SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — When it comes to building confidence and momentum, there is nothing like getting off to a great start in a new season. And as warmer weather finally made its long overdue entrance, several local teams began their spring quests on an auspicious note. Sullivan West’s baseball team 2-2 (2-1 OCIAA) took two out of three from Liberty 1-2 (1-2 OCIAA) in an opening Division IV series. After their 10-6 home opener, they bested the Indians in game two 5-4 as Gavin Owen walked, with the bases loaded in a game that ended with five walks.

Liberty avoided the sweep with a 4-1 home win as Andrew Phillips allowed just two hits over six innings of work. In softball, Sullivan West 1-1 (1-0 OCIAA) pounded Liberty 26-6 in a Division IV encounter. Brianna Bryant was three-for-four with three RBI. She also scored three runs. Tri-Valley 3-1 got off to a fast start with wins over Chapel Field and Livingston Manor before splitting a double header with Monticello in the Benny Chesnick Memorial Softball Tournament. Due to the postponement of the games from a week prior, Sullivan West did not participate as some of its players had left on spring break. Monticello won the first game 4-2, but the Lady Bears came back to win the second game 6-4. Emily DiToro was the winning pitcher and eighth grader Mikayla Clearwater led off the game with a solo home run. Monticello is now 4-2 (1-1 OCIAA) with a league victory in hand over Goshen, the first time in 10 years that the Lady Panthers have vanquished the Lady Gladiators. The Lady Panthers will meet the Lady Bears again at Monticello’s tournament a couple of weeks hence. In track and field, Tri-Valley’s boys and girls easily bested Fallsburg and Chester in a home meet on April 9. The duel with Fallsburg was a league meet, while the encounter with Chester was non-league. Fallsburg had no first-place finishers among the boys. The scores were as follows: T-V 109, Chester 15; T-V 114, Fallsburg 24; Fallsburg 78, Chester 42. T-V winners included: 200: Mohib Khan 25.3; 400: Josh Winters 57.4; 800: Hauk Boyes 2:23.9; 1,600: Boyes 5:12.3; 3,200: Brendon Hasbrouck 12:05.7; 110 hurdles: James Tierney 17.4; 400 hurdles: Nate Bender 64.8; 400 relay: 49.0; 1,600 relay 4:04.5; 3,200 relay 10:12; high jump: Tyler Greffrath 4-2; long jump: Nick Rios 18-5.75; triple jump: Rios 33-2.75; shot put: Khan 37-1.25; discus: Khan 122-11; pole vault: Aidan Woolsey 11-0. The girls meet scores: OCIAA Division IV: T-V 78, Fallsburg 44; T-V 98, Chester 15; Fallsburg 84, Chester 19. Results: 100 meters: Candhace Forrest (F) 13.0; 200: Forrest (F) 28.5; 400: Sara Dertinger (TV) 66.1; 800: Sabrena Smith (TV) 2:44.5; 1,500: Ali Reynolds (TV) 55.7; 100 hurdles: Smith 18.9; 400 hurdles: Reynolds 1:21.9; 400 relay: 1. Fallsburg 56.8; 1,600 relay: 1. Tri-Valley 4:49.9; 3,200 relay: 1. Tri-Valley 11:36.5; high jump: Tiffani Suhm (F) 4-4; long jump: Smith (TV) 16-2.5; triple jump: Alexandra Brooks (TV) 27-5.75; shot put: Nyasia Harris (F) 31-7; discus: Melania Wilson (TV) 78-4.

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