By Rob Potter
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — An early lead helped Cooper Paint earn a victory against Robin Hood Diner on Wednesday evening in a Sullivan County Women’s Softball League (SCWSL) game at Gary A. Bradley Memorial Field at the White Sulphur Springs Firemen’s Park.
Cooper Paint took a 6-0 advantage in the top of the first inning and went on to record an 18-0 win over Robin Hood Diner.
The game ended after five innings due to the SCWSL’s 15-run rule.
With the win, Cooper Paint improved its season record to 15-5. Robin Hood Diner fell to 2-19 on the season.
Cooper Paint wasted little time in taking the lead. The first two batters of the game, sisters Emily Drobysh and Megan Drobysh, doubled and singled, respectively. Jen Wright then walked to load the bases.
Erin Shuart then stepped into the batter’s box and belted a double to left field. All three of her teammates scored on Shuart’s hit to give Cooper Paint a 3-0 lead.
Shuart crossed home plate moments later when Kristen Sarno doubled to center field. Saritza Vazquez scored when Courtney Kashan reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Sarno scored the last run of the inning when Ally McCarthy hit a sacrifice fly.
Cooper Paint increased its advantage to 8-0 in the top of the second inning. After Pat Shuart and Emily Drobysh began the frame with back-to-back singles, Shuart scored when Megan Drobysh reached first base on a fielder’s choice. Following the first out of the inning, Erin Shuart singled to center field to bring Emily Drobysh in to score.
In the top of the third, Kristen Sarno doubled and scored on a single by McCarthy to give Cooper Paint a 9-0 advantage.
Cooper Paint scored five times in the top of the fourth to push its advantage to 14-0. Emily Drobysh led off the frame with a single and subsequently scored when Wright singled to center field.
Megan Drobysh, who reached base by hitting a double, and Wright both crossed the plate when the next batter, Erin Shuart, doubled to left field. After the first out of the inning was recorded, Vazquez hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run to deep left center field.
Cooper Paint scored the final four runs of the game in the top of the fifth. McCarthy led off with a single and scored on a base hit by Pat Shuart. Kate Sarno crossed the plate as Megan Drobysh reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Pat Shuart scored when Erin Shuart singled to left field. Emily Drobysh scored on Fersch’s single to center field.
Pat Shuart earned the win for Cooper Paint by pitching a perfect game. She did not allow a hit or a walk and she and her teammates did not commit an error.
Shuart also struck out three batters.
“I have never thrown one before,” Shuart said of her perfect game.