Generals top tough Tribunes 4-1 and 13-2

Herkimer, NY – The Generals won both ends of their most important doubleheader of the season so far on Tuesday afternoon. Herkimer defeated the Tribunes of Monroe CC by scores of 4-1 and 13-2.

The twin wins virtually assure that Herkimer will be seeded #1 in regional postseason play, which begins this coming Saturday, May 4.

Monroe and Herkimer had almost equally impressive regional marks coming into the contests. The Generals had a regional record of 27-1, while Monroe's tally in regional play was 19-1.

Playing conditions were very good. Temperatures were in the low 70s and wind was not an issue.

Game One

Freshman Toni Secreti went into the circle for the first game, and the Generals' ace pitched a beauty. She sat down the side in the first inning.

The Generals pushed a run across the plate in their half of the first. Jessica Patterelli singled, went to third on Samantha Smaldone's double, and came home on Stephanie Siriano's sacrifice fly.

Photo: Courtney Gumprecht makes the critical catch in the sixth inning

Monroe got their leadoff runner to third base in the second inning, but Secreti and the defense kept her from scoring.

Both pitchers were effective. Tribune Brianna Bush held the Generals scoreless in the second, third, and fourth innings. Secreti shut down the Tribunes through the fifth.

Herkimer got to Monroe's Bush in the fifth frame. Patterelli led off with a sweet-swing home run. She just went with a pitch on the outside half of the plate and sent it over the left field fence. Smaldone doubled, Siriano singled her home, and a double by shortstop Tina Karaqi brought Siriano home.

The Tribunes threatened in the sixth. Their leadoff batter homered. Their next two batters singled and advanced to second and third with no outs. Then Herkimer hurler Secreti bore down and struck out one, got a fly ball to left, and struck out the final batter.

Secreti was just as tough in the seventh. She struck out the first two batters, and the game ended when third baseman Ashley Sterritt caught an infield popup. 4-1 Herkimer.

Game Two

Jess Patterelli again ignited the Generals' offense by leading off the home half of the first with an opposite-field solo shot, her seventh homer of the season. (See photo sequence at bottom of page.) The Generals scored three more runs in the first inning.

While the Herkimer offense stole the show, Patterelli was pitching and keeping the the Monroe bats quiet. Patterelli pitched all five innings, allowing the visitors just three hits while notching her seventh win of the campaign.

Photo: Delaney Buckley rounds second

Almost every General contributed to the offensive. Ashley Sterritt had the biggest day, going three-for-three with two doubles and four runs batted in. Delaney Buckley (2-3, 2 RBI), Steph Siriano (2-4, RBI), Sammy Smaldone (2-3) and Tina Karaqi (3-3, RBI) all had multi-hit games. Alyssa Balfe added an RBI, Patterelli did the same with a sacrifice fly, and Fallon Spriggs added a single.

The victory ended the regular season. The games that had been scheduled for Wednesday at Fulton-Montgomery have been cancelled.

Postseason

The Region 3 seeding committee will meet on Wednesday evening. Herkimer is almost certain to receive the #1 seed. If so, they will host a sub-regional best-of-three series on Saturday, and, if necessary, on Sunday, with times and opponent to be determined.

The winner will advance to the regional finals the following weekend at Tompkins-Cortland CC.

Nick Scribe, website writer

Game One

MCC 000 001 0 1-4-1
Herkimer 100 030 x 4-10-0
WP- Secreti (12-1), LP- Bush
2B- Herk- Smaldone (2), Karaqi MCC- Rennard
HR- Herk- Patterelli MCC- McBride

Game Two

MCC 101 00 2-3-2
Herkimer 436 0x 13-14-2
WP- Patterelli (7-0), LP- Greiger
2B- Herk- Sterritt (2), MCC- Sims
HR- Herk-Patterelli, MCC- Bardak
Herkimer 33-2, 29-1, 9-1

[Ed. Note: Herkimer softball alumnae Jessica Dutka and Andrea Rogers attended the doubleheader. Both Dutka and Rogers won All-Tournament Team honors at the regionals last season. Also, Rogers is well remembered for making two of the putouts in a rare triple-play that the Genereals worked against Monroe in the 2011 regionals.]

Photos: Jess Patterelli sending one of her two home runs over the fence