By Keith Harrington
Hartford was able to overcome their opponent and Mother Nature, edging Ticonderoga 4-3 Wednesday evening to claim the TCML softball title. The win avenges a loss to Ticonderoga during the regular season.
The start of the game was slightly delayed due to storms that rolled through the area late in the afternoon. It had been predetermined that if the contest was rained out there would be no makeup date and the teams would be declared co-champions. As it should be, the championship was decided on the diamond and the Chaos made the trip home with the trophy.
“It was a very well-played defensive game. Ti has a veteran team with a lot of older girls who have played together a long time, Hartford coach Jaci Gebo said. “I knew it would be a tough game.”
Ticonderoga got out to a 1-0 lead on an error, hit batter, and a fly ball.
Hartford got on the scoreboard with a run in the third to tie the game 1-1 when Olivia Lindridge walked to lead off the frame and came around to score.
In the fourth Laila Mahoney led off with a single and scored on an RBI single from Silver Stewart to make it 2-1 Chaos.
“Some of our younger players stepped up,” Gebo added. “Laila Mahoney had two great catches in centerfield filling in for an injured Cailin Severance. She also had three hits, although unfortunately, one was a hard grounder right into her teammate running to second. Silver Stewart had two great plays. A throwout of a girl trying to steal second and a pick off on first.”
Ticonderoga plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead 3-2.
Hartford answered with two runs in the top to the seventh to take a 4-3 advantage. Stewart singled. Lindridge reached on an error. And Regan Gebo delivered an RBI single. Madalyn Mead-Collins also contributed a hit in the inning.
Gebo set Ticonderoga down in order in the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Gebo earned the win in the circle, striking out nine while spinning a four-hitter.
“Reagan was solid again tonight. Shutting down their big bats and getting a key strikeout to end the game,” Coach Gebo said.
Stewart finished 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI. Mahoney was 2 for 3.
Myleigh Drinkwine was 2 for 3 for Ticonderoga. Emily Rocque and Addison Munson both added hits.
“When we played them during the regular season we had the lead but they rallied to come back and win. (Tonight) We were able to get the lead in the top of the seventh and had a couple of key plays to shut them down.”
Hartford finishes their successful season with an 11-3 mark.
