HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: ELMIRA TOPS CORNING FOR FIRST SECTIONAL CROWN SINCE 2014 AS COACH MANWARING GETS 150TH CAREER WIN (24 PHOTOS) (May 24, 2023)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
CORNING — A season ago the Elmira Express reached the sectional final, coming up short against Horseheads.

A year later the Express were back and the experience from last year paid off as they swept Corning in a pair of games, winning 6-0 on Wednesday, to win their first sectional crown since 2014, and their second ever title as an Elmira Express program.

“It was a focus for us to get back to this game, to this series,” Elmira coach Jason Manwaring said. “These kids have all played on varsity since they were freshman. They continue to work, they got more mature and as we start rolling we thought it was something we could achieve. A goal we had from when we lost last year to Horseheads was to get back to this series.”

It was the 150th coaching win for Manwaring and it was a special one as he has been a part of the Express program since its inception.

Seven of the nine starters on the Express team have been playing since they were freshmen, working for this moment.

“It feels awesome,” senior Jack Carozzoni said. “Working so hard to get this and it’s finally here.”

Over two games against the Hawks the Express allowed just five hits and no runs. Aedan Palmer went the distance on Wednesday, striking out three and allowing just two hits.

“I was nervous in the beginning, but I got settled in and I felt really good the whole time,” Palmer said. “It was great. Everything (was working). Mostly my curveball, it was the best pitch I had, it got a lot of ground balls, but so did my fast ball, everything let on.”

Pitching has been a key for the Express all season and in these two games Palmer and Bryce Mashanic both threw shutouts.

“Our pitching staff has been great all year with Aedan Palmer, Bryce Mashanic, Jack Stemerman out of the bullpen and Ashtyn (Traugott) Knoll. Yesterday we had the conversation with Ash. It was his turn, but defensively he’s just so good, we said hey we are going to try this and he said coach, whatever is going to be best for the team. That’s just a testament to these kids and who they are.”

For Palmer, a freshman, having another pitcher like Mashanic in the starting rotation is someone he can learn from.

“He’s been a big inspiration for me, he helps me to a lot with everything,” Palmer said. “He helps me out a lot with everything I have learned and how much better I’ve gotten over the course of the summer and winter. He’s been a big inspiration for me.”

The Elmira players are confident with any of their arms pitching.

“We are really happy,” Carozzoni said. “We have two relievers we are comfortable when they come in, but when you have two aces on the mound it makes it tough to lose.”

For the second straight game Elmira struck early offensively, scoring a first inning run as Ben Rhode singled, Bob Cavalier walked and Carozzoni singled home Rhode, who had stolen a base.

“It sets the tone, you score in the first you set the tone early,” Carozzoni said. “You have a good pitcher on the mound, you know you are going to win. You are comfortable the whole game.”

“When you are up early it makes the game easier,” Palmer added.

Fast starts is something that Elmira has focused on this year.

“That’s one of our big things, we want to score in the first inning,” Manwaring said. “Whether we are home or away our goal is to get up early and put the pressure on people. When you have people like Ben Rhode at the top, setting the table, stealing bases and just creating havoc, it makes our offense work really well.”

The game stayed 1-0 into the fifth inning when again Rhode went to work, singling and stealing second and third and scoring again on a. Carozzoni single.

“The second run was a big cushion for us, we know we’ve got a horse on the bump and we know he’s going to shove, so it just makes it more comfortable for us in that game,” Carozzoni said.

Corning scored three runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh to break the game open.

Rhode was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Carozzoni had two hits and two RBI, while Stemerman also had two hits.

Traugott-Knoll, Brady Morrell and Mashanic had hits in the game, while Palmer scored a run.

Gavin Walker had a double for Corning and Kyle Miller had a hit.

Gavin Hard went 4 2/3 innings, striking out six and Logan Moore struck out one while getting two outs, and Jack VanWoert went 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts.

Elmira knew it was big to get the win on Wednesday and not have the series go to a deciding game.

“We definitely wanted to get it done here,” Manwaring said. “They are a good, solid ball club that’ sowing to compete for 21 outs. We were fortunate this series. They are young like we were. They are going to be back next year.”

The title is special for all of the Elmira players.

“We worked all winter, all spring obviously and all fall, it’s been well deserved,” Palmer said.

“It’s awesome, we work as hard as any team in the country, I believe,” Carozzoni said. “Year round, all the coaches are there in the winter, they are all invested in this.”

Elmira has a bye into the regional final where they will meet the winner of the Section I and Section 9 champions on June 3 at either Cantine-Field or at Purchase College.

“We are going into it comfortable,” Carozzoni said. “We’ve got Bryce on the mound, the great equalizer. The best pitcher in the state, so we are going in and going to be comfortable the first game for sure.”
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IN TOP PHOTO: Elmira’s Jack Carozzoni reacts after driving in the first run Wednesday. . . PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES