Lady Spartan express rolls on

Florida - The Seward Lady Spartan softball team is on a roll. Conductor and coach Don Lewis has put together a rather strong team to make a run for a Division V title. And it appears that pitcher Melissa Oliphant has taken on the job of engineer for the Lady Spartan Express. League wins over Chester, Tuxedo and Tri-Valley have put Florida atop the Division standing with a 3-0 record. Five other non-league wins have propelled the Lady Spartans to an unbeaten record. The five non-league wins were over Sullivan West, Livingston Manor, Goshen and to two wins in the Mudville Tournament in Herkimer against Indian River and Honeoye Falls. In Division V action Florida topped Chester at home 1-0 when Mallory Matuseski who singled scored on a long double by Michelle Dugan. Melissa Oliphant who struck out seven got the win. Also at home against Tuxedo last Wednesday, the Spartans prevailed 13-1. Oliphant struck out 12 in that one, allowing five hits. Hot-hitting Matuseski stroked four singles and scored three times. Janice Harter singled, doubled and tripled and notched four RBIs. In Grahamsville on Friday the Lady Spartans outlasted Tri-Valley 4-3. Winning pitcher Oliphant struck out eight and helped her own cause with two hits. Freshman Vivian Greiser belted and RBI-triple. Both Oliphant and Matuseski are batting more than .500. The defense has been solid and Oliphant has been dominant on the mound, striking out 71 batters in the first eight games and giving up only ten walks. That defense consists of sophomore Kathleen Folkl at first, junior Jillian Harter at second, sophomore Matuseski at short and freshman Michelle Dugan on third. Senior Janice Harter, juniors Larissa Brodman and Patti Collins patrol the outfield, backed up by Colleen Hamel, Vivian Greiser and Lauren Pennings. Junior Kathleen Mosca handles most of the catching with Greiser a capable backup. This is the best start coach Lewis’ teams have had in his five years at the helm. There are still a lot of critical games to play, but the start has Seward fans buzzing.