By Laura Stabbert
CALLICOON — On Wednesday night, the Darder Stone Works softball team earned a victory on its new home field behind the Delaware Youth Center in Callicoon.
Darder Stone Works defeated Kohler Lumber, 7-3, in a Sullivan County Beer League game.
Kohler Lumber was able to take an early lead, however. Joe Winski singled and then scored off Pat Hammett’s triple before the inning was over to give Kohler Lumber a 1-0 advantage.
Darder Stone Works didn’t waste time in answering on the scoreboard. Gerald Dix singled and Orion Darder then hit a home run to put Darder Stone Works ahead 2-1.
The second inning was scoreless for both teams.
In the third, Darder Stone Works had two quick outs in the field, but Greg Brewer walked and Winski then singled. Brewer and Winski both scored off Hammett’s double to give Kohler Lumber a 3-2 lead. Darder Stone Works pitcher Jeff Meola then ended the inning by getting Jimmy Moloney to ground out.
Kohler Lumber kept Darder Stone Works scoreless in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth, Meola retired the Kohler Lumber batters in order.
Kohler Lumber pitcher Greg Semenetz then held Darder Stone Works scoreless in the bottom of the fourth
Darder Stone Works evened the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Jason Leewe singled to bring his brother Eric Leewe in to score.
A deep hit to left field by Nick Johnson started the top of the sixth for Kohler Lumber. But while trying to stretch the hit into a double, Johnson was tagged out by Forest Darder after a quick throw from left fielder Chris Franke.
Brewer and Winski both singled to reach base. Darder Stone Works third baseman Mark Tesseyman caught Hammett’s foul ball while doing a backwards summersault. Orion Darder was able to get under Moloney’s deep fly ball to center field to end the inning.
Darder Stone Works rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Orion Darder walked and then was able to round the bases and score off Tesseyman’s double. Next at bat was Franke, who hit a home run to give his team a 6-3 advantage.
Darder Stone Works continued to hit. Steven Musso singled but was forced out at second base on a grounder by Forest Darder. Eric Leewe then singled and Forest Darder was able to score off a single by Ryan Redmond to put Darder Stone Works ahead 7-3.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Adam Lake singled. Sean Welsh then hit the ball to deep left field, but Franke made a fine catch for the second out of the frame.
Matt Welsh singled, but Meola ended the game by getting the next batter to ground out to shortstop.