by Ashley Intveld

by Donna Fitzpatrick

The SCCC Skylanders had to go into an extra inning with the Middlesex Colts to break the tie of 8 to 8 in game two. The Colts were able to bring in 3 runs while the Skylanders could only get 2 runs in winning 11 – 10 in last Thursday’s game, April 21, 2011 at home.

In game one, both teams started off strong in the first inning with Middlesex leading 4-3. Melissa Weinstein and Amanda Sitren, both of Middlesex, hit a double and knocked in two runs each. With bases loaded for Sussex, Melissa Kanouse also cracked out a double and drove in three runs.

In the third inning, the Skylanders pulled ahead leading 5-4 with Kelli Costa scoring the run. However. in the forth, Middlesex came back to score one run to make it an even 5 up.

Chelsie Geardino knocked out a ball between center and right field giving her a double for the Colts. She was later tagged out trying to steal for third. Kristen Mickley found a hole between center and left field also giving her a double and scoring Jill Eagle in the sixth. Mary Hocking was able to knock in Jolyn Ferrari to score for Sussex, keeping it tied at 6-6.

During the seventh Morgan Widener safe on first due to an error, was out at second base. The throw to first baseman got Fleur De-Liz Martinez out for the Colts second out. With Samantha Mundy and Amanda Sitren on base Chelsie Geardino popped out for Middlesex’s third out.

The big question was – can Sussex score one run to win the game?

With Leslie Ferrari on first and Kelli Costa on second with no outs the odds looked good for Sussex. Next came Melissa Kanouse to bat. She was safe at first but the forced play had gotten Kelli Costa out at third. This brought up Brook Goldsberry who happened to crack the ball in left field and drove home Leslie Ferrari who sprinted from second base to home for the winning run. Final score Sussex Skylanders 7, Middlesex Colts 6.

During game two Jill Eagle popped out and Briana Mangine was tagged out attempting to steal second. Kristen Mickley was able to obtain a triple but Melissa Weinstein popped out in left field for the third out in the first inning for the Colts.

With Kelli Costa on second and Bethanny Levasseur on third base, Melissa Kanouse was able to knock out a single to drive them both home. At the end of the first inning it was Sussex 2-0.

In the second, Morgan Widener hit one deep in left field giving her a triple and she later scored from Fleur De-Liz Martinez single who later was out at second base for the third out. Leaving the score Sussex 2, Middlesex 1.

In the third, Briana Mangine hit a double knocking in Jill Eagle on third base. With the Skylanders up at bat, Leslie Ferrari knocked out a ball deep in left field giving her a double and later scored. With Brook Goldsberry on second and Melissa Kanouse on first, Jolyn Ferrari was able to get a triple on errors scoring Goldsberry and Kanouse. At the end of the third Skylanders were leading 5-2.

During the forth with Kanouse’s pitching, she struck out two and the third out came from a throw to first base. In the fifth, Melissa Kanouse struck out Chelsie Geardino and Jill Eagle was thrown out at first. Briana Mangine found a hole deep in center field to give her a double. Kristen Mickley was able to score Mangine leaving her on second with two outs before Kanouse struck out Melissa Weinstein for the last out. Sussex was unable to score. Sussex still held on 5-3.

In the sixth, Kanouse struck out Morgan Widener for the first out but Samantha Mundy was able to hit a single to get on first. Kanouse then struck out Amanda Sitren. Batter Fleur De-Liz Martinez was able to land a single moving Mundy to second. With two runners on base and two outs, Chelsie Geardino knocked a fly out in deep center field and was caught by Skylander Bethanny Levasseur.

During the seventh both teams rallied gaining runs. Jill Eagle, Melissa Weinstein, Kristen Mickley, Briana Mangine scored plus Samantha Mundy hitting a double for the Colts. In the middle of the seventh it was Middlesex 8 to the Skylanders 5. Melissa Kanouse singled to first and Brook Goldsberry also singled to first moving Kanouse to second. Jolyn Ferrari popped out and Brittany Duran singled to first, with bases loaded. Mary Hocking also popped out giving Sussex two outs. Head Coach Nick DeGennaro sent Jennifer Fliegel in to pinch hit. Fliegel hit a double, drove in three runs then stole to third while Bethanny Levasseur was at bat. Levasseur hit a short fly ball, which was caught for the third out. Score is now 8 up and the game went into extra innings.

Using the International Tie Breaking rule, the last batter out is placed on second base.

At the start of the eighth, Breanna Franklin was the runner on second. The next batter was out at first base and Briana Mangine was walked. Kristen Mickley made it to first but later then was tagged out by the first baseman. However Franklin already scored and Mangine was now on second. With two outs, Melissa Weinstein knocked out a double scoring Mangine. Weinstein later scored before Kanouse struck out Samatha Mundy for the last out.

With the score Middlesex 11, Sussex 8, Bethanny Levasseur started off on second base, as the runner for Sussex. Kelli Costa singled to first, moving Lavasseur to third. Leslie Ferrari was out at first but Lavesseur scored and Costa advanced to third. Melissa Kanouse singled to first scoring Costa. Brook Goldsberry popped out for the second out. Batter Jolyn Ferrari singled to first and Kanouse was safe at second. Brittany Duran hit a short fly which was caught for the third and final out.

According to Head Coach Nick DeGennaro, “We need to be mentally tougher or we won’t beat anyone good.”

The final score was Sussex Skylanders 10 – Middlesex Colts 11.

Team Record: Sussex Skylanders 17-10, Middlesex Colts 14-11

For Photos go to: http:www.flickr.com/photos/sussexnj/sets/

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