LIVINGSTON MANOR — The Livingston Manor Wildcats hosted the Tri-Valley Bears on Friday in a non-league softball game. It was the second time these two teams faced off against each other with the first seeing TriValley rack up 15 runs in the first two innings while Manor scored none. This game ended similarly with Tri-Valley winning 15-0, but Manor was able to hold their own much better and came close to scoring a few times. 

“Manor has improved a lot since the last time in both their pitching and their defense, they’re certainly well coached,” said Tri-Valley head coach Kim Costa. 

Ultimately the gap in experience between the two teams proved too big a hurdle for the Wildcats to cross. 

LM head coach Nick Wyss had this to say, “Inexperienced errors cost us today’s game, Tri-Valley is always a great team with excellent pitchers and a great lineup, but we definitely have the potential to do even better against them in the future.”

The first inning started off strong for TV with a run scored by Jenna Carmody with the first at bat. After this the Wildcats’ defense picked up and they were able to strike out the next batter and retire the following two runners with fly outs. Manor had a similar time at the plate with Kelsey Ryder hitting a double but getting stranded as the other three batters struck out.

The Bears started to heat up in the 2nd inning, scoring two more runs, and almost adding a third off a triple late in the inning before Manor was able to strand their runner at third off a pop fly to right field. Manor on the other hand was stopped hard with two strikeouts and a flyout to center to go down in order.

By the third inning, Livingston Manor’s fate was sealed as the Bears secured another four runs. TV kept the bases loaded almost the entire inning and was able to go through their entire batting order by the time Manor was able to get their final out off a deep pop fly. Manor’s at bat showed much the same story as in previous innings with two rapid strikeouts and a third out picked up after a grounder was fielded by Emily Rusin at third base.

The Wildcats saw their best inning in the fourth by holding Tri-Valley to only one run and fielding any other hits the Bears were able to get to quickly retire TV’s batters. 

Manor was able to make solid contact in the home half of the inning, with a single, a fly out to center and a hard hit grounder in the infield but were unable to break through with a run.

In the final inning Tri-Valley dominated at the plate, putting up seven runs. The bases were loaded for TV almost the entire time, so each single or double they hit increased the score on their way to a 15-0 lead. 

Avery Carrier, who tossed a complete game for the Bears, went on to strike out the side to end the game 15-0.

Manor’s head coach Nick Wyss said this after the game, “We’ve improved a lot throughout the season. Last week we played Burke and lost 14 to 11, but they had beat us 15 to 0 earlier in the season. We still don’t have a win yet but we are getting closer and closer. I’m very proud that a team with only one former varsity player has been able to learn and grow this much in such a short time. I hope we continue to grow and are able to lock down a win by the end of the season.”

Kim Costa, TV’s head coach, also had some post game comments. 

“We’ve been building steadily as a team this whole season and our team chemistry is starting to gel and flow. We shifted multiple positions around today due to our catcher being on vacation but the team adapted quickly and well. I’m proud and impressed by how well everyone played in positions that they normally don’t. We are definitely looking forward to our league game next week, and we have our sights set on the State Championship.”