Border Country Sports Blog-March 26th
Good Morning! With the Border Country Sports Blog, I'm Keith Harrington.
The blog is running a little late this morning. However,I have a great excuse. When your mom texts you and asks if we want to go to breakfast at Rathbun's, suddenly getting the blog written doesn't seem like such an important part to the morning!
Anyway, now that my stomach is full with some french toast, bacon and awesome maple syrup, here I go with today's blog post.
It's Almost Softball Time-Games I want to see!
As the spring weather starts to slowly but surely edge its way into the area, spring sports are getting under way. No offense to baseball. I enjoy it to, but I am a softball guy. Today I dug around and found my Florida Gators hat to wear for the first time this season. Tim Walton is my favorite college coach and I am a big fan of Florida softball. Next weekend I will begin my college broadcast schedule for NSN with a Williams College doubleheader. Yes, it's almost softball time and there are some games in the Adirondack League I can't wat to watch.
First off, I am looking forward to the Lake George vs. Whitehall matchups. Last year the ADK powers squared off three times. The Railroaders won at Lake George during the regular season on a huge home run from Olivia Whiting. The Warriors came back to beat the Railroaders in the ADK title game and the Class C sectionals by identical 7-0 scores.
Whitehall lost only two players from last year's team to graduation, Kyrie Smith and Zoe Eggleston. The remainder of the squad is scheduled to return including the pitching duo of Madsion Gould and Vinna Jensen. Lake George lost Tyler Bergman who is now playing Division I softball at Missouri, along with Alli Zilm, Rachel Jaeger, Madeline Gorey and Megan Durkin. There are still plenty of weapons for Lake George including power hitting pitcher Shannon Starratt, infielder Olivia Gates, Samantha Gorey and McKenna Barber among others.
The Warriors and the Railroaders are scheduled to meet this season in Whitehall on May 4th. I already have it circled on the calender.
Another interesting team to watch this season will be the Granville Golden Horde. Granville returns the solid battery of pitcher Lauren Bascom and catcher Haylie Barber. The Golden Horde graduated Lexyss Zovistoski, Haley Corlew, Caroline Gould, Briana Ferrin and Alexis Taylor, but still feature a lot of weapons. Rachel Beaver, Melissa Beaver, Raegan Swain, Hannah Ingleston and Jordan Chadwick are among the returners to watch.
Last year Granville was swept by Whitehall, falling 13-4 early in the season, and 3-0 in extra innings later on. The Golden Horde fell to Lake George 3-2. This season Granville hosts Whitehall on April 29th and plays home to Lake George May 6th.
Other teams to watch in the league based on last season at Salem and Warrensburg. The Generals lost to Lake George a year ago, but defeated Whitehall 1-0 and swept Granville in a pair of meetings. Salem took the biggest hit through graduation, but should never be counted out. Salem plays at Whitehall April 8th, Warrensburg at home on April 25h, at Lake George April 27th and at Granville May 4th.
Warrensburg had a solid season in 2020-2021, but lost several seniors. Sara Langworthy, Nayana DeAmelia, Jordan Barker all were lost, but the battery of Kara and Kailey Bacon are expected to lead the way for the Burghers.
Warrensburg plays at Whitehall April 4th, hosts rival Lake George April 11th, a Salem April 2th and at Granville May 2nd.
Some great games are on tap. Now we just need the weather to dry up, the practices and scrimmages to be completed and the regular season to get started. I for one can't wait. See you at the fields.
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With the Border Country Sports Blog, I'm Keith Harrington.
