By Ted Waddell
MONGAUP VALLEY — August 20, 2002 – In Thursday night’s Sullivan County Women’s Softball League All-Star game, the members of the red team had a case of the blues, although they came within a hair’s breadth of having the blue team seeing red.
The “A” Division all-stars were dressed in blue jerseys, while the “B” Division team took to the field in red. The game was played at the Smallwood Mongaup-Valley Fire Department’s Collins Field.
At the conclusion of the offense-oriented contest, the “A” division all-stars posted a 20-17 victory.
In the bottom of the first inning, the “A” all-stars grabbed a 5-0 lead. After two innings of play, they were up 9-1.
In the third, the “B” all-stars battled back with a whopping seven runs to make it a 9-8 ballgame.
By the fourth frame, the “A” all-stars held a narrow 10-9 lead over the “B” team.
The “A” stars scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 15-9 contest. With two outs and the bases loaded, Erin Shuart smacked a triple to score all three of her teammates.
At the end of six innings of play, the “A” all-stars led 20-13.
The “B” team rallied in the top of the seventh inning, scoring four runs.
But that was as close as the “B” team would get as base runner Lisa Krom was tagged out at the plate for the game-ending out.
“It was a nice game, we should do it every year,” said Robyn Gannon, co-coach of the “A” Division all-stars. Gannon plays for Charlie’s Angels, one of 11 teams in this year’s edition of the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League.
Winning pitcher Benjamin played for the team sponsored by Combined Energy Services (CES). She graduated from Monticello High School in 1990.
“It was great, we all got out and played,” she said. “We had a great time. That’s what it’s all about – having fun.”
“It was an all-out effort,” added Benjamin. “That’s why they’re all-stars.”
Krom of L & B Tack team was charged with the loss.
This was her team’s first year in the league, and they were undefeated except for a loss to Mr. Willy’s in a playoff game.
“I thought the game was kind of fair, but I thought we got rooked on the last play, when I was called out at home to end the game,” she said.