Herkimer Softball Wins Region 3A Final to Advance to 12th Straight World Series
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 3 |
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1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | X | 15 | 10 | 2 |
The Herkimer Generals Softball Team clinched the Region 3A crown with a 15-12 win over Jefferson Community College. This is the program's 12th consecutive World Series appearance, the longest active streak in Region III.
Despite a setback in the first game of the best two-out-of-three-game series on Thursday, the Generals demonstrated their resilience with a resounding 15-3 victory over the Cannoneers in the following game. This inspiring comeback led them back to Hamilton College Softball Field the next day for the pivotal game three.
After three innings, both teams were tied at four. Over the next four innings, both teams combined to score 17 runs in a wild display of offensive firepower.
Jefferson scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a four-run lead just over halfway through the game. However, the Generals, united in their determination, answered with an eight-run fifth inning to retake the lead. The team added three runs in the sixth to lead by as many as seven runs, but the Cannoneers wouldn't go away.
They scored four runs in the final inning, but ultimately, Hagues induced a game-ending ground ball to seal the game.
Sophomore Alexys Rosick (Hudson Falls, NY) led both teams with four hits while adding three RBI. Sophomore Olivia Friend (Oneida, NY) added three hits and four RBI in the win.
Both Rosick and Friend were named to the Region III All-Tournament Team. Freshman Shelbi Hagues was named the Region III Tournament MVP after going 3-for-7 with four runs scored in the final two games.
"I couldn't be happier," said Herkimer College Softball Head Coach Louie Friend after the game. "I always say big players make big plays and they certainly did that."
The team advances to the NJCAA World Series in Chattanooga, TN. In the first round, they will play the No. 2 seed Patrick & Henry Community College on Wednesday, May 22, at 3:00 PM.
