices it’s base running, and it shows.

BATTERY MATE

… Kelly’s catcher, Grabosky, did a standout job behind the plate.

ON A ROLL ... Kelly had retired 10 straight batters from the second inning until a two-out single in the fifth. She recorded nine strikeouts in that run.

Mahanoy 000 00 – 0 3 1

Marian 615 0x -12 14 0

Mayberry, Long (1) and Lewandowski; Kelly and Grabosky. W – Kelly. L – Mayberry. HR: Marian - Kelly (1st, one on)