by Laura Stabbert
MONGAUP VALLEY — The home team Monticello Fire Department recorded two quick outs in Wednesday night’s Eastern Sullivan Firefighters Softball League game against Swan Lake Fire Department at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park.
Following those two outs Mike Parks hit a triple to keep the inning alive for SLFD. Next at bat was Brad Magie. He doubled, allowing Parks to score.
With Magie on second base, lefty batter Jordan Merklin singled. Kris Merklin was next at bat and he recorded an RBI when he singled and Magie scored, which gave SLFD a 2-0 lead.
SLFD added to that lead throughout the evening to post a 15-0 victory.
Parks entered the pitcher’s circle for SLFD. After walking Bob Mapes, Parks and his fielders recorded three quick outs.
The three SLFD batters in the top of the second all made contact with the ball. But the MFD fielders were able to catch the ball and or throw out the batters at first base.
In the bottom of the second, MFD was able to load the bases. But SLFD used two flyouts and a groundout to hold MFD scoreless.
The MFD defense started the top of the third inning by registering two quick outs. But Leon Zayas doubled and then scored on Vinny Walgren’s single.
With the score 3-0, MFD was looking to get on the board in the bottom of the third. MFD again loaded the bases but was unable to send any of those runners home.
Both teams were scoreless in the fourth inning.
SLFD rallied in the fifth inning. Paul Heisler and Tim Eronimous both singled. Zayas flew out, but next at bat was Walgren and he doubled, allowing Heisler to score. Parks then doubled, sending Eronimous and Walgren home. Magie also doubled and recorded an RBI when Parks crossed home plate. Jordan Merklin hit yet another double, allowing Magie to score.
MFD then got two outs in a row, but SLFD was ahead 8-0.
MFD was again unable to cut into SLFD’s lead in the bottom of the fifth.
SLFD had another strong offensive inning in the sixth. Both Sean Parks and Mark LaGattuta singled. They both scored when Eronimous doubled. Zayas was next at bat and he hit a home run, bumping his team’s lead to 12-0.
Parks continued the frame by singling. After Magie walked, Jordan Merklin earned an RBI when Parks crossed home plate on Merklin’s single. A deep hit to the outfield by Kris Merklin was caught by A.J. Washington to end the inning, but SLFD was up 13-0.
SLFD had momentum and quickly ended the sixth inning before MFD was able to score.
In the top of the seventh, SLFD recorded two more runs. With one out, Sean Parks walked. LaGattuta then hit a two-run home run to make the score 15-0.
MFD had one last at-bat, but was unable to ruin the shutout for SLFD.