Even though Jamesville-DeWitt is the favorite and defending champions in Section III Class A softball, East Syracuse Minoa has played the Red Rams tough and is coming off its best week of the season.
The Spartans returned to action last Wednesday and swept a doubleheader from Cortland. ESM rolled to a 13-1 victory in the five-inning opener, already up 2-1 when it erupted for 10 runs in the top of the third, Gillianne McCarthy leading the way with a triple and four RBIs.
Shaina Brilbeck, who held the Purple Tigers to two hits and struck out seven, went five-for-five, including a double and triple, and drove in two runs, Gianna Quonce and Natalie Quonce each getting three hits as Natalie drove in two runs, as did Morgan Ransom.
The second game went 8-6 in the Spartans’ favor, with ESM scoring twice in the fifth inning and three more times in the sixth to overcome a 4-3 deficit. Natalie Quonce went four-for-four with three RBIs as McCarthy drove in two runs.
Following it up, ESM went to Auburn Thursday and, against the 12-3 Maroons, scored an impressive 10-0 shutout, with Brilbeck limiting Auburn to five hits and striking out four while aided by error-free defense.
At the plate, the Spartans got three runs in the second inning and, after a run in the third, tacked on three-run rallies in the fifth and seventh innings, too, to pull away.
Franchesca Polcaro went three-for-four and scored four runs, with Bella Pickard notching three RBIs. Rachel Brefka had two hits and drove in a pair of runs as McCarthy and Holly Carr had one RBI apiece.
ESM then beat Fulton 6-3 on Friday night, scoring twice in the first inning, but saving its best work for the bottom of the fourth, when it plated four runs, more than the Red Raiders could overcome.
Brilbeck again pitched well, limiting Fulton to three hits, while also getting two hits and two RBIs at the plate as Morgan Ransom matched those totals. Natalie Quonce added two hits as she and Rachel Brefka drove in one run apiece.
Far from all this, J-D put together its own undefeated week, capped by a split doubleheader on Saturday where it rose up to beat Baldwinsville 9-7 after it shut out Auburn 13-0 earlier that morning.
The Auburn game was a one-hit pitching gem from Shayna Myshrall who notched nine strikeouts as J-D scored in every inning except the fourth, capped by a five-run third.
Andrea Sumida and Paige Keeler each had three hits, Sumida adding three RBIs and three runs scored as Myshrall and Kate Dorazio both drove in two runs. Katie White and Madi Ancone each had a double and RBI.
Before this, J-D blanked Central Square 11-0. The Rams exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, more than enough for Myshrall, who struck out seven and limited the Redhawks to five hits.
Dorazio hit a home run, one of 11 hits on the day. Sumida’s pair of hits led to three RBIs as Dorazio and Keeler each drove in two runs. Myshrall, White and Miriam Zogby had one RBI apiece.
