JOHNSTOWN – The Cayuga CC Lady Spartans met the FM Nine for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The visitors prevailed in the first game, but FM made a strong statement in the second game, posting a 10-2 win.
The afternoon was cloudy, but conditions for softball were good. These same two teams met last year on Cayuga's home field. This year both teams played at an improved level of softball.
Photo: Stephanie Rice leads off third base and Ashley Przybylowicz leads off second
FM's sophomores were honored before the game. See photo at the bottom of this webpage.
Alyssa Palmateer handled nearly all of the pitching duties. FM's other primary pitcher, Taylor Bubniak, was not available, but Palmateer rose to the occasion and was still pitching very well in the late innings of the second game.
Sophomore Stephanie Rice and freshman Ashley Przybylowicz continued to lead the FM offense. They both went four-for-eight in the batter's box, boosting their team-leading batting averages to identical marks of .390.
Photo: FM third baseman Cori Manson leads off first base
Game One
The Lady Spartans got off to a solid start and built a 7-0 lead. Their pitcher, McKenzie Harris, not only got the job done in the circle, but Harris helped her own cause with a home run over the left field fence in the first inning.
The FM offense finally got going against Harris. The Lady Raiders connected for eight hits. Their final hit was a line drive into left field by Abby Boyer. Lauren Balfe drove in two runs. Cayuga rolled to a 13-2 win.
Game Two (This year the home team bats first in Game Two.)
The Blue & White fared much better in the second game. Courtney Putnam led off the game with a triple to left field. Abby Boyer also belted a triple in the first inning. FM led 2-0 before the visitors came to bat.
The FM defense has improved commendably during the season. Third baseman Cori Manson made several sure-handed grabs and hard, on-target throws to first base on Friday. Stephanie Rice was solid at shortstop and made a remarkable catch in the fifth inning. Cayuga's Taylor Hutchings hit a fly into short left field. Rice raced into left and, with her back to the infield, dived and caught the ball while flat-out in the air.
Photo: Courtney Putnam scoring
FM led 6-2 after six innings, but Cayuga seemed to be gaining momentum. The Lady Raiders then sealed the deal with a four-run seventh inning. Lauren Balfe singled. Rice belted a two-run double. Boyer added a double. FM led 10-2, which was the final score.
The Lady Raiders will end their weather-shortened season on Saturday with a doubleheader with Boome CC in Binghamton. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Game One
Cayuga 106 001 5 13-15-1
FMCC 000 200 0 2-8-2
McKenzie and Marsdon; Palmateer, Manson (7) and Przybylowicz
Extra-base hits all by Cayuga – 2B: Hutchings, Chase, Zakour, Patzke, Marsden; HR: Harris
Game Two
FMCC 202 002 4 10-11-4
Cayuga 001 001 0 2-9-3
Palmateer and Przybylowicz; Hicks, Zakour (5) and Marsden
2B: Delaney (CCC), Rice and Przybylowicz (FM); 3B: Putnam and Boyer (FM)
Records: Cayuga 5-19 (5-15 Region 3), FMCC 5-13 (5-13 region)
Photo below, from left: Asst. Coach Kevin Kucel, Rebekah Reichard, Amanda Bieniek, Cori Manson, Alyssa Palmateer, Stephanie Rice, Courtney Putnam, Head Coach Meghan Power
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