Somers holds off John Jay rally in one-run pitchers duel

Clockwise from top left, Laney Daly fields a throw at second base. Bella Barry connects for the Wolves. Maria DeGaetano delivers to the plate. Carys Cooper fires a throw to first from third base. Jim MacLean Photos

By JIM MACLEAN

It went down to the final out, the tying and winning runs were on base, but Somers was able to hold on and close it out for a 3-2 win on the road at John Jay in the season opener for both teams on the softball diamond.

John Jay knew it would be a tough test against a local rival, the defending league champions, and the Wolves made it interesting to the final pitch, battling back from a 3-0 deficit before falling.

Base runners, hits and runs were few for either team as both pitchers were up to the challenge and delivered on the mound, but the Tuskers were able to come up with a big hit and push one more run across the plate for the March 28 win.

“We had opportunities, bases loaded in the first, just looking to come through,” said John Jay coach Steve DelMoro. “Game one, that’s a great pitcher, a great team right there top to bottom, defending league champs, and it was competitive to the end and I’m really proud how we handled ourselves. We got down 3-0, didn’t bat an eye, scratched two across and finished strong down to the final out. As a coach you can’t complain about that. The kids never quit and that’s all I can ask for.”

Somers opened the game with a run in the top of the first, but John Jay was poised to answer back in the bottom of the first. Riley Foote led off with a walk, and Laney Daly followed with a walk. Carys Cooper reached on a bunt single to load the bases with one out, but the Tuskers were able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.

It was a pitchers duel from there as the score stayed 1-0 heading into the fourth inning when the Tuskers were able to score a pair of runs on just one hit to take a 3-0 lead.

John Jay answered back in the bottom of the fourth as Cooper reached on an error. Charlotte Bender then hit into a fielder’s choice, and Bella Barry followed with a single for the Wolves. Pitcher Maria DeGaetano hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in Bender to make it 3-1. Natalie Sacco then reached on an error to drive in Barry and make it 3-2.

DeGaetano continued to deliver on the mound as she held the Tuskers the rest of the way with a solid game to start off the season.

“Maria threw strikes against good hitters and kept them off balance, proud of her effort,” DelMoro said of DeGaetano.

John Jay staged one last rally in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Foote came through with a single and then Daly followed with a single to put runners on second and first, but Somers was able to close out the 3-2 victory.

John Jay had a busy week ahead. After hosting Sleepy Hollow on Tuesday, the Wolves were on the road Friday, April 4, at Edgemont. John Jay then hosts Byram Hills on Saturday and travels to Hen Hud on Monday, April 7.