jeffpatterson
04-18-2008, 10:34 PM
Dukes drop Wolverines with offense
Gloucester’s softball team rallies from a three-run deficit and holds off previously unbeaten Woodside, pulling even in the PD standings.
By DAVE JOHNSON | djohnson@dailypress.com | 247-4649
GLOUCESTER — Given who would be taking the mound Friday afternoon, everyone expected one of those 1-0 games that lasted just over an hour. After all, Woodside’s Gabby Andino hadn’t been scored on in seven games this season. And Gloucester’s Stephanie Coates had thrown three consecutive no-hitters.
Instead, it was a scorefest — for softball, anyway — that lasted two hours. And in the end, the Dukes came back from a three-run hole and held off a Wolverines rally in the seventh inning for a 5-4 victory that created a tie atop the Peninsula District standings at 7-1.
Lauren Kiser’s two-run double gave Gloucester (8-1 overall) the lead in the bottom of the sixth, and Coates struck out Sophia Rodriguez with the tying run on second base in the seventh.
“These are the best games, when you’re down and you come back and give yourself a chance to win,” Kiser said. “There were a lot of nerves, but I love the feeling of coming back and accomplishing something like that.”
Things didn’t look good for the Dukes after the Wolverines scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Andino had run her streak of scoreless innings to 45 before Gloucester’s Karli Robb broke through with an RBI single in the fourth. Still, Andino looked in control.
Then came the bottom of the sixth, which got off to a strange start. Andino hit leadoff hitter Brenna Thomas with a pitch that the batter appeared to step into. Thomas then moved to second on Leta Bressin’s groundout and then third as Robb was safe at first on a fielder’s choice.
After Robb stole second, Woodside coach Mike Tallon called for an intentional walk of Coates to load the bases. But Andino threw a wild pitch, which scored Thomas and moved Robb and Coates up a base.
Kiser then lifted a fly ball along the right-field line. Woodside’s Candice Kelly misplayed it, and the ball landed in fair territory. As Robb and Coates came home, Kelly booted the ball. Kiser kept running and crossed the plate, putting Gloucester ahead 5-3.
“I just wanted to get a base hit,” Kiser said. “I really wanted to get that run in because I hadn’t done too well in my first two at-bats.”
To Tallon, the whole inning was set up by a bad no-call.
“She intentionally stepped in front of the ball,” Tallon said of Thomas. “It was completely and totally obvious. How can you miss that? Everybody saw it.”
Woodside wasn’t done, however. Kristie Hoeffer’s triple to left scored Corine Green, who had led off the seventh with a walk.
Then came some bad luck for Woodside. After Matrica Hale popped to Coates on a bunt attempt, Andino bunted a comebacker to the mound. Coates, who had thrown the ball away in a similar situation in the fourth inning, ran over and tagged Hoeffer out as she ran back to third.
“I got too aggressive,” Tallon said.
Andino ended up at second but was stranded as Coates struck out Rodriguez.
“We were looking forward to this game all day in class,” Robb said. “We were itching for it. And we were going to win no matter what it took.”
GLOUCESTER 5, WOODSIDE 4
Woodside0003001 — 441
Gloucester000104x — 531
WP — Coates (8-1). LP — Andino (7-1). Standouts — Woodside, Sepulveda 1-3 (2 RBI); Gloucester, Kiser 1-3 (2 RBI). Records — Woodside 7-1, 7-1 PD; Gloucester 8-1, 7-1.
Gloucester’s softball team rallies from a three-run deficit and holds off previously unbeaten Woodside, pulling even in the PD standings.
By DAVE JOHNSON | djohnson@dailypress.com | 247-4649
GLOUCESTER — Given who would be taking the mound Friday afternoon, everyone expected one of those 1-0 games that lasted just over an hour. After all, Woodside’s Gabby Andino hadn’t been scored on in seven games this season. And Gloucester’s Stephanie Coates had thrown three consecutive no-hitters.
Instead, it was a scorefest — for softball, anyway — that lasted two hours. And in the end, the Dukes came back from a three-run hole and held off a Wolverines rally in the seventh inning for a 5-4 victory that created a tie atop the Peninsula District standings at 7-1.
Lauren Kiser’s two-run double gave Gloucester (8-1 overall) the lead in the bottom of the sixth, and Coates struck out Sophia Rodriguez with the tying run on second base in the seventh.
“These are the best games, when you’re down and you come back and give yourself a chance to win,” Kiser said. “There were a lot of nerves, but I love the feeling of coming back and accomplishing something like that.”
Things didn’t look good for the Dukes after the Wolverines scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Andino had run her streak of scoreless innings to 45 before Gloucester’s Karli Robb broke through with an RBI single in the fourth. Still, Andino looked in control.
Then came the bottom of the sixth, which got off to a strange start. Andino hit leadoff hitter Brenna Thomas with a pitch that the batter appeared to step into. Thomas then moved to second on Leta Bressin’s groundout and then third as Robb was safe at first on a fielder’s choice.
After Robb stole second, Woodside coach Mike Tallon called for an intentional walk of Coates to load the bases. But Andino threw a wild pitch, which scored Thomas and moved Robb and Coates up a base.
Kiser then lifted a fly ball along the right-field line. Woodside’s Candice Kelly misplayed it, and the ball landed in fair territory. As Robb and Coates came home, Kelly booted the ball. Kiser kept running and crossed the plate, putting Gloucester ahead 5-3.
“I just wanted to get a base hit,” Kiser said. “I really wanted to get that run in because I hadn’t done too well in my first two at-bats.”
To Tallon, the whole inning was set up by a bad no-call.
“She intentionally stepped in front of the ball,” Tallon said of Thomas. “It was completely and totally obvious. How can you miss that? Everybody saw it.”
Woodside wasn’t done, however. Kristie Hoeffer’s triple to left scored Corine Green, who had led off the seventh with a walk.
Then came some bad luck for Woodside. After Matrica Hale popped to Coates on a bunt attempt, Andino bunted a comebacker to the mound. Coates, who had thrown the ball away in a similar situation in the fourth inning, ran over and tagged Hoeffer out as she ran back to third.
“I got too aggressive,” Tallon said.
Andino ended up at second but was stranded as Coates struck out Rodriguez.
“We were looking forward to this game all day in class,” Robb said. “We were itching for it. And we were going to win no matter what it took.”
GLOUCESTER 5, WOODSIDE 4
Woodside0003001 — 441
Gloucester000104x — 531
WP — Coates (8-1). LP — Andino (7-1). Standouts — Woodside, Sepulveda 1-3 (2 RBI); Gloucester, Kiser 1-3 (2 RBI). Records — Woodside 7-1, 7-1 PD; Gloucester 8-1, 7-1.