Errors costly to Kendall in title loss
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Richie Swift dives back to first base as Avon’s Brandon Gingher awaits the throw. The action took place during the Eagles sectional title loss to the Braves this afternoon at Dwyer Stadium.
Three unearned runs, each coming with two out, proved decisive as No. 10 Kendall dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 4 Avon in the Section V Class CC championship game this afternoon at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.
Avon scored what proved to be the game winner in the first inning on two errors.
The Braves later added one insurance run in the fifth inning as an error set up an RBI single by Brandon Gingher and another in the sixth as a single by Garret Mack set the stage for a run producing error.
“Defensively and offensively they played a little better than we did,” said Kendall Coach Tige Noni. “We hadn’t been behind in any sectional game until today and Avon did to us what we had been doing to the other teams. They got the lead, put the pressure on and we just never answered back.”
It was a hard luck loss for Kendall pitcher Alex Sutphen who allowed only three hits and struck out eight.
“Alex threw a nice game,” said Noni. “We just couldn’t get the offense going. We had been scoring a lot of runs but today we had just had a lot of pop outs.”
Avon hurler Conner O’Donoghue likewise gave up only three hits and struck out four. He retired Kendall in order in each of the last three innings.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Alex Sutphen delivers a pitch for Kendall.
Kendall’s best scoring opportunity came in the second inning as the Eagles got the bases loaded on a lead off double by Garrett Love, a walk and a hit batter. However, the Eagles could not capitalize as a fly out to right field quickly ended the threat leaving the bases full.
Kendall also had a runner thrown out at third base in both the first and fourth innings.
Richie Swift and David Hardenbrook had Kendall’s only other hits.
Defensively, Kendall second baseman Colton Breslawski triggered a double play in the fourth inning.
Kendall, which was seeking its first sectional title since 1999, advanced to the title contest by defeating No. 2 East Rochester 8-0 in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Mynderse 6-3 in the semifinals.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall first baseman Garrett Love scoops up a low throw as Avon’s Garret Mack races for the bag.
Softball – Section VI Class C semifinals
Franklinville 5, Barker 1
Franklinville capitalized on five errors to score four unearned run keying a 5-1 victory over visiting Barker in the Section VI Class C semifinals.
Destinee Hillman and Erika Moeller had Barker’s only hits.
Moeller went the distance in the circle scattering four hits and striking out seven.