HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: HORSEHEADS SCORES TWO IN 8TH TO TOP U-E AND REACH SECTIONAL FINAL (18 PHOTOS) (2024-05-23)

Southern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — Down 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning the Horseheads Blue Raiders got a game-tying double by Reagan Burge as they rallied to top Union-Endicott 7-6 in a Section IV semifinal.

The Blue Raiders avenged an earlier season loss to the Tigers and advance to face Vestal in the Class AA final at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greenlight Grand Slam Park.

The game took two days to complete with thunder and lightning on Wednesday suspending the game to be finished Thursday.

“Our team has battled all year with a real tough schedule, just for moments like this,” Horseheads coach Paul Richmond said. “We focus everyday on approach and putting the ball in play and that’s just what the girls did. Super proud of them all.”

U-E got off to a 4-1 lead after three innings, but Horseheads scored four in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.

Horseheads got a two-run triple by Megan Wolf, an RBI single by Caitlin Yearick and a sacrifice fly by Olivia French to take the lead.

U-E tied things in the sixth and then they scored a run in the eighth to lead, before the two runs by the Blue Raiders in the bottom half of the inning.

Megan Wolf had a triple, two RBI and two runs scored and Sophia Bonnell had two hits and scored a run, while Aubrey Howe had two hits and scored a run.

Burge had two hits, with the double, an RBI and a run scored.

Yearick had a hit, an RBI and a run scored and Maddie Ribble scored a run, while French and Chloe Perritt each had RBI in the game.

“It feels great to get this win,” Bonnell said. “I’m very excited for this team and what’s ahead on Saturday. Honestly, I don’t think it was that hard for us to get going. We ended yesterday in an exciting situation so we took all that energy and adrenaline and used it to our advantage and came out on top.

Wolf threw the complete game, striking out 10 and allowing five hits and six runs, three earned for the Blue Raiders.

“It’s a great feeling to get this win,” Wolf said. “The team has worked so hard and to see things pay off is awesome. It was definitely different to play on two different days, but when the team is dedicated and wants to win you can get through anything.

“In the beginning of the year we were figuring out how our team fit together, but now we have figured it out. It’s always nice to beat a team that you lost to previously, but it all comes from wanting to win and coming to the game with lots of energy. The team is excited, we want to capitalize on our opportunity and we are all ready to go.”

The Blue Raiders are excited for the final.

“We are all very excited for Saturday,” Bonnell said. “We have a lot of momentum and energy coming into it. We didn’t come this far just to come this far. Vestal is going to be a tough opponent, but we will be ready for them.”
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PHOTOS BY AMELIA FUCITO.


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