The Amsterdam Lady Rams faced adversity heading into their game with the Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons Lady Knights. They would have to deal with more as the game progressed in a hard fought 11-5 loss Wednesday afternoon at Shuttleworth Park.
Amsterdam had 10 players available for the game and all were in the line up on yet another chilly April afternoon. The Lady Knights would strike first plating two runs on a two out double by first baseman Victoria Maddallone. The Lady Rams would strike back with an odd two out rally of their own.
AHS catcher Ashley Przyblowicz drew a walk from NDBG pitcher Joelle Salisbury and hustled to third on a pop up single by Amber Iannotti. When the Lady Knights made a play on Przyblowicz at third, Iannotti took second. Amsterdam starting pitcher Michaela Puglisi lined a single to center field scoring both runners to tie the game. Allie Krohn continued the rally with an RBI single giving Amsterdam the lead. Stephanie Delorenzo reached on an error helping set up a unique scoring chance for the Lady Rams.
Krohn had moved to third when Delorenzo reached on a fielding error. One out later, designated player Ella Dybas hit a grounder to third that looked like an easy force play. Delorenzo was caught in a rundown for the second out allowing Krohn to head for home. Dybas was initially safe at first when the throw was wide of the base. However, Dybas turned to run to second and was tagged out but not before Krohn scored for a 4-2 AHS lead. The game would take another unfortunate turn for AHS an inning later.
Puglisi and Joelle Salisbury appeared headed for pitchers dual the rest of the way with each racking up four strikeouts through only two innings. Two outs into the third however, Puglisi would leave the game due to an apparent arm injury. Iannotti would take her place followed by Kristie Kaczmareck and the Lady Knights took advantage.
NDBG plated a couple of runs on wild pitches in the third to tie the score. AHS would take a 5-4 lead heading to the fourth when Przyblowicz tripled off the top of the fence in left field and later scored on infield error. The fourth inning turned out to be the deciding factor for the game.
Kaczmareck got the lead off batter to start the fourth, but a pair of singles by Joelle and Alyssa Salisbury followed by pair of infield miscues gave NDBG the lead. Four walks and Joelle Salisbury’s second hit of the inning, a two run single completed the seven run outburst. Amsterdam would have more chances putting runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings but to no avail. Both defenses would settle in and play flawless particularly AHS behind their fourth pitcher of the day Natalie Vogel, who pitched three shutout innings and striking out four.
“Honestly, they played fantastic,” said AHS head coach Brendan Cetnar. “They fought hard. If they play like this the rest of the year I will be happy.”
The Lady Rams will be in action this Saturday at Fonda Fultonville High School for the third annual Ronald Paperniak Scholarship tournament. The Lady Rams have been the runner up to the host team the last two years.
Author’s note: Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Lady Rams and the Amsterdam community learned of the passing of AHS coach Brendan Cetnar’s father, Robert Cetnar. who was a youth sports coach for the village of Hagaman and a lifelong supporter of the softball program as well as all area sports. His presence will truly be missed.
