Lady Spartans split in Division V play

Florida - It was typical Florida-Chester. The Lady Spartans and the Hambletonians hooked up in a decisive Division V battle last Monday in Florida. It was decisive (each team had one league loss) and it was close. It took eight innings, but Chester rode home with a 3-2 eight-inning win. Chester’s Kristin Jung and Florida’s Melissa Oliphant got involved in an old-fashioned pitching duel. The Spartans got on the board first with Janice Harter driving in the first run in the bottom of the first inning with a sharp single. Chester tied it in the fifth inning with a nifty squeeze bunt. Chester went ahead 2-1 on another bunt, but he Spartans tied it at two in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth inning the visitors worked a hit batter, a steal and a base hit for a 3-2 lead. Seward came right back. Larissa Brodman led off the bottom half with a hard single and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Oliphant was walked intentionally for the second time. With two outs Michelle Dugan nudged a dribbler to third loading the bases. The next batter, however, hit a comeback to the pitcher ending the threat and sending Chester home happy. Freshman Dugan had a good day at bat with three hits. She showed another talent the next day at Fallsburg pitching a no-hitter as the Lady Spartans beat the Division V Comets. The right-hander struck out eight, giving a brief glimpse into next year. The Spartans are now 13-5 overall and 8-2 in Division V with two games left before the Sectionals. Coach Don Lewis’ team is certainly capable of doing a little damage in that tournament.