BLAST FROM THE PAST (2015-05-26): TIOGA EDGES NOTRE DAME IN 12-INNING CLASSIC IN SECTION IV PLAYOFFS ON RUN TO STATE SEMIFINALS (2020-05-23)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
I've said it a thousand times, and I'll likely say it 10 thousand more, "Valley Sports Report has been blessed to have so many great teams and great athletes" in its coverage area. Without them, the site would be nowhere near as successful as it is.

In an effort to provide "positive" news to read, I'm going to re-run significant game stories from the last 10 years, as well as stories detailing individual athletes, whether it be from state wrestling, track & field, golf, cross country, etc.

With each story, I'll add a couple paragraphs to set the stage for the game - and add some thoughts, insights or recollections of that particular event. I'll also tack a summary of the end of the season at the end.

Unfortunately, most of the posts will lack photos. (I've had two external hard drives containing more than 30,000 photos go bad.)

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Today, we look back at Tioga's 2015 run to the New York State Class C semifinals.

The postseason featured four consecutive wins before a loss to Geneseo ended the best season in the annals of Tioga baseball in three decades.

On May 21, the Tigers opened Class C play with a 10-4 win over Bainbridge-Guilford. Tioga trailed 4-0 after 3 1/2 innings, but plated eight runs in the home half of the fifth inning, with Jesse Manuel's two-run double, Adam Zwierlein's three-run double, and freshman Mitchell Taylor's two-run single the key hits.

Peter Simmons added to his school-record win total with a complete-game performance. He struck out eight and allowed two earned runs.

Five days later, on May 26, 2015, the Tigers would win an "instant classic" against an intense rival - Notre Dame.

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TIOGA EDGES NOTRE DAME, 5-4, IN 12-INNING PITCHER'S DUEL IN CLASS C QUARTERFINALS (2015-05-26)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER - Tioga scored on a bang-bang play at the plate in the bottom of the 12th to top Notre Dame, 5-4, in the Section IV, Class C semifinals to advance to championship game Friday afternoon at Binghamton University.

The game was a classic pitcher's duel between Tioga senior Peter Simmons and Notre Dame senior Parker May of Ridgebury, who combined to throw more than 350 pitches and strike out 32.

"It doesn't get any better than that," said Tioga coach Bob Seymour. "Two great pitching performances by Parker May and Peter Simmons, then Jesse Manuel came in for the last inning and was lights out."

Tioga sophomore Parker Hendershot also became the school's single-season record-holder for hits in a season with 45 with an eighth-inning single to left field.

Seymour noted both teams needed help from the other to put runs on the board.

"Only one of the runs Peter allowed was earned and we took advantage of a couple of defensive miscues on their part," he said.

Simmons threw 11 innings and allowed four runs - one earned - on just six hits. He struck out 15 and only walked two.

"Peter got stronger as the game went on," said Seymour. "He was pitching on adrenaline at the end."

Simmons agreed with his coach.

"The adrenaline kicked in, probably more than it ever has in my life," said Simmons. "This felt like a state championships game, not a Sectional semifinal.

"I was focused and hitting my spots well," noted Simmons. "The curveball was good. The velocity wasn't there, but the defense picked me up well."

Simmons is the school record-holder in career wins, but this no-decision may outshine them all.

"It's probably the best of all of them," said Simmons." I know I didn't get the win, but it's the best feeling for us to get the win.

"Eleven innings and 154 pitches ... it definitely feels good for us to get out of here with a win," he added.

Manuel picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief. He hit the first batter he faced, then fanned the next three.

May was tagged with the tough-luck loss. He allowed five runs - three earned - on 12 hits in 11 1/3 innings on the mound. He fanned 17 and walked six.

"I told our guys to settle down, that we'd get out runs, but that's as good as I've seen Parker May pitch," said Seymour.

The Crusaders came out of the gate quickly with singles by Kyle Minchin and May, a dropped third strike that allowed Cam Reid to reach base and three wild pitches that allowed all three runs to score for a 3-0 lead.

Notre Dame tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning, but the Tigers found their offensive groove in the home half of the inning to tie the game.

Freshman Mitchell Taylor led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on an error off the bat of Parker Hendershot and scored on a single by Manuel. After a walk to Adam Layman loaded the bases, Jake Evanek stroked a two-run single to slice the deficit to 4-3, and Simmons followed with a double to tie the game.

After the Tigers tied the game, Simmons allowed just a pair of walks into the 11th inning when Reid lined a one-out single up the middle, but Simmons retired the next two batters.

Simmons got a little help from the Hendershot brothers in the seventh inning. Eighth-grader Pierce Hendershot made an outstanding bare-hand grab and off-balance throw on a slow-roller at third base for the first out, and shortstop Parker Hendershot made a nice hard-charging play and throw on a chopper for the third out.

The Tigers, meanwhile, left a runner on second base in the sixth inning, and the bases loaded in the seventh inning. They also left runners in scoring position in the eighth and 10th innings.

"At one point, we had 11 guys left on base, so we were getting them on base, but when we did (May) just bore down and got out of trouble," said Seymour.

Finally in the 12th, the Tigers broke through again, but they didn't exactly hit the ball hard against May, who was approaching 200 pitches.

Taylor reached on a slow grounder that was misplayed at third base, then Hendershot blooped a single into right field that landed between the ND first baseman, second baseman and right fielder.

After Manuel moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, Layman was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Evanek then chopped a ball off the dirt in front of home plate that ND shortstop Matt Smith fielded cleanly and fired home, but Taylor beat the throw to end the game.

"I can't say enough about these guys," said Seymour. "They don't quit. They know someone - one through nine - is going to pick us up and it could be anybody on any night."

Simmons rapped out three hits, including a pair of doubles, to lead Tioga at the plate, while Evanek singled twice and had three RBI and Parker Hendershot singled twice and scored a run.

Lucas Richardson singled twice in the win, while Taylor singled and scored twice, Manuel singled and scored a run and Adam Zwierlein and Gabe Hoose each singled.
 
Tioga, now 17-2, will square off with Sidney (15-5) Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Binghamton University for the Section IV Class C title.

"I think we'll need to hit the ball better, we struggled at times tonight," said Simmons

"The defense has played great. I'm guessing Jesse (Manuel) will start, so we'll definitely get some good pitching," he added.

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 On May 29, Manuel pitched a complete game with to lead Tioga to a 10-4 win over Sidney and its first Section IV title since 1985.

Gabe Hoose rapped a pair doubles and drove in three runs, and Jake Evanek singled twice, scored two runs, and drove in a run to lead Tioga at the plate.

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On June 6, Simmons tossed a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and Tioga scored eight runs in the first two innings on its way to an 8-1 win over Saquoit Valley in the state quarterfinals.

Adam Layman tripled and singled and drove in one run, while Parker Hendershot and Lucas Richardson each doubled and singled, and Evanek and Zwierlein each singled twice in a 12-hit attack.

A week later, Geneseo's 6-3, 220-pound Blake Phelps, who went on to pitch at Elmira College, tossed a no-hitter in a 10-0 win the in the Class C semifinals at Binghamton University.