Kensico Recovers from Blown Lead to Force Decisive Game against Eastchester on Friday

Up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, it looked like a sure bet that Kensico would live to see another day in the District 20 Softball Tournament. Half a frame later, however, and Eastchester had tied the game, pushing Kensico to the brink of elimination.

After Sheri Weingarten’s RBI ground out brought pitcher Kristen Farrell in for Eastchester's first run of the game, the rally was truly on. Madison Boutureira plated two more with a single up the middle, and one batter later Sophia Tiso brought Boutureira home -- and Eastchester even -- with a single of her own off of Kensico relief pitcher Kaylie Dymek. Dymek, who struggled to find the strike zone, managed to skirt trouble the rest of the inning and keep the game close, after teammate Alyssa Dolan had managed to keep the Eastchester bats silent for the better part of the game's first four innings.

A scoreless sixth inning followed, as things seemed to be finally turning in Eastchester’s favor. Eastchester Coach Darin Farrell admitted to thinking his team had a good chance of winning at that point. “We had good momentum going,” he said.  

Unfortunately, Thursday was not to be Eastchester's day, as things unraveled for them in the top of the seventh inning. With one out already recorded, Kensico's Dymek reached on an error, when her ground ball passed squeezed through the legs of an Eastchester player. Another error on a Kensico ground ball scored what proved to be the winning run. From there, Kensico's Jenna Saldi walked and two more singles meant a three-run Kensico lead and a rematch Friday afternoon.

Kensico's win on Thursday marks the first time Eastchester has lost since the All-Star collection of players came together two weeks ago. Kensico had lost against White Plains earlier in the double-elimination tournament, rendering Thursday's game a must-win for both teams.  

“We didn’t start out with our heads in the game, and we didn’t finish the game with our heads in the game either,” Farrell said.  

Kensico put three runs on the board in the first inning, their first on a walk-steal-error sequence. A double and a single followed, giving Kensico the early lead and setting up the game's exciting ending.

The deciding game in the District 20 Tournament Championship will be played at 5:45 on Friday at Pat Henry Field in Valhalla, with the winner heading to the section 4 sectionals in Beekman, New York. Kensico is looking to make it four straight trips to the sectionals. 

“Hopefully, tomorrow the girls come out and do their best,” Farrell said.