South Jersey Softball:
Pennsauken Ties Stratford To Clinch 2nd Place

Tuesday, June 29, 1999

By Bob Beatrice
SJSports Special Correspondent

On Tuesday, June 29, Stratford came to Pennsauken for a SJGSA Junior American game. Pennsauken was 11-2, Stratford 10-3. The winner would secure second place and home field advantage for the playoffs. Stratford took the early lead with 2 runs in the first and 3 in the second. Pennsauken managed 1 run in each inning against Stratford's starter, Jess McFerren, but in the fourth, Pennsauken pushed across 4 runs with some good base running. Christina Tofani had the key hit, an RBI single, to make the score Pennsuaken 6 - Stratford 5.

After a 10 minute rain delay, Pennsauken batted in the fifth. Ashley Keich and Randi Beatrice had RBIs to extend the lead to 8-5. Stratford scored one in the fifth on an RBI single by Audrey Mayo. Then another rain delay!

Play resumed in the sixth. Stratford scored 2 to tie the game at 8-8. Pennsauken managed 1 hit in their half of the inning, but couldn't score. Stratford scored an unearned run in the seventh to take the lead, 9-8. Annie Bilinsky started the home seventh with a walk and promptly stole second and third. She scored on a one out ground out by Keich, 9-9. Kristen Green then hit a 2-out single and stole second. A few pitches later she stole third, the throw went into left field, and she hurried home, but the Stratford leftfielder, Mayo, threw a perfect throw to the catcher. As the dust settled the umpire yelled "out". Final score, 9-9.

Pennsauken ended at 11-2-1, second place. They will play at Stratford, next Wednesday night at 8:15 PM, and Friday night at home, 6:15 PM. A third game, if needed, would be played Saturday or Sunday.

The Pennsauken coaching staff, Bob Beatrice, Mike Martino, Larry Ostro and Jim Baird, would like to thank the parents, friends and other fans for their support throughout the season. We would also like to congratulate the players for a great season and wish them good luck in the playoffs! Also good luck to our 3 players in the All-Star Game, Vanna Wortham, Ashley Keich and Randi Beatrice.