Like many others, the Skaneateles softball team had seen its early-season schedule turned around by the various rainstorms that marked the entire month of April.
When the Lakers visited Solvay last Monday, it was just the second game of the season, and many things were still uneven during a 9-3 loss to the Bearcats.
Solvay, returning from its own 10-day break, used three runs off Laker pitcher Alyssa Stevens to take the lead. And it was 4-0 when, in the top of the fourth, Skaneateles nearly caught up.
Going through its entire order, the Lakers tagged Solvay pitcher Brenna Poli for three runs as Carrie Hinchman and Erica Nye both earned RBIs as Chelsea Hamilton scored a run.
But with the bases loaded and two out, Poli escaped the jam and watched as the Bearcats got to Stevens for five runs in the next three innings. At the same time, Julie Gardner relieved Poli and struck out eight in her three-inning relief stint.
Back home at Austin Park on Wednesday afternoon, the Lakers pushed Christian Brothers Academy to the wire, but still lost to the Brothers 9-7.
One bad inning made the difference. Skaneateles was up 2-1 after a pair of first-inning tallies, but watched in the top of the fourth at CBA batted around, scoring six times.
Despite this, the Lakers worked hard to the final out as Sarah Tomlinson earned a home run and three RBIs. Julianna Augustine doubled and drove in two runs as Emily Call got two hits and Stevens scored twice. Stevens and Emylie Garcia combined for nine strikeouts as CBA ace Jordan Sheridan amassed 13 strikeouts.
Maybe that comeback gave Skaneateles some confidence that carried over to Friday’s game at Jordan-Elbridge, where the Lakers’ skid ended with a 12-8 victory over the Eagles.
By the top of the fourth, Sknaeateles had a 12-0 lead. Tomlinson scored three runs, with Call and Hamilton both scoring twice. Garcia got credited with three RBIs. Stevens had all sorts of late-game struggles in the pitcher’s circle, allowing 12 hits and seven walks, but still got the win.
Twice this week, Skaneateles will face rival Marcellus, with games against Cazenovia and Hannibal also on the slate.
