Front-runners survive challenges in HCC baseball, softball

By Bob Balgemann

REPORTER

The fourth full week of play in this summer’s Harlem Community Center baseball and softball program saw first-place teams being challenged by competitors, who were nipping at their heels.

In all instances the current front-runners managed to stay on top of their division’s standings.

The Coach Pitch Boys division saw one of the more anticipated meetings that featured undefeated Shields taking on third-place Larys, which was riding a four-game winning streak. Shields took that one, played June 29, to improve to 9-0 for the summer. Larys remains in third at 5-4.

In another key Coach Pitch Boys game Sterbenz (4-4) handed second-place Cross (6-2) its second loss of the season, 23-10 on June 27. Cross then bounced back with a 15-9 win on June 29.

The Pee-Wee Girls Division had Team Triplett (4-2) win its second and third games in a row the week of June 27, to take sole possession of second place. In the battle for second Triplett, named for head coach Nathan Triplett, defeated Hissong (2-2), by 12-4.

The pitching of Kaitlynn Lodozski (starter) and Serenity Schutt (in relief) helped make the difference in that one.

Earlier in the week everyone got at least one base hit in a 25-4 victory. Individually, Kelsey Triplett got three doubles and two singles, Addison Howard chipped in a double and two singles and Kaitlynn, in addition to being the winning pitcher, also contributed a single, double, triple and two walks.

A team effort

Coach Triplett said this season’s successes primarily have been due to a team effort that includes the players, assistant coaches Joe Schutt and Tim Truitt, and parents.

In addition to those players mentioned above the team, nicknamed Pink Panthers, includes Ella Grass, Leah Hunter, Haylee Lingel, Savannah Schutt, Tyra Smith, Nevaeh Vyborny, Kelsey Williams and Summer Wren.

“They listen to what I say at practice and they work hard,” their coach said. “They give 100 percent. The younger players are learning from the older ones and they’re coming along real quick.”

Of the team, coaches and parents, he said, “I couldn’t ask for any better. Our slogan is, ‘Win or Learn, never Lose.'”

On June 30 Triplett got some help when Brockett (2-7) shocked previously undefeated Myers (6-1) by 13-9, to make the race for first place that much closer.

Hawkinson remained unbeaten in Coach Pitch Girls but had to scramble to do so, with wins of 15-14 and 7-6. Jensen (4-3) is in second place.

And while Bri McKnight (6-0) stayed in first in Midget Girls, they were held to a 10-10 tie by second-place Wilhelmi (4-1).

More baseball, softball

In other games McWilliams (7-0) and Nehmzow (6-0) remained atop the Pee-Wee Boys Division with James (7-1) and Yelden (6-3) still in the hunt. In recent action, James defeated Yelden to create more space between them in their positions as contenders.

The Nehmzow-James 12-12 tie of June 21 has not been concluded.

Yeoman (8-0) and Anderson (7-1) are still the teams to beat in the Midget Boys Division. Jensen (4-4), Watkins (3-3) and Larsen (4-5) are vying for third place. There were no close games during the week of June 27.

Myers improved to 6-0 with a couple of victories in Bantam Boys action.

And in Galaxy Girls competition Team Brassfield continued their winning ways by winning twice to go 7-1 and stay in first place. Since losing in the second game of the season, the defending champions have won six in a row.

Lauer (5-2) and Rodriguez (4-3) are still close by, however.