Back in OHSL Liberty division action, the Cazenovia and Chittenango softball teams would each go through rough patches in the last full week of April, but also find some bright spots.
For the Lakers, it started with last Monday’s 15-5 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy, a game where it fell behind 12-0, the main culprit an eight-run third inning from the Brothers as Julia Griffith led them with a home run and three RBIs.
In order to prevent a shutout, Cazenovia had to score five times in the bottom of the sixth. Laura Clements and Jamie Kempf both had RBIs in this rally, with Clements, Hannah Matteson, Carli Cunningham, Samantha Morgan and Janie Kempf scoring those runs. Only Morgan and Clements were able to earn two hits.
Chittenango defeated Jordan-Elbridge 12-4 that same afternoon, erasing a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring four runs. Not content with that, the Bears added a run in the fifth and then blew it open with a six-run sixth-inning spurt.
Trisha Whaley earned three of Chittenango’s 12 hits, scoring twice and driving in two runs. Shayla Muncy had a team-best three RBIs as Cassidy Kelly and Anna Geller both had two-RBI outings of their own. Alexa Rossi and Sydney Bennett had one RBI apiece as Morgan Shoemaker doubled twice and scored two runs.
Cazenovia had the next shot at J-E on Wednesday, and while it was not as prolific at the plate as the Bears were, the Lakers were stingier, surrendering just a single run in a 7-1 victory over the Eagles.
Then, when Cazenovia met Pulaski on Saturday, one big inning proved enough for an 8-2 victory that pushed the team above the .500 mark and moved its record to 4-3.
Already up 1-0, the Lakers batted around in the bottom of the fourth and produced seven runs, with Morgan the focal point thanks to a home run, double and two RBIs. Matteson, Kempf and Lydia LaGorga had one RBI apiece.
Back on Thursday, Chittenango prevailed, 9-5, over Pulaski, a game where it trailed 3-1 and 5-3, but came back both times, starting the second rally with a run in the fifth before a three-run sixth inning and two-run seventh inning sealed a Bears victory.
Remaining hot at the plate, Whaley went four-for-four, scoring twice as Shoemaker added two hits and two runs scored. Rossi and Bennett also scored two runs apiece.
