CENTRAL NEW YORK – It didn’t take long for the Jordan-Elbridge softball team to announce its presence to its new opponents in the Onondaga High School League Patriot division.
Take last Tuesday’s game against Fabius-Pompey, where the Eagles got a five-inning perfect game from pitcher Abby DelFavero on the way to defeating the Falcons 15-0.
Of the 15 outs DelFavero recorded, 11 were strikeouts. Meanwhile, at the plate Erin LaVancha stepped up with a career-best five RBIs as DelFavero, Cameron Fraher, Isabella Jay and Riley Hill also drove in runs.
When J-E returned to action Friday against Hannibal, it wasn’t a shutout, and it was quite close for a while, too, but the Eagles still beat the Warriors 10-1.
Breaking a 1-1 tie with a run in the third, J-E added two runs in the fourth and batted around in the bottom of the sixth, eventually plating six runs to get away.
The power included a home run by Abby Ahern and a triple, two singles and three RBIs from LaVancha. DelFavero got 15 more strikeouts in her complete-game effort, only surrendering three hits.
Even before it confronted all of its Salt City Athletic Conference Metro division rivals, West Genesee went through plenty of ups and downs, but were feeling quite good by week’s end.
There was an impressive 18-3 victory over Port Byron on April 7 where the Wildcats scored in every single running, peaking with a seven-run third in between four-rallies in the first and fourth.
And Kara Lynch had a special day, hitting for the cyle – home run, triple, double and single – while going five-for-five with four RBIS.
Anna Drogo also drove in four runs with a pair of hits. Sophia VanHorn went three-for-three with three runs scored and three RBIs as Alanna Bowman and Lorelai Leskoske had two RBIs apiece.
A day later, though, WG lost 9-5 to Chittenango, despite VanHorn’s single, double and two RBIs as Maria Brandt also drove in a pair of runs.
But the Wildcats returned last Wednesday and, again, displayed hot bats in the hot weather, bashing Fulton 18-1 as it put up 14 runs in the first three innings.
Bowman and Lexi Rydelek both smashed home runs as part of a 12-hit attack. Also getting a double and five RBIs, Bowman was helped by Kyra Lynch going four-for-four and driving in four runs. VanHorn had a double, two singles and three RBIs, with Madeleine Barstow matching Rydelek’s pair of RBIs.
Even more important for WG was taking on a Class AA side in Rome Free Academy on Friday and putting together an 8-2 victory over the Black Knights.
Runs in each of the first five innings were enough as Rydelek had four of the Wildcats’ 11 hits, three of them doubles. Drogo got three hits and VanHorn had two hits as they each earned a pair of RBIs. Barstow also drove in a run.
