Softball

Lumberjacks

Klein and Sons Log ladies topple Mr. Willy’s in crossover game

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONGAUP VALLEY, NY - Looking to build on its recent success, B Division Mr. Willy’s, boasting a 10-3 record, came into its crossover game with 11-3 Klein and Sons Logging of the A Division hoping to show that it could hang tough with one of the league’s hottest teams.

Klein and Sons Logging is currently tied for second place with Charlie’s Angels, just a game behind leading Cooper Paint, a team they will get another crack at on July 25 in hopes of avenging an earlier loss. A win in that game could result in a three-way tie for the lead, something Klein and Sons would be delighted to see. With that in mind, a number of them rooted for Cooper Paint to beat Charlie’s last week, something they had already done the week before.

Mr. Willy’s hopes of making a good showing against the ladies in royal blue and white disappeared early, never to return as Klein and Sons batted around in the first inning, and scored five runs off Mr. Willy’s starter Katrina Meyer.

Three of those came off a booming home run smacked by 2007 acquisition Michelle Ross, truly one of the best players in the league. “Lefty” Ross pulled a mid-high pitch to the far reaches of right field and showed her great speed as she drove in Jill Hubert-Simon and Barbara Ward-Blank, who had set the table for her.

Ross became a one-woman wrecking crew with a subsequent RBI triple and a third-inning grand slam that netted her eight RBI on the night. She reached safely in all four of her at bats, including benefiting from an E-7 in her last plate appearance.

Chris Jersey and Kris Stant knocked in the other two runs in the first. Mr. Willy’s loaded the bases in their half of the inning, with singles by Kim Jay, Erica Boyd and Diane Meyer, but couldn’t capitalize on the chance to get on the board. They had a pair of runners on in the second, but once again to no avail, despite nice hitting by Cindy LaRuffa and Jen Norris.

Meanwhile, the relentless hitting by Klein and Sons once again showed why some people believe they will be right in the mix for this year’s A title. After putting up a modest two runs in the second inning, Klein and Sons sent 15 batters to the plate in the third that yielded nine runs. Aside from the Ross grand slam, the lady lumberjacks got RBI from Kayla Scanell (2), Hubert-Simon, Cheryl Sheerer, Jersey and Anna Puleo.

Klein and Sons tacked on two more in the fourth. When the dust settled, the league’s hottest hitting team had amassed a resounding 18-0 lead on Mr. Willy’s. Not used to such treatment, the ladies in purple were not happy with their showing and refused to be shut out. In the bottom of the fourth, they finally got on the board with a pair of runs as Diane Meyer and Vanessa Burleson crossed the plate, following a double by LaRuffa.

Mr. Willy’s finally shut out Kleins in the fifth inning, but was unable to reduce the deficit by less than 15 runs, thereby losing the game in a shortened five-inning outing.

Mr. Willy’s, whose only prior losses came against The Center for Discovery, Charlie’s Angels and Team New Hope, now fell to 10-4, but are still right in the hunt in the B Division. Klein and Sons improved to 12-3 and hope to keep their momentum going as they take on the Cooper Paint sluggers in the week ahead.