By Hannah Smith

GALWAY–Galway Varsity Softball battled against Spa Catholic in a game on Monday  the 23rd to win 10-9 with a walk-off RBI single by Katie Zawisa.  Felicia Snyder battled through seven tough innings, recording 3 walks and 3 strikeouts, in order for the Eagles to come out victorious.

In the first inning, the Eagles immediately faced a challenge as the Spa Catholic Saints collected two runs to start the game.  The Eagles countered in the bottom inning with a run of their own, from Snyder, who initially reached on an error from the shortstop.  The second inning was a short one for both teams, with Snyder facing only four batters, and Jocelyn Manet, the pitcher for the Saints, facing only five.  No runs scored.

The Saints put the pressure on the Eagles in the third inning, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch, passed ball, and an error in order to chalk up another two runs, however the Eagles were unable to counter those runs, instead going down with three straight batters.  In the fourth, the Eagles were able to hold the Saints at 4 with a few good plays by Jessi Freebern at shortstop and a strikeout by Snyder.  It was in the bottom of the fourth that the Eagles began to make up the deficit, turning two early walks into runs with RBIs from a single by Alexis Hidalgo and another single by Snyder.

The fifth inning started with the Saints reaching on an error, then with two great plays by Rebekah Reichard in left field, retiring the next two batters.  However, the lead-off batter was able to reach third on a pair of passed balls, but Snyder was able to hold her at third as she struck out the final batter of the inning.  The Eagles pulled ahead in the fifth, starting with a walk by Zawisa, who scored on an RBI single by Hannah Smith.  Smith then scored on an RBI single by Stacey Arnold, giving the Eagles the lead, 5-4.

The Saints were unable to counter this in the sixth, instead going down on three consecutive grounders to the infield.  However, the Eagles added to their lead, tacking on another two runs in the sixth with Zawisa, who reached on a walk, scoring on an RBI double by Smith, who later scored on an RBI by Shelby Suits, finishing the sixth inning with a 7-4 lead.

However, the Eagles were unable to hold on to their lead in the seventh as the Saints batted around with a rough inning for Snyder, who walked one and hit three batters.  The Saints were able to build on this, along with a few mental errors committed by the Eagles in the field.  After the Saints scored five runs, pulling ahead by two runs, Snyder finished the inning with a strikeout, her third of the game.  The Eagles, unwilling to lose what they had fought hard for earlier in the game, battled back to tie the game, with Chelsea Cucci reaching on a fielder’s choice, advancing on Snyder’s single, with both scoring on Freebern’s double.  Freebern advanced to third with an infield hit by Kelly Phillips that no play was made on.  Zawisa finished the game with a walk-off single to shallow right field, with Freebern claiming the final run.

This was the first of a six game week for the Eagles: they will play at home Tuesday against Middleburgh.  Wednesday, they travel to Sharon Springs, then return home Friday against Berne Knox-Westerlo.  They play in the Corinth Invitational tournament Saturday, with a double header.  We hope to see you at one of the games this week!