When it returned from spring break, the Cazenovia softball team stood with a 3-0 record and a real opportunity to move to the front of the OHSL Liberty division standings.
A key game in this process was last Tuesday’s visit to Westhill, where the Lakers’ duo of Samantha Morgan and Elora Wilmot pitched and hit their way to success, helping Cazenovia get a 12-6 victory over the Warriors.
A run in the first inning and two more in the fourth got the Lakers in front, but its big rally came when Cazenovia scored five times in the top of the fifth, accounting for most of the eventual winning margin.
Morgan and Wilmot each hit home runs off Westhill pitcher Ariel Cassidy, the pair getting two RBIs apiece as Mackenzie Waite added three hits and Maddie Waite two hits. Autumn Paddock, Hannah Matteson and Maddie Young each drove in one run.
Meanwhile, Wilmot pitched five innings and Morgan did the rest in relief, the pair combining for 11 strikeouts to overcome the 12 hits Westhill picked up.
Two days later, Cazenovia faced Homer, seeking its fifth win in a row – and while it didn’t produce as much at the plate, the Lakers did not need it since Morgan was close to perfect in the pitcher’s circle.
Cazenovia blanked the Trojans 5-0, Morgan only surrendering two hits and one walk while picking up eight strikeouts and also getting crucial early run support.
The Lakers scored three times off Homer pitcher Isabelle Read in the bottom of the second, adding two runs in the fifth. Kylie Fenton led the way, her pair of doubles leading to two RBIs. Morgan scored twice, with Wilmot and Matteson also scoring runs.
Saturday’s game against Skaneateles was postponed, meaning Cazenovia would put its 5-0 mark on the line in a key game Monday at Solvay before a Thursday trip to Jordan-Elbridge.
Chittenango saw its softball team take a 1-3 record into its game against Mexico April 19, and erased a five-run deficit with a big late-game comeback to defeat the Tigers 11-8.
Even though it scored twice in the second inning, the Bears were down 7-2 when, in the bottom of the fifth it erupted for nine runs, batting around and seeing numerous players contribute key hits.
Cassidy Kelly hit a home run, while Madison Wagner doubled as they both got two RBIs. Avery Salce, Sydney Pellman, Olivia Jackson and Sarah Lamphear each drove in one run as Jada Masciat scored twice.
After Tuesday’s game with Hannibal was rained out, Chittenango had to wait until Wednesday to get back on the field. It was a rematch with Mexico, and this time the Bears lost by an 11-9 margin.
A wild first two innings saw Chittenango go in front 6-5, but in the bottom of the third the Tigers scored four times to move in front for good, adding two runs an inning later to withstand the Bears’ comeback attempts.
Kelly and Abbie Austin both got two hits, with Savannah Penoyer getting a double and two RBIs as she scored twice. Kati Prentice led the Tigers with three hits, including a triple, while driving in three runs.
At Cortland on Thursday, the Bears looked to return to the .500 mark, but didn’t get close in a 6-0 defeat to the Purple Tigers.
Penoyer had two hits, with Kelly and Wagner each getting one hit, but that was all Chittenango could manage against Cortland, who scored three times in the first inning and added three more runs, Lyndsie Babcock pacing the Purple Tigers with two hits and three RBIs.
