Patience pays off for
W. Long Branch squad
Fourth inning turns things around for Blazers
CHRIS KELLY Fair Haven’s Emily Krauss hurls the ball toward home plate during a game against West Long Branch on Monday.
They made contact with the ball, but the hits weren’t coming for the West Long Branch Blazers.
Sixteen batters were walked in an Eastern Monmouth County Girls’ 12U game against the Fair Haven Fury, but only two hits and a pair of walks put runners into the base paths.
It wasn’t until the fourth inning that the Blazers finally displayed patience at the plate — which resulted in six runs.
The Fury started the game off by scoring two runs in the first and second innings.
Scoring the opening tallies with RBI hits were Jen Steinhauser, Brittany Wood, Kylee Wallman and Kate Malloy.
Fair Haven had a chance to score three runs in the top of the first, but a force-out play at the dish denied them the chance.
After West Long Branch’s defense denied the Fury in the top of the fourth, the Blazers turned up the heat in the bottom half, taking a 6-4 lead.
The inning for West Long Branch started off with a pair of walks and a single to load the bases with Samantha Gallo, Melissa Murphy and Elizabeth Ferraro.
Gallo was sent home on a single by Tara Migliaccio.
Murphy and Ferraro scored as Gina Caltabilota and Tonya Valantino walked, keeping the bases loaded.
Migliaccio displayed her speed when she stole home as the ball was slowly thrown back to the pitcher. Two more walks scored Caltabilota and Valantino.
Each team added another run to its score in the fifth inning. Laura Martini, who walked, stole second and reached third on an infielder’s error, scored on Wood’s single to right field.
On the other side of the field, Tiffany Conway kept the Blazers two runs ahead of their guests when she crossed the dish on a hit by Gallo.
Conway entered the base paths with a double and then went to third on a passed ball. Gallo earned the RBI as she was thrown out at first.
With time running out, both teams stepped up their defense, keeping each other from scoring for the rest of the game.
Working the mound for West Long Branch were Alison Roma and Conway.
Roma lasted five and a quarter innings, facing 28 batters, striking out two and walking only eight.
Conway finished the game by squaring off against eight batters, fanning one and walking only two.
For the Fury, the hurling duties were shared by Wallman and Emily Krauss.
The duo faced 35 batters, gave up five hits and walked 12.