SECTION IV SOFTBALL: OWEGO BATTLES TO THE END IN ONE-RUN CLASS B QUARTERFINAL LOSS (2021-06-07)
Tioga County Sports Report
CONKLIN — Makenna DeMoney carried the big stick as fourth-seeded Susquehanna Valley held off fifth-seeded Owego, 10-9, in the Section IV Class B quarterfinals here Monday.
Close games have become commonplace for the Indians. Unfortunately for Owego, coming out on the short side of this one brought the team's season to an end.
"It's been the story of our season," Owego coach Brent Doane said. "We've been in almost every game. Windsor was the only one that kind of got away from us.
"I love the fight our kids show. They're never out of it. I actually just got done telling them at no point in this game did I ever think it was over with. I know the kind of battle we've shown. Time and time again we just continue to come up just a little bit short. Sometimes it's too little too late. Sometimes it's a boo-boo in the field where the pressure might be getting to us a little bit. I'd like to believe that as we move forward and we get a little older and gain some maturity we'll start to get more confident too. We're still very young.
With the Sabers trailing, 5-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning, DeMoney drilled a three-run double to center field to knot the score. Her courtesy runner, Charlie Burr, would score the game-winning run on Katlyn Richardson's double to left. A double and a dropped fly ball in right field, set up DeMoney's heroics.
It appeared that Sus Valley would lock up the victory in the sixth when DeMoney crushed a three-run home run out of the park, and Bella Gaskins walked and scored on Madi Andrew's but single to make it 10-6.
"She's a nice ball player," Doane said. "She's a tough out."
However, the Indians refused to go away and put together a strong rally in their final at-bats. Jordan Greeno kicked things off as she worked a base on balls and moved to second on Emma Howe's single through the left side.
Following an out, Alex Aubel hit one toward third base which would be fielded by the shortstop, who then lost a foot race with Greeno to third.
With the bases loaded, Sarah Terry cranked a two-run double to left, plating Greeno and Howe. Terry would steal third, then score on Ava Brown's sacrifice fly.
Saber pitcher Kylee Richardson struck out the next batter to end the game.
Sus Valley scored twice in the first inning, but surrendered the advantage to Owego in a five-run, third-inning assault.
Macy Gibson and Howe wrapped singles around errors off the bats of Taylor Dalton and Greeno with Howe's hit plating a run. Lauren Gilbert followed Howe with an RBI single.
Aubel reached on an error, then Terry doubled to score two more runs and Aubel stole home to make it a 5-2 contest in the visitors' favor.
Howe enjoyed a 4-for-4 day at the plate with two runs and an RBI as the Indians cranked out a dozen hits. Terry went 2-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and a run, and Gilbert was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Aubel chipped in with a hit and two runs, and Dalton, Greeno and Gibson contributed one hit and one run apiece.
Hannah Aton went 3-for-3 with three runs to lead SV's 13-hit attack. Richardson was 3-for-3 as well and drove in one run. DeMoney drove in six runs with her two hits.
Owego finishes the season with a 7-8 record and Doane is optimistic the Indians will get better in the future.
"Hopefully what they're going to take out of this is to understand that there is potential for us to go a long way, that we have all the tools that we need. We're graduating two seniors so we should be returning everybody. People found out that they all have some way to contribute, there's a role for everybody to play. Some of those roles are bigger than others and roles can change very quickly, so hopefully they're going to come back next year with some newfound confidence knowing that, hey what, we're capable, and we want to build on the foundation that was laid this year with this group.
Owego's seniors are Macy Gibson and Emma Howe.
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IN PHOTO 1: Owego's Lauren Gilbert. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
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