Kortes throws no-hitter in season opener for defending state champion York softball

YORK, Maine - Prior to the start of the high school softball season, York High School head coach Kevin Giannino highlighted senior pitcher McKayla Kortes as one of the team's top players to watch, adding that he expected her to pick up right where she left off to end the 2023 state championship season.

Kortes threw four no-hitters last season, and she earned her first no-hitter of the year in the season opener for York in Monday's 10-0 five-inning Class B South win over rival Wells.

Kortes struck out 10 and allowed just one runner (walk), handing Wells its first loss of the season in four games.

Even with those five no-hitters under her belt, Monday's performance still came as a surprise to the two-time Class B South Player of the Year.

"I definitely wasn't walking into (the game) thinking I was going to get a no-hitter," Kortes said. "But, I've been working hard. The scrimmages were rough, so I knew I had to get some work done before the first game, and I came out and it just happened."

"I'm really glad (Kortes) threw a no-hitter to begin the season," York catcher Lindsay Rivers said. "I think that will really help us out."

'Pitching blind'

Warming up to begin the fifth, Kortes said to her infield teammates that it felt she was pitching blind due to the sun glaring directly at the pitcher's circle.

But, Kortes would only have to deal with the sun for 12 more pitches as she sat down Wells in order, and with a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, an RBI single by Maddie Fitzgerald, a two-run single by Sarah Orso and a RBI groundout by Bella Santini secured the 10-runn win.

"The sun was right in my eyes, so it was a little hard to see," Kortes said. "We had Maren (Robinson) calling pitches from the dugout, so I didn't need to see the call, I just kind of had to see the (catcher's) glove; pitch to the glove and hopefully it was in there."

Kortes struck out the side in the fifth, starting and ending the frame with strikeouts looking.

"She throws legitimately five pitches for strikes," Giannino said. "We've had a lot of discussion about what pitch to throw in what situation. I think she was really smart today."

Lila Sprague was Wells' lone baserunner, drawing a walk on a full-count to open the third. However, Kortes struck out the next two batters, and forced a groundout to second baseman Ava Brent, who recorded three putouts, including an over-the-head grab in the fourth.

"(Brent) made some nice plays to preserve the no-hitter," Giannino said. "(Kortes) threw great ... she was really on her game today, and she was really throwing hard. She had a good curveball, and mixed her pitches really well and kept (Wells) off-balance."

"(Kortes) had a great game in the circle, so we didn't have many balls get hit," Fitzgerald said.

What better way to start a season

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Wildcats began the season as the reigning state champions, and they didn't miss a beat on Monday.

After Kortes threw 12 pitches to retire Wells in the first, York batted around in its half scoring four runs.

Kortes hit a RBI double to right center field to score Fitzgerald, then Rivers' RBI-single scored Kortes, with Orso scoring on an error. Nya Avery's RBI single drove home the fourth run.

"Once they settled down and got their confidence, they put some good swings on the ball and hit the ball pretty well," Giannino said.

Fitzgerald and Orso both had three hits, and Kortes had two.

"I think (the offense) was pretty good, but I think we could've done better," Fitzgerald said. "There were some calls that were questionable, but I think we battled through that, and it shows in the scoring."

Rivers agreed that while the 10 runs were nice, there's always room to improve.

"I thought today's win was pretty good," Rivers said. "But, I definitely think we can play better and hit the ball more."

The fourth inning was the only inning where Kortes faced more than three batters.

"She had a number of strikeouts on that riser, a couple on the change, and good curveball working," Giannino said. "She had all of her pitches going today, so she was focused from the first inning on."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kortes throws no-hitter for York softball in opener against Wells