OWEGO - OFA baseball not only clinched their series with Waverly on Wednesday, but the River Hawks also locked up the STAC Central Division, defeating the Wolverines, 4-1.

Owego defeated Waverly on Monday, 2-1 and much like that game, this was another tight one from start to finish.

Both teams went down in order in the first inning. Waverly got one run across in the second and Owego tied it up in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Evan English lead off with a walk, followed by a Connor Kotski single. Dylan Brace would then walk in the next at-bat to load the bases. Waverly, however, was able to turn a double play, allowing the one Owego run, but getting out of the inning.

In the home half of the fifth, Joseph Palladino reached base on a hard ground ball to right field. Elijah Lewis then grounded into a fielder's choice to take first. With two-outs, Conlan Taylor ripped a single to left, advancing Lewis to second base. English stepped to the plate next and smacked a double to drive in Lewis and put Owego ahead 2-1.

The River Hawks would score the final two runs of the game in the sixth inning. Brace and Sam Sherwood both worked a walk, putting two runners on for OFA. Palladino drove both in with a two-out single to right.

Elijah Lewis was excellent on the mound, going all seven innings, while allowing just one earned run and striking out six to earn the win.

Palladino went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. English also had an RBI, while Lewis, Brace and Sherwood all scored a run each. Kotski and Taylor both chipped in a hit a piece as well.

"Playing games like these against teams like this are the reason you play," said senior, Conlan Taylor.

"Elijah threw a great game for us and when you have a defense like we do, it makes things that much easier as a pitcher."

We are super excited that we clinched our division, but we know there's more work to do," added Taylor.

With the win, Owego locked up the STAC Central Division, but like Taylor, coach Nick Wegmann knows there is still work to be done.

"Tonight was another battle for us and again, pitching and defense came through," said coach Wegmann.

"Elijah was fantastic on the mound and we had some timely hitting down the stretch, especially from English and Palladino."

"I'm very proud of the boys for clinching the division, but we all know there's more work to do and more goals to achieve," added Wegmann.

OFA baseball will finish up their three-game series with Waverly tomorrow.