Somers Softball Falls 7-3 to Ardsley

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On Tuesday April 16, Somers faced Ardsley, and despite the 7-3 score, the Tusker home game showcased two very good pitching performances. Unfortunately, three unearned runs in the third inflated the pitching line, and Somers was on the short end.

With two outs, a dribbler running short of the circle had Emily Boyle field. But she threw low, the error eventually yielded a 4-1 lead, and the Tuskers would fall 7-3.

Boyle and her teammates did limit a first inning threat, though. After Emma Philp led off with a walk, a passed ball put the seventh grader on second, and a single to right by Sofia Haber drew a late throw to the plate. But Katherine Papa made the threw down to second, and Katie Cole slapped the tag on Haber for the second out.

Cole then made easy work of Tessa Guernah’s grounder, and Somers looked to answer back. One, two, three the Tuskers went, Boyle was ready to match. She gobbled up a grounder back to the circle, retired Morgan Doherty on strikes and got some help from Cole’s diving stop at short.

Very appreciative, Boyle got on the go, and lashed an opposite field triple to right. One out on the inning, Kaleigh Conti went down looking, and it was left to Keira Griggs, The moment not too big, she pulled the clutch with a single and tied the score at one.

Back to the circle in the top of the third, Boyle got a pop up and strikeout, and Albano’s little dribbler looked like the inning was squared away. A close play either way, Albano grabbed the bag, and after a walk to Haber, Guernah doubled to deep center. Isabella Feldman and Sofia Ramirez added singles, and three unearned runs crossed the plate.

Undeterred, Cole went up the middle with a one out single, Ellie Walsh laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Papa was primed to get at least a run back. Unfortunately, the catcher lined to center, and two runners were left on.

Rolling over, Ardsley threatened again but not for long. After Sophia Pecora reached on an infield hit, the shortstop and third baseman locked down any doubt. Griggs and Cole cleanly fielded their opportunities, and the scored remained stays quo.

The bottom of the fourth, the Tuskers looked like they would unsettle the order. Boyle doubled to lead off the inning and Conti did her job by dropping the sacrifice bunt. But Haber was still too much, and got Griggs and Victoria Morel on strikes.

Haber was now ready with the bat. She smoked a triple and scored on a drive to left center by Feldman. Still, Boyle battled and got out of the inning with only the single run allowed.

No answer for Somers in the bottom of the fifth, Ardsley piped up again. With runners on first and second, Guernah delivered a two out double, and Feldman would knock in run number seven with a single. Out of the game went Boyle, and Ellie Walsh ended the inning with a strikeout.

So a bad 7-1 look on the scoreboard, the exuberant Tusker bench vocalized that they were still sitting pretty, and the bats followed suit. Walsh led off with a single, Boyle singled with one out, and Conti reached on an error.

The bases loaded, Griggs doubled two home, and the difference was four. But Haber was unfazed, and Allison O’Connor and Alyssa PIrraglia felt the starter’s wrath.

Two strikeouts gave the ball back to Walsh, and the reliever showed she could work out of a jam too. With runners on first and third, Walsh sent down Albano on strikes and got Haber to pop to the circle for out number three.

A good start needed in the bottom of the seventh, Cole did her part with patience. The shortstop worked a walk, and Walsh didn’t give Ardsley cause to relax. She singled up the middle, but Haber had been here before. She got the next three batters, and Ardsley went home with the victory.