Irish nip Lady Tigers for D1 title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Miranda Lembcke slides into home to score a run on a passed ball as Notre Dame pitcher Stephanie Pingrey moves in on the play. The action took place during the Irish win over the Lady Tigers this afternoon in the Section V Class D1 title game at Batavia High.

No. 3 seed Notre Dame pushed across a run in the top of the seventh inning to nip top seeded Lyndonville 7-6 in the Section V Class D1 softball championship game this afternoon at Batavia High School.

The Irish scored the game winner on a bases loaded walk after singles by Taylor DiMartino and Audrey Farrell and a walk had loaded the bases.

Notre Dame also got off to a fast start grabbing a quick 3-0 first inning lead on a two-run homer by Anna Kabel and an RBI sacrifice fly by Shea Norton.

The Irish then upped the lead to 5-0 by scoring once in the third on a single by Norton and once in the fourth on a double by Nichol Salvador.

Lyndonville stranded a total of 8 base runners over the first four innings including leaving runners at second and third in the second after hits by Lisa Boyce and Amanda Drown, and the bases loaded in the fourth after an error and singles by Makenzie Muck and Rhiannon Burgess.

Lyndonville’s Amanda Drown (11) tries to get to second base as Notre Dame’s Audrey Farrell dives back in. Lady Tigers shortstop Aubrey Lewis backs up the play.

The Lady Tigers finally broke onto the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the fifth on an error following singles by Jess Harling and Boyce.

However, Kabel at third base turned a huge inning ending double play for the Irish to quickly shutdown the Lady Tigers threat.

Notre Dame then got that one right back in the top of the sixth on double by Kabel to go up 6-1.

Lyndonville though came battling back in the home half of the sixth erupting for 5 runs to briefly knot the contest at 6-6.

A two-run triple by Aubrey Lewis highlighted the uprising which also saw runs score on a wild pitch, an error and a fielders choice play off the bat of Drown. Anna Lewis and Boyce also both had hits to help keep the rally going.

Notre Dame though again answered back with what proved to be the game winner in the top of the seventh on two hits and a pair of walks.

Irish pitcher Stephanie Pingrey then retired the Lady Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh to lock up the win and the championship.