Dust in the Win(d): Lady Colts Prevail in Softball

The winds of fortune blew the Lady Colts way on Thursday...along with a lot of dirt.

On a blustery day at Calhoun High, the Lady Colts softball squad pounded out 14 hits, and took advantage of Schreiber (Port Washington) miscues, in a 10-6 win in Conference III/IV crossover action.  Calhoun is now 5-7.

"It was a great win for us today," coach Jason Boland said.  "I'm really proud of the effort they put in, a lot of our players stepped up today."

One of those players was Rebecca Suss.  The versatile sophomore got the start on the hill with ace Jessica Livingston nursing an injured thigh.  However, the winds didn't blow in Suss' favor early.

Struggling with the windy conditions early, Suss gave up a Sara Marinelli two-run home run in the third, giving Schreiber the early lead.

"It was definitely hard trying to see with the sand," Suss said.  "Sometimes I would release and all of a sudden I can't see, also [the wind] pushed the balls further in the outfield."

Suss would soon take advantage of that same wind.  Her lazy fly ball glanced off the glove of Vikings left fielder Linda Kim, plating two runs, as Calhoun put up a four-spot in their half of the third.

"I think it was a high fastball, which I look for every time I get up, and I just took it for a ride," Suss said.

The Colts duplicated that output in the fourth.  Left fielder Cassie Beccaris (a team high 4 RBIs) hit a two-run double to cap off another four-spot, and Calhoun was up 8-3.

Suss seemed to tire in the fifth.  Schreiber first baseman Emma Horowitz laced a two-run triple, making it 8-6, but they would get no closer.  Suss settled down, and Calhoun added two more in the sixth to pull away.

The Vikings (6-6) hurt themselves on the base paths as well.  They got the leadoff hitter on in each of the last two innings, only to see them erased immediately.  Infield pops and heads up Calhoun defense caused Schreiber runners to be doubled off first. Twice.

"A couple mistakes really cost us," Schreiber coach Eric Sutz said.  "Both base running and defensively."

Suss went the distance for the win, striking out five.  According to Coach Boland, she benefited from having Livingston on the bench beside her.

"Between innings Jess will talk to Rebecca; during practices she'll work with her on different pitches - a changeup, a curveball...I'm glad we have her to help out," Boland said of his injured starter.

As for the swirling winds, Boland is just happy his club kept the mistakes to a minimum, albeit with a little dust in their eyes.

"The outfielders had a tough time today," he said.  "The wind is blowing all over the place...we're glad none of those balls went over our fielder's heads."

Boland and his Lady Colts will be hoping the winds die down this afternoon as they tangle with the first place Hicksville Comets with a 4:15 p.m. start at Calhoun.

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