By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — Early-game jitters and errors resulted in a hole too deep for Tioga to dig out of in a 7-1 loss to three-time defending state champion Deposit-Hancock here Saturday afternoon in the Section IV, Class C championship game at Greenlight Grand Slam Park.
"I think there were some nerves early on," said Tioga coach Stephanie Hills. "Once we settled down, I thought we played really well.
"We've had a problems with errors all season," noted Hills. "Our errors tend to get us in trouble, our bats don't get going until later in the game, and it's hard to catch up against a team like this whey they're hitting right from the start."
Eighth-grader Kate Kithcart was tagged with the loss, allowing seven runs — three earned — on nine hits, while striking out three and walking none in six innings.
"Kate has done a phenomenal job for us this season," said Hills. "She stepped in when we needed her, and she's been carrying us, and helping us get to this point."
Eighth-grader Bri Lounsbury opened the game for the Tigers by drawing a walk, and junior RaeAnne Feeko was hit by a pitch, but D-H ace Addison Makowski struck out the next two batters, and induced a ground ball to second base to end the inning.
The Lumberjacks rapped a pair of hard-hit doubles, sandwiched around a bloop single to take a 2-0 lead.
After a Tioga error put runners on first and third, a sacrifice fly and a groundout gave D-H a 4-0 lead.
Junior Raegan Foley stroked a one-out single into left-center field in the second, but she was left at first base.
D-H added to its lead in the second inning thanks to a devastating two-out error by the Tigers.
With two outs and a runner at first base, a high throw to first base — Tioga's third error in the first two innings — allowed the inning to continue with runners on first and second. Sara Gross drove the next pitch over the center-field fence to extend the lead to 7-0.
Despite a few hard-hit balls, Tioga would not get another hit until the seventh inning.
"Unfortunately, we hit a few balls hard, but right at people, and we hit a couple that just went foul," said Hills. "We couldn't seem to find the gaps today."
Meanwhile, Tioga's defense regained its footing and made several nice plays, including Feeko snaring a line drive at shortstop to start a double play, senior Erin Luther making a nice running catch near the fence in left-center field, and junior Emily Shiner scooping a sinking line drive off her shoe tops for an out.
In the top of the seventh inning, senior McKenzie Williams drove a 3-2 pitch over the left-center field fence to break up the shutout.
It was just the second run Deposit-Hancock pitching has allowed this season in its 19 wins.
Junior Lilly Mezzatesta singled up the middle with one out, but Makowski retired the next two batters to end the game.
Makowski fanned 14 and walked one, while allowing three hits over seven innings to earn the win.
Williams' home run, and singles by Foley and Mezzatesta accounted for Tioga's three hits.
The Tigers started four juniors, two sophomores, and two 8th-graders, and finished the season at 15-4 — losing its four games to teams with a combined record of 58-4, including Deposit-Hancock (19-2), District 4, Class AA champion Athens (21-1), and Section IV Class C semifinalist Union Springs (18-1).
"I think you'll probably see us back here next year," said Hills. "We're only losing two seniors.
"The seniors are a big part of our team, but we have a lot of young girls that now have experience, and I think they're hungry to get back here," added Hills.
The Tigers will lose Williams, who missed field hockey in the fall due to a knee injury, and Luther.
"McKenzie and Erin are going to be missed a ton, they both played important roles.
"Erin was our pitcher the last couple years, then we made a change for medical reasons and she went to left field," said Hills. "She did a great job in left field, tracking down fly balls ... she was just strong wherever we needed her.
"And Kenzie, we didn't think she was going to be able to catch for us this year, but one of our 8th-graders was injured, and she stepped in and was able to do what we needed from her — keep everybody calm.
"They're both going to be missed tremendously," added Hills.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's McKenzie Williams is congratulated by coach Stephanie Hills as she rounds third base after her seventh-inning home run. IN TOP PHOTO: Tioga's Kate Kithcart. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
