Rug Sox, Honeys play for women’s softball title

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Marisa Estrella of the Late Fees collided with Rug Sox catcher Emily Billing and jarred the ball loose to score. Umpire Richie Roy watched the play. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

The Women’s Slow Pitch Softball League will crown a new champion this year. The top seed and defending champion Snaps were dismissed, 8-5, on August 16 by the streaking Rug Sox, who are peaking at the perfect time.

The fifth seeded Sox broke open a 4-3 game with four runs in the sixth, keyed by Sam Cleland’s two-run double. Lizzie Andrews had one RBI and one run scored.

The Sox advanced in the double-elimination playoffs to meet the Late Fees on Tuesday night, with a berth in the women’s finals on the line.

The Fees got the better of the Sox in the regular season and beat them in the first playoff meeting. This time would be different as the Rug Sox clinched a spot in the finals for the first time with a 7-5 win.

After a scoreless first inning, the Rug Sox struck for three in the second. Katherine Clark led off with a home run, and Wink Cron batted in a pair.

The Late Fees fought back to tie the game in the fourth. Laura Kimble lined a two-run single, Emily Williston had an RBI, and Marisa Estrella scored after jarring the ball loose from Rug Sox catcher Emily Billing following a collision at the plate. Billing, who got the worst of the it, dusted herself off and stayed in the game.

Her teammates, as they had done against the Snaps, rallied with four runs in the sixth to lead 7-3. Virginia Clark, Julie Pringle, Alyssa Carpenter, Sam Cron all got on base and Jen Ingraham hit a deep fly to center that scored two.

The Fees countered with two in the seventh but came up short.

The finals get underway Thursday night at 6:15pm at Veterans Park. Waiting for the Rug Sox are the Honeys, who have been flawless in the playoffs.

The third seeded Honeys have won three championships in the league’s seven years and look primed to claim a fourth. They beat the Shady Ladies in the first playoff game, outlasted the Snaps in a ten-inning marathon, and humbled the Late Fees, 10-3, on August 16, to earn a week off.

With the double elimination format in place, the Rug Sox (3-1 in the playoff tournament) need to beat the Honeys (3-0) twice to win the title. The Honeys need to win once. Should the Sox take the opener, the date and time of game two will be determined.