AGSL 'AAA' Thunder ends season undefeated

The "AAA" Amherst Girls Softball League's Thunder and the Owls faced each other in the last game of the season.

It was a hard-fought battle by both teams, but the Thunder was able to secure the 14-12 victory and finish the season undefeated.

Defensively, Natalie Ryan took the mound in the first inning, pitching very well and recording a strikeout. Allison Balk, playing third base, handled a grounder and threw to Kim Brace at first for the second out, and second baseman Emilee Foster battled the lights on a very high pop-up for the third out. Balk pitched the second and battled hard to record a strikeout.

In the third, Kelly Shantler came in and pitched well, throwing two strikeouts. The third out came on a pop-up to Emma Longo at first base. Foster pitched the fourth, also getting a strikeout. On a grounder to right field, Hannah Stroud came up throwing and was able to get a forced out at second base. Ryan got the third out on a grounder to her at first base. Brace came in to close out the game in the fifth. Her one strikeout was sandwiched by two great plays by Longo at third, getting outs on a pop-up and a grounder.

Offensively, Foster started the game for the Thunder with a single, followed by a single from Kaitlin Jacobbi, a fielder's choice RBI by Longo and a single from Morgan Maley. Longo added a bases-loaded double to right field in the second for two RBIs. Maley drove in the first run of the second with a double, a shot down the third base line that stayed fair by just a couple of feet. Balk added two more RBIs with a bases-loaded double to left. Brace singled in the fourth, followed by a three-run home run from Foster.

Thunder 16, Rattlers 4

The Thunder had it going on offensively and defensively against the Rattlers.

Offensively, Morgan Maley, Mia Martin and Natalie Ryan all had bases-loaded RBI singles in the first inning. Hannah Stroud had a beautiful single in the second, followed by a nice RBI single from Victoria Crocker.

In the third, Mary O'Connor, Kelly Shantler and Stroud had bases-loaded RBIs. Allison Balk added another with a rip into right field, just past the outstretched glove of the first baseman. The fourth saw Sarah Block single and Kaitlin Jacobbi drive in a run, but the night belonged to Emma Longo. With the bases loaded, she drove the ball deep over the center fielder for a grand slam home run. Longo was the second Thunder player this season to accomplish this exciting feat as Kelly Shantler did the same in a game that went unreported earlier in the year.

Defensively, Emilee Foster pitched a great first inning, striking out two and catching a pop-up for the third out. O'Connor came in to pitch the second, pitching well and recording a strikeout. Longo, at shortstop, grabbed a grounder and threw to Martin at second for a forced out and also caught a line drive for the third out.

Shantler made a nice play in the third, picking up a grounder at third base and throwing to Maley at second for a forced out. Jacobbi helped seal the victory in the fourth, scooping up a grounder at first base and making the play at first for the out.

Thunder 14, Raptors 14

In a battle from the start, the Thunder and Raptors played to a 14-14 tie.

Defensively, the Thunder made some great plays in the field to keep the game close. In the first inning, shortstop Emma Longo, with the bases loaded, picked up a grounder and tossed to Kim Brace at second base for the first out. Morgan Maley made a super play at third base for the second out. Snagging a grounder, she threw to Natalie Ryan at home who held her ground, caught the ball and tagged the runner coming home. A heads-up play from Mia Martin in left center field - threw to Brace and forced a runner out at second base - led to the third out.

In her pitching debut, Sarah Block overcame early-inning jitters to record two strikeouts. Kaitlin Jacobbi pitched the third and worked hard to retire the Raptors with three strikeouts. Ryan came in for the fourth and pitched well, recording a strikeout.

Offensively, Jacobbi, Maley, Kelly Shantler, Block and Martin all contributed singles throughout the game. In the first, Ryan had a bases-loaded single for an RBI, and Hannah Stroud connected on a blast into center field for two RBIs. Emilee Foster hit a shot between shortstop and third in the second inning for an RBI. Longo added an RBI with a hard shot that glanced off the glove of the first baseman into right field. She also hit a long fly ball over the head of the left center fielder in the fourth. Victoria Crocker and Shantler added bases-loaded RBI singles in the fourth to help the Thunder remain undefeated.