Amherst softball not playing consistent
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst's Katie Bardak connects with a Frontier pitch during the 24th annual N.T. Varsity Invitational held in North Tonawanda on Saturday, April 21. Amherst lost 12-0 but followed with a 15-5 win over Lew-Port. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Amherst looked like two different softball teams last week.

The Lady Tigers (4-2, 1-1) lost to Iroquois, 7-1, and Frontier, 12-0, but defeated Lake Shore, 10-6, and Lew-Port, 15-5, in six innings. The Iroquois and Lake Shore games were road games played Wednesday, April 18 and Thursday, April 19. The Frontier and Lew-Port games were part of the 24th annual N.T. Varsity Invitational held on Saturday, April 21 in North Tonawanda.

"We definitely have the ability to play well," said Amherst coach Mike Chatelle. "We just have to play consistent."

Consistency on offense led to both Lady Tiger victories. Amherst scored runs in four innings of each win.

Their biggest inning against Lake Shore came in the fifth when they scored four times off consecutive hits. Katie Bardak singled to center field, scoring Eva Lankes. Becca Masters followed with a single to center that brought home Mollie Lang. Liz Reid then doubled to center to plate Bardak and Masters. A Kelly Dixson single drove home Reid.

Amherst also scored twice against Lake Shore in the first (Lang on passed ball, Bardak on Dixson single to left), another two in the sixth (Bardak and Reid on throwing errors) and one in the seventh (Trabert on error).

Reid and Lankes each finished 2 for 4, Dixson was 3 for 4 (three singles) and Bardak hit 2 for 3. Lankes also stole two bases.

Masters, Julie Halm, Trabert, and Tirella also singled.

Katy Tirella threw a complete game four-hitter with six strikeouts and four earned.

Amherst opened with a four-run first inning against Lew-Port. Banning singled home Lang and Dixson hit a sacrifice fly that scored Lankes. Tirella added a two-RBI single that plated Dana Ruh and Bardak.

The Lady Tigers added two runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and another five in the sixth.

Lankes had a great game with three hits, two of which were doubles, and three RBIs, three runs, and three stolen bases. Dixson and Banning each had two hits and drove in three runs. Reid had two hits and an RBI. Lang, Halm, Sam Sweeney, and JV call-up Abby DeFrancis each singled.

Banning threw six innings, allowed seven hits and struck out seven.

Amherst could not take advantage of opportunities against Iroquois. The Lady Chiefs walked six batters, including three in a row, to load the bases in the fourth but could only plate one run - an RBI single from Bardak that scored Reid. Amherst struck out and flew out to second to end the inning.

Overall, Amherst's offense left nine runners on base and only had four singles (two for Bardak, Lang, Lankes). Lang also stole a base. The defense committed two errors.

Banning allowed 10 hits, six between the fifth and sixth innings, struck out four and walked one.

Amherst's worst performance of the week came against Frontier. The Lady Tigers were outhit, 12-3 and left four runners on base. In the seventh, the Lady Tigers committed four errors.

"They're a very good team and can put the ball in play," said Chatelle.

A Banning single in the third, a Lankes single in the sixth, and a Reid double in the seventh were all the hits they could muster.

Banning allowed seven hits in four innings. Eighth grader Erin Dixson allowed five hits.

Amherst played at West Seneca East on Monday, April 23 and at Hamburg on Tuesday, April 24. Results of both were unavailable before The Bee went to press. Amherst plays Williamsville East at Transit Middle School on Thursday, April 26 in a rescheduled game. The Lady Tigers close out the week at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, April 28 against Niagara Wheatfield in the second half of the NT tournament.