Its bad enough trying to hit Rhinebeck softball ace pitcher, Megan Michie, during the regular season but she seems to turn things up another notch in the postseason. Visiting Millbrook found that out the hard way on Wednesday afternoon as Michie spun a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts to help lead the Hawks to a 3-0 blanking of the Blazers in a Section 9, Class C playoff contest at Rhinebeck High School.Michie, the talented righty, recorded the game's first six outs via the strikeout route. In all, she struck out the side three times. Michie finished the perfect afternoon for softball with 14 whiffs while hitting one batter with a pitch. Michie yielded her only hit of the game in the fourth but the runner was quickly erased trying to stretch the hit in to a double when left fielder Paige Albano threw a bullet to Candace Bernitt to get the baserunner by 10 feet.
The Hawks finally broke through for their first runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after threatening in the opening two innings. Paige Albano smoked a double and advanced to third on Karen Kirker's basehit. Michie helped her own cause with a RBI single with another run scoring on a fielder's choice.
Rhinebeck added another insurance tally in the fifth inning when Amy Mandigo led off the frame with a single and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Turpin. Mandigo scored easily when Albano scorched her second two-bagger of the game.
Albano had a big day with the two doubles and an outfield assist. Heather Hanaburgh had two singles as did Amy Mandigo. Mandigo also scored a run for the winners. Becky Ferry, Karen Kirker, Michie and Candace Bernitt also had singles for the Hawks.
Rhinebeck, the defending New York State Champions for Class C and 16th-ranked team in Class C in the recent sports writer's poll, will travel to Chester on Thursday to tangle with the state's third-ranked team in the state. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
