By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — April 12, 2002 – A five-run fifth inning Wednesday afternoon helped the Monticello softball team earn its first victory of the young season.
A total of 11 Lady Panthers batted in that key frame as Monticello turned a 2-1 advantage over visiting Sullivan West into a more comfortable six-run lead.
Pitcher Megan Drobysh and the Monticello defense then preserved that lead in the final two innings as Monticello (1-1) posted a 7-1 victory over SW (1-1) in the non-league contest.
Drobysh helped herself by leading off the bottom of the fifth by beating out a bunt and then stealing second base. She scored when Sam Lynch singled to left field, which made it a 3-1 game.
Lynch scored two batters later on a fielder’s choice play.
With the bases loaded and only one out, Kim Donohue slid over home plate before SW catcher Calley Sander grasped the throw from pitcher Christina Winski – who had fielded a bunt by Erin Shuart. Donohue’s run gave the Lady Panthers a 5-1 lead.
Monticello made it 7-1 when Crystal Forget and Tricia Kaiser both scored on a Lady Bulldog error.
Donohue, who had a pair of doubles, and Shannon Dietrich, who had an RBI double, paced the Monticello offense while Drobysh held the SW hitters in check. She allowed only three hits, struck out four and walked three.
“I’m really happy with the way Megan pitched today,” Monticello Coach Ed Kaufmann said. “She seemed very comfortable out there.”
The Lady Bulldogs scored their only run of the game in the top of the first. With two runners on base, Winski hit a bloop single to right field that allowed Kim Jay to score.
The Lady Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the second when Tricia Parks singled home Crystal Forget. Then in the bottom of the third, Donohue put Monticello in the lead for good when she scored on a ground out.
Even though the Lady Panthers had 13 hits in the contest, Kaufmann noted that the season is only two games old and his squad as a whole “needs to get the bats going.”
“Kim (Donohue) has been hitting the ball well,” he said. “And our junior third baseman Crystal Forget has been doing a nice job.”
Winski walked only two batters in the game and registered one strikeout.
“Christina pitched a heck of a ball