AUBURN - An old coaching proverb states that beating a team twice in one season is tough, and winning three times against the same opponent can be nearly impossible. After defeating West Genesee twice this season, the Auburn softball team hosted them again at Clifford Park for round one of the Section III, Class AA playoffs on Wednesday.
Angela Kershner / The Citizen
Auburn's first baseman Gabe Palmieri slides into third base in the fourth inning of the Maroons' 6-5 win over West Genesee in a Section III Class AA first round playoff game at Clifford Park in Auburn, Wednesday.
Auburn's first baseman Gabe Palmieri slides into third base in the fourth inning of the Maroons' 6-5 win over West Genesee in a Section III Class AA first round playoff game at Clifford Park in Auburn, Wednesday.
“I never mentioned the old proverb to the team,” Auburn coach Bob Lee said. “As a coach, I know how hard it is to win three times, but I kept it a secret. I didn't want them to think about it.”
The Maroons took the lead early, but fell behind in the top of the fourth inning after the Wildcats scored three runs on four hits and two walks to take the lead for the only time in the game. The Maroons rallied right back in the bottom of the inning, collecting seven hits and scoring five runs. The comeback was complete as Gabe Palmieri ripped a three-run double deep to left field, bringing in the winning scores as the Maroons held on to win their first sectional game in four seasons, 6-5.
“Scoring those five runs was key for us,” Lee said. “Gabe was on fire today, she
wanted the bat but so did the whole team. They did great.”
Palmieri was the only player in the game to connect with the ball in every at-bat. The standout senior led the Maroons with four hits, including a double and a triple, one run scored and two stolen bases. Her triple came in the first inning and on the next play, Amanda Daum hit her home to give Auburn an early 1-0 lead. Palmieri also had a solid defensive performance at first base.
“I thought I played a pretty good game but I thought I had some flaws today, like with my running. Overall, it was a great win though,” Palmieri said.
Just as it did in the first meeting between the two teams, bunting was a big factor for the Maroons. They attempted to bunt six times and Kristy Piwinski was successful twice and Susie Jakaub once as the Wildcats overthrew first base each time.
“We got the bunts down where we had to, which was key,” Lee said. “We knew they had trouble fielding those the first time we played them, it worked out very well. We knew with (Molly Shephard) pitching for them again, we'd have to bunt.”
Shephard pitched well for the Wildcats, fanning six batters and not allowing one walk. She was also the only multiple scorer for the team, going 2-for-4 at the plate and scoring two runs. Shephard did allow 16 hits, at least one by every Maroons starter. In addition to her impressive play at shortstop, Sam Whitaker roped two hits, including an RBI single. Ashley Persaile and Brianne Raftis also smashed two hits. Raftis scored once and had an RBI double.
In the Maroons pitching circle, Kelley Horbal didn't allow one hit through the first three innings. The senior hurler allowed seven hits and two walks in the fourth and fifth innings, which Lee attributes to nerves in her first playoff appearance. She completed the game with seven strikeouts.
“We did awesome, I was really proud of our performance today,” Horbal said. “I was just throwing a lot of off-speeds to try and get them off their feet, especially the good hitters. They had a lot of them today though, but the off-speeds and just hitting the spots were key.”
After Molly Kane (two hits, one runs scored, stolen base) hit a two-run single to center field in the top of the fifth to bring the Wildcats within one, the Maroons were determined not to allow another run to score. Michelle Grassi made a nice catch in center field to end the inning and the Maroons retired batters in order in final two innings to preserve the win.
“We missed sectionals by one game last year, which was a concern of mine coming in since none of these players have experienced a sectional game before,” Lee said. “I thought they might have a little trouble with all the pressure, which showed a little bit in the beginning of the game, but everyone came through in the end.”
Next up for No. 8 Auburn is top-seeded and state-ranked Cicero-North Syracuse on Saturday. The Maroons have lost to the Northstars once this season, 9-0 on May 3. But Auburn has every reason to be confident going into the second round, as they were missing a couple of players in the first matchup and have improved since.
Also, by the time they host the Maroons on Saturday, C-NS will have gone a week without playing a game.
“You know what, they are due for an upset and we're just the team to hopefully do it,” Lee said. “I have the confidence that my team can do it. They just have to play well and have a really good game. We can beat them but it's going to take a lot of hard work.”
The Maroons took the lead early, but fell behind in the top of the fourth inning after the Wildcats scored three runs on four hits and two walks to take the lead for the only time in the game. The Maroons rallied right back in the bottom of the inning, collecting seven hits and scoring five runs. The comeback was complete as Gabe Palmieri ripped a three-run double deep to left field, bringing in the winning scores as the Maroons held on to win their first sectional game in four seasons, 6-5.
“Scoring those five runs was key for us,” Lee said. “Gabe was on fire today, she
wanted the bat but so did the whole team. They did great.”
Palmieri was the only player in the game to connect with the ball in every at-bat. The standout senior led the Maroons with four hits, including a double and a triple, one run scored and two stolen bases. Her triple came in the first inning and on the next play, Amanda Daum hit her home to give Auburn an early 1-0 lead. Palmieri also had a solid defensive performance at first base.
“I thought I played a pretty good game but I thought I had some flaws today, like with my running. Overall, it was a great win though,” Palmieri said.
Just as it did in the first meeting between the two teams, bunting was a big factor for the Maroons. They attempted to bunt six times and Kristy Piwinski was successful twice and Susie Jakaub once as the Wildcats overthrew first base each time.
“We got the bunts down where we had to, which was key,” Lee said. “We knew they had trouble fielding those the first time we played them, it worked out very well. We knew with (Molly Shephard) pitching for them again, we'd have to bunt.”
Shephard pitched well for the Wildcats, fanning six batters and not allowing one walk. She was also the only multiple scorer for the team, going 2-for-4 at the plate and scoring two runs. Shephard did allow 16 hits, at least one by every Maroons starter. In addition to her impressive play at shortstop, Sam Whitaker roped two hits, including an RBI single. Ashley Persaile and Brianne Raftis also smashed two hits. Raftis scored once and had an RBI double.
In the Maroons pitching circle, Kelley Horbal didn't allow one hit through the first three innings. The senior hurler allowed seven hits and two walks in the fourth and fifth innings, which Lee attributes to nerves in her first playoff appearance. She completed the game with seven strikeouts.
“We did awesome, I was really proud of our performance today,” Horbal said. “I was just throwing a lot of off-speeds to try and get them off their feet, especially the good hitters. They had a lot of them today though, but the off-speeds and just hitting the spots were key.”
After Molly Kane (two hits, one runs scored, stolen base) hit a two-run single to center field in the top of the fifth to bring the Wildcats within one, the Maroons were determined not to allow another run to score. Michelle Grassi made a nice catch in center field to end the inning and the Maroons retired batters in order in final two innings to preserve the win.
“We missed sectionals by one game last year, which was a concern of mine coming in since none of these players have experienced a sectional game before,” Lee said. “I thought they might have a little trouble with all the pressure, which showed a little bit in the beginning of the game, but everyone came through in the end.”
Next up for No. 8 Auburn is top-seeded and state-ranked Cicero-North Syracuse on Saturday. The Maroons have lost to the Northstars once this season, 9-0 on May 3. But Auburn has every reason to be confident going into the second round, as they were missing a couple of players in the first matchup and have improved since.
Also, by the time they host the Maroons on Saturday, C-NS will have gone a week without playing a game.
“You know what, they are due for an upset and we're just the team to hopefully do it,” Lee said. “I have the confidence that my team can do it. They just have to play well and have a really good game. We can beat them but it's going to take a lot of hard work.”
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