Given how bad the weather had been the previous week, playing in cold, cloudy conditions was just about perfect for the Shenendehowa softball team.
It was a marginal playing day, but the alternative was to go home and play video games or watch TV, said Shen coach Dan D’Amboise.
The Plainswomen’s bats were as cold as the weather in Monday’s season opener against Niskayuna, but they got the clutch hits they needed to pull away for an 8-0 victory.
Walks hurt Niskayuna pitcher Lauren Giglio. While she limited Shen to four hits, Giglio issued several walks that directly led to Plainswomen runs.
`The Niskayuna pitcher was nibbling on the outside corner a lot,` said D’Amboise. `When she caught it, she was very effective. But when she didn’t, we got a lot of walks, and we took advantage of it.`
Angie Sagnelli ` who threw six scoreless innings to pick up the win ` broke the game open with a two-run double. K.C. Levin added an inning of scoreless relief.
With the win, Shen begins its quest for a fifth consecutive Section II title. Several players are back from last year’s class AA championship team including Sagnelli, Levin and senior captain Kayla Hines.
`There’s a big target on Shen’s back, which is both good and bad,` said D’Amboise. `We know we’ll see everybody’s ‘A’ game.`
The Plainswomen are hoping to get more games under their belts this week. After traveling to Shaker Wednesday, Shen has games scheduled against Bethlehem Thursday and a doubleheader Saturday on Staten Island, where it will face Tottenville and Moore Catholic.“