By Rob Potter
NEVERSINK — After holding visiting White Lake FD scoreless in the top of the first inning of last Wednesday night’s Eastern Sullivan Volunteer Firefighters Softball League game, the Neversink FD team set the tone for the contest in the bottom of the first inning.
Neversink FD leadoff batter Jesse Noren hit a home run over the right center field fence to give his team a quick 1-0 lead. The Neversink FD offense kept hitting throughout the game to record a 16-3 win.
Matt Costa’s sacrifice fly later in the bottom of the first gave Neversink FD a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second, Neversink FD doubled its lead to 4-0. Bo Murphy and Noren scored on a base hit by Mike Garigliano.
The team’s lead doubled to 8-0 in the bottom of the third. With one out and the bases loaded, Ryan Barkley singled to bring all three runners in to score. Andy Hollenbeck scored moments later when Danny Knox reached base on an error.
White Lake FD got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Jeremy Cunningham started the inning with a single and Josh Cunningham doubled to put runners on second base and third base. Both of them crossed home plate when Brendan Cunningham reached base on an error, which cut the Neversink FD lead to 8-2.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth, when Neversink FD scored six times to increase its advantage to 14-2. Noren belted a two-run home run, Murphy hit a two-run triple and John Shamro and Andy Garigliano each added an RBI single.
White Lake FD answered with a run in the top of the sixth. With two outs, Brendan Cunningham tripled to left field. He scored when the next batter, Bob Yakin Jr., doubled to center field.
In the bottom of the sixth, Neversink FD scored two runs. With the bases loaded, Mike Garigliano walked to bring Hollenbeck in to score. Noren then crossed the plate when Shamro hit a sacrifice fly.
Neversink FD pitcher Mike Garigliano set down the White Lake FD batters in order in the top of the seventh.
With the win, Neversink FD improved its record to 4-1 on the season. White Lake FD is now 1-4.
Neversink FD is scheduled to return to the field tonight. The team will play Smallwood-Mongaup Valley FD at Edward M. Collins Memorial Park in Mongaup Valley.
White Lake FD is slated to play its next game on Thursday night. The team will host White Sulphur Springs FD at Collins Park. White Lake FD and another team in the league, Monticello FD, play their home games at Collins Park, which is owned and operated by the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley FD.