Lady Tigers nipped in Class D1 final

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 May 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville second baseman Kaitlyn Albone tries to put on the tag as Arkport’s Caitie Hubric dives back into second. The action took place during the Lady Tigers Class D1 title game loss to Arkport this afternoon at Batavia High School.

Top seeded Arkport pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip No. 3 Lyndonville 5-4 in the Section V Class D1 softball championship game this afternoon at Batavia High School.

The outcome was a near instant replay of last year’s title contest which saw Arkport down Lyndonville 9-2.

Snapping a 4-4 deadlock, Arkport combined a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a single and a sacrifice fly to score the deciding run.

Maddy Boyle delivers a pitch for the Lady Tigers.

Lyndonville had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead by scoring twice in the top of the third inning on an RBI double by Kaitlyn Albone and an RBI single by Haley Weatherbee.

An error opened the door for that scoring burst which was also aided by a single by Morgan Hungerford.

Lyndonville’s Aubrey Lewis lays down a bunt single.

Arkport answered with solo runs in both the third and fourth innings on two out RBI singles before scoring twice in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. A lead-off triple by Korlee Patrick and a double by Courtney McDaniel ignited that rally.

Lyndonville though got out of more trouble iin the fifth as center fielder Aubrey Lewis teamed up with Albone at second base to turn a double play.

The Lady Tigers then retied the contest at 4-4 by scoring twice in the top of the sixth on a two-run triple by Hungerford. A hit batter and an error put two runners aboard to set up that threat.

Lyndonville Coach Joe Moore congratulates Morgan Hungerford on her game tying two-run triple.

Lyndonville also got the first two runners aboard in the top of the seventh on a bunt single by Lewis and a single by Maddy Boyle but the Lady Tigers could not capitalize. Arkport turned a key double play started by Patrick at second to get out of that jam.

Boyle and catcher Miranda Lembke discuss strategy.

Lyndonville also got the bases loaded with no outs in the fifth inning on an error, a walk and a single by Weatherbee. However, the Lady Tigers could not capitalize as three infield ground outs wiped out the threat. In all the Lady Tigers stranded 11 base runners.

Lyndonville finishes the season at 15-5.

Lyndonville’s Jesse Harling makes a catch in left field.