By Jordan J. Michael

VOORHEESVILLE –– It took a few swings, but the Lady Birds’ softball team eventually broke through the cold.

Tuesday’s chilly home game against Cobleskill had wind, rain, and a spat of hail. Some players wore hooded sweatshirts over their jerseys to keep warm.

“Playing in this awful weather isn’t ideal,” said Voorheesville Head Coach Matt Fiato. “But, it’s important to get all the games in.”

The Lady Birds wouldn’t remain cold for too long, stringing together five hits for five runs in the fifth inning. Voorheesville held the Bulldogs scoreless after that and went on to win, 7 to 2.

“Everything changed when we started hitting,” said sophomore Kelsey Wegener, who plays first base. “We felt more confident.”

Senior Elizabeth Madden capped off the fifth inning rally with a hit to short center field that couldn’t be caught by Kristine Hay. Gabby Liguori was walked by Cobleskill pitcher Brooke Slater in the next at bat, and Madden and Liguori scored on a hit by Grace Ziamandanis. The throw to home was off the mark and Ziamandanis reached third base.

Jen Brousseau laid down a nice bunt, scoring Ziamandanis, while the Bulldogs stood around waiting for the ball to drift foul. It never did and Voorheesville had a 5-to-2 lead with one out.

Fiato told The Enterprise that Cobleskill usually puts up a good fight, but his team was hungry for a win after losing its last three games to Holy Names, Cohoes, and Hoosic Valley. “We need all the wins we can get,” he said.

Amanda Gatt continued the illustrious fifth inning for the Lady Birds when her fly ball dropped in right field, scoring Brousseau. Gatt eventually added the last run of the day off a single by Brittany Fahd.

The game looked like it might change course in the top of the fourth inning after a great defensive play by Wegener. With the Bulldogs up, 2 to 1, and threatening with no outs, Wegener grabbed a scorching hit by Danielle Lockwood and stepped on first base for the double play. Voorheesville ended up scoring the tying run in the bottom half.

“I saw it coming and just stuck my glove out,” Wegener said after the game. “I think that play gave us a boost because we were a lot more focused afterwards.”

Senior Alexa Dillenbeck pitched her first complete game of the season for the Lady Birds and struck out five. “I didn’t see anything that great from their batters,” she said.

Dillenbeck was injured at the beginning of the season and it has altered the way she performs. “I don’t really pitch like I used to,” she said. Dillenbeck has a slower delivery than Gatt, but more movement.

“Gatt has been pitching really well,” said Dillenbeck. Gatt held Hoosic Valley to one hit. “I’d rather have her out there.”

Voorheesville is 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the Colonial Council after Tuesday’s win. The team is hoping to make sectionals after missing out the last two years.

“I think we can make it because we have all the ingredients,” said Fiato. “We have to put it all together.”

The Lady Birds are young, but Dillenbeck and the other seniors are lending a helpful hand.

“You’ll always have some bugs with a young team,” Dillenbeck said. “We’re like technology. We’ll improve after a few different models.”