Softball

Cornwall’s Stathes starves Bulldogs

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — The only hit the Bulldogs got facing Cornwall’s rising fastball senior pitcher Christina Staves was Amanda Patterson’s.

CORNWALL 13 SULLIVAN WEST 10

But she didn’t get a hit. She just got hit.

Staves grinned about it, but Patterson and the Bulldogs weren’t amused. Cornwall, a Class A team, is first rate in every facet of the game. They hit the ball hard, throw well, run the bases fast and field with precision. The Bulldogs were no match, though Erin Rosenberger pitched hard.

You can’t give a juggernaut like Cornwall any free runs with Stathes on the mound. They can beat you by scoring just once.

They did that and then some in the top of the first when a strikeout of leadoff hitter Kristen Bidosky turned into a safe arrival at first after a dropped third strike.

Bidosky quickly stole second and then third. A bunt by Jessie Krause scored her. That was followed by a booming triple to right center by Lauren Cascino, and the rest of the game was history. Cascino went on to get two more hits in her next three bats. Kristen Halvorsen, the Dragons’ other fine hurler, concentrated on her hitting, blasting two hits for Cornwall (5-0).

With defined musculature in her legs and arms, Stathes brought the ball with undue haste to the plate where batters swung too late, or when she pulled the string on her fine changeup, they swung too early. She struck out 12. Caity Flanagan had two hits and four RBIs.

Cornwall would be better served by a scheduled loaded with AA teams. Playing Class B schools is a walkover, and each year the Dragons expire quickly after winning Section Nine due to their generally weak regular season schedule. There are some softball powerhouses out there, and the Dragons should be taking them on.

S.S. Seward 8 ELDRED 1

The Bulldogs (4-3, 3-2 OCIAA) were coming off of a 17-5 league win against Liberty on April 27. Lesley Bright had a pair of hits and scored three times in the win over the Indians (0-7, 0-3 OCIAA).

Eldred rebounds from loss to Seward with win over Fallsburg

FLORIDA, NY — The first time out this season, Seward’s Melissa Oliphant blanked the Yellowjackets as the Spartans cruised to a 29-0 win. This time out, the Yellowjackets didn’t fare much better. Oliphant, a hard-throwing lefty, allowed only two hits as Seward (5-8, 4-1 OCIAA) completed the season sweep of Eldred. Theresa Space nearly hit for the cycle with a single, double and triple. She scored twice as did Michel DeJong, who also had a pair of hits.

Eldred’s only run came on an error and was scored by catcher Jessica Cherry. Eldred’s two hits were by Kim French and Jené Shafer. Angel Garofalo was the losing pitcher of record.

ELDRED 16 FALLSBURG 12

FALLSBURG, NY — Jenny Haas and Jessica Cherry found their strokes as each managed three hits in the Yellowjackets’ non-league win over the Comets. Despite getting out to an early 12-4 lead, Eldred had to hold on as Fallsburg roared back. Shannon Weigand had a pair of hits for Fallsburg (0-6). Eldred improved its record to 4-3.