STAC SOFTBALL: CORNING CAPS 7 GAMES IN 7 DAYS WEEK WITH STAC CHAMPIONSHIP (2025-05-18)

Southern Tier Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — After seven games in seven days, the Corning Hawks were able to close out a pair of wins on Sunday to capture their first STAC Championship since 2022.

“Just proud of our kids,” Corning coach Mike Johnston Jr. said. “We played seven games in seven days. You could tell they were tired. One of those gets called because of darkness so we went nine innings that had no meaning. We got down 5-1 today and they kept fighting and found a way.”

Corning won the final 7-5 over Vestal, who had beaten Susquehanna Valley 3-2 in the semifinals.

In the semifinals Corning beat Chenango Valley 10-8. Chenango Valley is ranked 7th in the state in A and Corning is ranked seventh in AAA.

Corning fell behind 2-0 in the game, but scored the next six runs to go up 6-2. Chenango Valley scored three in the fifth to get within 6-5, but Corning scored four in the bottom of the fifth.

In the game against the Warriors the Hawks got three hits, with a home run, a double, two RBI and a run scored from Daphne Sherman and Kendall Curreri had three hits, with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.

“The STAC Championship just proved to everyone and ourselves that we truly put our all into this sport,” Sherman said. “We work everyday on every part of the game and it feels amazing for it to finally start paying off. I am so proud of my team. We worked so hard for seven days to be here and we put everything we had left in today’s two games.”

Sophia Schoonover had two hits, two RBI and a run scored and Keana Mann had two doubles and scored two runs.

Matti Johnston had a triple and scored two runs and Lauren Teribury, Kayleigh Sparks and Mia Madden had hits. Madden had an RBI and a run scored and Teribury scored a run.

Emelia Smith struck out 12 in 6 1/3 innings and Madden got the last two outs, striking out one.

Vestal, ranked 13th in Class AA, jumped out to a 5-1 lead after a five-run fourth inning. Corning tied things in the fifth and won it in the seventh.

In the seventh Schoonover singled, Smith was hit by a pitch and Sherman walked and after an out was recorded, Sparks hit a two-run single to win the game.

Mann and Madden each had two hits, with Mann getting a double. Both players scored runs.

Smith had a double, with four RBI and two runs scored and Johnston, Curreri, Schoonover, Teribury and Sparks had hits. Johnston scored two runs, Schoonover scored a run and Sparks drove in two.

“It feels so good,” Curreri said. “Playing game after game can be and is very exhausting, however the continuous perseverance and determination is what helped us get through it. I am beyond grateful to have such a hard working and kind team that always makes it so much easier to know they always have my back. I am so proud to say I am a part of the Corning program and that I had the privilege to play with these girls. They are truly a family.”

Johnston went the distance on the mound, striking out 10 and allowing three hits and five unearned runs.

After a long week of games, the Hawks used three pitchers on Sunday. Johnston has pitched most of the innings this year, but threw over 700 pitches this week, and Smith pitched against Horseheads on Friday in the STAC West playoff.

“Emelia Smith got two wins this week as an eighth grader,” Johnston Jr. said. “Mia Madden gave us a couple batters in a couple of the innings, which was huge. Then Matti has thrown 700 pitches this week. She gutted it out in the finals, knowing she was weary. Much needed day off tomorrow.”

The busy week included Vestal on Monday, Elmira on Wednesday, Horseheads on Thursday, in a game that went nine innings and was stopped by darkness and had to restart on Friday, then a game Friday with Horseheads and another matchup in the tiebreakers with Horseheads Saturday before the two games on Sunday. Throw in prom on Saturday night and it was quite the week for the Hawks.

“The thing that makes it even more special, seven games in seven days, they were resilient,” Johnston Jr. said. “Went to prom last night, got to be kids for a chance, then right back at it today early in the morning.

“I told them going in. We have accomplished our first two goals, win the STAC West Championship, win the STAC Championship. We don’t recognize STAC West banners in our gymnasium, you have to win the STAC. This is one of those things that 20 years down the road when they have kids they will be able to show them (the banners) and tell them they were a part of it.”

Now it’s onto sectionals and a matchup with Elmira.

“I think the biggest thing (with the time off before sectionals), we get to go back to the fundamentals,” Johnson Jr. said. “Always go back to the basics. Start preparing for Elmira. What are their strengths. What are their weaknesses. That’s obviously the only game that matters right now.”
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