By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — June 29, 2007 — The L&B Tack and Mr. Willy’s softball teams both earned victories in a Sullivan County Women’s Softball League (SCWSL) doubleheader on June 20 at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park in Mongaup Valley.
In the opening contest, L&B Tack edged Cooper Paint, 6-4, in an “A” Division game. In the “B” Division game which followed, Mr. Willy’s defeated Lindsey’s Cuisine, 29-5.
L&B Tack had to withstand a last inning comeback attempt by Cooper Paint in order to post the victory.
With two outs in the top of the seventh and trailing 6-3, Cooper Paint began to rally. Consecutive singles by Denise VanKeuren and Kate Yaun put runners on the corners. The next batter, Amanda Cox, hit a bloop single into left field. As VanKeuren scored on the hit, Yaun advanced to third base and Cox moved to second.
Down 6-4 with two teammates on base, Jackie Litwak stepped into the batter’s box. She hit a fly ball to left field, but L&B Tack outfielder Jamie Hopkins made an excellent diving catch to end the game and preserve her team’s two-run victory.
After Cooper Paint grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, L&B Tack responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. The key hit was a two-run single by Tricia Tuttle, which broke a 1-1 tie.
L&B Tack scored three more runs in the bottom of the third. Karen Smith hit an RBI double to left field and Lori Froehlich followed with an RBI single to give L&B Tack a 5-1 advantage. Smith scored moments later when Lacy Dalrymple hit into a fielder’s choice.
Cooper Paint made it a 6-2 contest in the top of the fifth when VanKeuren scored on a single by Cox.
In the top of the sixth, Cooper Paint’s Charish Priest slammed a triple to left field that allowed Ally McCarthy to score and close the L&B Tack lead to three runs.
Mr. Willy’s stops
Lindsey’s Cuisine
Mr. Willy’s took an 8-0 lead in the first inning on its way to victory in the “B” Division contest.
After scoring twice in the second, Mr. Willy’s added seven runs in the top of the third. The key hit in that frame was Kim Jay’s three-run, inside-the-park home run to deep left field, which gave Mr. Willy’s a 13-0 advantage.
Jay then hit a two-run triple in the top of the fourth to make it a 19-0 game.
Displaying perseverance and determination, the Lindsey’s Cuisine team scored five times in the bottom of the fourth inning. Eve Cruz scored the squad’s first run when Heather McGurn reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Moments later, Jenn Smith singled to center field.
Casey Unee and McGurn both crossed home plate on Smith’s base hit.
Lorraine Ferdico scored what would be the final run of the game for Lindsey’s Cuisine on a fielder’s choice.
The game was called after five innings due to the league’s 15-run mercy rule.
With the victory, Mr. Willy’s improved its record to 5-2.