Keaveney Pitches Back-to-Back No Hitters as New City LL Continues to Steamroll Competition

New City Little League softball took its second 10-0 win of the All Star season Wednesday night against Haverstraw.

Leading her team to victory was, yet again, #12 Briana Keaveney, who has now pitched back-to-back no hitters to open the season.

Though two runners got on off errors to spoil a perfect game for her, she struck out seven, walked none, and fielded two hits herself for outs. She truly put on an All Star performance this game, complementing her nearly untouchable pitching with two RBIs in three at bats.

#17 Melanie Lerche, had a great all around game as well, with a spectacular running catch behind third to end the second and two RBIs in three at bats. #7 Danielle Borelli and #10 Carly Amatuzzo matched their teammates with dominant performances on the offensive end, as each brought in two RBIs in three at bats.

New City was ready to play from the beginning, as they scored a daunting eight runs to open the game in the top of the first. Keaveney started them off with a single to right, followed by a bunt for a single from #2 Nicole Ritsick. Lerche then came up to put New City on the board with a single to right center field.

#1 Sarah Semel then got on to load the bases off an error. Borelli made use of the situation on her at bat with a two RBI double, bringing the score to 3-0. Amatuzzo followed this up with a two RBI double after she took second when Haverstraw tried, and failed, to catch Borelli at home.

Haverstraw then struck out the next batter swinging to bring up #3 Sarah Brauer. The tension mounting with two balls and two strikes, Brauer connected for an RBI double with Amatuzzo sliding safe at home. Haverstraw was then able to strike out the next batter swinging to bring back up Keaveney at the top of the order.

Keaveney connected for an RBI double, bringing the score to 7-0. Ritsick then hit a shot down the third baseline through the glove of the third baseman for her second single of the inning. It was then Lerche's turn again, as she connected for an RBI double to make the score 8-0. Haverstraw was then able to strike out the next batter to get out of the first.

Three went up and three went down in the bottom of the first and then again in the top of the second.  To begin the bottom of the inning, New City faced its first difficulty in the game, when they let up a single off an overthrow to first.  Keaveney struck out the next batter, however, Haverstraw got the next batter on after an error by the short stop.  Lerche then got them out of the inning when she ran to track a pop fly and jumped over third to make a spectacular catch.

This brought New City up again in the top of the third.  With two on and no outs, Keaveney connected to bring home Brauer for their ninth run of the game.  She was thrown out at first, however, and Haverstraw got the next two out to end the inning.

Keaveney kept Haverstraw scoreless in the bottom of the third with a 1-2-3 inning to bring them to the top of the fourth.  Semel led them off with single, followed by a shot from Borelli down the third baseline to put runners in scoring position.  Amatuzzo then struck out, however Semel slid home to score during her at bat off a missed catch at the plate.  Haverstraw then got the next two out to end the inning.  However, with the score now 10-0, the damage was already done, as the mercy rule came into effect. 

Since, by the fourth inning, New City had scored 10 runs and Haverstraw had not scored at all, the trailing team was left with only one more at bat before the game was to be called.  Keaveney did not let up, as she started the inning off with two strikes and then caught a fly ball to retire the first batter.  She then struck out the next two batters to close with her third 1-2-3 inning of the night.

Great pitching from Keaveney complemented by excellent hitting from her and the rest of the team, brought them this dominant victory.

"The girls did amazing at bat," said Manager Amatuzzo, "they got a lot of hits and had good base running.  Briana had another great pitching performance." 

New City was set to play their next game against Nanuet at 8 p.m. in Nanuet.