JOHNSTOWN – The mighty Herkimer Generals came to the FM campus with the region's #1 ranking and an 18-0 record in regional play. The Green & Gold had won most of their games with double-digit margins of victory. Their record suggested that they would roll over FM's squad. But the Lady Raiders thought otherwise.
FM led the visitors 1-0 with two out in the top of the sixth inning in the first game. The second game ended 5-4, with FM's potential tying run tagged out at third base. Clearly the Lady Raiders gave the region's top team a mighty scare.
Photo: FM outfielders caught just about everything that was catchable – from left, Abby Boyer, Lauren Balfe, Rebekah Reichard
Game One
Alyssa Palmateer was in the circle for FM, and she was up to the task. Palmateer and solid defensive play by the Lady Raiders kept the Generals off the scoreboard until late in the sixth inning.
FM scored in the fourth with alert base running. Rebekah Reichard led off by being hit by a pitch. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Abby Boyer and a productive ground out by Palmateer. Reichard scored when Cori Manson hit a solid fly that Herkimer's right fielder could not handle in the sun and wind. 1-0 FM.
Photo: First baseman Taylor Bubniak handles a low throw cleanly
The Generals ended up scoring three in the sixth and one in the seventh for a 4-1 win, but they knew that the Lady Raiders had given them a good fight.
Game Two (This year the visiting team bats last in Game Two.)
The Lady Raiders came painfully close to winning the second game. Herkimer took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when General Taylor Daniels tripled to center field and scored on a single. HCCC increased their lead to 5-1 in the sixth, but Head Coach Meghan Power's team was not about to give up.
Photo: FM runners Stephanie Rice on third and Ashley Przybylowicz on second
Pinch hitter Courteney Shaw led off the FM seventh with a walk. Rebecca Shepard pinch ran for Shaw. Lauren Balfe, Stephanie Rice, and Ashley Przybylowicz all hit hot grounders that the Herkimer infield could not handle. Przybylowicz' hard grounder scored Shepard.
The bases were loaded. Rebekah Reichard stepped to the plate and slammed a two-run double. The game then ended when FM's runner was tagged out at third base. Herkimer won the game by a single run, 5-4
FM will travel to SUNY Adirondack on Wednesday afternoon to take on the 4-6 Lady Timberwolves. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Photo: Lauren Balfe leads off first base
Game One
HCCC 000 003 1 4-10-1
FMCC 000 100 0 1-7-2
Nicoletti, Hart and Cimini; Palmateer and Przybylowicz
2B: Daniels 2 (HCCC), Manson (FM)
Game Two
FMCC 100 000 3 4-5-2
HCCC 100 103 x 5-10-4
Ormond, Marshall (4) and Cimini; Bubniak and Przybylowicz
2B: Desino (HCCC), Reichard (FM) 3B: Daniels (HCCC), HR: LeBaron (HCCC)
Records: Herkimer 24-7 (20-0 in Region 3); FMCC 2-12 (2-12 in Region 3)
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