Eagles Remain On Top

	Democrat Photo by Rob Potter YOU'RE OUT: Ump Don Cooper makes the call as Narrowsburg catcher Jackie Ropke tags out Karen Terry of Delaware Valley.

Put Away Narrowsburg
With Late Surge

By Rob Potter
NARROWSBURG — May 9, 2000 -- Delaware Valley found ways to score key late-inning runs Friday afternoon and at the same time maintain its first-place status in the Western Sullivan League softball standings.
The Lady Eagles (6–1, 6–1 WSL) scored a pair of runs in both the top of the fifth and sixth innings to knock off the host Narrowsburg Lady Indians 13-8.
After Narrowsburg catcher Jackie Ropke singled home Katie Yacino in the bottom of the fourth to cut the DV lead to only 9-8, the Lady Eagle bats responded in the top of the fifth.
With one out, Theresa Bauer walked and then stole second base a few pitches later. A Karen Terry double plated Bauer for a 10-8 advantage. Three batters later, after Terry was tagged out at home in an attempt to score on an infield ground ball, Alicia Peters hit a similar ground ball to pitcher Tracy Swendsen. But Swendsen’s throw to home and subsequent tag by Ropke were a split second late, allowing Dara Mahoney to score the 11th DV run.
Eagle pitcher Mariah Gillow led off the Lady Eagle sixth and drew a base on balls from her opposite number, Swendsen. Gillow scored moments later thanks to a single by Megan Moran. Christina Head then followed with a double to plate Moran for the comfortable five-run lead.
Gillow set Narrowsburg (6–4, 3–2 WSL) down in order in the bottom of the sixth and allowed only one base runner in the bottom of the seventh.
“It was a big game for us,” noted DV coach John Meyer. “Both teams played well and it was nice to get the win today because we’ll see them again on Monday.”
(Barring any late-day thunderstorms due to the recent stretch of hot weather, the two teams were slated to square off again yesterday afternoon in Callicoon.)
Head led the Eagle offense with two hits and a pair of RBI, while Peters went 2-for-3.
“Mariah pitched a great game,” Meyer commented. “The whole team has been doing a good job.”
He especially noted the performance of Bauer, who is normally an outfielder. But Bauer donned the shin guards, mask and chest protector to catch Gillow versus the Lady Indians. DV’s normal starting catcher, Calley Sander, broke her finger in a game last week and it is unknown when she will return to the lineup.
Narrowsburg coach Lionel Billard also praised Gillow’s performance. And he noted that his team’s pitching played a key role in the game — but in a negative way.
“It is hard to win when you give up 15 walks,” he said. “Our pitching needs to step up. Hopefully, we can improve on that when we face them up there Monday.”
Swendsen, who was relieved by Heather Nober in the sixth inning, took the loss on the mound for the Lady Indians.
Yacino paced the Narrowsburg offense, going 2-for-3 on the day.