By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — The Sullivan County Women’s Softball League began its playoffs with an “A” Division doubleheader on Wednesday evening at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park in Mongaup Valley.
In the opening game, L&B Tack edged Cooper Paint, 8-7, in eight innings to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semifinal series.
In the second game, Klein & Sons Logging defeated Charlie’s Angels, 13-6, to grab a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semifinal series.
Game 1 goes an extra inning
L&B Tack and Cooper Paint needed to play one extra inning to determine the winner.
With two outs and two runners on base in the bottom of the eighth, Lacy Dalrymple stepped into the batter’s box for L&B Tack. She promptly singled to left field and Barb Merton, who was on second base, sprinted around third and crossed the plate for the game-winning run.
Cooper Paint forced the additional frame by tying the score at 7-7 in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Ally McCarthy hit a sacrifice fly to score Diana Sherman.
L&B Tack had two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Cooper Paint pitcher Pat Shuart induced an infield pop fly to end the frame.
L&B Tack, which won the “A” Division regular season title, grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tricia Tuttle tripled to left field to score Karen Smith and Jamie Hopkins scored on a fielder’s choice.
Cooper Paint, which placed fourth in the “A” Division during the regular season, took a 6-2 lead in the top of the second. Amanda Irwin tied the game by smashing a two-run double to center field. The team added four runs on an RBI double by Katie Mahan, an RBI single by Jen Wright, an error and a fielder’s choice.
After scoring a run in the bottom of the second, L&B Tack evened the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the third. With two teammates on base and no outs, Tuttle singled to center field, which allowed Merton to cross home plate.
Francine Kaiser then grounded out, but it was a productive out as Hopkins scored to bring L&B Tack to within a run at 6-5. Tuttle scored the tying run when Denice Smith singled to center field.
L&B Tack took a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Julie Potosek led off and blasted a double to left center field. After two outs were recorded, Karen Smith singled to left field to score Potosek.
Klein & Sons uses early lead enroute to a victory
Klein & Sons Logging jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first three innings on its way to defeating Charlie’s Angels.
In the bottom of the first, Jill Hubert-Simon and Kayla Scannell both scored on Nikomi Thompson’s double to give Klein & Sons a 2-0 advantage.
Klein & Sons, which finished second in the “A” Division in the regular season, added five runs in the bottom of the third. Michelle Ross, Chelsea Reuss and Christine Lopez all hit RBI singles and Krys Stant scored on a fielder’s choice to make it a 7-0 game.
After Klein & Sons tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fourth, Charlie’s Angels scored a run in the top of the fifth. Diane Staves hit a one-out single and scored when Lisa Krum ripped a double to right field.
Klein & Sons pushed its lead to 11-1 in the bottom of the fifth.
Charlie’s Angels, which finished third in the “A” Division regular season, cut its deficit to 11-5 in the top of the sixth. Sue Zieres led off with a double to left field and scored when Shannon Dietrich reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Heidi Hewlett then connected with a pitch and sent the ball sailing into deep left field. Dietrich scored easily and Hewlett raced around the bases for a two-run, inside-the-park-home run.
Charlie’s Angels pulled to within six runs at 11-5 when Cindy Ellmauer scored on an infield hit by Emily Zier.
Klein & Sons added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Stant scored on Christina Price’s base hit and Reuss scored when Susan Waddell hit into a fielder’s choice.
Charlie’s Angels recorded the final run of the game in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Zieres singled to left field. She scored moments later on a single by Dietrich.