FACTORYVILLE — Lackawanna Trail’s batters had trouble figuring out Montrose pitcher Madelynn Guinane. When they finally started connecting, it was too late as the Lady Meteors defeated the Lady Lions, 11-1, in a Lackawanna League Division 4 softball game on Monday afternoon.
Guinane held the Lady Lions without a base runner through the first three innings, while registering seven of her 13 strikeouts.
“We didn’t hit the ball very well,” Lackawanna Trail coach John Richter said. “(Guinane) had us off-balance for most of the game. Give her all the credit, she did a nice job.”
Montrose struck first in the bottom of the first inning when catcher Anastasia Hester drove a solo home run over the center field fence.
The Lady Meteors added two run in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman Melinda Carlton drew a walk and scored on a single by left fielder Betsy Warner, and Hester knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly.
First baseman Hailey Rapisardi came through with an RBI double in the top of the third inning to give Montrose a 4-0 lead.
The Lady Meteors added to their lead with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. After a double by Hester, shortstop Katie Warner launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence.
Lackawanna Trail catcher Mackenzie Duffy walked to start the bottom of the fourth and scored when Montrose right fielder Theresa McNamara misplayed a ball hit by Trail pitcher Allison Decker, who advanced to second base on the play.
Decker was left stranded when Guinane struck out Lady Lions left fielder Karlee Cresswell to end the inning.
Montrose (9-1) put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth inning. After singles from pinch-hitter Claudia Cordner and center fielder Emily Stankiewicz, Hester blasted a three-run home run over the wall in left-center field. The Lady Meteors scored two more runs on errors in the inning.
“They put pressure on us when we didn’t make plays in the field,” Richter said. “Hester had two home runs and a double, and that really hurt us as well.”
Duffy led of the bottom of the sixth inning with a bunt single, but was called out at second base on the next play.
Center fielder Samantha Baltrusaitis, who led the Lady Lions, with two hits, singled in the bottom of the sixth, but Guinane struck out Decker who two runners on base to end the game.
Lackawanna Trail (6-3) will host Susquehanna in a Lackawanna League Division 4 game at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 12.
“We need to make the plays that we’re supposed to make, but our focus is still winning the league,” Richter said. “We want to learn from this game, but girls need to take the field with a good attitude for the rest of the season.”
