Amherst softball opens season with non-league wins
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

It's early in the high school softball season, but Amherst showed no signs of rust in its first two games.

The Tigers (2-0) picked up road wins at Niagara Falls, 6-4, and Niagara-Wheatfield, 3-0, on April 2 and 3, respectively.

"We have some things we need to clean up defensively and our hitting has to stay consistent, but I thought we did a nice job," Amherst coach Mike Chatelle said.

The Lady Tigers got strong pitching from eighth-grader Jessica Banning and juniors Katie Tirella and Alana Madrid. Banning earned a complete game win versus Niagara Falls, tossing a three-hitter, striking out seven. Tirella pitched a three-hitter over four innings with three strikeouts against Niagara-Wheatfield. Madrid allowed two hits for the save.

The Amherst offense supported both pitchers but especially Banning. The Lady Tigers crossed the plate six times and left 12 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first and third innings.

"Usually the pitchers are ahead of the hitters out of the gate in a season, but we kept getting on base and pushing runs across," said Chatelle.

Amherst got the scoring going when Katie Bardak scored on an error early. She scored again in the fifth on an Eva Lankes single.

In the third, Kelly Dixson tripled to bring home Becca Masters.

Amherst brought home its last three runs in the seventh. Liz Reid doubled to drive in Madrid and Lankes. Masters singled home Mollie Lang.

Masters and Bardak also hit.

Amherst's offense was also helped in both games by their opponent's pitching. Niagara Falls walked seven Lady Tiger batters. Niagara-Wheatfield walked eight batters.

Amherst only hit five times versus Niagara-Wheatfield, but their hits were timely. In the first, Lang reached on a single and scored on an error. In the seventh, Reid reached on an error while Masters was at the plate and scored after a Jenny Newhouse single. Carolyn Trabert scored Masters with a single. Trabert finished with two singles. Masters and Tirella also singled.

The Amherst defense was strong against Niagara-Wheatfield, committing no errors. Chatelle lauded the outfield glove work of Trabert, Reid and Julie Halm.

Amherst's scheduled game last Wednesday with Williamsville South was cancelled. No makeup date has been announced.

Amherst returns to league play at 4:30 p.m., Monday, April 16 against Williamsville East.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com