Port Jeff girls lose to Rhinebeck, earn LI 'C' title

SLATE HILL, N.Y. - Anastasia Lennon turned to the Port Jefferson dugout and smiled, realizing that she and her teammates were no match for Rhinebeck pitcher Megan Michie on this day.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Michie was just four outs from a perfect game. The Royals, down five at the time, saw a loss on the horizon. But they weren't going out like that.

Lennon singled to left to spoil Michie's perfect game, and Chelsea Tamuk added an infield single in the seventh for the lone Port Jefferson hits in their 5-0 loss to Rhinebeck (Section IX) in the Southeast Regional Class C final at Minisink Valley High School on Tuesday evening.

Though Rhinebeck has ended the Royals' season the last three years, Port Jeff coach Deb Brown was happy Michie didn't retire 21 of her girls in a row.

"It's great we were able to get a couple hits," Brown said. "We've faced [Michie] the past two years in this game, so we knew what we were in for."

Lennon did a little jig when she reached first base. It was certainly reason to celebrate, as Michie completed her two-hitter with 11 strikeouts, including punch-outs of six of the first eight Port Jeff hitters.

Mollie Gibson (18-7) ran into trouble in the third when she allowed back-to-back RBI singles by Becky Ferry and Paige Albano and then a sacrifice fly to Karen Kirker to give Rhinebeck (18-6) a 4-0 lead.

Port Jeff earns LI C title. In the first game at Minisink Valley, the Royals beat East Rockaway, 22-7, to earn their third straight Long Island Class C title. Morgan Sakovich went 5-for-5 with five RBIs and four runs, and Michiko McGivney was 2-for-3 with three walks, an RBI and three runs.

Port Jeff had 19 total hits.