SCWSL ‘B’ Division Playoffs

Hope springs eternal

Undefeated in ‘B’ Division, New Hope Community continues its run with game one playoff victory over Cobbler’s

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONGAUP VALLEY, NY - Everything is coming up roses for New Hope Community and with just one more win, their storied season will reach its dramatic conclusion with a repeat of the ‘B’ Division title in the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League. Last year, New Hope Community defeated the Nugget for the ‘B’ crown.

After going undefeated this season versus their league rivals, the ladies in navy blue and white came out on August 14 to play Cobbler’s in the playoff opener, a team they bested twice in the regular season.

After New Hope pitcher Darlene Malewit held Cobbler’s scoreless in the top of the first inning, the reigning champs scored a hefty six runs in the bottom of the frame. The flurry began with a pair of errors by Cobbler’s, and continued with RBI hits from Allison Whipple, Moe Johnson, Lori Kimmes and Laura Denman.

New Hope added three runs in the second, with RBI from Johnson, Kelly Cicero and Kimmes to take a 9-0 lead. Cobbler’s got its first two runs in the top of the fourth inning, with a leadoff home run by Stephanie Babich and an RBI single from Terilyn Steigler. New Hope recouped those runs in the bottom of the frame with a two-run single from Johnson.

Cobbler’s fought back with two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to pull ahead by 11-7. During those innings, they got RBI from Babich, who had her second homer of the night, along with run-scoring hits from Lisa Weigand, Cathy Roser and Rebecca Cohen. Weigand made some stellar fielding plays at third base.

New Hope iced the win by scoring five more runs in the bottom of the sixth. After Heather Bachmann led off with a single, New Hope got RBI from Devon Davis, Whipple, Johnson, Kimmes and Denman. Cobbler’s added their eighth run in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI from Erin Brown. The final score was 16-8. Johnson was responsible for a game-high seven RBI in the win. Game two was scheduled for August 15 at 6:00 p.m. at Collins Park.

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