By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — July 20, 2007 — The two top teams in the “A” Division of the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League (SCWSL) squared off on Monday night at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park.
Entering the game, Charlie’s Angels and Cooper Paints were tied for the division lead. After the contest, Cooper Paints had sole possession of first place.
Cooper Paints avenged a loss to Charlie’s Angels earlier this season with a come-from-behind 11-8 victory.
An eight-run outburst in the top of the sixth inning allowed Cooper Paints (14-2) to turn a 6-3 deficit into an 11-6 advantage.
With no outs and two teammates on base, Ally McCarthy of Cooper Paints doubled to left center field. Amanda Cox scored on the hit to bring Cooper Paints to within two runs at 6-4. Consecutive walks to Lori Brown and Leyna Madison allowed Cooper Paints to make it a one-run game.
With the bases still loaded, Charish Priest singled to left center field. The base hit enabled McCarthy to cross home plate with the tying run.
Sacrifice flies by Rachelle Irwin and Nat Cillis and RBI singles by Erin Shuart, Kate Yaun and Jackie Litwak gave Cooper Paints an 11-6 lead.
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning, Charlie’s Angles (11-3) tried to put together a game-tying and/or game-winning rally in the bottom of the seventh.
With one out, Nicki Krom singled to center field. The next batter, Leanne Mangabang, reached base on an error, which put runners on the corners.
Cillis, the Cooper Paints pitcher, induced a ground out for the second out of the inning.
Shannon Dietrich then singled to center field. Krom and Mangabang both scored on Dietrich’s hit to bring Charlie’s Angels to within three runs at 11-8.
But Cillis got another infield grounder for the final out of the game.
Cooper Paints took a 3-0 advantage in the top of third inning. Priest and Irwin scored on errors and Shuart crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice.
Charlie’s Angels answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Heidi Hewlett, who reached base on an error to begin the inning, scored when Krom grounded out.
Jessica Bradley scored the second run for Charlie’s Angels thanks to a base hit by Cindy Ellmauer.
Charlie’s Angels took a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
With no outs and the bases loaded, Bradley ripped a double to left field. Ellmauer and Hewlett scored on the hit to give Charlie’s Angels a 4-3 advantage.
The next batter, Krom, grounded out to second. But it was a productive out as Robyn Gannon scored on the play.
The next batter, Mangabang, singled to left field, which allowed Bradley to cross the plate and give Charlie’s Angels a 6-3 lead.