By Rob Potter
NEVERSINK — July 15, 2005 – Earlier this season, the Neversink Fire Department softball team defeated the White Sulphur Springs FD squad by a final score of 10-9 to end the WSSFD team’s 33-game winning streak in the Eastern Sullivan Firefighters Softball League.
On Wednesday night, however, the WSSFD players came out hitting the ball hard in the top of the first inning.
WSSFD scored four runs in that opening frame and went on to record a 15-6 victory in the contest, which was played at the Neversink FD field behind the firehouse.
Leadoff batter Charlie Roth began the game by smacking a triple to center field and Matt DeWitt then doubled to left center to give WSSFD a quick 1-0 lead.
Josh Schwartz singled to make it a 2-0 game. Joe Decker ripped an RBI double to center field and Mike Black had an RBI single to right field as WSSFD grabbed a 4-0 lead.
The NFD team responded by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Leadoff batter Jack Halchak reached base on an error and scored moments later when Ed McCarthy smashed a triple to right center field. McCarthy then crossed home plate on a single by Paul Lepke to bring NFD within two runs at 4-2.
Matt Costa then singled to put runners on first and second with only one out in the frame. Mike Garigliano then hit the ball up the middle and Lepke attempted to score on the base hit. But WSSFD center fielder DeWitt made a nice throw to the plate and catcher Tim Fink tagged out Lepke.
With one out and Roth on base in the top of the second, DeWitt blasted a home run over the center field fence to extend the WSSFD’s advantage to 6-2.
WSSFD scored four runs in the top of the third. Fink and Tim Pellam each recorded an RBI triple and Ryan Calkin added an RBI double as WSSFD took a 10-2 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the first three batters – Black, Day and Pellam – singled to load the bases. Fink then hit a double to deep center field, which allowed all three of his teammates to score. Because the throw into third base went out of play as Fink was running towards the base, the umpire ruled that Fink should be awarded third base and home plate.
Fink’s run gave WSSFD a commanding 14-2 lead.
NFD got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Mike Garigliano led off with a triple to left center field and Turner reached base on an infield hit to put runners on the corners with no outs. Jason Waugh then hit a bloop single into left field, which allowed Garigliano to score.
In the bottom of the sixth, NFD scored three more runs to narrow the WSSFD lead.
Pinch runner Lanny Stoutenburg scored on a single by Waugh to make it a 14-4 contest. Waugh scored moments later on a fielder’s choice infield grounder when he slid under Fink’s tag and touched the plate with his foot.
Halchak singled to load the bases and Jesse Noren followed with a sacrifice fly, which allowed Joe Noren to score what would be the final NFD run of the contest.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Roth tripled to right center. DeWitt followed with a single to left field to bring Roth in with the final WSSFD run of the evening.
With the victory, WSSFD improved its season record to 8-1. The team has one regular season contest remaining, a make-up game against Swan Lake FD.
NFD’s record now stands at 4-2. The squad has games scheduled next week against White Lake FD and Smallwood-Mongaup Valley FD.