By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — July 29, 2003 – Chrissy Powers of the Combined Energy Services (CES) Softball team held her thumb and index finger a quarter of an inch apart.
“It was that close,” she said to her teammates as they exited the dugout.
Indeed it was that close as Charlie’s Angels defeated CES, 14-13, last Thursday night in a Sullivan County Women’s Softball League game at Collins Park in Mongaup Valley.
Charlie’s Angels improved its record to 13-3 on the season, while CES fell to 5-11.
After falling behind 10-4 in the second inning and 12-7 in the third, Charlie’s Angels kept chipping away at the CES lead.
Down 13-10 in the top of the sixth, the Angels had two runners on with two outs. Christine Decker singled to center field to score both Sue Zieres and Robyn Gannon to make it a 13-12 game.
Charlie’s Angels scored the tying and winning runs in the top of the seventh. Tonya Ackerley led off the frame with a double to center field and Karen Fisher then beat out an infield grounder to put two runners on with no outs. Cindy Ellmauer singled to center field and Ackerly came in to score, tying the game at 13-13.
Anna Tesseyman then walked to load the bases. The next batter, Terri Hess, hit a fielder’s choice to CES shortstop Jill Hubert-Simon, who then fired the ball catcher Ana Marchesani to force out Fisher at home plate.
Debbie Ackerley then hit a sacrifice fly to bring Ellmauer across home plate and give Charlie’s Angels a 14-13 lead.
CES pitcher Becky Roberts got Zieres to fly out to end the inning.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh, CES attempted to rally. Powers singled to left field and Annie Puleo beat out an infield grounder to put runners on first and third.
But Charlie’s Angels pitcher Linda Schwartz got Chris Lopez to ground out to preserve the one-run victory.
After Charlie’s Angels grabbed a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first, CES rallied in the bottom of the inning. Krys Stant and Hubert-Simon both singled and Barb Ward-Blank walked to load the bases. Clean-up batter Jayne Smith then ripped a triple off the fence in left center field that cleared the bases. Smith scored to make it a 4-4 game when Powers stroked a bloop single to left field.
CES grabbed a 10-4 lead by scoring six runs in the bottom of the second. Keying that offensive outburst were Hubert-Simon, who hit an RBI double, Ward-Blank, who ripped a 2 RBI triple, and Smith, who had an RBI single.
Ward-Blank and Smith added an RBI triple and RBI single, respectively, in the third as CES pushed its lead to 12-7.