CMDR wins defensive battle against Garafolo Holding Corp

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - On Monday, June 8, Garafolo Holding Corp. and CMDR squared off at Onatru Farm Park in a defensive pitchers' duel.

With CMDR leading 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning, GHC was looking to get its leadoff batter aboard, and Jess Van Galen’s sinking bloop into right-center field appeared to do just that. But Laura Whitten had other ideas.

“I saw it coming. I wanted to hold it, I wanted to win it, and I went for it,” said the right-center fielder.

Whitten made a diving catch, and two outs later CMDR had secured the victory.

The game began with early offensive threats. Christine Causa singled to center, and Danielle Autieri doubled her to third with two outs. A line drive up the middle by Toni Ann Licata appeared destined to score two runs, but Doreen Schmitt snared the shot and ended the inning.

CMDR managed only an infield hit by Theresa Pepe in the bottom half, but the quick turnaround allowed Dawn Ianiri to get to work at shortstop. She handled the first ground ball cleanly, and two more groundouts later, Schmitt had her second scoreless inning.

Schmitt then led off the bottom of the second with a single to left. Unfortunately for the home team, GHC had plenty of defensive talent as well. On a pop fly to shallow left-center, Autieri ranged over from shortstop and made the catch.

Third base proved equally solid for GHC. Meg O’Leary fielded Donna Thomas’ sharp grounder and recorded the force out at second. After Kim Iamicelli singled to right with two outs, Causa tracked down Merri Jacobsen’s fly ball to keep the game scoreless.

CMDR continued to shine defensively in the top of the third, as Schmitt retired all three batters she faced. That set the stage for the game’s decisive rally.

Whitten led off the bottom of the inning with a single to right. One out later, Ianiri singled to right-center, putting a runner in scoring position.

Pepe then stepped to the plate.

“She always hits to the right side,” Thomas said of her teammate.

As expected, Pepe delivered, sending a ball through the infield to give CMDR a 1-0 lead.

Wendy O’Connell followed with a groundout to shortstop that brought home a second run. GHC limited further damage thanks to O’Leary, who made a difficult catch on a foul pop-up near third base.

The defensive showcase continued in the fourth. After O’Leary reached on an infield hit and Van Galen added a one-out single to right, Pepe covered plenty of ground in left field. Autieri lifted a fly ball toward the left-field line, but Pepe raced over and made a low running catch.

“Theresa has been playing left field for a while,” Schmitt said. “She can still do it.”

Autieri contributed another highlight in the bottom of the fourth. She snagged Terri Nadeau’s line drive, doubled Schmitt off second base, and then handled another ground ball for the inning’s final out.

Ianiri was just as impressive at shortstop.

“When I was little, my dad was my coach,” she recalled. “If it was near me, I had to catch it and make the play.”

The lesson clearly stuck, as she handled three more ground balls cleanly in the fifth inning.

O’Leary matched the effort in the field. Playing deep at third base, she fielded Jacobsen’s grounder and made a strong throw across the diamond for the leadoff out.

CMDR threatened again in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases, but O’Leary ended the rally by fielding Thomas’ ground ball and stepping on third base for the force out.

With three outs remaining, the game concluded with one final defensive gem. On Sara Ackerman’s high line drive to shortstop, Ianiri ranged to her left and made a leaping catch.

“I didn’t think I still had it,” she said. “But I knew I had to go for it because we needed to end the game.”

Once the final out was recorded, the celebration began. CMDR players gathered in the parking lot to savor the victory and enjoy the camaraderie that has kept many of them coming back year after year.

“It’s fun, and it gets me out of the house,” Peg Perry said, expressing a sentiment she hopes will encourage more local women to join the league.