Bears Upset Pelham in Quarters, Can't Get Past Top-Seeded Harrison in Semifinals

BREWSTER - After upsetting Pelham in the Class A quarterfinals last Tuesday on the road, the Brewster High softball team was unable to generate any offense in Thursday's semifinal at Harrison, and ended up dropping a 2-0 decision to the top-seeded Huskies.

Left: Brewster hurler Jess Griesinger and the Bears were unable to get past top-seeded Harrison last week. Photo by Skip Pearlman Harrison went on to lose to Pearl River in the Class A championship game.

Brewster closes a solid spring season at 17-6.

Thursday against Harrison (20-3), No. 5 Brewster couldn't get anything going against Huskie ace Ashley Marino, who struck out five and allowed just two hits without a walk.

Jess Griesinger was also strong for the Bears (allowing five hits), but gave up a leadoff double to open the Harrison fourth, followed by a two-run homer off the bat of Bre Scapperotti, and that was the difference.

"It was a very good game," Bears coach Lisa Delzio said. "Harrison is a very good team, and we knew going in that it would be a one- or two-run game. To their credit, they ran and fielded very well."

Kristen Sliman had an RBI in Brewster's win over Pelham in the Class A quarterfinals. The Bears had their chances, but couldn't string anything together.

"We had runners on second and third with one out in the first inning… we had opportunities," Delzio said. "We couldn't get them in. But Jess pitched well, she retired the first nine prior to the double."

Brewster knocked off fourth-seeded Pelham, 4-1, the prior Tuesday on the road.

Kelly Bentson had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the seventh, when the Pelicans touched her up for a single and a double to score a run, but that was it. Bentson fanned six without a walk.

Kerry Davis took the loss for the Pelicans, who closed at 18-3.

Brewster took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, then added two in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Christina Graff went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Ally Ali, Kristen Sliman and Griesinger each drove in a run for the Bears.

"The girls played fantastic," Delzio said. "We played solid defense. Nicole Chiudina played outstanding defense at second, and Kelly pitched a great game. Graff also had a big day at the plate for us, she was on base four times."