Grand opening

Posted 4/3/12

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Bright sun and gusts of wind greeted local tennis, golf, baseball and softball teams on April 2. The subject of weather was on the lips of players and coaches alike, as many …

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Grand opening

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Bright sun and gusts of wind greeted local tennis, golf, baseball and softball teams on April 2. The subject of weather was on the lips of players and coaches alike, as many wistfully hearkened back to the balmier days two weeks prior. That said, all were thankful that it wasn’t rain, snow or freezing cold providing the backdrop for the season’s first swings. A whirlwind tour seemed apropos in lieu of camping out at a particular game as the schedule was dense, albeit somewhat diminished by the fact that Fallsburg had already started its spring break. The rest of the schools begin their hiatus later this week as they extend their break with unused snow days.

The first stop on the tour was Liberty, the locale of an impending boys tennis match with Monticello and a non-league baseball opener featuring the Indians versus Chester. Up on the tennis courts, a cadre of mostly inexperienced Monties arrived with veteran Coach Urvashi “Tutu” Gupta. Liberty coach Beth Quatrale extended the welcome as both coaches marveled at the fact that their match was not taking place amid its usual downpour. Given their daunting schedules this spring, both know wins will be at a premium. Monticello prevailed 4-3 in the Division II opener. The teams split the singles matches 2-2 and the Monties prevailed 2-1 in doubles.

Here are the results. Singles: Josh Lieberman (L) d. Devin Acevedo 6-0, 6-0; Gene Doyle (L) d. Chase Israel 6-4, 7-5; Aaron Weiss (M) d. Patrick Doyle 6-4, 1-6, 7-5; Kishan Patel (M) d. Dominik Ahrend 3-7, 6-2, 6-1. In doubles: Lucas Lindwaser-Rey Cerda (M) d. Danny Diaz-Andrew Hersh 1-6, 6-1, 6-4; Joe Kleinberger-Kevin Cruz (L) d. Toribio Rodriguez-David Fernandez 6-3, 6-3; Wayne Maree-Sean Kane (M) d. Alejandro Mercado-Victor Agunbiade 7-5, 6-4.

Next up was a quick tour of the baseball diamond, stopping briefly to watch Liberty softball coach Matt Stoddard going through some batting and fielding drills with the Lady Indians in anticipation of their home opener versus Ellenville on April 3. The Liberty baseball team sent Joe Franke to the mound to face the Hambletonians, who countered with Matt Coffee for a battle of right-handed hurlers. Franke pitched a complete game in the Indians’ 7-5 win. He allowed nine hits and struck out six. Nick Scheibe went three for three with an RBI, while Quinn Jackson and Ryan Henry each added a double and an RBI to the cause. Cosmos Fitzpatrick had two hits and an RBI for Liberty (1-0).

Then it was on to Jeffersonville to catch an inning or two of the Lady Bulldogs home opener against Port Jervis. By the time I arrived, it was already 5-0, a product of a rough first inning for Sullivan West, a stanza rife with errors that would mar the season’s first outing for fireballer Hannah Schwatz. The seasoned hurler did her part, striking out 11 Lady Raiders and going two for three at the plate, which included a hard-hit double into left field. But by day’s end, Sullivan West was 0-1.

I pondered a jaunt up to the Villa Roma for Sullivan West’s boys and girls golf openers against Warwick but the hour was getting late and the sojourn to the greens would have to wait for another day. In boys golf, Sullivan West fell to Warwick 220-235 on the par 35 front nine. Drew Billard led all golfers with a two-over par 37. The girls team fell to powerful Warwick 141-189.

Visit www.sportsinsightsny.com for ongoing spring sports coverage and albums of photos.

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