Softball’s sterling season ends with painful one-run losses
[Updated May 19, re All-Tournament honors]
Corning, NY – The Herkimer Generals and the Monroe Tribunes played two great softball games in the beautiful Corning CC stadium on Friday. The Generals did very well, but Monroe edged them in both games, winning 2-1 and 6-5. Monroe now goes on to the junior college Division III World Series, and the Generals’ season ends.
It was the kind of day that softball fans dream of all winter long – two exceptional teams meeting on a good field in very good weather conditions, with a lot at stake. Game One in particular was an outstanding contest, going into an extra inning before a winner could prevail 2-1. Game Two was almost equally exciting. Herkimer led 5-4, but Monroe came back to claim a 6-5 victory.
Photo: Stellar second baseman Andrea Rogers makes a crucial catch late in Game One
Game One
It was 71 degrees with blue skies and a light breeze blowing from right field to third base for the first pitch at noon. Both teams had looked crisp in their infield practice. Herkimer was the visiting team.
Kayla Delles stood in against Monroe’s Emily Rogers. Delles singled, but no other General could do any damage that inning.
The Generals sent Krista Oakes into the circle, and she pitched a great game. She too pitched a no-damage first inning.
Both pitchers were very effective. Both teams played flawless defense, and both teams were playing top-quality softball.
Monroe was the first team to score. They plated a run in the third inning with an RBI double into the left field corner. In the next half inning, Herkimer’s Emily Baldwin also doubled, but the Generals could not push the run across.
Triple play. The tight, great play continued into the fifth inning. Monroe started the home half of that frame by getting runners on first and second. Then Herkimer’s Emily Baldwin and Andrea Rogers pulled off the rare triple play. Monroe’s batter hit a line drive that Baldwin snagged. The runners were on the move. Second baseman Rogers was covering first as Baldwin fired a rocket to her. Rogers doubled off the runner at first, then saw that the final runner could be doubled off second. Rogers raced to second and got the out, completing Herkimer’s triple play.
Photo: Left fielder Jess Dutka and center fielder Kayla Delles congratulate Andrea Rogers after she completed two-thirds of the triple play
Herkimer scored in the sixth. Emily Baldwin continued her great day by hitting an RBI single to bring in Brit Thivierge. The Generals then loaded the bases, but could not score again.
The 1-1 game went into extra innings. The Generals came painfully close to scoring in the top of the eighth when they loaded the bases once more. But again the Black & Gold kept them off the scoreboard.
The Tribunes triumphed in their half of the eighth. A single and a walk put runners in scoring position. Monroe’s Holly Conte then sent a solid single into right, just beyond the reach of second baseman Rogers, and the winning run came in.
Herkimer 000 001 00 1-9-0
Monroe 001 000 01 2-9-0
Game Two
Herkimer was the home team in this contest. They sent steady righty Mollee Putnam into the circle. Monroe countered with tall left-hander Ashley Hall.
Monroe put three runs on the board in the top of the second. Center fielder Kayla Delles stopped a potential fourth run with a perfect throw home for an out at the plate.
Herkimer entered runs in their ledger in the third inning. Emily Woudenberg, who had singled in the second, hit a ball that was mishandled and a Herkimer run came in. Then Emily Baldwin stroked an RBI-single to center. Herkimer trailed 3-2.
Monroe added a run in the fourth, but Herkimer took the lead in the fifth. Catcher Maggie Mulligan singled, Brit Thivierge doubled, and Woudenberg lined a two-RBI triple into the right field corner. Then Baldwin brought in Woudenberg with a solid single to left.
The Tribunes, however, did not let Herkimer’s lead last. They plated one in the sixth to tie the game, then pushed another one across in the seventh to take the lead. Herkimer’s best efforts came up short in their half of the seventh. The win went to Monroe, 6-5.
Monroe 030 101 1 6-9-3
Herkimer 002 030 0 5-9-1
Coach’s Interview
Head Coach PJ Anadio said after the game, “I could not be more proud of this team. They have taken on the responsibility of being true student athletes, taking care of their academics, helping in their community, and helping each other to have the best possible athletic experience.” He added, “We played two great games against a great team today. I am very proud of our team and of our season.”
The Generals’ sadness and pain were evident after the game. Anadio commented on that. “We’re all feeling pain. We feel pain because we did not reach our goal of going to the World Series, but I think we feel the most pain because we created something very special this year, and now it’s over. But it’s something that we’ll all carry with us forever.”
The team finished their season at 34-9. They were 31-6 in Region III play, and they were a perfect 12-0 in the Mountain Valley Conference.
All-Tournament Honors
Two Generals, first baseman Brittany Thivierge and third baseman Emily Baldwin, were named to the All-Tournament Team. Thivierge, a senior, has been the team’s cleanup hitter all season, and a rock-solid first baseman. Freshman Baldwin has been outstanding at the hot corner and at the plate.
Thivierge earned her honors with a single, a double over the left fielder’s head, a walk, and sound, errorless play at first.
Baldwin had one of the finest days of her young college career. She hit safely five times in her eight at-bats. Her hits included a double, and she drove in three runs. Further, she had a stellar day in the field, playing flawlessly and being a key part of the triple play described above.
Photos: Emily Baldwin and Britt Thivierge work a third-to-first out against the Monroe Tribunes
