When Bethlehem couldn’t push across any runs in the first two innings of last Friday’s Suburban Council South Division softball game, Columbia took advantage.
The Blue Devils (8-1 league, 8-1 overall) scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning and three more in the top of the sixth on their way to a 7-0 victory over the previously-undefeated Eagles.
Our offensive production was off that day, shall we say, said Bethlehem coach Karen Gentile. `We had been doing good up till then.`
The Eagles (8-1, 8-1) had a chance to push across a couple of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Mary Beth Dombrowski beat out an infield single and moved to second on Megan Crucetti’s sacrifice bunt. Sammy Smaldone singled Dombrowski to third and stole second to put runners on second and third before Columbia pitcher Jenna Servidone struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Bethlehem pitcher Toni Edwards cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Meg Hallenbeck belted a two-run double to highlight Columbia’s three-run rally that gave the Blue Devils the lead for good.
Brittany Hart contributed a pair of singles for Columbia, which moved into a first-place tie with Bethlehem in the South Division. Shenendehowa (8-0, 8-0) is the only undefeated team in the Suburban Council.
`We are very pleased with our progress,` said Gentile. `As much as they wanted to go undefeated, 8-1 is still a great record.`
Bethlehem was scheduled to play Shen Monday, weather permitting. If not, the Eagles’ next game is Wednesday against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.“