Renata Round-Tripper Highlights County All-Star Game
DALTON, Mass. – Lee sophomore Kamryn Renata stole the show at Thursday’s Berkshire County Softball All-Star game, belting a three-run, inside-the-park home run in the top of the sixth inning to help her team to an 8-4 win at Pine Grove Park.
Renata went 2-for-3 in her three plate appearances for “Team Downer,” coached by Monument Mountain coach Jamie Downer.
Downer’s squad got the better of Team Belcher, helmed by Dustin Belcher of host Wahconah.
The game doubles each June as an opportunity for the Berkshire County Board of Softball Officials to recognize outstanding sportsmanship throughout the spring season.
On Thursday night, the area’s umpires recognized Wahconah senior Ella Quinto and Hoosac Valley senior Abby Bird with the county’s Sportsmanship Award.
The umpires also took time to recognize one of their own, Tom Morandi, on 32 years of service to the sport in the area.
After the awards and the pregame introductions, Team Downer wasted no time getting down to the business of scoring runs.
Drury’s Brooke Bishop reached on a two-out infield single in the top of the first to ignite a four-run rally.
Mount Greylock’s Emma Newberry drove her in with a double to right center, and Drury’s Marley Brothers, Hoosac Valley’s Rylynn Witek and Mount Greylock’s Kami Sweet each singled before Team Belcher could get that elusive third out.
It then answered with a run in the bottom of the first after Mount Everett’s Julia Devoti singled, moved up on a single from Pittsfield’s Mia Alfonso and came around on a couple of pitches that got to the backstop.
Team Belcher then chipped away at Team Downer’s lead, scoring runs in the second and the fifth to make it a 4-3 game.
In the second, Wahconah’s Emma Belcher started the inning with a single up the middle and eventually came home on an RBI groundout from Pittsfield’s Amanda Pou.
In the fifth, Wahconah’s Dani Barry drew a one-out walk and scored on a sacrifice bunt from Lenox’s Grace Juliano.
Witek, one of four pitchers for Team Belcher, closed the door with a strikeout to end the fifth with a runner on third, and Team Downer put the game out of reach in the sixth.
Hoosac Valley’s Danielle Glasier walked and Mount Greylock’s Abby Whitley singled ahead of Renata’s blast to the deep right field at Pine Grove.
Team Downer extended its lead to 8-3 in the seventh when Witek walked, went to third on Sweet’s single and scored on an RBI single by Lee’s Kylie Joyce.
Team Belcher struck for one in the bottom of the seventh. Again, it was Devoti getting things started, this time with a single up the middle. She then came all the way around on Alfonso’s double.
Pou and Pittsfield teammate Jordynn Bazinet took turns in the circle for Team Belcher, striking out 11 between them.
Witek, Sweet, Lee’s Bri Lynch and Drury’s Danielle Harnick divided up the pitching duties for Team Downer.
Team Downer
Lee’s Brianna Lynch, Kamryn Renata, Kylie Joyce; Monument Mountain’s Elee Hull, Alex Tenney, Bella Viola; Hosac Valley’s Rylynn Witek, Abby Bird, Danielle Glasier; Mount Greylock’s Emma Newberry, Kami Sweet, Abby Whitely, A.J. Pelkey; Drury’s Danielle Harnick, Marley Brothers, Brooke Bishop.
Team Belcher
Lenox’s Hailey Ano, Aliza Munch, Grace Julieano; Wahconah’s Emma Belcher, Dani Barry, Ella Quinto; Pittsfield’s Jordynn Bazinet, Amanda Pou, Mia Alphonso; Taconic’s Anna Bongini, Leena Schettini, Laynie Burke; Mount Everett’s Julia Devoti, Emma Goeway; McCann Tech’s Emma Moser.