By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — June 3, 2005 – The Nugget and Center For Discovery softball teams picked up victories on Wednesday evening in Sullivan County Women’s Softball League “B” Division games at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park.
In the first game of the evening, The Nugget scored 16 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The team added 12 more runs in the fourth en route to a 28-1 victory over Prestige Towing. The game was halted in the fifth inning due to the league’s 15-run mercy rule.
In the night’s second contest, Center For Discovery grabbed a 4-1 lead in the first inning versus International Contractors Corp. (ICC) and proceeded to post a 13-8 win.
Nugget vs. Prestige
The Nugget grabbed the game’s momentum in the opening frame.
Twenty-two batters stepped up to the plate as The Nugget put 16 runs on the center field scoreboard.
Key hits in the inning included a three-run, inside-the-park home run by Rebecca Sykes, an RBI triple by Amy Miller and RBI doubles by Cheryl Hughes and Megan Kitson.
Prestige attempted to cut into the Nugget lead in the top of the third. Christy Chanov led off the frame with an infield single and the next batter, Barbara Kelly, reached on an error to put runners on first and second with no outs.
But Nugget pitcher Rosemary Steuber struck out the next batter, then got a fly out and a ground out to end the inning.
Prestige scored its only run of the evening in the top of the fourth. Jess DeGraw, Jodi Fredenburg and Malinda Simpson all hit singles to load the bases with just one out.
Jamie Chanov then grounded out to first base, but was credited with an RBI when DeGraw crossed home plate on the play.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mary Kate Johnston and Calley Sander each hit an inside-the-park home run as The Nugget scored a dozen runs.
The Nugget is now 2-1 on the season. Prestige, which is one of four new teams in the SCWSL this season, is 0-4.
Center For Discovery vs. ICC
ICC scored the first run of the game in the top of the first, but Center For Discovery responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame.
The key hit for Center For Discovery was a two-run, inside-the-park home run by Terry Lewis.
After ICC narrowed the score to 4-3 by scoring twice in the top of the second, Center For Discovery answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Lisa Marchino and Jamie Gaebel scored on RBI ground outs as Center For Discovery took a 6-3 lead.
Center For Discovery added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth. With two teammates on base and no outs, Chelsea Carlson ripped a single to left field that allowed Gaebel to score from second base. The next batter, Barbetta Perez, hit into a fielder’s choice and Catherine Santaro crossed home plate on the play.
Three batters later, Lewis smashed a two-run double to right field to make it a 10-3 game.
ICC scored twice in the top of the fifth to make it a five-run contest. Renay Crespo picked up an RBI when she reached base on a fielder’s choice and Elaine Moriggia followed with an RBI single to left field.
Center For Discovery scored three runs in bottom of the sixth as Carlson hit an inside-the-park home run and Bonnie Blackwell recorded a two-run single.
Down by eight runs entering the top of the seventh, ICC attempted a comeback in its final at-bat.
Crespo opened the frame with a single and Santaro reached on an error. Lynda Bracken then hit the ball into deep left center field for a stand-up triple. Crespo and Santaro both scored on the hit, cutting the Center For Discovery lead to 13-7.
Bracken crossed home plate moments later when Sharon Doyle singled to left field.
Blackwell, who pitched the entire game for Center For Discovery, then got the next three batters to ground out to preserve her team’s five-run win.
Center For Discovery improved its record to 4-1, while ICC fell to 1-2.