Mohonasen softball begins season with 14-4 win over Albany

Softball player swings at pitch — PHOTOGRAPHER: - -

Mohonasen's Kiera Rogers swings at a pitch Monday. She went 3-for-4 at the plate, with three RBI during the Mighty Warriors' season opener against Albany. (Kyle Adams/The Daily Gazette)

ROTTERDAM — The Mohonasen softball team kicked off its 2023 season with a big 14-4 victory over Albany in a non-league contest on Monday afternoon.

All of the scoring in the game was done in the first three innings, as the Warriors got off to a strong start. Mohonasen scored five runs in each of the first two innings, then put up a four-spot in the third.

“I’m excited to see what we can do,” said Kiera Rogers, who started the game for Mohonasen. “We’re a little young, but we definitely have a good team this year. We’ve got a lot of talent.”

Rogers went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in three runs. Alyssa Albenese was 2-for-3, also with three RBI. Kelsey Stickney reached base five times, as she collected two hits and three walks. Maritza Gonzalez added two hits, while Abby Quenneville went 1-for-4 with two RBI.

“We’ve got a very quick team this year and I want to use them all to their full potential,” Mohonasen coach Bianca Bojarczuk said, who didn’t waste any time calling for bunts and stolen bases in the early season contest. “Speed is definitely our advantage and if we can get bunts down with runners on, that’s going to help us score some runs.”

Gonzalez, Rogers and Stickney each picked up two stolen bases, while Albenese and Quenneville each stole one.

Rogers went three innings inside the circle to start the game, allowing four runs, three of which were earned, to pick up the win. She walked four and struck out six, while allowing just one hit. Albenese took over in the fourth and proceeded to throw four scoreless innings on two hits and one walk, striking out four.

With a 10-run advantage, Mohonasen needed just two more runs to bring an end to the cold, windy season-opener, as they sought to claim a mercy-rule win.

Albany’s Haley Farrell, who relieved Laila Baum in the third inning, was successful in slowing down Mohonasen’s offense and forcing the game to go the complete seven innings.

“Yes, I was, desperately, but that’s all right,” Bojarczuk said, wishing her team had scored the two additional runs. “It’s something we’ll work on in the future.”

Farrell pitched four innings, allowing just one run on five hits and one walk, with four strikeouts.

“They toughed it out in the end,” Rogers said of Albany. “It was very chilly today, so I’m excited for the warm weather that’s coming. Overall we played well today, got off to a good start and I’m looking forward to what we can do.”

“No matter what else is going on, everyone is really positive and everyone shows up ready to play softball,” Rogers added. “I’m really grateful for that.”

The Warriors (1-0) kick off Colonial Council action on Wednesday with a tough matchup against the defending NYSPHSAA Class B champions, Ichabod Crane.

Images: Mohonasen softball opens season with win (10 photos)