Momentum in the softball rivalry between Solvay and Westhill has shifted – or at least that was the indication in the wake of last Wednesday’s game where the Bearcats pulled away late to beat the Warriors 12-6.
Solvay seized the lead with two-run rallies in each of the first two innings. Again, the Bearcats scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-3, but Westhill would not surrender, pulling within 6-5 in the fifth.
Finally, in the bottom of the sixth the Bearcats made its getaway, batting around and tagging the Warriors for six runs. Chelsie Delperuto led Solvay’s 13-hit attack with two doubles and five RBIs.
Julie Gardner used her pair of hits to drive in three runs, while Brenna Poli managed two hits and two RBIs. Nicole Antonacci scored three runs as Taylor Guinta scored twice and tripled.
Westhill, in defeat, got three hits from Kathleen Clark, two RBIs from Abby Bornstein and two hits from Kelly Mascari. Clark and Kelly Griffo each scored two runs.
Before meeting Solvay, the Warriors first had to open its season at Jordan-Elbridge, a game where two key outbursts helped Westhill subdue the Eagles 9-6.
They were tied, 1-1, when in the top of the second Westhill touched up J-E pitcher Alexis Rouse for three runs to move in front. J-E answered in kind, scoring four times in the bottom of the third to seize a 5-4 lead as Rouse hit a home run.
That didn’t last long, either, because the Warriors, with four runs in the fourth, moved ahead for good, 8-5, and held on from there as Mascari pitched and recorded 10 strikeouts.
Andrea Golembiewski, with two hits, a walk and three runs scored, sparked Westhill’s attack. Griffo had two hits and two RBIs, while Kylie Tucker scored twice. For J-E, Rouse finished with three RBIs as Katie Byrnes tripled and drove in a run. Brienna Fabrize also had an RBI. The Eagles also lost to Skaneateles 14-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
Marcellus, who reached last year’s Class B quarterfinals before falling to Canastota, began its season last Monday at Homer, producing a lot at the plate in a 10-3 win over the Trojans.
Right away, the Mustangs took charge, getting four runs in the top of the first. By the fifth inning, the lead had grown to 10-0, more than enough for pitcher Molly MacLachlan, who gave up seven hits but found her way out of trouble all afternoon.
Shannon Donahue had two hits, two stolen bases and two RBIs. Meghan Witkowski also drove in two runs, while MacLachlan, Clare Manahan and Nicole Wynne each had one RBI. Witkowski and Tabby McBride scored two runs apiece.
The Mustangs didn’t stop there, though, going to Cazenovia on Wednesday and twice coming from behind to knock off the Lakers 9-6.
An early 3-0 deficit got erased when Marcellus notched three runs in the top of the third. Then, trailing 4-3, the Mustangs went ahead for good with three more runs in the top of the fifth, though it needed to score again in the sixth and seventh innings for its eventual margin.
All told, the Mustangs had 12 hits (including six doubles), three of them from McBride, who also scored twice. Wynne and Donahue drove in two runs apiece, with Manahan, Witkowski, Angela Gonnella and Heather Hanlon each picking up one RBI.
