Sophomore Day!

This past weekend the SUNY Orange Colts played against the Sharks from Suffolk County for this year's Sophomore Day. There are three Sophomores who will soon play their last games in a SUNY Orange Colts uniform, #4 Molly Martin, #5 Dawn Grover and #25 Madeline Brennan in two seasons the three athletes have appeared in over 55 games have had almost a combined 500 at bats with 474 and are responsible for 158 hits for a total of 139 runs (up to 4/23/2024) and with a few more games in the regular season.

The Sophomore from Pine Bush, NY #4 Molly Martin has seen all parts of the field in her two seasons  playing wherever the coach needed her and no matter she will always be the one cheering on her teammates and always knew how to bring the energy. No matter what the score was you were always able to hear the shout of Molly Martin. In 66 games played Molly has 172 at bats for 54 hits and 40 runs batted in for a batting average of .314. Molly has 14 total extra base hits, 2 homeruns, 3 triples and 9 doubles, with 75 total bases she has scored 40 runs and stole 5 bases while getting caught stealing just twice. Martin has played multiple positions in the past two seasons but has spent most of her time on the pitcher's mound, for a total of 166.1 innings Martin has given up 272 hits for 176 runs and has struck out 124 batters giving her an ERA of 5.56.

Next is the Sophomore from Washingtonville, NY #5 Dawn Grover and over the past two years has been a defensive monster in Center Field, anytime there was a high fly ball hit Dawns way you will hear Coach Rywalt say "Oh Dawns got it" and at a certain point the rest of the team would take notice and would know that Dawn was going to get the out one way or another. In 65 games she has a total of almost 200 at bats sitting at 194 tallying 72 hits and 37 runs batted in. Grover is currently tied with teammate Gianna Catletti for most at bats this season, Grover holds the #2 spot on the team for most hits this season and leads the team with walks as she has reached first base 24 times just this season on ball four calls. Dawn is also not one to take lightly once she reaches base as she has reached base 58 times and has come around to score 47 times and with 14 stolen bases she is in the lead for her team by a large margin. Out in Center Field means that any ball hit that way can lead to a few bases and Dawn knew what needed to be done, out of 124 total chances she converted 107 of them into outs earning 6 assists and just 11 errors for a fielding percentage of .911.

Last but not least is #25 Madeline Brennan from Salisbury Mills NY, who Coach Rywalt describes her as the multi tool player someone who played almost every position on the field and when coach needed her most to pitch a shutout game he knew he could count on #25. This season Madeline has appeared and started in 4 games this season and so far has yet to let up a single run. In 20.0 innings pitched this season Brennan has struck out 21 batters and has only allowed 6 hits for an ERA of 0.00. Due to last season's struggles on the mound she has pitched a total of 25.1 innings allowing 21 hits, 19 runs and has struck out 23 batters since last season. In 58 games played she has walked up to the plate for a total of 108 times and has recorded 32 hits for 19 runs batted in, walked 23 times and has struck out 15 times for a batting average of .296. Brennan was never one to be hitting home runs as she only tallied 7 total doubles but that does not mean she was one to forget about. Reaching base a total of 39 times she has come around and scored 26 times and has 4 stolen bases. Playing multiple positions called for Brennan to be at the top of her game with very little room for errors. In 120 total chances Brennan has put away 80 runners and 23 assists while only having 17 total errors for a fielding percentage of .858.

Gianna Catletti was a huge help in game one for the Colts striking out 10 batters as she led the Colts past the Sharks by a score of 8-1 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Mary B. Diana Softball Field. For the first two innings both teams were held scoreless until the Sharks of Suffolk County broke things open and scored in the top of the third inning due to a single. The Colts were able to capture the lead right after giving up, they responded back scoring 4 runs after an error scored one run from some heads up baserunning and a 3-run homerun from Nicole Imhoff deep into center field to give the Colts their first lead of the game. Nicole Imhoff led the Colts with 3 runs batted in, the third baseman went 1-2 with one hit and a walk. There were 4 recorded hits for the Colts and 3/4 came from the sophomores Molly Martin, Dawn Grover (her second recorded triple on the year) and Madeline Brennan all recorded a hit in game one. The Colts had great patience at the plate collecting nine walks for the game. Jaylee Ramos, Gabriella Olivo and Madeline Brennan led the team each with two walks. Along with the great day on the offensive side the Colts were able to turn one double play and did not commit a single error. Catcher Jaylee Ramos made the most plays with 10. Winning the game by a seven run margin with a score of 8-1 this marks their 11th win in a row. 

After a windy game one the sun decided to make an appearance for game two. The Colts took care of business and won big over the Sharks scoring 9 runs to Suffolk's 3 gives the Colts their 12th win in a row. SUNY Orange were able to put points on the board first as in the bottom of the first inning thanks to Jaylee Ramos and Nicole Imhoff who each got on base scoring one run, Imhoff later extended the lead to 3-1 after walking in a run in the bottom of the third inning. The Sharks were later able to tie things up at 3 runs each before a 4 run inning from the Colts thanks to Ramos who walked scoring a run, Imhoff who singled scoring a run and Madeline Brennan hitting a two run double to make the score 7-3. Pitcher Molly Martin earned the win in game two allowing four hits and three runs over six innings while striking out five batters and walking just one. Nicole Imhoff once again led the team with three runs batted in finishing off the game going 1-2 with two walks, Dawn Grover had the most hits in game number two. In five at bats Grover reached base three different times and ended up scoring on two of the three. Gianna Catletti had the second most hits in the game going 2-4 with one walk, she came around to score one time and earned one run batted in. Another patient game for the Colts as it seemed as if they knew what the call was going to be before the ball was released. Tallying 12 walks for the game, Jaylee Ramos and Gabriella Olivo led the team with 3 base on balls each and another great defensive game for the Colts as they did not commit any errors with Catcher Lindsay Keane completing the most plays with six. 

The Colts will get their long awaited rematch against the undefeated Lady Knights from Community College of Rhode Island.