As it has done before, the Liverpool softball team geared up for the 2009 season by going to Florida for spring break and engaging in a week-long series of games, winning most of them.
First, the Warriors shut out Acton-Boxborough, from Massachusetts, in an 11-0 game where pitcher Tiffany Sampere threw a no-hitter. Kalyn Howard smashed a home run and earned four RBIs, while Sampere, Emily Dumas, Jen Maloney and Ciara Burke each drove in one run.
Erin Squairs took her turn on the mound against Vincentian (Pa.) and threw a two-hitter as Liverpool won again, 9-1, scoring seven total runs in the first three innings to take charge.
In all, the Warriors got 11 hits. Beth Lamison and Abby Romano both doubled and finished with two RBIs apiece as Tram and Maloney also drove in runs.
Liverpool upped its hit total to 13 during an 11-0 shutout over Eastern New Jersey. Sampere tossed a two-hitter and watched as Lamison, Tram and Dumas each drove in two runs. Sampere joined Burke and Katie Bresnahan in the one-RBI column.
Completing this dominant run in Florida, Liverpool beat Carrollton (Md.) 11-1, steadily building its lead and culminating with a five-run sixth inning.
Again, Howard went deep for a home run and put up four RBIs in support of Sampere’s three-hit pitching. Burke, Sampere and Dumas each had one RBI.
Once it flew back north, Liverpool made another trip on Saturday — this time going east to the Albany area to meet some tough Section II opposition.
In the first game, the Warriors ran headlong into Shenendehowa pitcher Mandy Ferro and took a 6-1 defeat, managing just one hit all afternoon against Ferro. Burke drove in her team’s lone run in the sixth inning as Squairs took the loss.
But Sampere took her turn later in the day and Liverpool beat Saratoga Springs 1-0. Tossing a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts, Sampere got the only run she needed when Dumas tripled in the top of the fifth inning, eventually scoring.
