Kelly Theis Leads Jeff-Y
On Mound and Plate

By Rob Potter
LIVINGSTON MANOR — May 5, 2000 -- Paced by the play of Kelly Theis, Jeffersonville-Youngsville edged Livingston Manor 7-5 Tuesday in Western Sullivan League (WSL) softball action.
Theis, a senior pitcher for the Lady Trojans, allowed nine hits and struck out three batters in a complete game performance. She also helped her own cause at the plate by smashing a triple and knocking in two RBI for J-Y (3–1, 2–1 WSL).
But Theis, who is undefeated on the season with a 3-0 mark, had to get out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory.
With the Lady Trojans holding a 7-4 lead, Manor’s Cassie Schneider walked and Lorene Woodard reached base on an infield error to put runners on first and second with only one out. Megan Blanton then followed with a single to center field to load the bases.
Clean-up batter Amanda Irwin, who blasted a solo home run over the center field fence in her previous at-bat, then stepped to the plate. But Theis got Irwin to hit a grounder to third baseman Shelisa Duquette, who fired the ball to catcher Beth Fanning so Fanning could step on the plate to keep the score tied and record the second out of the inning.
Ashley Bowers then singled to bring in Woodard and cut the lead to 7-5. Theis then enticed Alys Mann to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game.
“It was a little closer than we would have liked, but it was our first game in three weeks,” said J-Y Coach Mike Ellmauer. “I think we were a little bit rusty going in.”
But Ellmauer praised the pitching of Theis and nice defensive plays made by his club.
“Obviously, a win is a win and we’ll take it,” he added. “It’s just good to be playing again. This is a fun group of girls to work with.”
In addition to the loss, which dropped its record to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in WSL play, Manor suffered more injury woes. Starting catcher Rachelle Irwin left the game after injuring her leg in a collision at home plate in the third inning. Coach Gail Denman noted that due to the Manor senior trip, the team will not play another game until next week, and Irwin probably will return to the lineup then.
Pitcher Jennifer Wright, however, watched the loss to J-Y while leaning on crutches and sporting a brace on her knee. Wright hurt her knee, the same one that she injured during basketball game in February, on Monday in a game versus Narrowsburg.
Denman noted that Wright was scheduled to see a doctor Thursday (yesterday) and did not know when the hurler would return to the mound.
Mann, who has pitched a few innings this season, threw a complete game versus the Lady Trojans.
“She did OK,” Denman said of Mann, who struck out three and gave up only five hits. “I think she was a little nervous because it was her first full outing.”
Leading the Manor offense were Amanda Irwin, who had a double and the previously mentioned round-tripper, Stephanie Babich and Audra Cady. Babich and Cady had two hits apiece.
Aileen Semenetz had a double and an RBI for J-Y.