Butler does it again; IR's Jones unusual at short

In two Section III softball tournament games, New Hartford pitcher Haley Butler has given up one hit, struck out 24 and walked two. Not a bad line for a player who split  time at the position with teammate Stephanie Romanow during the season. 

 

"She's a good pitcher," New Hartford coach John Cunningham said. "She doesn't pitch every day. It's my fault I pitch her evenly with Stephanie. She pitched a lot last year and overpowered some people and got great results."

 

Heading into Wednesday's Class A semfinal against Tri Valley League rival Oneida, a team that beat New Hartford twice during the season, Cunningham might want to stay with Butler. Romanow played third Saturday in New Hartford's 8-0 semifinal win over Indian River.

 

Indian River lead off hitter Kwanishia Jones is the Warriors shortstop. She is also left-handed, a rare sight in softball and baseball because of a longstanding belief that first base is the only infield position for lefties. The rationale is a left-handed middle infielder has more trouble turning a double play, though this is less true for a shortstop than the second baseman. With more left-handed hitters in the game now, there is really no reason a lefty couldn't be a catcher. 

 

Jones, a point guard on the school's basketball team, was one of the best athletes on the field against New Hartford on Saturday. Jones' athletic skill ultimately won over Warriors coach Ryan Lanigan. Following conventional thinking, Lanigan was determined to put Jones in the outfield when she came up to varsity two years ago.

 

"She wanted to play there. It's her quickness and speed," Lanigan marveled.