Warwick. Crusaders defeat Warwick to open the softball season 3-0
On a cool and windy Wednesday afternoon last April 9, the Crusaders traveled to Warwick to take on the Wildcats in a non-league match-up of varsity softball teams.
The Crusaders entered the game with a 2-0 record after beating Suffern in their last game 18-4. The Wildcats had a 1-1 record after dropping their last game 8-6 to Newburgh Free Academy.
The Crusaders took a three-run lead in the first inning. Emily O’Brie, singled and came around to score on Cori Exarchakis’ sacrifice ground ball to second.
Katie Chiosie then drove in two more runs with a single to center for a 3-0 Crusaders lead. The Wildcats scored a run in the fourth inning to cut the lead.
In the sixth inning Chiosie singled again, this time to right right field, and scored when Gabby Schaeffer hit a long homerun to left field.
Next Isabella Brelesky singled and went to third on a double by O’Brien. She scored on a ground ball by Exarchakis and the Crusaders had a 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh the Wildcats scored another run, but a strong pitching performance by Brelesky (seven innings, five strikeouts) closed the door on the home team.
The 6-2 victory brings the Crusaders’ record to 3-0 on the season. Their next game will be on Friday when they travel to Kingston.
- William Dimmit