By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — July 16, 2002 – The Sullivan County Big League softball team split a doubleheader with the Warwick Bobcats Sunday afternoon at Monticello High School.
Warwick outslugged Sullivan in the first game, 11-7. But Sullivan, which is sponsored by American Leagion Post 315 in Roscoe and includes girls from around the county, rallied from an early three-run deficit to post a 6-4 victory in the second contest.
In game one, the Bobcats grabbed a 4-0 lead in the second inning. With two outs and two runners on base, Corie Latreniere ripped a double to left field to give Warwick a 2-0 lead. The next batter, Meredith Gorton, walked and Dani Bugasch followed with a bloop single to load the bases. Laurie Renner then smacked a single to center, which brought Latreniere and Gorton around to score.
Sullivan (3-4) closed the gap with a run in the top of third. (Even though the games were played in Monticello, Warwick was the designated “home” team in the first game and Sullivan was the “home” team in the night cap.)
Heidi Manell led off the frame by beating out an infield grounder. After going to second on a passed ball and moving to third on a groundout by Jennifer Wright, Manell scored when Michelle Olson singled to right field.
Warwick (7-4) added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and scored four more in the fourth. Clean-up batter Kerry Tomporkorski had an RBI single in the fourth and Stephanie Natale added a bases-loaded, two-run single for the Bobcats.
Down by a 10-2 margin heading into the fifth inning, Sullivan responded with three runs. With the bases loaded, Leslie Bright was hit by a pitch, allowing Ellie Dymond to score. Erin Rosenberger then grounded out, which brought Wright in to score. Minutes later, Olson crossed home plate thanks to a wild pitch, which narrowed the Warwick lead to 10-5.
After the Bobcats added a run in the sixth inning, Sullivan attempted to rally in its final at-bat in the top of the seventh. With one out, Megan Roser walked and scored two batters later when Manell doubled to left field. Mannell proceeded to reach third base on a passed ball and scored on wild pitch to cut the Warwick lead to 11-7.
Rachelle Irwin then walked to extend the inning for Sullivan. But Warwick pitcher Gorton got Dymond to fly out to center field to end the game.
Despite falling behind early, Sullivan faired better in the second game.
Warwick’s Tomporkorski and Sage Kuveke scored on a ground out and passed ball, respectively, in the top of the second to give the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, an RBI single by Kim Gove gave Warwick a 3-0 advantage.
Sullivan responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of that frame. Manell led off with a double and Irwin followed with a single. Manell scored on a passed ball and Irwin beat the throw to home plate when Dymond hit into a fielder’s choice.
Dymond, who ended up at second base on the fielder’s choice play and advanced to third base on a ground out by Tiffany Paul, scored the tying run when Olson ripped a triple to left field.
Warwick regained the lead in the top of the sixth when Gove scored on a sacrifice fly by Gorton.
Manell and Irwin hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the sixth and tie the score at 4-4. Dymond then smacked a double to center field to bring Irwin to the plate with the go-ahead run. Two batters later, Dymond scored on a passed ball to give Sullivan a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Bobcat batters Renner and Tomporkorski each singled. But with those runners on base and two outs, Manell struck out Gove to end the game and preserve the Sullivan victory.
“Both games were terrific,” Warwick Coach Bob Bugasch said. “I’m just happy the girls are getting a chance to play. The girls playing and having fun – that’s what I like to see.”
Sullivan Coach Gene Smith echoed those sentiments.
“These were good games and both teams played well,” Smith said. “And it’s nice for our girls to go home happy with a win.”
Notes: Sullivan wraps up its Big League season on Sunday, July 21 with a doubleheader at Montgomery.
Although the summer season is winding down, Post 315 is still accepting donations for the summer softball program as well as for its AmVets team, which competes in the 18-and-Under Fall Softball League at Collins Park in Mongaup Valley. For more information, call Smith at (607) 498-4470.