Delaney: No batting helmets, no problem

The Westmoreland softball team wasn't quite ready to go Monday afternoon for its CSC Division III game with Oriskany. When it came time for the Bulldogs to bat in the bottom of the first inning, someone realized they didn't have their batting helmets. Lead-off hitter Molly Peckham had to use an Oriskany helmet while teammate Lea Wolak ran to school to get the black bag.

Westmoreland rallied for two unearned runs to defeat previously unbeaten and state-ranked Oriskany. The Redskins (13-1) are good team. Overall they play smart defense and I have a feeling they go far again.

Generally, I'm not a fan of softball chants. It's fun to hear the high school players do them - they seem to be having such fun - but they get stuck in my head like a bad song. Things were pretty quiet in both dugouts Monday, but Oriskany had a good for right fielder Colleen Foose. Foose wears No. 9 and when she came up to bat early in the game, her teammates yelled: Niner, niner, rip down the liner, Foose, Foose, Foose. The Foose-Foose-Foose part was done in a collective deep voice and I think that's what makes the chant cool.