Nothing is proving easy for the West Genesee softball team, who tested itself plenty before heading into the heart of its Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division slate.
The Wildcats would face Fayetteville-Manlius last Wednesday afternoon, two days after the Hornets got its first win over Liverpool in 12 years, and while it put up lots of runs, it could not slow down the Hornets and took a 9-6 defeat.
A day earlier, WG had visited Rome Free Academy, and it proved yet another close game that the Wildcats were able to pull out as it edged the Black Knights 6-5.
Helped by three runs in the top of the third, WG was up 5-0 before RFA fought back, scoring twice in the fifth and three times in the sixth inning to tie it 5-5 as Kaylei Wood and Brianna Kelley each drove in two runs.
Absorbing all this, the Wildcats reclaimed the lead with a run in the top of the seventh and had Rachel Shackleton, who relieved Kayla Hoovler early in the game, get the last three outs.
Jessica Simon and Sophia VanHorn had two hits apiece as they, along with Hoovler and Arlea Vecchio, drove in runs, Vecchio walking twice.
Now, facing F-M, the Wildcats surrendered four runs in the first inning, only to score twice in the third before the Hornets restored its margin an inning later.
Trailing 6-2, WG used a four-run rally in the top of the sixth to pull even, 6-6, Mo Hoover earning a pair of RBIs and Emma Garvey also driving in a run. But F-M countered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth that proved decisive.
Jordan-Elbridge took over late in last Tuesday’s 10-1 win over Phoenix, with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before it broke out for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to get away.
Emily Bard went four-for-four and finished with four RBIs. McKayla Rohmer drove in a pair of runs, with Alexis Delfavero and Gabriella Bard each getting two hits, including doubles. Ranait McGuire, Megan Bard and Meghan Whalen had one RBI apiece.
When the Eagles faced defending sectional Class B champion Christian Brothers Academy on Thursday afternoon, it did a terrific job containing the Brothers’ bats, yet could not produce enough at the plate, taking a 3-2 defeat.
Bishop Ludden rode a fast start to a 7-2 victory over Cato-Meridian last Tuesday as pitchers Ally Royal and Katilyn Kibling combined to hold the Blue Devils to just one hit.
A two-run first inning and four runs in the bottom of the second was all the Gaelic Knights needed as Amarah Streiff smashed a home run and got three RBIs. Royal, Ashley Kochanek and Jade Regner each had two hits and two runs scored. Kibling added an RBI.
Two days later, Ludden scored more runs against Onondaga, yet lost 16-8 to the Tigers
