NYSPHSAA SOFTBALL: HORSEHEADS COMES UP SHORT AGAINST ORCHARD PARK IN STATE FINAL (24 PHOTOS) (2025-06-14)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — All season long even if the Horseheads Blue Raiders fell behind in games, the offense was able to rally and get them back on top.

But, things were different on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Raiders fell behind Orchard Park 2-0 in the state final, and while they got a run back, they ran into a pitcher that was able to limit the big bats and they fell 3-1 in the state championship game.

“We had a great year,” Horseheads coach Paul Richmond said. “Our seniors Meg (Wolf), Karleigh (Hays) and Chloe (Perritt) set the bar. We have developed a good culture, are building and expect this to be the norm for Horseheads softball.

“Super proud of them, and hats off to a great Orchard Park team.”

Orchard Park struck first in the game in the top of the first inning. McKenzie McCann and Madeline McDermott, the daughter of Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott, singled  with one out and then Ella Hernandez delivered an RBI single.

In the second inning Madison Dombek hit a one-out triple and Margaret Kandefer singled her home.

Horseheads got a run back in the bottom of the second as Aubrey Howe singled and Dylan Young hit into a fielder’s choice, moving Howe to second. Grace Corning singled to put runners on the corner and Presely McInnis hit a sacrifice fly to score Howe.

From that point on Orchard Park was able to put baserunners on every inning, as they had eight hits and five walks in the game.

However, Wolf was able to get the big outs over and over again to keep Horseheads in the game. While she struck out just two in the game, she was able to induce big outs at the right times. In the fourth she got a pop up to end a two-on threat and in the fifth Orchard park got a leadoff double by McCann and a one out walk by Hernandez. Ella Sheehan was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, before Wolf induced a comebacker where she threw out the runner at home, and then a pop up.

Orchard Park added one more run in the sixth to go up 3-1, and Horseheads was able to get just one more hit after the second inning.

Ava Farina struck out six and limited the Blue Raiders to three hits in the game.

Wolf had the other hit for Horseheads in the game.
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PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME



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