By Rob Potter
SWAN LAKE — The New Hope Knockouts overcame an early 4-0 deficit to record a 21-5 victory over the Robin Hood Diner on Tuesday night in a Sullivan County Women’s Softball League “B” Division game at the Swan Lake Firefighters’ Max Eronimous Field.
Robin Hood Diner took its 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Sandy Deckelman walked and scored moments later when Liz Giumarra singled.
Robin Hood Diner pushed its lead to 2-0 when Jen Banghart crossed home plate on a walk to Erin Giumarra.
The team scored two more runs in the frame. Liz Giumarra crossed the plate on a walk to Renay Crespo and Rosie Crespo scored when Christa Sweeney reached base on a fielder’s choice.
The New Hope Knockouts cut their deficit in half at 4-2 in the bottom of the second. Devon Spagnoli scored the team’s first run of the evening when Jess Klein was called out on an infield fly. Corie Chanov then singled to center field, which allowed Michelle Orrego to come around to score.
The New Hope Knockouts scored eight runs in the bottom of the third to take a 10-4 lead. Key hits in the frame included RBI singles by Lacey Moore and Orrego and a two-run single by Ashley King.
Robin Hood Diner got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth. Christa Reinshagen scored when Rosie Crespo reached base on an infield single.
In the bottom of the fourth, the New Hope Knockouts scored three times to extend their advantage to 13-5. Klein, Chanov and Melissa Bachmann all had RBI singles in the frame.
After setting down the Robin Hood Diner batters in order in the top of the fifth, the New Hope Knockouts scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game. Alison Whipple led off the inning with a walk and scored on a single by Heather Bachmann. Moore then blasted a triple to center field, which allowed Bachmann to cross home plate.
Later in the frame, Klein, Chanov and King all hit RBI singles to push the New Hope Knockouts’ lead to 19-5. Following King’s single, Melissa Bachmann reached base with an infield hit.
Whipple then singled to center field, which allowed both King and Bachmann to cross home plate and give the New Hope Knockouts a 21-5 lead. The game ended at that point due to the league’s 15-run rule.
With the victory, the New Hope Knockouts improved their overall season record to 9-7. The team is 9-4 in “B” Division games this summer.