by Gary Danforth
Beating five time defending Section 2 Class C champion Duanesburg Central School last Friday afternoon, June 5, has now allowed Coach Charlie Weeden’s Hoosick Falls Central School Panther softball team to advance to State regional play for the first time since 1993. Weeden’s gritty charges pulled out a tough 1-0 defensive battle against the Eagles at Clifton Commons in Clifton park to raise their overall mark to 23-5. Freshman pitcher Rachel Quackenbush threw a two hitter in another masterful job of dominating an opposing team. HFCS will play the winner of the sections VII-X game for the right to advance to the State semi-final. The Panthers have now won four consecutive post season games in a matter of eight days.
Duanesburg went down in order in inning one via a pop up, a ground ball out and a strikeout. HFCS went down in order in inning one via two ground ball outs and a bouncer to the mound. The Eagles went down in order in inning two on two Quackenbush strikeouts and a tap back to the mound. Quackenbush, the Queen of the Diamond, struck out the Eagle side in inning three.
Hoosick Falls scored the only run they would in inning three. Marissa Davendonis hustled down the line to beat out an infield hit to start off the Panther third inning. After a strikeout, Davendonis reached second base on a passed ball. Then came another Panther strikeout. With two out, Carly Pine hit a Duanesburg pitch down the third base line. Hustling like the game depended on her getting to first base, Pine drew a long, off target throw from the Duanesburg third baseman. The throw bounced in the dirt six feet in front of the first baseman’s mitt and bounced into right field foul territory. Davendonis, with Weeden as third base coach, dashed home with what would prove to be the only run of the day. HFCS led 1-0. A pop up put HFCS away in inning three.
Duanesburg went down in order in inning four via a bouncer to the mound and two more Quackenbush strikeouts, her seventh and eighth on the day. Hoosick Falls threatened to score again in the bottom half of inning four. A ground ball out and a pop up got two quick Panther outs. But senior Kayla Brownell, slightly limping on a wrapped left knee, hit a double into left field. It was only the Panthers’ second hit on the day. But a foul out to the Eagle third baseman put HFCS away.
They say defense wins most championships. I say good teams make good plays. They sometimes get breaks. And when they do they capitalize on those breaks. In the top half of inning five, the Duanesburg leadoff batter reached via an error. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third base. But Panther catcher Emily Ciuk, made a defensive gem of a play, assisted by third baseman Brownell and first baseman Katie Kovage. The Duanesburg hitter beat a pitch into the turf in front of home plate. Ciuk pounced on the ball like a big cat, stopping the runner coming down the third base line with the potential tying run. Ciuk ran the runner back to third base, then fired a perfect throw which an alert Brownell applied for the second out. Then Brownell fired a strike across the diamond to Kovage, who applied a shoulder high swipe tag to the batsman, who had ideas on second base, for the inning’s third out. HFCS still led, 1-0.
The Panthers threatened again in inning five. A strikeout proceeded a single by Nicole LaCroix. Another strikeout and a Duanesburg error left Panther runners LaCroix and Pine at the corners. Pine stole second base. But a bouncer to the mound put HFCS away in the sinning.
Duanesburg went down in order in inning six via Quackenbush’s ninth and tenth strikeouts and a fly ball which Panther right fielder Karley Morin corralled. HFCS went down in order in inning six via two bouncers to the mound and a ground ball out to shortstop.
All that was left for HFCS to do was to secure their 1-0 lead, and Quackenbush did that in dramatic fashion. After she fielded a bouncer to the mound for out number one, she gave up just her second hit of the game, a single into left field, with Davendonis playing the ball well near the left field line to hold the runner to a one base hit. Then Quackenbush made the play of the game. She momentarily stopped a shoulder high line drive to her right. The ball popped out of her glove, but Quackenbush snatched the ball out of the air for the second out then wheeled to fire an inning ending, game ending third out to Kovage, doubling the Duanesburg runner off first base. Hoosick Falls was off to the regional playoffs with their second consecutive 1-0 playoff win.
Roaming the Outfield: In four post season games, HFCS has yet to give up a run, winning by margins of 3-0, 2-0, 1-0 and 1-0. But the road to the State semi-final will be a tough road. Play really steps up in regional play.