Still in a state of exhilaration after two different comebacks from six-run deficits to beat rival Cicero-North Syracuse in as many weeks, the Liverpool softball team did not neglect the challenges that other opponents would provide.
In last Monday’s chilly game at Baldwinsville, the state Class AA no. 11-ranked Warriors produced plenty at the plate, and needed to in order to withstand the Bees’ late charge and prevail by a 12-8 margin.
The cold temperatures affected fielders on both teams as they committed four errors apiece. Liverpool pounced on B’ville’s mistakes, especially during a seven-run fourth inning that broke a close game open.
Yet the Warriors still needed three runs in the bottom of the sixth since B’ville charged late with a run in the fifth and three runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Ashley Teixeira went three-for-four with three RBIs, while Alicia Nash drove in two runs. Gina Meyers got three hits as she, along with Sophia Harris, Morgan Bianco and Avery Marcy, drove in one run apiece.
C-NS, when it played B’ville on Wednesday, was looking to avenge an 8-3 defeat to the Bees on April 26 – and did so, getting a fine pitching performance from Ariana Corasaniti in a 4-2 victory over the Bees.
Despite scoring twice in the third inning, C-NS could not hold on to that 2-0 lead as Madelyn Shuler’s home run helped B’ville pull even, 2-2, by the end of the fourth. The Northstars reclaimed the lead for good, though, by getting two more runs off Kayla Young in the top of the sixth.
Somehow, C-NS won despite accumulating just four hits, two of them by Victoria Dunn. Sam Shallcross and Gabriella Corasaniti had the other hits as Shallcross, Ally Thompson and Julianna Vassallo scored runs, as did Ariana Corasaniti, whose complete-game effort included limiting B’ville to seven hits.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had the first of two encounters in as many weeks with West Genesee, who put up a close fight – but again the Warriors escaped it, fighting past the Wildcats 4-3.
All of the Warriors’ runs came in the first inning, with Wike’s two-run double the big blow as Marcy and Dana Egan also drove in runs. WG pitcher Deanna Shackleton blanked Liverpool the rest of the way, while Wike gave up a run in the first and two runs in the sixth, but was able to hang on, striking out five to overcome six Wildcats hits.
Before it faced B’ville, C-NS got the week underway with a much-needed offensive outburst in last Monday’s 18-1 win over Utica Proctor, shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.
Though the Raiders took a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Northstars answered with seven runs in the bottom of the first, scored twice in the third and put together a nine-run fourth inning, eventually producing 19 hits.
Vassallo had three of those hits – two triples, plus a double – scored three runs and got three RBIs. Shallcross and Brandi Feeney each drove in two runs as Gabriella Corasaniti, Janelle Walters, Juliana Sculco, Jessica Gonzalski and Lindsey Richards each had one RBI. Morgan Iauco added a pair of hits.
Then, after beating B’ville, C-NS had a very different encounter with West Genesee than Liverpool did, blanking the Wildcats 9-0 Thursday to build upon a 6-1 victory over that same squad two weeks earlier in Camillus.
Arianna Corasaniti limited WG to five hits and kept them off the board, also getting two hits and two RBIs at the plate. Meanwhile, the Northstars steadily built its margin, peaking with a four-run third inning as Shallcross and Walters both got three hits and two RBIs, with Feeney’s single and double driving in three runs.
Fittingly, Liverpool’s Senior Day game Friday against visiting Fayetteville-Manlius featured another comeback as the Warriors beat the Hornets 9-4.
Sara Arthur’s two-run double keyed a four-run fourth inning that put F-M in front 4-2. But Liverpool countered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and added three runs in the sixth as Egan earned three RBIs, with Wike driving in two runs. Meyers and Olivia Hayden each scored twice.
