NASF/Pony Softball play annual All-Star game

2007 NASF/Pony All Star Home Team - pictured, back row (l-r): Joanna Zaccaria, Coach Brian Antonelli, Brittany Antonelli, Nicole Filipek, Coach Pete Vujanovich, Chelsea Vigliotti, Andrea Heimlein, Coach MaryBeth Dillon, Alyssa Sadjak, Vanessa Webster, Coach Glenn Emerson, Jordan Gaisser; front (l to r): Ann Marie Degnan, Shauna Fitzgibbon, Rachel Triassi, Jamie Laine, Grace Azzolino, Kyrin Emerson, Michelle Henry. Absent from photo: Heather Pasley.

2007 NASF/Pony All Star Visiting Team - pictured back row (l-r): Coach Joe Least, Sarah Sweeney, Marilyn Laistner, Coach Gary Zastrow, Amber Rodas, Jessi Sauer, Coach Larry Kraatz, Darelynn Richards, Coach Dave Firkins, Shannon Firkins, Emily Centrone, Coach Flash Guerrieri, Jenna Clarke; front (l -r): Samantha Kaser, Kiri Patella Ryan, Nikki Sauer, Felicia Kraatz, Bonnie Allen, Janie Danielecki, Tierney Hogan, Nicole Bonferraro.

NASF/Pony Softball play annual All-Star game

The NASF/Pony fastpitch softball league held its annual all star game in Spencerport on Monday, July 30. Each of the league's eight teams sent four young women to compete. The all stars were chosen by their peers. The league includes teams from Brockport, Chili, Hilton, Holley and Spencerport. This year's contest was an odd-versus-even match up, as league teams 1, 3, 5 and 7 joined up to play against teams 2, 4, 6, 8. The "odd" team won the coin toss for home team. The game was officiated by John Masco and Ed Rounds.

The home team jumped out to an early 9-1 lead with Brockport pitcher Michelle Henry in the circle. Spencerport's Marilyn Laistner relieved the visiting team's starter, Hilton's Darelynn Richards, in the third inning and shut down the home team's offense, holding them scoreless for three innings. Richards returned in the sixth to close. Brittany Antonelli of Spencerport relieved Henry after two innings, and Chili's Grace Azzolino pitched the last three innings for the home team, striking out seven batters.

The visitors scored one run in the second. A triple by Holley's Amber Rodas gave the visiting team a morale boost, but yielded no score. However, in the fourth, the visitors closed the gap with three unanswered runs. The rally was ended by the only double play of the game, initiated by Spencerport's Ann Marie Degnan. Two more runs in the sixth and three in the seventh, in spite of Azzolino's mounting K count, put the visitors in reach of a tie, but it wasn't meant to be. The home team scored an insurance run in the sixth and the final score was 10-8.

The home team's cause was boosted by outstanding offensive play from Chili's Heather Pasley and Brockport's Jordan Gaisser. Both batted 1-for-1 with two RBI each, and both walked once. Pasley, Giasser, Degnan and Azzolino all received awards at game end for their contribution. The visitors had some stellar performances, from Laistner in the circle and Brockport's Tierney Hogan at third who converted two back-to-back hard hit grounders into outs at first in one inning to shut down a home team rally.

The NASF/Pony softball league is organized by John Masco, NYS NASF Commissioner and UIC, and Glenn Emerson. The league plays Monday and Wednesday evenings in June and July. For information e-mail to gemerso1@rochester.rr.com.