By Rob Potter
FALLSBURG — May 10, 2005 – The Eldred Lady Yellowjackets grabbed an early lead and didn’t look back in Friday’s non-league softball game versus host Fallsburg.
Eldred scored at least one run in every inning on its way to a lopsided 29-4 victory over the Lady Comets. The game was called after five innings due to the 15-run mercy rule.
After taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Lady Yellowjackets scored five runs in the top of the second. Ashley Tice had a two-run double and Ayla Kelty hit a two-run single as Eldred (5-5) extended its advantage to 8-0.
Fallsburg (0-9) responded by scoring a run in the bottom of the second. Ashley Hong, who reached base on a walk, crossed home plate on a passed ball.
But Eldred answered with 11 runs in the third, turning an 8-1 lead into a commanding 19-1 advantage. Kim French belted an RBI double in the frame, while Lori Henry hit two RBI singles. Kim Hallock and Meg Shafer each had a RBI single and Jessica Cherry added a sacrifice fly.
The Lady Comets scored their second run of the game in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Rachel Feller reached base on an infield hit and Lakin Castillo crossed home plate on the play.
Each team added a run in the fourth inning. In the top half of the frame, Eldred’s Jess Bisland scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeanna Harris. In the bottom half of the frame, Fallsburg’s Dayna Halprin scored when Mannie Wizwer grounded out to shortstop.
Eldred scored nine runs in the fifth inning. Shafer stroked a RBI double down the left field line and Bisland, Cherry, French and Henry all had RBI singles.
Fallsburg scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Erica Hanger crossed home plate when Frances Melendez grounded out to third base.
Cherry went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and Henry was 4-for-4 to lead the Lady Yellowjacket offense. In addition, Bisland was 2-for-2, French went 2-for-5 with an RBI and Kelty had three RBIs.
Shafer struck out 10 batters on her way to picking up the victory. She also helped her own cause by going 2-for-4 at the plate and scoring four runs.
“It was a total team effort,” Eldred Coach Jolene Porter said. “The younger players really contributed today.”
Understandably, Fallsburg Coach Chris Barnes did not have much to say following the contest.
“It’s a very young team,” he said of his squad.
Barnes noted that Feller and Melendez are the only two seniors on the Lady Comets’ roster and Wizwer is the lone junior. The rest of the team includes one sophomore and eight freshmen.