Softball: Moscoe and Murphy provide plenty of warmth for Haverford

HAVERFORD >> When the weather is hovering around 45 degrees and the sun is nowhere in sight, softball hitters tend to have a difficult time hitting the ball. “It’s a lot harder in the cold,” said Ali Murphy, Haverford High’s All-Delco center fielder/speed demon. Amber Moscoe put that theory to test when she belted a pitch over the left-field fence at Haverford Reserve Field, an estimate distance of 230 feet.

“That was my first home run like that,” said the Fords’ junior second baseman.

Haverford’s Twitter profile includes the line, “catch of rippin’ dingers.” Well, the Fords sure aren’t pretending to be something they’re not on social media. Moscoe smashed one into another zip code Thursday. Murphy and Moscoe highlighted a 10-hit attack by the Fords, who defeated Central League foe Strath Haven 13-3 in five innings on a miserable, so-called spring afternoon. Murphy was the tablesetter, going 4 for 4 with four singles, three RBIs and three runs scored. She took second base on three of her knocks, showcasing awe-inspiring blazing speed and athleticism. Tess Smiley’s two-run knock in the fifth inning enacted the 10-run rule and sealed Haverford’s second straight win.

“I want to hit the ball wherever I can and whatever it takes for the team,” Murphy said. “I see where the fielders are (positioned) and I’ll keep running if I have to.”

Murphy is one of those players who is her own base coach. She has confidence in her ability to take the extra bag and cause havoc. Infield hits turn into adventures, and when defenses play her in, good luck because Murphy knows exactly how hard she has to barrel the ball to put it in the outfield grass.

“She hypes up the whole team,” Moscoe noted.

Murphy is one of the better players around, period.

“In my opinion, she is a contender for Central League player of the year. She’s been all-league two years in a row,” Haverford coach Jill Marshall said. “She goes all-out, all the time and she is a threat in every aspect of the game.”

The Fords (4-3 overall, 4-2 Central League) are in the process of figuring out exactly how good they can be. The reigning Central League champions have endured a few tough losses in the opening month of the season — don’t ever bring up Monday’s game against Upper Darby — but the pieces are there to make another run at the league title.

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