More than enough challenges confront the Skaneateles softball team, just by the mere fact that it competes in the tough Onondaga High School League Liberty division.

For last Monday afternoon’s season opener, the Lakers drew Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, who unleashed its attack in a big way during a 17-0 decision.

Two APW pitchers – Amber Rice and DeShae Jones – kept Skaneateles from notching a hit, combining for 15 strikeouts.

Ali Tomlinson pitched for the Lakers and struggled from the outset, the Rebels peaking with a 10-run fourth inning as Jones, at the plate, hit a home run and double, earning six RBIs.

Playing again Friday, against Hannibal, Skaneateles looked to get its offense going.

Meanwhile, the Skaneateles baseball team faced its own set of troubles, starting with last Wednesday’s game against visiting Bishop Grimes, an OHSL Liberty division newcomer. Despite that status, the Cobras beat the Lakers 16-4.

On Friday afternoon, against Hannibal, Skaneateles could not get on the board again in an 8-0 defeat, the Warriors using four runs in the bottom of the second to gain control. Five different Laker players – Molly Kerstetter, Kyra Cottrill, Morgan Deacy, Ally Pietropaoli and Jordynn Richards – picked up one hit apiece.

As for the Skaneateles baseball team, it had its season opener on Wednesday afternoon, taking on OHSL Liberty division newcomer Bishop Grimes and falling to the Cobras 15-4.

The Lakers led, 2-1, through one inning, but it all fell apart when the Cobras scored 11 times in the top of the second, chasing pitcher John Teixeira.

Though Noah Cliff and Jim Drancsak had solid efforts in long relief, Skaneateles could not recover, as Marc Piertropaoli and Joe Pitman earned two hits apiece. Pitman, Drancsaka and Max Goldman had one RBI apiece.

Skaneateles had wait until Saturday to reach the win column, doing so by defeating Hannibal 11-4. The Lakers take on Solvay, Jordan-Elbridge, Bishop Ludden and Cazenovia this week before meeting Westhill April 27 in the Strike Out Lou Gehrig’s Disease Baseball Classic at NBT Bank Stadium.