Sports

Staff report
It was Willie Mays who said, “Defense is the key to playing baseball.” Old timers who got the chance to watch Mays patrol centerfield for the San Francisco Giants understand why Mays was so fond of defense. It was Ted Williams that claimed that with Mays in the outfield, centerfield was a place where triples went to die.

The Margaretville baseball team was served a lesson of the value of defense in Downsville last Thursday. Ten Blue Devils’ fielding miscues erased any chance of winning as Margaretville fell to the Eagles, 11-4.

By John Bernhardt
Patient at the plate, he’s a crafty hitter who runs well, hits in the clutch, and somehow, manages to get himself to first base. Scrappy, smart, and consistent, Roxbury’s senior catcher Spencer Hinkley is gaining a reputation as the offensive catalyst of the Rockets’ baseball team. Hinkley reached base seven times in nine plate appearances, helping Roxbury down South Kortright and Davenport in Delaware League action last week.

Staff report
Margaretville unleashed the long ball blasting a pair of home runs as the Blue Devils downed Stamford 25-9 in girls Delaware League softball play on Monday.
Kelsey Buerge and Rachel Mathiesen went yard with homeruns in the fourth and fifth innings, driving home a combined seven runs. Margaretville trailed 6-5 before the Blue Devils’ long ball explosion.
Mathiesen tossed a three-hitter, striking out seven. The win evens Margaretville’s record at 2-2. The Blue Devils are 2-0 in Delaware League play.

Roxbury softball

Delhi — The Delhi College Golf Course has opened for the season with “early spring conditions.” Golf carts and the driving range are also now available. 

Special rates at the 18-hole course are in effect through April 14. Walkers will pay $12 for nine holes and $18 for 18 holes. Cart riders will pay $20 for nine holes and $25 for 18 holes. The College Golf Course at Delhi is located at 85 Scotch Mountain Road, Delhi.

PGA Professional Dave Arehart manages the course and is available for lessons. Call 607 746-4791 or email arehardb@delhi.edu for information.

Staff report
He did it with his bat, he did it was his glove, he did it with his pitching arm, and he did it with his legs. Blue Devil Matt VanValkenburg was a multipurpose weapon Wednesday as the Margaretville baseball team downed Roxbury, 11-3, in its non-league home opener.

By John Bernhardt
Roxbury’s Marissa Greene was making up for lost time in the Rockets’ softball opener at home. Injuries in both her sophomore and junior seasons prevented Greene from getting much time on the softball field. Friday, Greene started anew, pounding out four hits and scoring four times as Roxbury launched a new softball season by beating Margaretville, 24-9.

Staff report
Defending champion Jefferson scored four times to break open a 5-5 tie and then held on to squeak past visiting Margaretville, 9-8, in the Delaware League opener for both teams Monday afternoon. Four Jefferson base hits, the big blow a two-run Jimmy Reese single, proved to be Margaretville’s undoing.

The Margaretville Central School Varsity Tennis Team raised its league record to 2-0 Thursday when they defeated visiting Windham-Ashland-Jewett, 4-3. Margaretville won its first match on Wednesday by default over Charlotte Valley.

Staff report
When Margaretville’s Kyle Short and Gilboa’s Hunter Grace match wits on the baseball mound, you don’t want to miss it. The two junior pitching aces started off throwing strikes in Thursday’s opener, right where they left off in a season-ending contest at Cooperstown’s Double Day Field last year. The Blue Devils outlasted their hosts, 4-3, holding back a final-inning Wildcats’ rally to earn a nail-biting win.

Allowed two hits

By John Bernhardt
Runs came in bunches Thursday in the fifth inning of Roxbury’s baseball opener. Visiting Stamford plated four runs in the top of the inning to build an 8-3 lead, but Roxbury rallied to score eight times in their half of the inning. The eight-run explosion provided just enough Rocket power as Roxbury held on to register an 11-10 season-opening win.

Two infield errors and a walk spotted Stamford two runs in the first. Roxbury scored two runs of their own to even things up in their first at bat of the season.

Battling back