By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY —May 03, 2005 – The Monticello Lady Panthers got their bats going early in Friday’s non-league game versus the visiting Family School Lady Falcons.
Monticello pounded out five hits and scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning of the contest, which was played at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park in Mongaup Valley.
The Lady Panthers added two runs in the third, three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to record a 15-0 victory over the Lady Falcons. The game was called in the fifth inning due to the 15-run mercy rule.
Monticello improved to 2-6 on the season, while The Family School fell to 1-6.
Rachael Huffman earned the win on the mound for the Lady Panthers. She improved her record to 2-3 while allowing just three hits and striking out two batters.
In the bottom of the first, Desiree Laguna earned a lead-off walk and promptly stole second base to get the Monticello offense started. Jaclyn Bunce then singled to right center field, which allowed Laguna to score the game’s first run.
Bunce scored later in the inning on a single by Diana Accardo.
Emily Zier followed with a two-run single to left field to extend the Monticello lead to 4-0. Zier also scored on the play, as the ball eluded the Lady Falcon outfielders and ended up near the fence.
The Lady Panthers scored two runs in the bottom of the third on two double-steal plays.
With one out and two runners on base in the fourth inning, Monticello’s Connie Stofko ripped a triple to left field to make it a 9-0 game.
Stofko scored moments later when Accardo grounded out.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Panthers loaded the bases with no outs. Bunce then hit a bloop single to shallow center field, which allowed Katy Gonzalez to cross home plate.
Two batters later, Stofko doubled to left field. Nicole Accomando and Bunce scored on the hit to give Monticello a 13-0 lead.
Monticello scored its final two runs when Accardo hit an infield single.
The Family School had two opportunities to score at least one run. The first chance was in the top of the fourth, when the Lady Falcons used a Monticello error, a fielder’s choice and a walk to load the bases with just one out.
But Huffman got the next two Lady Falcon batters to ground out and fly out, respectively, to end the scoring threat.
In the top of the fifth, Lady Falcon hitters Rachel Donovan and Sarah Luce led off the frame with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, Julie Hoonhout singled to left field to load the bases with only one out.
Huffman again prevented the Lady Falcons from scoring as she struck out the next batter and got a ground ball out to end the inning.
Stofko went 3-for-4 with six RBIs to pace the Lady Panthers’ offense. Bunce went 4-for-4, had three RBIs and scored three runs and Zier had three hits and three RBIs.
“We have a young team that is still learning the game,” said Monticello Coach Ed Kaufmann, who noted that his squad has only one senior (Stofko), six juniors, six sophomores and a freshman. “Anytime you can get a win, it’s a good learning experience.”
Family School Coach Mike Losicco praised his team’s effort. He noted that while four starting players were missing from the lineup, the team stayed focused.
“The girls who were out there kept hustling and playing hard,” he said. “We have a good group of girls who are coming together as a team.”