Sports

Crowley guns down Clippers in three-hitter

As Jacki Paton looked back on her Bishop McGann-Mercy Monarchs softball team’s 5-1 win over the Southold/Greenport Clippers on Saturday afternoon at Stotzky Memorial Park in Riverhead, there were many aspects of the win that pleased her.

The Monarchs got another good pitching performance from Anna Crowley, who scattered three hits over seven innings to get the win. Crowley walked two, struck out five and allowed one unearned run.

“Anna pitched a great game,” said Paton, whose team brought its record to 2-1 overall and in Suffolk County League VIII with a 5-2 victory in Mattituck on Tuesday. “She has been working on her drop ball and it moves nicely. When she got into a couple of tight spots, you could see how her confidence has grown.”

McGann-Mercy also came through with the timely hits on Saturday, as the Monarchs scored a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings. In the third, Brieanne Bieber ignited the rally with a single before later coming in to score on her sister Kristin Bieber’s double. Crowley then singled home Kristin Bieber.

In the fourth, Tara Slejeski, Shannon Wilmott and Brieanne Bieber all singled to load the bases. Kristin Bieber then delivered a two-run single.

Southold/Greenport got on the scoreboard in the sixth as Nicole Busso singled, went to second base when Heather Gadomski drew a walk, and came in to score on a passed ball. Brieanne Bieber finished the game with two hits, two walks and three runs scored. Kristin Bieber went 2 for 4.

Danielle Alpi took the loss for the Clippers (1-5, 1-5), who gained their first win Tuesday when they toppled The Ross School/Shelter Island Ravens, 14-1.

Paton is happy with the way her team is playing. “We are doing all the little things well,” she said after Saturday’s game. “We are not giving up the extra bases. We are being aggressive on the bases.”

For the young Clippers, it is a rebuilding season. “We are learning a lot every game,” Southold/Greenport Coach Cindy Sepenoski said. “The girls are working hard. They have a lot of potential. I have a lot of confidence that we will turn this year around before we are through.”