Amherst softball looks for consistency
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's Eva Lankes prepares for a catch as Iroquois' Ashley Platek reaches second base during the Lady Tigers' 7-5 loss last Thursday at Amherst. The Lady Tigers lost all four of its league games last week.

If there is one word to describe how the Amherst Central softball team is playing these days, it's inconsistent.

In all four of its losses last week, the Lady Tigers (1-5, 1-3) allowed each of their opponents to score multiple runs in an inning.

Amherst gave up four runs to Depew in the fifth inning in an 8-2 loss at Depew last Monday, two runs in the sixth in a 3-1 loss against Cheektowaga last Tuesday, three runs in the fourth to Maryvale in a 7-2 road loss last Wednesday and four runs in the fourth in a 7-5 loss to Iroquois last Thursday at Amherst.

"At times, we've looked really good and in other times, we didn't play as well as we could have," said Amherst coach Mike Chatelle.

Amherst scored its runs against Depew in the top of the first (Eva Lankes scored on error) and seventh (Dana Ruh singled in Kara Stein) innings.

Kelly Dixson also singled.

Amherst's defense committed seven errors against Cheektowaga to erase a two-hit, seven strikeout performance from pitcher Jessica Banning.

Kara Stein doubled in Katie Bardak, who reached on an error, in the seventh.

All three of Cheektowaga's runs were unearned.

Katy Tirella hit two singles. Lankes, Banning and Carolyn Trabert each had a hit.

Cheektowaga turned four double plays.

Banning led off the Amherst fourth against Maryvale with a triple and scored on an error on the throw to third. Bardak scored on a Darcy Regan fly out to right in the fifth.

Banning and Stein had the only two hits for the Lady Tigers.

Banning threw a six-hitter and struck out two batters.

Amherst trailed Iroquois, 2-0, after two but tied the score at 2-2 in the third when Stein smacked a two-run single to drive in Ruh and Lankes.

Iroquois loaded up the bases in the fourth and Rachel Sluberski hit a grand slam. Iroquois added another run in the fifth.

"We had momentum and they took it away," said Chatelle.

Bardak and Trabert each scored on errors in the sixth. In the seventh, Abby DeFrancis led off with a double and Stein singled her in.

Stein finished with two hits and three RBIs.

Lankes, Bardak, Banning, Ruh and Rachel Schepart each had singles.

Tirella got the loss on the mound.

Amherst (1-5, 1-3) plays at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday at Starpoint and Williamsville East (Transit Middle School), respectively. Their game with Pioneer from Monday has been rescheduled for 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 6 at Pioneer.

Consistency is the key for the Lady Tigers to have success.

"We need to stay consistent for seven innings," said Chatelle. "It seems like we've been giving up a big inning here and there."