By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — The Sutphen East team earned an 11-5 victory over Mullally’s Pub on Tuesday night in a Monticello Men’s Softball League game at Kenneth H. Somerville Memorial Field.
Sutphen East (7-3) wasted little time in taking the lead. In the top of the first inning, John Bell ripped a double and then scored on a hit by Chuck McAllister. Moments later, Gary Miller smacked a two-run triple to give Sutphen East a 3-0 lead.
After Mullally’s Pub (1-6) tied the score at 3-3 in the second inning, Sutphen East regained its advantage.
With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the third, Nick Maiori safely made it to first base when he hit a ground ball to shortstop and an out was recorded at third base. Bell scored on the play to give Sutphen East a 4-3 advantage.
Sutphen East increased its lead to 6-3 when Richie Edwards and Josh Lowitz both crossed home plate on a triple by Miller.
Sutphen East added three runs in the top of the fourth.
McAllister led off the frame by ripping a single to left field. Two batters later, Brandon Mariner singled to center field and advanced to second base as McAllister safely reached third.
Ricky Torres then walked to load the bases.
McAllister and Mariner both scored when Bell singled to right field and Torres scored when Edwards reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Mullally’s Pub closed the Sutphen East lead to 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth.
Matt Blume and Josh Price both reached base on infield hits. Blume scored as Wadi McKay made it to first base on a fielder’s choice.
Later in the inning, Davin Etheridge hit a bloop single to center field to score Price.
Sutphen East added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Mariner began the inning with a single and later crossed home plate when Torres singled to left field. Torres then scored on a single by Maiori.
Mullally’s Pub tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Anthony Larry started the frame with a solid single to center field. The next batter, Ray Ciprian, bunted the ball a few feet in front of the plate.
But Mariner, the Sutphen East catcher, quickly jumped up, grabbed the ball and fired it to second baseman Derrick Kilcoin to force out Larry.
Sutphen East pitcher Chris Marston then fielded a ground ball, turned and threw the ball to shortstop Lowitz, who caught the ball, touched second base with his foot and threw the ball over to first baseman McAllister to complete a game-ending double play.