Panther Softball Team Remains Undefeated

by Gary Danforth
Well, the Queen of the Diamond and her Hoosick Falls Central School softball teammates were at it again this past Monday afternoon, April 12, when Charlie Weeden’s Panther nine ran their unbeaten streak to 3-0 in this 2010 campaign by blanking host Hoosic Valley Central School 3-0 in their WASAREN League opener. Sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush struck out 17 Indian batters, including the last eleven overmatched hitters in a row, in pitching herself and her stingy, defensive minded teammates to their initial league win after winning the Lansingburgh Tourney two days earlier. In 21 innings the Panthers have not allowed a run. As good as Quackenbush and fellow first baseman/pitcher Katie Kovage (Kovage pitched a complete game, four hitter in the tournament nightcap) have been to date from the mound, their defensive mates have come through whenever called upon to do so. It has been a real team effort.
HFCS went down via two strike outs and a ground ball out in inning one. Quackenbush got two Ks and a ground ball to second baseman Sierra Bailey to put HV away in the first inning.
HFCS went down on a strikeout, ground ball out and tap back to the mound to end inning two. Quackenbush struck out the Indian side in inning two. It was beautiful to watch.
Bailey walked to open the Panther third inning. A stolen base, K and ground ball out by Frankie Pearson moved Bailey to third base. Then Quackenbush belted a single up the middle to give herself the only run she would need. Kovage walked, but a Panther strikeout left HFCS leading 1-0.
Quackenbush handled two tap backs to the mound, making a nice recovery of a ball hit hard off her glove, for two quick HV outs in inning three. Then the Queen got her sixth strikeout to end the inning.
HFCS threatened to score in inning four. Marissa Davendonis singled to left field, and Kovage beat out an infield hit. But HV got out of the inning via a fielder’s choice ground ball, a strikeout and another ground ball out. In the Indian fourth inning, after the leadoff batter reached base, Panther shortstop Jen Priore made a nice play on a well hit ball, and Quackenbush ended the inning with two more strikeouts. By this time, on a cool Spring day of 52 degrees, the Queen’s right arm was getting loose. Hoosic Valley hitters didn’t have a chance.
In the Panther fifth inning, after a ground ball out and strikeout, Kovage walloped a double into centerfield. A pop up to the HV pitcher ended the Panther threat. Hoosic Valley went down in order via strikeout in the bottom half of the inning.
Davendonis opened the Panther sixth inning with a single to left field. A pop up and two ground ball outs put HFCS away in the inning.
Hoosic Valley went down via strikeouts for the first two outs of inning six. But a well hit, well placed bunt, which caromed between the pitcher’s mound and second base, fell in for the only Indian hit of the day. Quackenbush struck out the next Indian batter to end the inning.
HFCS scored twice more in inning seven. Priore reached on a dropped fly ball and Pearson beat out a slow roller. Quackenbush reached on a fielder’s choice with Priore forced at third base. Then Kovage laced a hard hit ball to right center field, plating the final two Panther runs of the day, good for a 3-0 HFCS lead. A strikeout, a walk by Davendonis and a pop up to the HV pitcher put HFCS away.
Quackenbush was pretty much untouchable. She ended the game with her 15th, 16th and 17th K in the Panthers’ 3-0 win.
Roaming The Outfield: HFCS travels to Schuylerville on Monday, April 19.