Much as they had struggled the previous week, the Cazenovia and Chittenango softball teams came up with valuable wins as the regular-season began to wind down.
And none meant more for the Lakers than defeating its Madison County rivals when they met head-to-head last Thursday afternoon, Cazenovia claiming an 8-7 victory over the Bears.
With a three-run first inning and two more runs in the third, the Lakers bolted out in front 5-0, only to have Chittenango climb back in it with three runs in the bottom of the third.
A two-run fourth made it 7-3, but even with that the Lakers got nervous when the Bears closed within one, 7-6, in the fifth.
Cazenovia’s sixth-inning tally made the difference as, in the bottom of the seventh, Chittenango again moved within a run, but could not catch up as Samantha Morgan recorded the final out.
Hannah Matteson’s pair of triples led to four RBIs for Cazenovia as Morgan scored twice and drove in two runs. Delaney Yorks also scored two runs as Mackenzie Waite contributed an RBI.
On the Bears’ side, Sydney Pellman and Cassidy Kelly each got three hits and two RBIs, Pellman doubling twice. Savannah Penoyer and Sydney Bennett got two hits apiece as Penoyer scored two runs, with Shayla Muncy adding an RBI.
Before this, one of the brightest moments of the Lakers’ season came last Monday, against Mexico, as Morgan pitched a gem and also starred at the plate in a 7-0 shutout of the Tigers.
Morgan limited Mexico to three hits, getting eight strikeouts without allowing a walk. Thus, a single run in the first inning off Tigers pitcher Melissa Murray was enough, but Cazenovia got away with two runs in the fifth and four runs in the sixth.
Not content with her work in the pitcher’s circle, Morgan tacked on three hits, including a double that led to five RBIs. Waite added three hits and Yorks scored three runs as Matteson and Elora Wilmot Matteson had one RBI apiece.
Then the Lakers unleashed its bats on Wednesday at Hannibal, and didn’t let up until it had bashed the Warriors 21-1.
Meanwhile, Chittenango pulled out a 7-5 victory over Westmoreland last Monday afternoon, rallying from a 3-0 deficit with a run in the fourth inning and taking charge by batting around in the bottom of the fifth and scoring six times.
Muncy keyed the rally, ultimately producing a double, single and two RBIs. Pellman, Penoyer and Kelly each drove in one run as Kelly, though up and down in her pitching effort, struck out 10 Bulldogs batters.
Back in league play two days later, Chittenango turned back Skaneateles 12-6, with Muncy getting three doubles that led to four RBIs. Kelly also had three hits as Pellman and Natalie Cowburn each drove in two runs. Sydney Bennett, Erika Solberg and Jada Musciat had one RBI apiece.
Cazenovia’s win over Chittenango made Friday’s 15-0 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy a lot easier to take. Yorks managed the Lakers’ only hit as Catherine Burns and Victoria Hall each had two doubles and four RBIs for the Brothers.
With the open tournament format for the Section III playoffs, both Cazenovia and Chittenango would take part, the Lakers as a no. 17 seed meeting no. 16 seed Clinton to see who would get top seed Adirondack in the next round as the Bears, with the no. 19 seed, met no. 14 seed Lowville, the winner to get no. 3 seed Marcellus.
