The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Oneida again advances to sectional title game
Big first inning propels team past Adirondack
Oneida will face Solvay for the Section III Class B title today after a 7-2semifinal win over Adirondack.
The first three Oneida batters to come to the plate in Sunday’s Section III Class B softball semifinal all reached base and scored, giving the team a 3-0 lead over Adirondack.
The No. 2 seed would tack on a few more runs, although it didn’t need them.
Coach Mike Curro’s squad advanced to a sectional final for the sixth straight year – the first five in Class A – with a 7-3 victory at Onondaga Community College.
“It’s a great tribute to the kids,” said Curro. “Adirondack’s a very good team, we knew that going in. It was great to get out and jump and hit the ball early, hard on them.”
Kyra Shlotzhauer earned the
victory in the circle, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out four. Hannah Begay went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored in the winning effort.
“It feels pretty good to say that for my whole entire high school career that each year we’ve been in the sectional finals,” said Begay. “We talked all year about getting the lead first and getting ahead first so then the rest of the game we can just relax. I mean, obviously not let your guard down but you’re more relaxed in the circle and at the plate and everything.”
The senior helped her team take that early lead on Sunday. Lauren Skibitski started the bottom of the first with an infield single before Brianna Laureti reached on an error. Begay followed with a double to the fence, scoring both runners for a quick 2- 0 lead. Shlotzhauer added an RBI single to extend the advantage to 3-0 but Adirondack starter Arielle Kranbuhl struck out the next three batters to prevent any further damage.
Oneida put up two more runs in the bottom of the third, starting with a Begay walk to lead off. Shlotzhauer followed with an RBI triple and a bunt single from Kylie Chesebro scored courtesy runner Kaylin Curro for a 5-0 lead.
The No. 2 seed let the Wildcats back into the game in the top of the fourth. Stevie Nellenback reached on an error to start the frame before Anna Henessey singled. Courtney Irvin followed with a ground ball and Oneida tried unsuccessfully to force Nellenback out at third, loading the bases for Kranbuhl. She also hit a ground ball and Begay tagged Henessey out at third, with Nellenback scoring Adirondack’s first run on the play. Another ground ball from Korin Ossont to Irvin being forced out at third. Curro’s squad tried to turn a double play but an errant throw allowed Kranbuhl to cross home with her team’s second run. Shlotzhauer got an inning-ending groundout to keep the score 5-2 going to the bottom of the fourth.
“We had our moment of giving up runs,” said Curro. “We have one of those innings it seems like every once in a while. But when you go put two on top of three at the end, it really helps us do our job.”
Oneida advances to face No. 1 Solvay in the Section III Class B final, to be played at the Gillette Road softball complex at 7 p.m. tonight.