IAC SOFTBALL: TIOGA BLANKS UNION SPRINGS, 17-0; WINS 6TH SMALL SCHOOL TITLE SINCE 2014 (2021-06-03)

Valley Sports Report
AURORA - Senior Kindra Wessels had a big day on the IAC's biggest stage, leading Tioga to its sixth overall Small School title since 2014.

Wessels pitched a four-hitter, and went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, three runs scored, and three RBI to lead Tioga to a 17-0 win over previously-unbeaten Union Springs in the IAC Small School Division championship game here at Wells College.

Wessels struck out five and walked none, while scattering four singles over five innings.

Tioga took immediate control, scoring 10 runs in the top of the first inning.

Senior Olivia Ayres, and junior Abby Foley reached base on consecutive errors to open the game. After a passed ball scored Ayres, Wessels drove a line drive into the right-center field gap for an inside-the-park home run to give the Lady Tigers a 3-0 lead.

Sophomore Mykenzie Thetga and junior Austyn Vance stroked back-to-back singles to re-ignite the rally. With one out, Julia Bellis squeezed home courtesy-runner Emily Sindoni with a bunt down the first-base line. Vance alertly scooted home on the play as well to make it 5-0.

Back-to-back singles by juniors Molly Bombard and Gabby Foley extended the lead to 6-0, and Foley scored on an error to make it 7-0.

After another error made it 8-0, Wessels hit an RBI double to left field, then scored on Union Springs' fifth error of the inning to finish off the scoring.

Tioga added two runs in the third inning on a two-run triple by Thetga, then tacked on five runs in a fourth-inning rally that featured a two-run single by Ayres, and a two-run double by Thetga.

Thetga tripled, doubled, and singled, and had four RBI for the Lady Tigers, while Ayres singled twice, scored four runs, and had two RBI, Gabby Foley singled twice, scored twice, and knocked in one run, and Bombard singled twice and scored two runs.

Vance singled and scored one run in the win, while Abby Foley scored three runs, and Sindoni crossed the plate once.

Union Springs pitcher Hailee Smith was tagged with the loss. She allowed 17 runs, but only one was earned, thanks to 10 errors by the Wolves. She fanned four and walked none.

Tioga, which won five consecutive Small School titles from 2014-18, improves to 11-3 on the season, while Union Springs falls to 9-1.

Tioga returns to action Saturday against the winner of Friday's Large School Championship game between Lansing and Notre Dame in the overall IAC championship game. The site and time is to be determined.

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IN PHOTO: Tioga's Kindra Wessels. ... PHOTO BY DAVID ALLIGER - TRAVELING PORTRAITS.