NCLL Softball Opens All Star Season With Victory Over Stony Point

The New City Little League All Star softball team defeated Stony Point in a decisive 10-0 game Monday night.

Despite thunderstorm warnings, the weather held out for the girls' first game of the all star season at Veterans Memorial Park in Stony Point.  The All Star season is the most exciting and competitive time of the year for Little League. 

The New City team was led to victory by #12 Briana Keaveney, who struck out 10 and walked only one in five innings pitched to come up with the fourth no-hitter of her career.  She was supported on the defensive end by the excellent fielding of her teammates.  This, coupled with their success in swinging the bats, led to New City's dominant 10-0 performance.

Keaveney started the game off with a single, which was followed by a walk to #2 Nicole Ritsick.  This brought up #17 Melanie Lerche, who eventually took first after battling with the pitcher a bit.  During her at bat, Keaveney and Ritsick made two double steals to initially take second and third, and ultimately take third and home to put New City up 1-0.  Stony Point was then able to rally to retire the next three batters.

Keaveney brought the bottom of the first to a quick close, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts and a pop fly caught for the final out of the inning.  This brought them to the top of the second, which began with one strikeout and two walks to bring up Keaveney again at the top of the order.  With two balls and a strike, she hit a shot down the third base line deep into left field to bring home two.  She would have been safe with a triple, but instead went for home and was tagged out.  The inning closed with a pop fly being caught by the catcher for an out.

By the top of the fourth, the score was still 3-0.  With two on and one out, it was Keaveney's turn at bat again.  She delivered with her third and fourth RBIs of the game off a triple to center field.  Ritsick then brought her home with an RBI single.  Stony Point was then able to get out of the inning with outs at first and third.

Keaveney closed the bottom of the fourth with a one, two, three inning to bring New City up to bat again.  #7 Danielle Borelli started them off in the fifth with a triple to left field.  #10 Carly Amatuzzo followed this up with an RBI single to centerfield to bring the score to 7-0.  Stony Point then walked two to bring up #3 Sarah Brauer.  She was safe at first off a single, however, Amatuzzo was thrown out at home. 

Keaveney then drove in her fifth run of the game with an RBI single to left field.  Ritsick followed this with an RBI single to right, bringing the score to 9-0.  Lerche came up with a single after this, however the runner was thrown out at home.  #1 Sarah Semel then connected with a shot to left, which Keaveney scored off of, however Stony Point fielded it for an out at second to close the inning with New City in the lead 10-0.

Keaveney finished off the game with a three up and three down inning in the bottom of the fifth to secure her no hitter and the win for New City.  Keaveney was truly the player of the game, with an all-around great performance that left her with a no-hitter and five RBIs. 

This All Star team is hoping to go far this summer, as their excellent pitching and fielding is complimented by a powerful and talented lineup.

They play their next game at home on Strawtown Field in New City Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against Haverstraw.