Seeing green

By Pete Chiodo

May 13, 2008 11:47 pm

— CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — The Union City softball team has had a thorn stuck in its paw since mid-April. That thorn was in the shape of a month-old 8-2 loss to Cambridge Springs, the Bears’ lone blemish on an otherwise spotless regular season run.
On Tuesday, Union City finally got relief, scratching across a run in the seventh inning to beat the Blue Devils 1-0 during a scintillating Region 2 finale at Baird Field.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so pumped,” said Union City catcher Megan Brown. “We’ve been working for this game ever since we lost to them the first time. We’ve just been thinking about that game over and over and over.”
Bears outfielder Lori Beth Nunemaker agreed, saying “The last game (against Cambridge Springs) was our motivation for the rest of the season. So we’re pretty psyched that we won this one.”
The win earned the Bears the title of 2008 Region 2 champs. With a 17-1 record overall and in the region, it is Union City’s first league title since 2003.
“This is one of the best bunch of kids that I’ve worked with in the last 14 years,” said Bears coach Jerry VanZandt. “I’m awful pleased to see them get this. Especially under the circumstances, because (Cambridge Springs) is one of the most talented teams, I think, in the state. And for us to find a way to get that win right there, that’s a pretty big deal.”
The win also interrupted Cambridge Springs’ run of three consecutive Region 2 titles. The Lady Blue Devils finish up in second place in the league at 16-3 overall and 16-2 in the region.
“It was a great fast-pitch softball game,” said Spa coach Mark McKissock. “They got a timely hit and we didn’t. Both pitchers did a great job. Both catchers did a great job. Timely hitting was the name of the game.”
In the top of the seventh inning, Nunemaker led off with a fly-ball single that fell dead-center of the infield just in front of the grass. Bethany Mongera moved Nunemaker to second with a sacrifice bunt.
With two down, Brown stepped into the box.
“I had a feeling, as soon she got up to bat, that this was going to be the hit that won the game,” Nunemaker said.
Brown turned on a 1-0 offering from Cambridge ace Stephanie Baer, lining it hard to the left side. Devils short stop Kristen Humes stretched out full-length to get her glove on it.
“I thought she had it,” said Brown. “I saw it hit the glove and I was ... I was going to just keep going.”
However, the ball only nicked Humes’ glove. The liner powered over it and fell into left field. Nunemaker hustled home, breaking the scoreless tie in front of a riotous Union City bench.
The game went to the bottom of the seventh. Bears pitcher Carrie Williams coaxed the first two batters into ground balls. But Devils second baseman Jessica Schaefer rapped a double to center field to prolong the game.
Williams wasn’t phased.
“I was okay with that,” said Williams. “I knew they were gong to have one hit or another, cause, you know, the adrenaline is running. I was just happy it wasn’t over the fence.”

Pete Chiodo can be reached at 724-6370 ext. 275 or by e-mail at pchiodo@meadvilletribune.com.