CENTRAL NEW YORK – With an ability to put up runs and keep the other side from doing the same, the Jordan-Elbridge softball team is lining itself up for a special season.
When the Eagles shut out Bishop Grimes 10-0 last Monday afternoon, it was the second time in as many weeks that pticher Abby DelFavero had pulled off a no-hitter, while teammate Abby Ahern hit for the cycle.
Helped by Ahern’s home run, triple, double, single, three RBIs and four runs scored, J-E gave plenty of support to DelFavero, who gave up six walks, but struck out nine.
Erin LaVancha stood out, too, going three-for-three as she drove in three runs. DelFavero, Cameron Fraher and Neveah Foster had one RBI apiece.
J-E kept it going with a 12-run first inning against Cato-Meridian a day later, eventually leading to an 18-3 win over the Blue Devils as DelFavero went four-for-five at the plate and scored four runs.
Ahern, LaVancha and Cam Fraher each finished with two hits and two RBIs, while DelFavero, Foster and Riley Hill also drove in a pair of runs. Ella Bender and Ava Hildebrandt each scored three times.
Facing a much tougher game on Friday against Onondaga, J-E responded to it well, getting yet another gem from DelFavero and shutting out the Tigers 5-0.
This was a one-hitter for DelFavero, who struck out 12 OCS batters as her teammates were steady, scoring once in the first, third and seventh innings and twice in the fourth.
Three different Eagles – LaVancha, Ahern and Ava Hildebrant – had two hits apiece. LaVancha doubled and drove in a pair of runs as Ahern scored twice, joining LaVancha and DelFavero in maintaining .500-plus batting averages.
Also continuing to play well, West Genesee returned to action Thursday and, in a non-league game against East Syracuse Minoa, rode big bats from Alanna Bowman and Sophia VanHorn to a 7-3 victory over the Spartans.
They both scored twice in the first inning, but the Wildcats went in front for good with three runs in the third and, after ESM cut it to 5-3, tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth.
All the while, Bowman smashed a home run and accumulated four RBIs, while VanHorn was going four-for-four, including a double, scoring three runs and adding an RBI as Makayla Dunham also went deep.
Only on Friday did WG get slowed up, outscored 13-11 by Fayetteville-Manlius in a wild game where the Wildcats led 5-2 before the Hornets used three runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go in front.
Then, trailing 13-7 after giving up five runs in the top of the seventh, WG scored four times in the bottom of the seventh and nearly caught up, only to fall just short.
Lexi Rydelek had a memorable day, though, twice belting home runs, adding a single and finishing with four RBIs. Bowman and Anna Drogo drove in two runs apiece as Kyra Lynch got a pair of hits.
