OWEGO - River Hawks' baseball came into Friday's Section IV Class A Championship Series needing a win to stay alive, but came up a run short despite loading the bases in the seventh, falling to Maine-Endwell, 2-1.

In similar fashion to game one, Owego jumped on the scoreboard early, plating their only run of the game in the first inning.

With two outs, Evan English ripped a double off the wall to center field. In the next at-bat Connor Kotski stepped to the plate and sent one right back to center for a double of his own to drive in English.

Despite the loss, Elijah Lewis was excellent on the mound all night for the River Hawks. Lewis retired the Spartans in order in the second inning, before Maine-Endwell was able to earn a run in the third off of an RBI double.

Lewis would not give up another run until the fifth, while only allowing just two hits total in the contest.

OFA showed a never say die attitude, much like they have all season, continuing to put balls in play, but the Spartans made the necessary outs when needed to take a 2-1 lead into the final inning.

In the top of the seventh, Owego showed true grit and went down fighting. Jacob Bensley worked a walk to put a runner on for OFA to start the inning. With Sam Sherwood in to pinch run for Bensley, Jack Buchsbaum laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner over.

Joseph Palladino then knocked a base-hit to right field to put runners on the corners for OFA. Lewis would try a squeeze-bunt on the next at-bat, but the Spartans made the play to get Sherwood out a home. 

With two on and two outs, Conlan Taylor walked on four straight pitches to load the bases, but Maine-Endwell forced a ground-out to end the game.

The loss concludes OFA's baseball season and an incredible run by a group consisting of 11 seniors.

"These guys never just rolled over. Elijah Lewis was fantastic tonight. We put the ball in play and forced them to make plays. It would have been nice to get a couple breaks today, but that's baseball. I am just so proud of these guys for what they have done and how far they have come," said coach Nick Wegmann.

"This senior class, these guys were freshman when we took over. The growth we have seen out of them, not only as players, but as young men, it will be a tough group to replace."

"Not the ending we wanted, but when you look at these 11 guys, whatever they choose to go on and do, this will be a very successful group," added coach Wegmann.

The Owego seniors showed true grit, passion and determination throughout their high school baseball careers. Despite the emotions from a tough loss, seniors, Jack Buchsbaum and Conlan Taylor were kind enough to take a moment to speak on the brotherhood their team is made up of.

"This is my best group of friends since I was five-years old and there's no other group I would want to play with. We made a heck of a run at it and I'm just really proud of the guys," said Buchsbaum. 

"I came here from Tioga my freshman year and immediately felt the brotherhood. These guys were best buddies and I filled right in. This was the most fun I have ever had playing baseball in my life. I will forever cherish this," said Taylor.

"Everyday we preached going out and playing Owego baseball. Go out there and keep fighting every single pitch. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but there's no other way we would want to go out," added Buchsbaum.

River Hawks' baseball finishes the 2025 season, 15-6-1.