Losing 17-11 to the STV Scrappers wasn't exactly the way the
Fordham Young Alumni softball team wanted to open their season, but the guys and gals in maroon made enough of a showing to give fans something to look forward to this season.
Crafty pitching from Brian "Strikes" Cuthbert (FCLC '01) and solid defense kept Fordham in the game through the first three frames. Alexis "The Cannon" Kramer (FCRH '01) led the glovework, getting four of the team's first six outs in the field, including an unassisted double play in the second. The outfield of Jason "Wheels" Giannitti (FCRH '02), Kevin "I'm not a small" Rodricks (FCRH '99, GSAS '04) and Larry "Young at Heart" Porco (GSAS '80) turned in some key plays to keep things close. STV lead after three 3-0.
David "I live on the same block as Charlie" Murphy (FCRH '04) finally put Fordham on the board with a bases loaded two run single, scoring Christine "Nickname to be named later" Schildknecht (CBA '99) and Giannitti. Charlie "Its my blog, so I make the nicknames" O'Donnell (CBA '01) singled home another run to knot it at three. 
Kramer than followed with a laser over the left fielder for a two run homer that put Fordham ahead 5-3.
After STV got one back, Fordham tacked on even more runs in the next frame. The team had eight consecutive hits in the fifth, plating six more runs. Fordham's females set things up in the inning with Christine "Christine" Guerrero (FCRH '99), Sofia "Steamroller" Won (CBA '03), and Schildknecht all reaching base and scoring. Jim "The Wright Stuff" Gallagher (CBA '99) drove in a run with his second hit and also scored a run. Murphy, O'Donnell, and Cuthbert all took part in the barrage, each hitting run scoring singles.
All the hitting seemed to wear down the Fordham team, though, as the wheels came off the train in the sixth and seventh. Despite flashy glovework from Nicole "Full Coverage"* Horsford (FCRH '99) at first, the defense didn't keep up, leaving opportunities open for STV to climb back and take a sizable lead with some timely hitting. When it was finally over, STV would score five in the six and a painful eight in the seventh--13 unanswered runs. Still, Fordham left the field in good spirits, looking forward to its April 21st practice and next game on Friday the 29th.
All Fordham alumni are welcome to join us at our practice and afterwards at our regular "Third Thursday" Happy Hour. T. G. Whitney's on 53rd between 2nd and 3rd. Practice first, drink after. Players will be signing autographs at the bar.
* See, the "Full Coverage" nickname is funny only if you know that Nicole works for HIP, the health plan. She works for a health plan and she plays a great first base. Clever, no?