Aubrey Feiden is ready to make contact with a pitch during first inning action Monday against visiting Polo.
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Gallatin’s girls started slow, finished strong, but came up short Monday night in their 2016 softball opener against Polo.
The Lady Panthers scored five runs in the first five innings then held off the Lady Bulldogs late for a 5-3 Grand River Conference victory that was postponed after the first inning due to nearby lightning.
Polo put together a pair of doubles in the second inning off GHS hurler Sami Boyd, good for a 1-0 lead. Three hits, two walks and an error produced three more PHS runs in the third. A walk and two more miscues led to another Panther run in the fifth.
Gallatin loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning but could not plate a run. Courtney Smith singled and stole second and third to set up a run-scoring fly ball to right field by Karley Salmon in the fifth frame. A double by Boyd, single by Kelsey Maxwell, double by Salmon and single by Aubrey Feiden led to a pair of GHS runs in the sixth.
Courtney Smith slides in safely to second base in the fifth inning. She also stole third and scored the first GHS run of the game.
Boyd doubled again with two outs in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate but the Lady Bulldogs could not continue their rally.
The Lady Bulldogs flashed stellar defense, at times. Courtney Shubert saved a run with a diving catch near the left field foul line. Maxwell, taking over catching duties from her sister, Bailey, threw out a pair of runs trying to steal second base.
Gallatin travels to Unionville on Thursday for more GRC action against the Putnam County girls. They will also participate in the Albany Tournament on Saturday.