In a winner-take-all matchup at the Petrova Avenue softball diamond, The Lanes scored early and often on the way to a 14-1 victory over Blue Line to win the league title for the fifth consecutive year.

This summer, the league playoffs followed a double-elimination format, and heading into Friday’s deciding game, both teams had beaten each other once. In their last meeting, Blue Line Insurance staved off elimination by earning an 18-16 victory in a slug fest, but couldn’t keep the hot bats going. Instead, it was The Lanes pounding the ball and piling up the runs. They scored four times in the top of the first and tacked on another four runs in their next at-bat to take an 8-0 edge before Blue Line finally got its only run in the bottom of the second.

The Lanes added their last six runs during the fifth and sixth innings. They put 22 runners on base during the game while Blue Line only saw nine of its batters reach base in the contest.

“We really hit the ball tonight. The last game, not so good,” said Terry Buckley, a captain for The Lanes. “We were upset that we didn’t win it Wednesday, so I guess we did a good job making up for it tonight. We’ve been in the league five years, and that’s how many titles we have. We just work well together.”

Lindsay Reeve of The Lanes drives the ball for a home run during the sixth inning of Friday’s championship game against Blue Line Insurance at Petrova Avenue. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Sam Dora had a big day at the plate for the winners, finishing with three double and five RBIs. Lindsay Reeve also belted a home run in the victory.

“We were the top two teams all season,” said Kelly Gonyo, the league president who plays for Blue Line Insurance. “This was the battle of the bats, and tonight we just weren’t hitting. Our fielding was on, we just didn’t have the bats going like last game.

When asked if it was a disappointing outcome, Gonyo replied with a smile “No. Not at all.

“They are a young team with a lot of talent, and we’re an older group with a lot of history,” she continued. “We know how much they wanted it, and we made them work for it. Besides, it was nice to win so many games this year. We’ll be back. I’m sure they will too.”

Many of the players who took part in Friday’s game will be back in action again today when the Saranac Lake Women’s Softball League hosts its annual scholarship tournament at the Black Fly softball fields on the McKenzie Pond Road.