The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Sports Outdoors

Three Earn Black Belts In Stephentown

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by Erin Hogan
The mood in the room was long-awaited excitement as Cassandra Beattie, brown belt, Patricia Court, brown belt and Jess Court, black sash, took a seat in front of Sensei Fish and Third Degree Black belts Timothy Etman and Alex Bassallo (both of Grafton). These three students were going to finally receive their black belts after intense mind and body training.
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Panther Softball Team Loses 1-0 In 12 As Quackenbush Strikes Out 20

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by Gary Danforth
Home standing Schuylerville Central School scored the only run of a twelve inning softball nail biter last Monday afternoon, April 19, on a passed ball as the Black Horses beat Charlie Weeden’s Hoosick Falls Central School Panther nine in WASAREN League action. Despite 20 strikeouts from the Queen of the Diamond, sophomore pitching ace Rachel Quackenbush, HFCS fell to 2-1 in league play and to 4-1 overall.
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Berlin Baseball Loses To New Lebanon

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by Erin Hogan
The Berlin Central School varsity baseball team took on New Lebanon at home on Wednesday, April 14, and got off to a quick lead with triples from Tyler Bacon and Aaron Gundlack and a double from Scotty Bamba in the first inning. But New Lebanon didn’t let Berlin keep them down. In the top of the third with the bases loaded, Jessie Conklin hit a great RBI that would tie the game up 6-6. New Lebanon got three outs easily in the bottom of the third to keep the score stagnant. [Read more…] about Berlin Baseball Loses To New Lebanon

Taconic Valley Soccer Club Opening Day

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The Taconic Valley Soccer Club will begin opening day for the spring season on Saturday, May 1, on the front steps of the Berlin Elementary School at 9 am.
If you registered in the fall or are newly registered for the spring, this is the first day of practice. Newly registered players will get their uniforms at this time. Shin guards will be on sale for $5, and there will also be a cleat exchange.

Rensselaer Plateau Forums

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by David Flint
About 60 people attended a Community Forum on the future of the Rensselaer Plateau held Monday evening at the Stephentown Fire Hall. The Forum was sponsored by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, the Capital District Chapter of the New York Forest Owners Association, the Home Waters Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Black River Raiders Snowmobile Club.
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Panther Softball Team Wins Opener

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by Gary Danforth
Well, it appears Charlie Weeden’s Hoosick Falls Central School softball team has picked up in 2010 pretty much where it left off in 2009. Behind a dominating one hit, eighteen strikeout performance from the Queen of the Diamond, sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush, and a stifling defense, the Panthers took their season opener 1-0 over a very good Duanesburg Central School team last Saturday. April 10, in the Lansingburgh High School Tournament. [Read more…] about Panther Softball Team Wins Opener

Panther Softball Team Wins Tournament

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by Gary Danforth
Hoosick Falls softball Coach Charlie Weeden may have gotten a late Christmas gift. Junior first baseman/pitcher Katie Kovage took to the mound in the championship game of the Lansingburgh High School Tournament last Saturday, April 10 and pitched a four hit, three strikeout performance as HFCS beat the host Knights 6-0 for the title. With sophomore hurler Rachel Quackenbush taking over Kovage’s usual first base duties, Kovage did a nice job of keeping the ball in play for her defense, which backed her up all day. But, more importantly, Weeden may be able to give Quackenbush needed relief all season if Kovage continues to pitch the way she did in the title contest.
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Panther Softball Team Remains Undefeated

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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.