2011 Highlights

Panthers Bounce Back for Split

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

Dryden—After dropping the first game of a doubleheader featuring two nationally ranked teams, the Tompkins Cortland Community College softball team bounced back with a solid win in the nightcap. The #5-ranked Panthers dropped the opener to #7 Herkimer County Community College, 6-3, before winning the second game, 9-1. The split snapped TC3's 19-game winning streak and leaves the Panthers with a record of 25-6 overall and 16-1 in Region III. Herkimer is now 29-7 overall and 27-4 in region.
 
TC3's bats started the day as cold as the weather. The Panthers were set down in order the first three innings and only reached in the fourth via a Herkimer error. TC3 recorded its first hit in the sixth inning, and by then the home team was trailing 4-0. In the sixth, Natasha Kersch (Warsaw H.S./Warsaw) drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a clean single by Tayler Fravel (Sandy Creek H.S./Sandy Creek). After a ground out, Ashley Snyder (Pulaski H.S./Pulaski) broke up the shutout with a three-run homer to make it 4-3. Herkimer added two more runs in the top of the seventh to end the scoring at 6-3. The second game saw the home team take the lead early. In the bottom of the first, Snyder started a two-out rally by drawing a walk. Samijo Scheer (Corning East H.S./Corning) followed by blasting a home run to make it 2-0. Mackenzie Sherlock (Paul V. Moore H.S./Central Square) and Brooke Radley (Altmar-Parish-Williamstown H.S./Pulaski) followed with singles, but were left stranded as the inning ended. After Herkimer got a run back in the second, the Panthers took control in the third.
 
With one out, Sherlock laced another single. After a fielder's choice, Stephanie Parsons (Afton H.S./Afton), Chelsea Houtenbrink (Waterloo H.S./Waterloo), Kersch, and Fravel had consecutive singles, scoring three runs to make it 5-1. The score was unchanged until the sixth, when TC3 again put together a string of hits. Katie Ducharme (C.W. Baker H.S./Syracuse) opened the inning with a single and Snyder followed with her second homer of the day to make it 7-1. After an out, Sherlock singled for the fourth time in the game, followed by singles from Radley and pinch-hitter Katelyn Percey (Charles O. Dickerson H.S./Trumansburg). Houtenbrink drove in a run with bases-loaded single, and, after a fielder's choice force at home, Fravel came through with a two-out single to make it 9-1 and end the game due to the mercy rule.
 
Snyder earned the win in the circle, striking out six to improve to 14-1 on the year. Sherlock led the way by going 4-for-4 in game two, while Fravel, Scheer, Radley, and Houtenbrink each had two hits as part of a 17-hit attack in the second game.
 
TC3 hosts SUNY Delhi Friday.