CENTRAL NEW YORK – Early last week, the Chittenango softball team found out that it occupied the no. 17 spot in the state Class B rankings, behind other possible contenders like Marcellus and Camden.

Then the Bears were challenged last Monday by Westhill, but responded with a timely rally and solid pitching from Caroline Porter that resulted in an 8-4 victory.

Chittenango led 2-0 early, only to have Westhill tie it. But the Bears broke out of that 2-2 tie and took the lead for good by batting around in the bottom of the fifth and netting five runs.

Lauren Machan’s triple was the big blow as she finished with three RBIs. Stephanie Huckabee went three-for-three with a double and two singles as she drove in a pair of runs.

RBIs also went to Anna Spencer and Mackenna Palko, all of it helping Porter, who in a complete game overcame eight hits and four walks by recording 10 strikeouts.

Chittenango rolled at Homer on Thursday afternoon, taming the Trojans 15-1 as it scored in every inning except the fourth and finished the day with 15 hits.

Spencer, Alivia Cavotta and Savannah Drake earned two hits apiece, with Spencer’s pair of singles leading to three RBIs. Huckabee and Carmella Furco each drove in a pair of runs as Cavotta scored three times and Porter (four innings) split pitching duties with Machan (three innings), the duo getting 14 strikeouts between them.

More fun followed on Saturday, Chittenango netting a 17-0 shutout of Hannibal with four runs in the first inning and six runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to end it early.

Huckabee, Alina Cavotta and Anna Cavotta each scored three times, Alina earning three of the Bears’ 11 hits as she, along with Huckabee, Spencer, Machan, Margaret Bielicki and Brianna Tooke getting two RBIs apiece.
Cazenovia, in its first game since the epochal, record-setting 41-37 win over Homer on May, had far less fortune last Monday against Solvay, taking a 17-5 defeat to the Bearcats.

A six-run first inning and 10-run six was all Solvay needed, though the Lakers did get two hits and two RBIs from Caitee Fenton as Lucy Bliss, Sophie Wilmot and Paige Reilley drove in one run apiece.

The Lakers then lost 14-4 to Christian Brothers Academy on Tuesday, with the Brothers scoring in every inning except the first. Bliss got a pair of hits, with RBIs credited to Wilmot and Abby Falso.

Among the four games the Lakers play in the last week of the regular season is one against Chittenango, to go with trips to Skaneateles and Mexico and a visit from Solvay.