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BROADALBIN — After being no-hit twice in their first three games, the bats came alive for the Amsterdam Rams Tuesday against Broadalbin-Perth.
The Rams hammered out 22 hits, including a pair of home runs by Elianna Tirado, and held off a seventh-inning Broadalbin-Perth rally to register a 14-9 Foothills Council softball victory at Broadalbin-Perth High School.
It was nice to finally get the bats going,” Amsterdam coach Brenden Cetner said. “We had a lot of trouble yesterday adjusting to a really good pitcher [Scotia-Glenville’s Keeley Kristel] and today we just came out on fire.”
Coming off a 33-3 non-league victory over Middleburgh on Monday, Broadalbin-Perth coach Allyson Chorba was pleased with her team’s performance in the first two games of the season.
“That was a non-league game and a great way to come out of the gate and get some confidence for the girls,” she said. “They hit the life out of the ball and played the field well.
“Even in today’s game. I reflect on last year and our hits and the power we were getting on our swings is another level from last year. It is a huge stepping stone. This was our second game and only the third time on the field. The tarp just came off Saturday night and it was great just to get on it today.”
Tirado, a second-year varsity eighth-grader, made sure the Rams would not be no-hit for a third time with her first-inning home run over the center field fence.
The Patriots made the most of a pair of Amsterdam fielding errors to push a pair of runs across the plate to take a 2-1 lead.
Amsterdam pounded out five hits, including doubles from Natalie McNeil and Tegan Sullivan, to score three runs and take a 4-2 lead.
The lead was short-lived as errors by the Rams led to three runs for the Patriots and a 5-4 advantage.
The Rams’ batters kept finding the holes in the Patriots defense, with Tirado and Natalee Agresta leading off the third inning with back-to-back doubles to help Amsterdam build a 6-5 lead.
It didn’t take long for Broadalbin-Perth to respond as Allee Jasewicz homered over the right-field fence to tie the game at six.
The Amsterdam defense behind pitcher Rosie Sculco came up with big plays over the next three innings, keeping the Patriots off the scoreboard, while putting up seven runs, including a three-run home run by Tirado, to open a 12-6 advantage.
The Rams added another run in the top of the seventh, however, Broadalbin-Perth was not ready to concede the game.
Meg Bazan and Camille Calderone both singled with one out and Kara Weaver doubled to score Bazan before Calderone scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 14-8. After Weaver crossed the plate to put the score at 14-9, the Patriots loaded the bases with two outs, but could not keep the rally going as the Rams held on for their first victory of the season.
Tirado led the Rams with two home runs, two doubles, four RBIs and five runs scored. Carolyn Sculco added three singles and a double, while McNeil had two doubles and two singles. Vanessa Fonda had three singles and the Rams got two singles from Briana Santiago.
“[Tirado] started shortstop for us last year and led the team in average,” Cetner said. “She has three home runs on the year so far. She had a heck of a game.”
Jasewicz led the Patriots with a home run and a single, while Shea Kanches had a double and a single and Bazan had four singles to go with a pair of singles by Calderone.
“We have some really big bats this year with some crazy hitters,” Chorba said. “We struggled with our defense today, but it is early in the season. We have a really young team this year and we just need to get over this initial hump. I am excited to see where the rest of the season goes. We have a good group of girls. We just need to keep our heads in it and we will be good to go.”
Amsterdam (1-3 overall, 1-1 Foothills) will host Gloversville Wednesday at Shuttleworth Park, while Broadalbin-Perth (1-1 overall, 0-1 Foothills) will host Scotia-Glenville at 4:30 Wednesday.
Amsterdam 132 331 1 — 14 22 6
Broadalbin-Perth 231 000 3 — 9 14 1
