By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — August 9, 2002 – The Cooper Paint team took advantage of a few Charlie’s Angels errors and mixed in some timely hits of their own in Tuesday night’s Sullivan County Women’s Softball League playoff game.
The result was a 17-2 win for Cooper Paint. The game, which was played at Collins Park in Mongaup Valley, was halted in the bottom of the sixth inning due to the 15-run mercy rule.
With the win, Cooper Paint took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semifinal playoff series in the league’s “A” division.
After a scoreless first inning, Cooper scored three runs in the bottom of the second. Nat Cellis and Carly Sklar each singled to begin the inning. Then with one out, Maryann Manza recorded an infield hit to load the bases. Marie Frunzi then grounded out, but Cellis scored on the play.
Shirley Felder and Val Fersch both stroked RBI singles to give Cooper a 3-0 lead.
Cooper added a pair of runs in the third to make it a 5-0 contest. Pat Shuart ripped an RBI triple to right center and Cellis then singled to bring Shuart in to score.
Charlie’s Angels got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Christine Decker singled to left field, allowing Leanne Mangabang to cross the plate.
Cellis, the Cooper pitcher, then got Terri Hess to ground out to second to end a potential Angels rally.
Cooper broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring eight runs. Sklar recorded a 2-RBI double in the frame and Denise Van Keuren and Ally McCarthy added RBI singles.
Down 14-1 in the top of the sixth, Cindy Ellmauer provided a highlight for the Angels. She ripped a pitch from Cellis deep into the outfield and the ball rolled to the wall in left center field. Ellmauer raced around the bases for an inside-the-park home run to make it a 14-2 game.
But in the bottom of the frame, Cooper loaded the bases with one out. Manza hit a 2 RBI double to boost the Cooper lead to 16-2.
Marie Frunzi then hit a bloop single to center field, which allowed Van Keuren to score the run that ended the game.
In other women’s league playoff action this week, Perfect 10 and Roark’s squared off in the other “A” Division best-of-three semifinal series. In the “B” Division, one semifinal series pitted L & B Tack against C & C Plumbing and the other semi series featured Irwin Siegel Agency and Mr. Willy’s.
The best-of-three championship series in both divisions are scheduled to take place next Monday through Wednesday evenings. Please see coverage of those contests in future issues.
Note: Cooper Paint defeated Charlie’s Angels again on Wednesday night to advance to the “A” Division championship series.