Of all the softball teams lined up to challenge Jamesville-DeWitt for Section III Class A honors, Cortland had offered the most concern, at least in the first half of the regular season, thanks to its 10-0 start that led to a no. 15 state ranking.

But the Red Rams were far more battle-tested than the Purple Tigers, and proved that point last Monday by unleashing a 20-hit attack that, led by Amanda Sumida’s power surge, produced a 17-2 victory in a game shortened to six innings by the mercy rule.

A pair of first-inning runs off Cortland pitcher Cady Walts got J-D in front, and it added a run in the third. But the Rams really took off with a four-run fourth inning, and it scored twice more in the fifth before ending it with an eight-run sixth-inning outburst.

Through it all, Amanda Sumida went four-for-five, twice sending Walts pitches over the fence for home runs and amassing six RBIs. Alexis LeClair went three-for-five and drove in three runs, while Makenzie Keeler had three hits, three runs scored and two RBIs.

Andrea Sumida augmented her sister’s efforts, notching three hits as Mary Austin scored three times, as did Shayna Myshrall, that pair joining Paige Keeler and Sarina Alexander driving in single runs as Myshrall also pitched well, limiting the Purple Tigers to three hits.

Not having any kind of letdown, J-D pummeled Fulton 13-1 on Wednesday afternoon, racing out to a 7-0 lead through innings, more than enough for Myshrall, who gave up seven hits, but just a lone fourth-inning run as she earned seven strikeouts.

Helping her own cause, Myshrall went three-for-five at the plate, joining Paige Keeler as they both drove in three runs. Austin and Alexix LeClair each got three hits and combined to score five runs, joining Sumida, Alexander and Taylor Rodarmel in the RBI column.

J-D kept it rolling on Thursday with a 16-1 victory over Auburn, with much of the damage done by the Rams during a 10-run first-inning outburst as it was able to evoke the mercy rule by the fifth inning to shorten the contest.

Myshrall, in particular, brought the power, twice going deep for home runs and also doubling on her way to seven RBIs and four runs scored. Makenzie Keeler also scored four times as she notched three hits and two RBIs, with Alexander also driving in two runs. Sumida, Rodarmel and Paige Keeler got one RBI apiece.

Bishop Grimes returned to the field Wednesday and put away Weedsport 14-5. Helped by five Warriors errors, the Cobras built a 10-1 lead by the fifth inning in support of pitcher Brianna Squier, who struck out 10 to overcome allowing 10 hits.

Kendall Mancuso constantly drove in runs as her three hits led to five RBIs. Sarah Falgiatano singled, walked twice and drove in three runs as McKenna Squier, Brianna Squier and Kenna Kelley each scored three times. Emma Purcee, Alyssa Cavallo and Becca Vinciguerra joined Kelley with one RBI apiece.

Then Grimes managed to beat the rain on Thursday and get in a doubleheader against LaFayette, sweeping the Lancers by scores of 5-3 and 11-9 to improve its overall record to 5-2, with a lot of games to make up in the remaining two weeks of the regular season.

East Syracuse Minoa had to deal with early-week rainouts of games against Mexico, and perhaps that took some momentum away from the Spartans as it returned Thursday and took a 4-3 defeat to Central Square.

Trailing 1-0 early, the Spartans tied it in the third inning, only to have the Redhawks strike for two runs in the bottom of the fourth. But it was a fifth-inning Central Square tally that proved decisive because ESM scored twice in the sixth to pull within one, but could not catch up.

ESM lost despite having nine hits to Central Square’s five. Mackenzie Rivers, Shaina Brilbeck, Franchcesca Polcaro and Aubrie Williams each got two hits, with Brilbeck, Polcaro and Gilliane McCarthy earning one RBI apiece. Brilbeck also struck out six in her complete-game pitching effort.

Christian Brothers Academy did play last Tuesday and lost, 10-2, to Marcellus. Julia Boule was credited with an RBI as Victoria Hall and Bridget O’Hern scored the Brothers’ runs, but the Mustangs pulled clear as Alyssa Cook had two hits, joining Evelyn Webster (who would hit for the cycle and amass 11 RBIs in a win over Hannibal one day later)and Caroline Trytek in driving in scoring two runs apiece.

Fayetteville-Manlius lost a wild 14-13 decision to Baldwinsville on Thursday afternoon. These two sides exchanged runs throughout the first four innings, leaving it tied 7-7. Then the fun started as B’ville scored three runs in the top of the sixth and then, with five more runs in the seventh, extended its lead to 15-7, and it looked over.

But F-M nearly made a miraculous comeback, batting around in the bottom of the seventh and plating seven runs before Kayla Young was able to record the final out, part of a day where she doubled three times, scored three runs and earned four RBIs. Allie Hotchkiss added a home run and four RBIs.

Lily Fish, in defeat, led the Hornets with four hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Sarah Vaccaro doubled and drove in two runs as Emily Gryczka got three hits, joining Emma Robinson, Caroline Muller, Madelyn Goskoski and Isabella Bastian with one RBI apiece.

F-M was supposed to take on J-D Saturday, but that got rained out, as did games ESM and CBA were supposed to play on a wet weekend that threatened to carry over into the following week’s play, too.