ONONDAGA COUNTY – Gloomy skies and the threat of rain seemed an appropriate background for last Wednesday’s softball clash between rivals Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse.
Yet the rain stopped and the game went on, mostly ruled by the two pitchers until one well-timed rally helped the Warriors get the best of the Northstars, earning a 5-0 victory.
Already this season, the two sides have found themselves on the wrong end of shutouts – Liverpool doing so against Webster Thomas April 1, C-NS against West Genesee a week later.
WG’s 4-0 win over the Northstars was scoreless for three innings, Lilian Hotaling managing to match zeroes with Wildcats ace Maria Brandt.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth, WG grabbed a 2-0 lead on Lorelai Leskoske’s two-run single, tacking on single runs in the fifth and sixth off reliever Mila Owens.
Meanwhile, Brandt limited the Nortshtars to just two hits, one each by Eva Farone and Erica Hibbard, and overcame seven walks (two of them to Paige Pangaro) to keep C-NS off the board.
Given this, both teams were in need of some confidence as they squared off, with Mackenzie Frani pitching for Liverpool and Lilian Hotaling doing the same for C-NS.
Five innings passed and the score remained 0-0. Frani gave up just two hits, one each by Sydney Rockwell and Sydney Puttkamer, while Hotaling proved just as tough, only managing three strikeouts but keeping Liverpool off the board.
All of that changed in the bottom of the sixth. The Warriors loaded the bases, and Lauren Ragonese lofted a ball just beyond the reach of the C-NS gloves for a go-ahead two-run single.
Ava Falvo and Emily Nestor followed with hits that helped produce three more runs, though one was all that Frani needed as, in her complete-game effort, she showed tremendous control, striking out 12 and not walking anyone.
Impressive as this was for the Warriors, what it did Friday against reigning sectional Class B champion Chittenango at Carrier Park was even better as it blanked the Bears 6-0.
Frani only allowed two hits, one each to Julia Spencer and Lauren Machan, and one walk, and spent the rest of the game thwarting a potent Chittenango lineup, earning nine strikeouts.
A four-run rally in the bottom of the third off Bears pitcher Caroline Porter got Liverpool in front, and it tacked on two runs two innings later. Joelle Wike and Alivia Horton both finished with a pair of RBIs as Ragonese added an RBI and, along with Frani, scored two runs.
After facing West Genesee on Tuesday, Liverpool makes its way to Ballston Spa for the Grand Slam Tournament Saturday and a twin bill against the host school along with Shaker.
C-NS, on that day, hosts its own large-scale invitational, playing Shenendehowa and Saratoga Springs after games against Baldwinsville and Camden earlier in the week.
