ONONDAGA COUNTY – Armed with all it had learned through a difficult stretch of games in Cocoa Beach, Florida, the Cicero-North Syracuse softball team practiced hard through equally warm weather once school resumed.
And when the Northstars took the field at the Gillette Road complex for last Friday’s home opener against Christian Brothers Academy, it was more than ready.
All that C-NS did in the first inning was bat around and put up nine runs, adding five runs in the fourth and easily cruising to a 15-1 victory over the Brothers.
Spreading around its productions, the Northstars had three different players – Bella Julian, Sydney Rockwell and Eva Farone – produce three RBIs apiece, Farone getting a triple and Rockwell a double.
Paige Pangaro drove in two runs, with Sydney Puttkamer, Aubrey Coyle and Paige Glassford also getting RBIs as Julian scored three runs. Meanwhile, Lillian Hotalilng pitched five solid innings, allowing just three hits before Payton Bach worked the last two innings of relief.
Liverpool, meanwhile, had played just one game (an April 4 defeat to Webster Schroeder), and returned to action on Saturday at Carrier Park for a doubleheader against two other Section V sides – and won them both.
Meeting Webster Thomas, the Warriors prevailed 12-3, with Mackenzie Frani taking over the pitching duties as she gave up three Titans runs in the second, but blanked Thomas the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, Liverpool used a five-run third inning to erase a 3-1 deficit, adding six more runs in the latter stages as Maya Mills led the way, going three-for-four with a double, two singles and two RBIs.
Cassie Wiggins also drove in two runs, with single RBIs credited to Frani, Joelle Wike, Lily Stevens and Ava Falvo. Emily Nestor and Lauren Ragonese joined Mills and Falvo scoring two runs apiece.
Then, against Pittsford Mendon, Liverpool dominated in an 11-0 decision. It was 0-0 until the Warriors scored twice in the fourth, then used a six-run fifth and three-run sixth to pull further away.
Action picks up for the Warriors this week as it meets Fayetteville-Manlius and Auburn before a Saturday doubleheader at Fairport, while C-NS meets West Genesee and Baldwinsville before hosting the ALS Tournament Saturday that includes its own game against Sandy Creek.
