by Gary Danforth
They say only teams win championships. And never was that more apparent than Wednesday afternoon, June 2, when Charlie Weeden’s Hoosick Falls Central School Panther softball team put it all together for the second consecutive year and beat fellow WASAREN League foe Hoosic Valley Central School 8-0 in a dominating display of teamwork, pitching, offense and defense. In walking off the softball field at one of Clifton Commons multiple fields, this Panther bunch had much to be proud of in claiming their second straight Section 2, Class CC title.
Using a three run second inning and a five run fifth inning on offense, coupled with a stifling defense and overpowering pitching from sophomore Rachel Quackenbush this game wasn’t even close. In 84 degree heat, Quackenbush threw her own brand of heat all day. I felt kind of sad for the Indian hitters as one by one they were mowed down by the Queen of the
Diamond as she threw nothing but smoke at them from the first pitch to the last pitch. But no pitcher can do it alone. Behind her on every play were eight other players and reserves getting the job done with as much efficiency and effectiveness as any championship team which I’ve seen. It was a thing of beauty and dominance to watch.
Karley Morin plated the third of three runs in the bottom half of inning two with a line single to right field to spot HFCS a 3-0 lead. Quackenbush struck out the Indian side in the Hoosic Valley third inning. In fact, Quackenbush struck out ten Indian batters in the final five innings. That kind of cuts down on opposing run production. The Queen struck out five of the last six batters she faced. And when a Hoosic Valley player did get a bat on the ball, it was handled effortlessly by a stingy, gritty Panther defense. Let me tell you something, that Panther defense is playing excellent softball. When the ball is hit they pounce on it like big cats. Well, I guess they are Panthers.
Any doubt, and there was none when HFCS got Quackenbush three runs to work with, about this game not being won by HFCS was dashed in the Panther fifth inning. Hoosick Falls sent eleven players to the plate in scoring five additional runs. Senior Jen Priore singled but junior Shelby Jones was tagged out on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Katie Kovage walloped a single into left field, scoring Priore. Quackenbush reached on an error. Kovage had moved up a base on a passed ball. Senior Marissa Davendonis legged out an infield hit. Junior Samantha Skott reached on another Indian error, scoring a run. Morin, a junior, singled to left field, plating two more Panther runs. Alyssa Schneider reached on another Indian error with the final HFCS run scoring. It was 8-0. It was over. But there was still another Indian error in the inning.
With a rugged defense behind her, Quackenbush struck out five of the last six HV batters as HFCS won the sectional crown, 8-0.
Roaming the Outfield: Next up for HFCS is the Class CC-C playoff game, most likely this Friday, June 4, at Clifton Commons against the winner of the Greenwich – Duanesburg game. HFCS, which won the league title with a 12-2 slate, is now, 21-2. Other members of the sectional championship team are freshman Frankie Pearson, senior Melody Mentiply, sophomore Sierra Bailey and junior Clarissa Mango. Ralph Quackenbush is a vital assistant coach to Weeden. From here on out every game will be a dogfight. But, if they continue to play together, this Panther bunch should be a tough out.
