By Frank Rizzo
JEFFERSONVILLE — May 1, 2001 – Roscoe got its education on the softball field last Tuesday — in more ways than one.
The Lady Blue Devils were victimized by host Sullivan West/Jeff-Youngsville 20-5 in a non-league game stopped at the end of five innings by the 15-run rule.
“This is our first game. We haven’t even had any scrimmages,” noted Roscoe co-coach Becky Ahart.
As could be expected, the visitors gave the Trojans multiple gifts in the form of errors.
“We only have four returning players,” Ahart said. “The rest have never played [organized] softball before.”
The Trojans took an 8-1 lead after three innings, but Roscoe put the scare into them in the top of the fourth.
With one out Danielle Austin reached on an error and promptly stole second and third. Amy Argent bounced to shortstop Tiffany Hauser, who attempted to nail Austin at home, but failed.
SW/J-Y hurler Christina Winski then hit Amber Gray, after which Melissa Gayron singled to score Argent. Winski struck out Rosie Miesner looking, but then yielded a single to Christine Rosencranse to load the bases.
Kelly Ahart drew a walk to score Gray, and while Danielle Sullivan was at the plate, a pitch got away from catcher Erin Bose and Gayron scored from third base.
“I slid! I slid!” Gayron yelled excitedly as she high-fived a teammate after scoring the fourth Blue Devil run of the inning.
“You see the excitement of kids who’ve never played before?” Becky Ahart asked a bystander.
But that was as close as Roscoe would get.
The Trojans put five across the plate against Austin the bottom of the frame to go up 13-5.
After Winski set Roscoe down in order in the fifth, the home team started scoring runs in bunches to put the game away.
“At times we played pretty well,” commented Roscoe co-coach Chris Russo. “We’re still learning. We have to learn what to do and how to do it.
“We have no time to practice, with four games this week and next week,” Russo added. “We have to learn on the job. It really hurts when you don’t have an experienced team.”
Despite the rout, veteran SW/J-Y coach Mike Ellmauer wasn’t totally satisfied.
“We haven’t played beautiful ball lately, and I don’t know if we’ve turned the corner today,” he said. “We’re young, because some of the experienced girls did not come out. We’re trying to fill up some holes and people are working on their positions.”
Winski came up the ranks to win the starting mound position.
“She did real well at the jayvee level, now she’s learning about varsity ball,” Ellmauer said.
Notes: Katrina Meyer and Linnea O’Mara led SW/J-Y with three RBI each. Winski yielded two hits and fanned six.