The Colonie softball team has a flair for the dramatic.
Three days after rallying for a 3-1 victory over Beth-lehem, the Garnet Raiders (2-0 league, 2-1 overall) defeated Shenendehowa 3-1 Monday in a Suburban Council game.
Colonie scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie, and Casey Rowland pitched a perfect seventh inning to seal the victory. Kelly Lane started for Colonie and limited Shen to two hits.
Colonie defeated Bethlehem 3-1 last Friday with all of the runs coming in the seventh inning.
Missy Spitzer led off the final frame with a single and went to second on a bunt. Sam Blum replaced Spitzer on the base paths and scored the game’s first run on a single to right field by Courtney Fitzgerald. Bree Turner ran for Fitzgerald and crossed the plate on a double by Kassidy Ogren. Jessica Henkle’s single then scored Ogren for a 3-0 lead.
Bethlehem rallied for a run in the bottom of the seventh. Jamie Cerone led off with a triple to center field her second hit of the game. After a walk to Katie Rice and a bunt single by Cassie Smith, Mikayla Shade laid down a sacrifice bunt to drive in Cerone.
Lane settled down and got Marybeth Dombrowski to pop the ball into foul territory, where Annie Deyo made the catch for the final out of the game.
Lane starting in place of Rowland ` scattered five hits and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth inning to pick up the victory.
`I am really pumped up right now,` said Lane, sporting a big grin. `I like the pressure. Like when the bases are loaded ` those are the moments I go for. I take a deep breath, focus and relax.`
`Leaving the bases loaded there [in the fourth inning] was frustrating,` Bethlehem coach Karen Gentile said. `We needed to string a couple of hits together, and we just didn’t do it.`
Lane and Rowland will split time pitching for Colonie.
`Both of the girls come to play every game, every day,` said Colonie coach Kevin Jette, who has six returning starters from last year’s championship team. `We are a solid defensive team, [and] we know its all about making plays.“
