NTL SOFTBALL: NEB CAN'T KEEP HOT START IN LOSS TO CV (2024-04-22)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
ROME — It was home run derby on along Panther Lane, but unfortunately for NEB, they couldn’t hang with Cowanesque Valley in the slugfest, falling 13-4 in NTL softball action Monday.

There were four home runs in the game - two by each team - with the Panthers taking a 3-0 lead in the first off a Kelsea Moore 3-run dinger. 

CV came back with four in the second, before the Panthers tied it up with a Kiarra DeLancey solo shot in the third.

Indians’ pitcher Ruby Sherman retired 11 of the next 14 batters after that to quiet the NEB offense. As for CV, they scored nine runs over the final four innings.

“I think we need a little more practice in the field, we definitely are still having a lot of errors,” said NEB coach MaKaylah Leljedal.

This was in improvement from their loss to CV on Friday, falling 13-1.

“Our pitching was a lot better today, and we had two home runs, so that was great, but we definitely need more practice in the field, and get those errors cut down,” Leljedal said.

DeLancey (2-for-3) had a home run, a double, a run scored, and an RBI, while Moore (1-for-3) had the 3-RBI with the home run.

Hannah Berger (2-for-3) and Orissa Gardner (1-for-3) also had hits, with Berger and Melanie Shumway both scoring.

Makenna Callear took the loss, striking out two with 14 hits, four walks, and 13 runs.

In the bottom of the first Callear led off with a walk, but was out at second on a Shumway fielder’s choice. 

After an out Berger reached on a hit, which set up Moore’s 3-run home run.

In the third DeLance hit a 2-out solo shot.

They had another chance to get something going in the sixth, when DeLancey hit one to the fence. However, she was caught trying to turn her double into a triple, while Berger came up next and had single, but a CV double play ended the threat.

NEB (5-4) will travel to Williamson on Tuesday, then follow that up with two days of practice, something Leljedal is looking forward to.

“We’ll be able to work on some of that defense,” she said.

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PHOTO CAPTION: NEB’s Kiarra DeLancey makes contact on her home run…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING