Shen keeps Scotties cold

Ballston Spa

A different day and a different opponent for Ballston Spa softball yielded the same result Wednesday afternoon. The identical aspects each day were the Scotties started slowly and allowed six runs.

One day after falling to Averill Park on the road, Ballston Spa fell behind six runs and failed to fire again on offense as Shenendehowa sophomore pitcher Mariana Abate tossed a three-hitter in leading the Lady Plainsmen to a 6-1 Suburban Council victory.

"It was definitely exciting, and a shocker. I thought the game would be higher scoring," Abate said.

In winning its 11th straight contest since suffering a 5-2 season-opening home loss against Colonie, Shenendehowa (11-1 overall, 9-1 Suburban Council) has outscored foes 128-9 during the winning streak.

The Lady Plainsmen, ranked No. 3 in the Class AA state poll, were denied an eighth shutout win in the seventh when Ballston Spa's Paige Davis doubled with two outs to score Caroline Srokowski.

"I wanted it," Abate said of the shutout. "One run will do."

"Mar did a great job in the circle," Shenendehowa coach Chris Farquharson said. "Everything we talked about coming in she did. She hit her spots and challenged the hitters. We like the way she was throwing, so we kept her in there."

Abate took a one-hitter into the seventh. She did not allow her first hit until Davis singled to right with two outs in the fifth.

"I knew this was a big game coming in, so I was a little nervous," Abate said.

Sophia Caputo helped ease Abate's anxiety in the top of the first when the senior left fielder stroked a two-out RBI triple to right to score Ella Hammes.

"Sophia is a good hitter and goes with that pitch on the outside," Farquharson said.

Ballston (6-2, 6-2), which dropped a 6-2 verdict Tuesday, watched Shenendehowa score five...