By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
WATKINS GLEN — Union Springs scored four unearned runs in the third inning to take a commanding five-run lead on its way to a 13-2 win over Tioga here Thursday afternoon in the overall IAC Small School Championship game.
Trailing 2-1, the Tigers committed four errors with two outs in the third inning, allowing the Wolves to take a 6-1 lead.
"(Errors), it's been constant for us this season," said Tioga coach Stephanie Hills.
"We've been drilling them, throwing and catching, and we can't do the basics right now, and it's showing," she noted.
"(Our defense) is not helping us," noted Hills. "Kate (Kithcart) is pitching phenomenally, and we're just not backing her up.
"The girls didn't give up today, though. The score is not what we wanted, but they kept playing tough.
"We do have a couple of injuries and some young girls that who are trying to work out the kinks right now, but we have a lot to do before next week," added Hills. "Hopefully, we can turn it around."
This is the six straight year, Tioga and Union Springs have met in the Small School title game. The Wolves have now won four of the six meetings.
"They're a really good team," said Hills. "They have solid bats, and good pitching every year.
"It seems to be the two of us every year, and they've been capitalizing, where we're not," she added. "So, congrats to them."
Tioga took the lead in the bottom of the first when freshman Bri Lounsbury reached on a dropped soft liner. She circled the bases on three wild pitches to make it 1-0.
The Wolves answered with two runs in the top of the second on a single up the middle, a bloop single to right field, and a two-run double on a hard groundball down the first-base line.
The defensive implosion in the third inning left the Tigers trailing 6-1, but senior RaeAnne Feeko's eighth home run of the season — a blast over the fence in left-center field — closed the gap to 6-2.
The Wolves added a run in the top of the fourth inning, and four more in the sixth to make it 11-2.
Union Springs tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Mezzatesta doubled and singled, and Feeko blasted the solo home run and drew two walks to pace Tioga's five-hit attack, while Lounsbury singled and scored, and Kithcart added a single.
Kithcart was tagged with the loss, allowing six earned runs. She fanned three and walked none in seven innings.
The Tigers, who have just two seniors, are starting four freshman and three 8th-graders. Hills believes this postseason is big for their development.
"It's huge. I keep telling them, you know, the little things that we're working on are going to add up eventually," she said. "Right now, though, they're just not clicking in place.
"We're young, and, for the most part, we're battling against juniors and seniors ... eventually, it will click for us," added Hills. "It will add up for us."
Tioga, now 13-6, awaits word on the upcoming Section IV, Class C softball playoffs.
——————————
IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Lilly Mezzatesta. IN TOP PHOTO: Tioga's RaeAnne Feeko. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
