Players of the Game
West Babylon vs Riverhead April 8, 2009
West Babylon's Chelsea Shea:
Chelsea had another outstanding day on the mound. She struck out 10, walked one, hit one batter, and threw a three hit shutout. Her pitch count was at 103 of which 66 were strikes.
Riverhead's Julia Morrow:
Julia kept the West Babylon hitters at bay till the seventh inning by striking out 14, walking one, and surrendering 3 hits with one infield hit. She threw 97 pitches of which 68 were strikes.
See Box Scores Here
Game Rundown:
With a game time temperature at 41 degrees and the wind blowing snow flurries at 35+ mph, it was another great day for northeast softball. This game was a terrific pitching duel between two very smart, movement/placement type pitchers. They both seemed to have the right recipe at the right time.
In the first inning, while West Babylon went down 1-2-3, Riverhead threatened with one out when the #2 batter, lefty slapper Colleen Dougherty, placed a perfect slap to the left side beating out the throw from shortstop Melani Maxwell. Dougherty advanced to third on a hard hit ground ball by #3 batter, Amelia Czelatka, when the ball was misplayed leaving runners on the corners with one out. Czelatka stole second leaving runners at second and third with two outs and the dangerous #5 batter, Karalee Vonatzski coming to the plate. Vonatzski worked the count in her favor whereby West Babylon decided to load the bases with a base on balls. With bases loaded and two outs, Shea ended the threat with a strike out.
Riverhead's next threat was in the bottom of the 5th, when with one out Beth Zilnicki ripped a single up the middle. Zilnicki was replaced at first base with courtesy runner, Kelly Rambo. Lead off batter, Emily Commins ripped a hard grounder to West Babylon's third baseman, Renee Caiafa, who picked the ball clean and fired to second base for the force. With two outs, Colleen Dougherty came to the plate attempting another well placed slap but again, third baseman, Caiafa quickly fielded the slap and put away the speedy Dougherty for the third out.
With the score still tied at zero, West Babylon came to the plate in the top of the 6th inning. Morrow again, was masterful by striking out the next batter but, with a dropped third strike, Webb was called safe at first. West Babylon quickly inserted pinch runner, Nicole Chambers for Webb. Chambers quickly stole second. With one out Chambers quickly stole third base on a swinging strike. Morrow strikes out the next batter for the second out. On the very first pitch to lead-off lefty slapper Brianna Waszak, she places the ball perfectly in that triangle between the pitcher, first base, and second base, and Morrow could not get the ball to first quick enough to retire Waszak scoring Chambers for the only run West Babylon would need.
In the top of the seventh, West Babylon added some insurance runs. With two outs, Melani Maxwell hit a hard line single to left center field followed by Renee Caiafa who hit a shot to right center field for an rbi double scoring Maxwell. With the score now 2-0 and two outs, Taylor Webb re-entered the game and hit an rbi single to right field scoring Caiafa. Morrow retired the side striking out Frederick for the third out. Chelsea Shea decided enough was enough and struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
Final Score: West babylon 6, Riverhead 0