Softball

Angels soar in win over Nugget

Determined and driven, Charlie’s Angels looks to recapture its lost crown

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONGAUP VALLEY, NY - It’s far to soon to anoint any team as champion yet, but Charlie’s Angels, a team still smarting from losing its 2005 playoff title to Cooper Paint last year, is on a mission. Aside from a bump in the road that led to an early season May 29 loss against L+B Tack, the Angels (8-1) have shown no mercy for their opponents, including Cooper Paint.

Evincing crisp fielding anchored by all-star shortstop Shannon Dietrich’s great leather and rocket of an arm, the Angels can put up big numbers when they come to bat. By the end of three innings on June 25, they had posted 16 runs against B division Nugget (2-6).

Sparked by leadoff hitter Nicki Krom, who reached on an E-10 to start the game, and followed suit with a trio of singles and a double in her later at-bats, the Angels batted around the first two innings.

Hot hitting, up and down the lineup, led to the early run imbalance as Jessica Bradley, Leanne Mangabang, Deb Ackerley, Beth Fanning, Christine “Costa” Decker, Cindy Ellmauer and Terri Hess swung their bats with authority.

Nugget got one run back in the bottom of the first inning by parlaying Rebecca Sykes’ reaching on an E-4, and a walk to Megan Kitson, with an RBI single by Courtney Hunt. Refusing to be intimidated by the Angels’ glow, Nugget got another in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Kendra Harris.

The Angels continued to put the bat on the ball, and found openings up the middle, around and through Nugget’s defense. It looked as if they were going to get the win in the minimum five innings by virtue of the 15-run rule, but with two outs and two strikes, Harris smacked a two-run homer down the right field line in the bottom of the fifth to accentuate Nugget’s no-quit mantra.

The Angels responded with four runs in the top of the sixth, with singles from Krom, Bradley, Mangabang Ackerley, Decker and a double from Fanning to reassert their dominance for the 22-4 win.

Nugget took the loss in stride. They are a team that just loves to play, and they pride themselves on having fun and occasionally being a thorn in the side of Charlie’s Angels and other contenders.

Prior to their game with Nugget, a number of Charlie’s Angels players watched with curiosity as rival Cooper Paint battered B division newcomer Lindsey’s. The Angels are looking to complete a season sweep of Cooper Paint when the teams meet again on July 16 in the late-night game at Collins Park.

Needless to say, their rivals hope to get even for their early season loss to Charlie’s Angels. The fun has just begun. Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of photos.