The Island Trees varsity softball team had an amazing 8-3 win in extra innings on April 2nd against a previously unbeaten Clarke team to improve their league record to 2-0. Ashley Melendez opened up the scoring with a solo homerun to lead off the 4th inning.
Although the team relinquished the lead in the 4th and 5thinnings, they did not let the negative turn of events get the best of them. Down one with three outs left, Sam Scharff led off the top of the 7th with an amazing bunt for a hit. Christie Ciaramitaro and Kelly Cembrale both reached on errors to keep the inning and team’s hopes alive. Morgan Petry roped an RBI single up the middle to score courtesy runner, Kim Ahrens with the tying run.
An outstanding diving effort by left fielder Sam Melendez saved the game in the bottom of the 7thand kept the score tied at 3-3. Without her amazing effort on a tailing line drive the ball would have kept rolling and most likely resulted in an inside the park homerun to end the game. The Lady Dawg’s came alive in the 9th. The goal was to put the ball in play any way possible and put pressure on Clarke’s defense.
The result of this strategy was 5 runs off 6 hits including a sac bunt, bunt for a hit and a fielder’s choice. Once again, Ashley Melendez came through with a clutch RBI single to score Christie Ciaramitaro with the go ahead run.
Alannah Basile and Sam Petry followed with back to back doubles resulting in three more RBI’s. Two for Alannah and one for Sam. The win was an all-out championship team effort. The team’s composure was at its all-time high, especially when their backs were to the wall and some calls from umpires did not go in their favor. They fought to the end and came out with a huge league win.
— Submitted by the Island Trees School District
