By Rick Knack
JEFFERSONVILLE — May 24, 2002 – The Sullivan Lady Bulldogs lost a hard-fought OCIAA Division IV softball game Monday afternoon.
In a contest where each starting pitcher took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, visiting Tuxedo defeated the Lady Bulldogs 2-0.
Sullivan West pitcher Christina Winski struck out six batters and walked only one. The lone Tuxedo batter to get a hit against her was Krystle Paccione, who singled with two outs in the seventh.
Tuxedo pitcher Shannon Quinn was just as dominating, striking out four Lady Bulldogs and walking only one. SW’s Kim Jay singled with one out in the top of seventh to break up Quinn’s bid for a no-hitter.
“It was a good pitching game but the ball wouldn’t cooperate,” SW Co-Coach Mike Ellmauer said.
Tuxedo (16-3, 9-0 OCIAA) scored an unearned run in the first inning. Terri Verbovsky reached base on an error and then stole second and third base. She scored on another SW error.
For the next few innings, Quinn and Winski kept the opposing batters in check.
But the Lady Tornadoes were able to add an insurance run in the fifth. Paccione walked, stole second and third, scored on a squeeze play.
“They were a well-coached team, with great pitching talent,” Tuxedo Coach Jim Lloyd said of the Lady Bulldogs. “We knew they were a great team.”
SW (7-4, 5-3 OCIAA) and Tuxedo were scheduled to meet again yesterday in the regular season finale for both teams.