East softball bounces back, defeats North

Williamsville East responded from a 1-0 loss to West Seneca on April 2 with a 5-1 victory over Williamsville North on April 3 at Transit Middle School.

East's Karen Kingsley struck out 10 batters against North, allowed one walk, scattered eight hits, and one unearned run.

Taylor Klun hit a triple in the bottom of the second inning for the team's first hit of the season and scored on a passed ball. Kingsley singled in the bottom of the third followed by back-to-back singles by Bridget Steele and Rachelle Arenos to load the bases. Jessica Windnagle's infield ground ball was dropped by the North catcher as Kelly Rusin, runner for Kingsley, scored. Courtney Rung's single to center field scored Steele.

East scored twice in the fifth. Steele led off with a single and scored on a long double from Windnagle over the left fielder's head. Klun hit a single to score Windnagle.

North got on the board in the top of the seventh on consecutive singles by Liz Dutweiler and Kerri Bubar. A fielding error on a ball hit by Amanda Maraschiello scored Dutweiler.

"We hit the ball very well, only striking out twice," said East coach Ron Schumacher. "Again Taylor Klun called and caught a good game. Karen Kingsley threw well for her first game on the mound."

North's Lauren O'Brien continued her hot streak as she had two hits in three trips. She's 4 for 7 overall.

Morgan McDowell and Tricia Kennery threw three innings apiece for the Lady Spartans.

East entered the North contest without a ton of momentum. West Seneca East pitchers Tina Schwartzmeyer and Michelle Lattner combined for a perfect game. It's the first time Schumacher could remember a team throwing a perfect game against East.

Rusin was equally tough on the mound, tossing a two-hitter over five innings, striking out seven, and walking none. Schumacher said Rusin faced nine batters over the first three innings. Kingsley threw the last inning and allowed no hits.

The only run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth. Schwartzmeyer hit a long fly ball to left field that was misplayed in a strong wind by Windnagle. With the leadoff batter on second, Lattner sacrificed Schwartzmeyer to third. Schwartzmeyer scored on a wild pitch.

Schumacher felt Klun called a good game behind the plate, keeping the West Seneca East batters off balance.

East could not muster in hits nor reach base in their seven attempts.

"For our first game, we played well, pitched well but did not hit," said Schumacher.

East (1-1) returns to action when they host Amherst at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 16 at Transit Middle School.

Williamsville North coach Rick Bubar's high expectations for the season received a humble awakening as Jamestown handed the Lady Spartans a 5-1 defeat at Jamestown on Monday, April 2.

North opened the game with O'Brien leading off with a single to left field. Kaitlyn McNally followed with a sacrifice bunt but O'Brien was thrown out at third. North could only muster three other hits the rest of the game.

Jamestown answered North by scoring twice in the second as the first hitter reached on a single and the second batter pushed a bunt between first and second setting runners on first and second. The next batter sacrificed and the leadoff hitter for Jamestown singled, scoring both runners.

Jamestown added three more in the fourth inning as sloppy play contributed to two unearned runs for Jamestown. North was able to answer back with 1 run in the fifth and left two stranded to make the final 5-1.

Jamestown was vastly improved defensively and hardly felt the loss of Rebecca Zimmerman, the ace of the staff last year.

Tricia Kennery finished with eight strikeouts for North.

North (0-2) has no league games this week as many schools are on break. The Lady Spartans are traveling to Herkimer for the Mudville Softball Festival where they will play Queensbury from Section II at 2:30 and Holy Trinity at 4:30 on Saturday. North returns to league action at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 17 at Clarence.