By Rob Potter
MONGAUP VALLEY — August 20, 2004 – The Charlie’s Angels softball team completed a perfect 25-0 season with a victory Wednesday night at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park in Mongaup Valley.
The Angels defeated Roark’s Tavern 14-6 in the second game of the best-of-three game “A” Division championship series to add the division’s playoff title to its regular season crown in the Sullivan County Women’s Softball League. In the first game of the series, which was played on Tuesday night at Collins Park, Charlie’s Angels topped Roark’s by a final score of 9-5.
Charlie’s Angels grabbed the lead in the first inning of Wednesday night’s game. Anna Tesseyman led off with a single, Shannon Dietrich walked and Leanne Mangabang singled to load the bases. Tonya Martin then doubled, which allowed all three runners to score.
After Roark’s scored a run in the bottom of the first, Charlie’s Angels added two runs in the second and three in the fourth.
Roark’s closed the gap by scoring four runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.
However, the Angels’ offense exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth.
Leading the team’s offensive attack were Terri Hess (3-for-4, four RBI), Martin (three RBI) and Tesseyman (three RBI). In addition, Christine “Costa” Decker had three key hits, two of which were doubles that started rallies for the Angels.
For Roark’s, Tini Kaiser went 4-for-4 with two triples and Michele Morley added a triple.
Defensively, Kaiser and Theresa Nietzel made some great catches for Roark’s.
In Tuesday night’s series opener, Charlie’s Angels took the lead for good with a six-run second inning. Down 2-1, Tesseyman singled to bring in Cindy Ellmauer with the tying run. Two batters later, Mangabang smashed a two-run single to left field. Martin, Lisa Krom and Debbi Ackerley added RBI singles as the Angels took a 7-2 lead.
However, Roark’s pulled to within two runs in the top of the third. Kelly Avery hit a two-run double to right center field and Lisa Benjamin had an RBI single to cut the Angels’ lead to 7-5.
Charlie’s Angels scored its final runs of the contest in the bottom of the fourth. Shannon Dietrich had an RBI single and Mangabang added a sacrifice fly to give the Angels a 9-5 advantage.
While Charlie’s Angels swept Cooper Paint and Roark’s in the playoffs after going 21-0 in the regular season, player/coach Jo Walls noted that it was no easy task.
“This season we had plenty of competition,” she said. “Games against Roark’s, the toughest opponent, Mr. Willy’s and CES, to name a few, were all close games. All of the teams were really into the games.
“We had a lot of fun and a great bunch of fans followed us, with their pom-poms, to all of our games. We say a special thanks to them.”
Walls noted that consistency is one of the keys to the success of the Charlie’s Angels team.
“I do believe our success is due to having the same players year after year and loving the game of softball,” she said. “At the end of our games we do a salute to my [late] father, Charlie, by saying two maybe seven, we salute to heaven.”