By TIM BIRNEYValley Sport Report
WATKINS GLEN — Tioga fell behind early, and never recovered in a 4-0 loss to Union Springs here Thursday afternoon in the IAC Small School Championship game at Watkins Glen High School.
The Tigers (ranked 17th in the state Class C), who lost to the Wolves (ranked 7th) 13-1 during the regular season, allowed three unearned runs in the first inning, thanks to a two-out error, and another unearned run in the second inning.
Eighth-grader Kate Kithcart was tagged with the tough-luck loss, despite returning the last 13 batters she faced. She allowed four unearned runs on six hits, while striking out two and walking none in six innings.
"Kate (Kithcart) did an amazing job pitching in her first IAC Championship game," said Tioga coach Stephanie Hills.
"She kept her composure throughout the entire game," added Hills. "Regardless of what was happening behind her, she kept pitching strong."
Kithcart retired the first two batters she faced, but gave up a hard-hit single off third baseman Lilly Mezzatesta's glove, and a line-drive double down the third-base line off the bat of Ella Dougherty.
Kithcart was poised to escape the jam unscathed, but a dropped infield pop-up plated both runners, and two more hits made it 3-0.
Tioga threatened in the second inning on a two-out walk to Mezzatesta, and a single by Kithcart, but U.S. ace Gracie Chalupnicki registered a strikeout to end the threat.
A lead-off single and an infield throwing error set the Wolves up with runners at second and third and no outs, but junior RaeAnne Feeko snared a har-hit line drive and snapped a throw to Mezzatesta at third base for a double play.
Back-to-back singles, the second by Chapulnicki, plated another run to make it 4-0.
The only Tioga runner to reach third base was Feeko, who stroked a one-out single and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches, but was stranded there when Chapulnicki registered a pair of strikeouts, sandwiched around a walk to senior McKenzie Williams, to end the threat.
Kithcart, who had two of Tioga's hits, walked in the seventh inning, but the next two batters were retired to end the game.
Chapulnicki earned the win, tossing a complete-game three-hitter. She fanned 13 and walked three.
Tioga falls to 12-3 on the season, and now awaits word on the upcoming Section IV, Class C playoffs.
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PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
