Fox Lane softball suffers first loss

Clockwise from top, Catcher Val DeLuca fields a throw at the plate. Jordana Kerwar makes a running catch in center field. Gabriela Naar connects at the plate for Fox Lane.  Jim MacLean photos

By JIM MACLEAN

Fox lane softball was off to a fast start with three big wins in the first week of the season, but then the Foxes had two games cancelled due to the weather. It would be 10 days before Fox Lane took to the field again for a game, and the Foxes knew it would be a tough one against the Patriots of John Jay of East Fishkill, one of the top large school teams in Section 1.

The Foxes finally got back on the field as Fox Lane hosted John Jay on April 14, but the day belonged to John Jay. The Patriots struck early and kept it up for a convincing 11-2 victory to hand the Foxes their first loss of the season.

“It was definitely a tough one, I was a little worried coming into today considering the last game we played was on April 4,” admitted Fox Lane coach ToniAnn Licata about the game against the Patriots. “It seemed like we lost the momentum and it was definitely frustrating for sure. I just hope we come back tomorrow strong and learn from today against Somers.”

Unfortunately, the weather struck again overnight Monday after the loss to the Patriots and the rain forced the Foxes into another cancellation and they will have to wait for the chance to see Somers on another date.

Despite the layoff, Fox Lane had its chances against John Jay getting several runners on base, but the Patriots wouldn’t let them stage a rally or even score a run over the first five innings.

After John Jay built a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, Fox Lane tried to answer back as Val DeLuca and Jordana Kerwar came up with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the second, and pitcher Sofia Rodriguez then drilled a deep drive into the outfield but it was caught to end the threat without any runs.

John Jay added to the lead in the third inning as the Patriots pushed across three more runs for a 5-0 lead. Once again Fox Lane tried to respond. Nora Anatonaccio led off the bottom of the third with a walk, and Sofia Valente also drew a walk. Avery Genovese then laid down a bunt for a single to load the bases with just one out, but the Foxes were unable to score.

The Patriots kept adding to the lead as they scored in five-straight innings. In the top of the fourth, John Jay pushed across two more runs for a 7-0 lead.

Again Fox Lane put runners on base but were unable to capitalize. Rodriguez singled and Antonaccio singled, but the runners were stranded as the Patriots continued to make the plays in the field and get the outs when they needed them.

John Jay then scored three more runs in the fifth inning to make it 10-0, and the Patriots were able to close out an 11-2 victory. Naar and Valente each had an RBI as they drove in the Fox Lane runs. Kerwar had three hits including a double and she scored a run for the Foxes.

Fox Lane now faces another long layoff with the spring break and holidays as the Foxes will wait eight days until the next game on the schedule. The Foxes were set to travel to Carmel on Tuesday, April 22, and then Yorktown on Friday, before returning home to host North Salem on Saturday, April 26.