CENTRAL NEW YORK – More than a week removed from its satisfying April 27 win over Liverpool, the Baldwinsville softball team found things quite challenging once the rains stopped.
The Bees had a clash with undefeated Class B contender Camden last Friday afternoon, and despite tremendous pitching from Bella Hotchkiss still found itself on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision.
Striking for its only run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Devils had Camryn Shenk drive home Avery Prievo, who had tripled.
From there, Hotchkiss would record a shutout, giving up another triple to Layla Kilino, but stranding her and everyone else who got on base while earning nine strikeouts.
Meanwhile, B’ville kept giving itself chances against Camden pitcher Ryleigh Johnson, earning eight hits, two each by Hotchkiss and Layla Trendowski, plus hits from Jenna Martin, Maddy Gulich, Hadlei Parnell and Hannah Caughey.
Every time, though, Johnson, with help from a solid Blue Devils defense, got out of trouble with weak contact, allowing Camden to keep its slim margin until the end.
B’ville was shut out again on Saturday by Section IV’s Maine-Endwell, the Spartans prevailing 9-0 as, again, the Bees were able to get on base but could not convert, managing seven hits, two each by Martin, Julianna Gingrich and Leah VerSchneider. Jenna DiLberto pitched and recorded seven strikeouts, M-E away with three-run rallies in the third and sixth innings.
Then the Bees lost 4-2 to Shenendehowa, finally breaking its scoreless streak but still dropping its fourth game in a row and third in two days.
Good weather will mean B’ville has four games this week, taking on West Genesee and Cicero-North Syracuse before hosting Fayetteville-Manlius and Rome Free Academy.
