Softball

Mother nature ruins Bulldogs comeback

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY – “Play hard against this good team and keep your heads on defense,” Bulldogs’ coach Mike Ellmauer said, encouraging his team prior to a league game against Class A Goshen.

Erin Rosenberger looked strong in the first inning, striking out leadoff batters Carly Jung and Krista Fasnacht. After Lauren Powell reached on an error, Rosenberger induced a fly-out by Raquel Gibson.

Looking equally strong in her turn on the mound, Goshen hurler Erin Lappe buzzed through the first two innings, striking out five of the first six batters she faced. Her teammates staked her to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Kerri Gannon led off with a double. Lappe’s bunt scored the runner, and Lappe reached first safely on an error. Erin Ortiz reached on a bunt single and Beth Garulli’s single scored two more runs.

SULLIVAN WEST 3 GOSHEN 3 PPO

Positioned in an early hole, the skies began to darken both literally and figuratively as the Bulldogs stared at another devastating combination: a dominant pitcher and poor defense.

Not to worry.

While a number of loyal parents and Sullivan West baseball players cheered them on, the Bulldogs got it going in the bottom of the third inning. Amanda Patterson led off with a single. Cassie Valentin walked and Autumn Darder’s fielder’s choice advanced the runners to second and third. Cassy Busing, taking over for Heather Lander, banged an RBI single. Rachel Peloquin knocked in the second run with a single of her own. Lesley Bright scored another run on a fielder’s’ choice to tie the score. After Madeline Argueta’s single loaded the bases, Jess Lederman grounded out to end the inning.

Before the Gladiators could throw the first pitch of the fourth inning, thunder and lightning decided the games outcome: all for naught. A torrential rain soaked the field and Goshen headed home. The game will not be rescheduled.

‘Dawgs’ dig themselves out of a 6-1 hole to vanquish Panthers

SULLIVAN WEST 8 MONTICELLO 7

MONGAUP VALLEY, NY — It could have been a bleak day at Collins Park for the Bulldogs, visiting a Monticello team that has done little this season. Led by senior Melanie Devlin, the Panthers got out to an early 6-1 lead. The Bulldogs battled back and tied the game in the sixth inning. Angela Fortin had a pair of hits and scored two runs for the Bulldogs who went ahead in the seventh inning. The Bulldogs improved to 5-3 (3-1 OCIAA) while Monticello fell to 1-7 (0-4 OCIAA). The Bulldogs will host a rematch with Monticello on May 10. John S. Burke Catholic will come to Jeffersonville on May 11. The Bulldogs will travel to Cornwall on May 12 and finish up their week at home in a league game against Liberty on May 14.

French comes up big against the Bears

ELDRED 6 TRI-VALLEY 4

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY – The senior-laden Eldred Yellowjackets continue their plan to make this spring a season to remember. Rebounding from last year’s winless miasma, Eldred overcame their latest victim, Class C Tri-Valley. Combining the fine hitting of Kim French and Jenn Liebmann, the Yellowjackets (5-3) knocked off struggling Tri-Valley (4-8).

French came up with three hits and an RBI while Liebmann had two hits of her own.

Hipsman tosses a one-hitter against Yellowjackets

CHESTER 12 ELDRED 1

ELDRED, NY – Yellowjacket Jessica Cherry managed the only hit of the day off senior Tonya Hipsman in the fifth inning, breaking up Hipsman’s bid for a no-hitter. Hipsman struck out 14 batters and walked only one for Chester (12-2) in the non-league win. Hipsman, an outstanding soccer player who was one of Section Nine’s leading scorers, showed her dominance over Eldred on the softball diamond just as she did on the soccer field last fall when Chester swept the season series from Eldred. Kristin Jung had a two-run homer for Chester. Eldred, who fell to 5-4, will face Fallsburg on May 10 and Chester again on May 14, this time at home.