By Ted Waddell
LIBERTY – April 23, 2004 – The Lady Eagles of John S. Burke Catholic School soared over the host Liberty Lady Indians 18-5 in Wednesday’s OCIAA Division IV softball game.
Burke (6-2, 3-0 OCIAA) took a quick lead by scoring one run in the top of the first inning.
But the Lady Indians battled back with three runs in the bottom half of the opening frame.
Brittney Strysko walked. Kate Sarno reached on a single. Keely Hamlin then swatted a two-run triple and later scored on a dropped fly ball to make it a 3-1 ballgame.
The Lady Eagles were scoreless in the second.
At their turn at bat in the second inning, Liberty (0-4, 0-2 OCIAA) picked up a run to make it a 4-1 game.
Alyssa Thalmann led off with a hit. Kate DeMayo walked. A sacrifice fly by Strysko sent Thalmann across home plate.
In the top of the third, however, Burke scored six runs to take the lead for good.
Liberty got one back in the bottom of the third as Sarno led off with a walk and the next batter, Hamlin, also walked. After Jackie Katzenberger sacrificed to advance the runners, Sarno scored as Kelly Lorino hit a ground ball to first.
And that wrapped up the scoring for the Lady Indians on a chilly spring afternoon.
However, Burke racked up several more runs in the closing innings.
The Lady Eagles’ scoring rampage was aided by what seemed like an endless helping of wild pitches and a lot of miscues in the field.
Liberty’s Thalmann started the game on the mound and was relieved by Sarno in the top of the sixth.
Molly Plain started for Burke. In the top of the third, Michele Bianchetti took over the pitching duties. Plain, however, was credited with the win.
“Liberty is a tough team because they like to win, but their talent’s not as good as ours,” said Burke Coach Steve Douthit, who is in his fifth year guiding the team.
“They have a good attitude,” he added of the Lady Indians.
This is Douthit’s first winning season since he began coaching varsity softball at Burke.
“I’ve been on the other end of the stick for years, and this is the first year I’ve had a winning team . . . so far,” he said. “Today, our kids played fair.”
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm summed up the game with just a few words.
“It was close for the first three innings, and then it slipped away,” he said.
But he remains optimistic about the rest of the Lady Indians’ season.
“We’re getting better as we go,” Wilhelm commented.