High School Softball: Hamburg, N. Collins continue win streaks

So far, the 2012 season has been such a smooth ride for Hamburg, it’s almost surprising to see the Bulldogs actually be challenged by an opponent. But even when faced with two tough tasks in four games last week, Hamburg fought through it to keep an undefeated ride going.

The Bulldogs held of Iroquois 2-1 on May 2 in the team’s second one-run game of the season and after trailing for the first time all season, rolled past Starpoint 11-4 two days later. In between, Hamburg beat Williamsville South 5- and to begin the week, defeated Lake Shore 10-0 on April 30. Hamburg improved to 10-0 overall and are atop ECIC Division II with an 8-0 mark.

In the tightest of the games last week, Kailee Ramaekers came through with a two-RBI single, scoring Bridget Hogan and Heather Tighe, in the bottom of the fourth inning to account for all of the offense Hamburg would need. Hogan did the rest on the mound, pitching a complete-game, one-hitter with 12 strikeouts to close the door on Iroquois. Junior catcher Sarah Mertowski finished with a hit and called a solid game behind the plate, according to her coach, Lisa Palma.

After taking a 3-0 lead on Starpoint, Hamburg allowed four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and trailed by a run. However, the Bulldogs responded with a four-run fifth.

In defeating South, Madeline Medina finished with a two-RBI double, while Tigue and Megan Medina added run scoring singles. Allison Salerno singled and scored and Melissa Roseman crossed the plate as well in the first inning. Hamburg’s insurance runs in the sixth were scored by pitch runner Kendra Quinn-Moultrie and Ramaekers. Hogan delivered her second one-hit, complete-game performance of the week. She also struck out 11.

Against Lake Shore, Ramaekers earned the win on the mound and homered, while Tighe went 3 for 3 with a fence-clearing homer and Hogan added three hits.

Kala Kron’s eighth-inning RBI-double plating Christine Blidy gave North Collins a 5-4 win over Clymer in eight innings and extended its win streak to four games. Jessica Latwon went the route in garnering the win on the mound. She struck out eight, while allowing two earned runs, five hits and walking two. The Eagles improved to 8-3 overall and 6-1 in CCAA Division IV, good for a share of first place with Ripley and Panama.

In the game prior, North Collins earned a 17-3 win over West Valley behind Hannah Renaldo’s five strong innings on the mound and at the plate, four hits, including two homers and a double, six RBI with three runs scored. Jessica Lawton was 2 for 4 with a homer, double and four runs scored. Rachel Gates was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI. Gates along with Kayla Kron also homered in the game. Beth Kibler and Abby Richmond added two hits each and Sam Gier pitched the last two innings of the game, striking out two.