By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — July 25, 2003 – Like many baseball or softball all-star games, the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League all-star game featured plenty of offense.
However, most of the hits and runs in last Friday’s game at Collins Park in Mongaup Valley were produced by one team.
The A Division all-stars grabbed a 5-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. The A all-stars went on to record a 21-3 victory over the B Division all-stars.
The A Division all-stars represented Combined Energy Services (CES) Charlie’s Angels, Cooper Paint, Gorr Jus, L & B Tack and Roark’s Tavern. The B Division all-stars represented Bum & Kel’s Restaurant, Irwin Siegel Agency, Mr. Willy’s, New Hope Community and The Nugget Restaurant.
In the bottom of the first, Amanda Irwin of Gorr Jus got the A all-stars on the scoreboard when she ripped an RBI single to score Kelly Theis of Cooper Paint. Tonya Ackerley of Charlie’s Angels then followed with a triple to center field that scored Chrissy Powers of CES and Irwin to give the A all-stars a 3-0 lead.
Pat Shuart of Cooper Paint and Jill Hubert of CES each added an RBI single later in the inning.
In the top of the third, Mary Adriaans of Bum and Kel’s put the B all-stars on the scoreboard when she ripped a single to bring Wendy Ackerley of New Hope in to score.
After scoring twice in the bottom of the third, the A all-stars grabbed a commanding 12-1 lead by scoring five runs in the fourth inning. Irwin and Theis each stroked an RBI double in the frame and Shuart hit a two-run home run to right center field.
The A all-stars added a two runs in the fifth, three in the sixth and four in the seventh. (In a normal game, the A all-stars, as the designated home team, would not have batted in the bottom of the seventh. But in an effort to have each participant play at least four innings, the game went eight innings instead of the typical seven.)
The B all-stars scored twice in the top of the eighth. Ellie Dymond of Bum & Kel’s scored on an error and Susette Walker, who also plays for Bum & Kel’s, crossed the plate when Debbie Noecker of The Nugget grounded out.
This was the first time the league held the game in the middle of its season instead of after the playoffs in August.
“It’s a fun night out,” said Jo Walls, who is the player/coach of Charlie’s Angels and served as the coach for the A all-stars. “This gives the players in each division a chance to get to know each other as teammates rather than opponents. I think everybody had a good time.”
Chrissy Schiff, player/coach for Mr. Willy’s and player/coach for the B all-stars concurred with Walls.
“We get a chance to be teammates for one game and sit in the dugout and talk to each other,” Schiff said.
Despite the lopsided final score, Schiff felt that the game was an overall success.
“It’s all fun,” she said. “It helps the concession stand [sales] and we always seem to get a big crowd to come out and watch the game.”
All of the players in the game were selected to participate by their peers. Members of each A Division team chose all-star players from one of the other A Division squads and the B Division teams did likewise.
The A all-star roster included: Tonya Ackerley, Amy Bruderman, Amanda Cox, Shannon Dietrich, Jackie DonVito, Robyn Gannon, Shannon Holland, Jill Hubert, Amanda Irwin, Rachelle Irwin, Tini Kaiser, Lisa Krom, Leanne Mangabang, Teresa Nietzel, Chrissy Powers, Annie Puleo, Pat Shuart, Chris Stant, Barb Stubits, Liz Stubits, Kelly Theis and Denise VanKueren.
The B all-star roster included: Wendy Ackerley, Mary Adriaans, Jen Barnier, Erica Boyd, Erin Brown, Celia Cameron, Devon Davis, Robin DeMarmels, Shelisa Duquette, Ellie Dymond, Melissa Grill, Kelly Herzog, Moe Johnson, Cathy Lewis, Deb Noecker, Chrissy Schiff, Megan Sheeley, Lara Stautenberg, Rosemary Stueber, Susette Walker and Christy Willis.