By Rob Potter
LIVINGSTON MANOR — The Livingston Manor softball team continued its good start to the 2011 season on Thursday afternoon.
One day after shutting out the Chapel Field Lady Lions, 13-0, as senior pitcher Marissa Diescher threw a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts, Manor hosted the Eldred Lady Yellowjackets in a non-league game.
The Lady Wildcats again gave Diescher plenty of run support as Manor topped Eldred, 16-1.
The game ended after five innings due to the 15-run rule.
Diescher allowed only one hit, a first-inning infield single by Eldred’s Sam Ferguson, and recorded 16 strikeouts.
Diescher helped her own cause by going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
Also leading the Lady Wildcats’ offense were Christine Babich, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Jordan Miller, Samantha Scott and Victoria Taggart, all of whom went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
“We’re playing very well,” Manor Co-Coach Charlie Hicks said.
While Diescher has been excellent in the Lady Wildcats’ first two games of the season, the team also averaged 14.5 runs in those two victories.
“We’ve been able to hit the ball well in these games,” Manor Co-Coach Kevin Clifford said.
The game was the season-opener for the Lady Yellowjackets. Pitcher Alexis Pierce struck out four batters.
“It was our first game and the first time we were outside,” Eldred Coach Teresa Colvin said. “We’re looking to keep improving.”
Senior catcher Kim Elvin scored the Lady Yellowjackets’ only run of the afternoon on a passed ball in the top of the fourth inning.
Manor was scheduled to host the S.S. Seward Lady Spartans in a non-league game yesterday afternoon.
Eldred is slated to visit Seward tomorrow afternoon for an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division V game.