North softball has up and down week

The roller coaster ride is continuing for the Williamsville North softball team as they went 1-2 last week to leave their overall record at 2-5 and 1-3 in ECIC Division I.

The Lady Spartans returned to league play on Thursday, April 19 with a thrilling 1-0 loss to Frontier.

The game was a classic pitching dual as Tricia Kennery held Frontier to just three hits and Amanda Norman kept the Lady Spartans at bay, also allowing only three hits. Shelly Seeger opened with a triple over the left fielder's head and scored on a fielder's choice on a groundball hit to short.

Frontier got two more hits in the next inning and then Kennery was fantastic on the mound. Over the last five innings, she did not allow a runner to reach base.

North had its chances but could not cash any in. In the fourth, Kennery had a two-out triple to left center field but was stranded on third. In the sixth, Krissy Flierl led off with a single and advanced on an outfield error. Unfortunately, the next two bunt attempts were unsuccessful and Flierl was thrown out at third attempting a delayed steal. Not quitting, Amanda Maraschiello hit a two-out single and advanced on a walk to Erica Stricko.

The hitting shoes busted out on Friday as North traveled to Sweet Home. The Lady Spartans scored two runs in the first and never looked back, winning 14-2.

Hitting stars for the Lady Spartans were Lauren O'Brien, who had four hits in five trips to the plate and scored four runs, Kerry Ulmer, who had three hits in four trips with four runs batted in including a double, and Maraschiello, who hit her second triple of the season.

Kristin Ball and Kristen Weber each had two hits in two at-bats and Kerri Bubar drove in two runs with a single.

Morgan McDowell scattered six hits while striking out three and only allowing one walk for the complete game win. It was her first win on the mound this season.

Sweet Home's Amanda Cannizzo proved why she is one of the most dangerous hitters in Western New York, smashing two doubles.

The roller coaster went back down for a rare Saturday game at Clarence. The fielding woes came back as the Lady Spartans allowed seven unearned runs in a 16-8 loss. The hot-hitting continued for North as Kennery knocked in three runs with a triple and single in three at-bats.

Ulmer also had two hits in three trips to the plate including a triple. Kaitlyn McNally had three singles in four at-bats and also scored twice.

North returns to league play this week with four scheduled games. On Monday, the Lady Spartans hosted Orchard Park and on Tuesday, they traveled to West Seneca West for a make-up game. Results of both games were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

North hosts defending league champion Lancaster at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 and Jamestown at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, April 27.

The Lady Spartans are also traveling this weekend to Victor, N.Y. where they will play Nazareth High School at 11 a.m. and depending on the results, a game at 1 p.m.