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The Pine Plains varsity softball team defeated the Franklin D. Roosevelt girls 2-0 on Monday, May 5 in Hyde Park, putting an end to FDR’s undefeated 15-0 start to the season.
The game was scoreless until Pine Plains’ Jess Sweeney and Julia White scored in the top of the fourth inning off three FDR errors.
Before the game, FDR’s Stephanie Kassor said the team was focused on getting to senior pitcher Abby Harpp.
“We want to win,” she said. “A lot of other teams haven’t been able to hit against Pine Plains’ pitcher.”
Pine Plains head coach Les Funk said that with the quality of the pitchers on the mound, he didn’t expect the game to be high-scoring.
“Scores between good teams we’ve played have been low,” Funk said.
After throwing a complete game four-hitter for the win, Harpp’s energy was still up at the end of the game.
“It’s a great feeling,” she said of winning. “We definitely all have confidence.”
Pine Plains catcher Sarah Lima said she’s excited about the chemistry her team has been displaying this season, complimenting Sweeney’s play at third base in particular.
“Jess (Sweeney) covered a lot of ground today, and made an awesome play at third,” Lima said.
The play Lima referred to occurred during the bottom of the fourth inning, when an FDR player slid into third and was called out. FDR head coach Pat Moshier said he thought Sweeney had dropped the put-out throw from Harpp, but after some deliberation between the umpires, the call stood.
“That would’ve eventually put us down 2-1, with another batter up and the bases loaded,” Moshier said.
Moshier added that if everything goes as hoped for during the remainder of the season, his team may meet Pine Plains again in the Sectional finals.
“It’s a good possibility,” he said.
FDR sophomore pitcher Jen Reitemeyer notched eight strikeouts while allowing four hits and no walks, while Harpp collected seven strikeouts and two walks.
Despite the loss, Moshier noted his team’s spirit and character.
“Down two runs, with two outs, not one of our players was sitting on the bench,” Moshier said.
Pine Plains’ record is now 12-4 overall, 8-0 MHAL, while FDR fell to 15-1 overall and 10-1 in MHAL play.
Bouncing back
But a day after their first loss the of the season, the FDR team defeated Ellenville 15-0 at home on May 6, with the game officially called after six innings due to the league’s mercy rule.
In the game, Jessica Katz went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Sydney Weglinski went 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs. Kelly Osterman also had two hits.
Pitcher Stephanie Grieger pitched the shutout, giving up only three hits and walking none.
Moshier said his decision to use Grieger against Ellenville was not made because of the previous day’s loss, and gave Reitemeyer a lot of credit for the season so far.
“Her (Reitemeyer’s) two-year record is now 31-3, and she’s only a sophomore,” he said, noting that most of the pitchers Reitemeyer is now facing are upperclassmen.
