By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — August 14, 2007 — Timely hitting and good defense carried the Klein & Sons Logging, Inc. team to victory over Charlie’s Angels on Thursday night in the third game of their Sullivan County Women’s Softball League (SCWSL) “A” Division semifinal series.
Klein & Sons broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning and proceeded to add runs in every inning thereafter to record a 14-3 win. Coupled with its 9-8 triumph the previous night in Game 2 of the series, Klein & Sons (17-5) advanced to the “A” Division finals.
Cheryl Sheerer’s bases-loaded single in the top of the third inning allowed Barb Ward-Blank to cross home plate and give Klein & Sons a 3-2 advantage.
Klein & Sons extended its lead to 5-2 in the fourth as Jill Hubert-Simon and Ward-Blank hit consecutive RBI singles.
In the top of the fifth, Chris Lopez singled home Chrissy Powers to make it a 6-2 game.
Klein & Sons scored four times in the sixth. Kayla Scannell began the inning by ripping a triple to right center field. She scored moments later when Hubert-Simon reached base on an error.
The next batter, Ward-Blank, tripled to right field and Hubert-Simon crossed the plate to give Klein & Sons an 8-2 advantage.
Ward-Blank scored when Jane Smith hit a bloop single.
Smith crossed the plate moments later on an error.
Klein & Sons added four runs in the top of the seventh. Krys Stant hit an RBI triple and later scored on a fielder’s choice.
Ward-Blank hit an RBI double and Hubert-Simon scored on a sacrifice fly by Smith.
Charlie’s Angels attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Analey Dietrich and Beth Fanning hit consecutive singles to begin the frame.
After Klein & Sons recorded the first out, Cindy Ellmauer hit an infield grounder. Fanning was forced out at second base as the Klein & Sons infielders tried to turn a game-ending double play. But the throw to first base was errant, which allowed Dietrich to score and Ellmauer to safely reach base.
Klein & Sons pitcher Susan Waddell got the next batter to hit a ground ball to shortstop Hubert-Simon, who fielded the ball and threw it to first baseman Chris Basima for the final out.
Klein & Sons took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Hubert-Simon crossed the plate on a double by Nikomi Thompson and Ward-Blank scored when Powers hit into a fielder’s choice.
Charlie’s Angels (17-5) scored its first run of the evening in the bottom of the first. With one out, Nicki Krom ripped a triple to right center field. Krom scored when the next batter, Shannon Dietrich, hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
Charlie’s Angels tied the game at 2-2 in the second as Fanning, who reached base with a single, scored on an error.
Notes: Klein & Sons will meet Cooper Paint (19-2) in the SCWSL “A” Division best-of-three finals series. Cooper Paint, which won the “A” Division regular season title, reached the finals by defeating L&B Tack two games to none in the other “A” Division semifinal series.
Cooper Paint won the opening game, 19-3, on Monday, August 6 at Collins Park. The second game of the series was held on Tuesday night at Max Eronimous Firefighters Field in Swan Lake.
With the score tied at 3-3 in the sixth inning, the contest was suspended due to darkness. When the game resumed Wednesday evening at Collins Park, Cooper Paint rallied from a seven-run deficit in the seventh inning to post a 11-10 victory.
Game 1 of the finals between Cooper Paint and Klein & Sons was slated to be held last night at Gary A. Bradley Memorial Field at the White Sulphur Springs Fireman’s Park.
The second game is set for 6:15 p.m. tonight at Max Eronimous Firefighters Field.
In the SCWSL “B” Division final series, the Center For Discovery Diamonds will meet Mr. Willy’s. The opening game of that best-of-three series was scheduled to be played last evening at Max Eronimous Firefighters Field.
Game 2 between Center For Discovery and Mr. Willy’s is set for 6:15 p.m. tonight at Gary A. Bradley Memorial Field.