Class D Baseball and Softball Championships

BY JESSICA COLLINS

PLATTSBURGH — All season long, the Bolton/Schroon Lake softball team has had a motto, “Keep your foot on the gas, girls, and don’t take it off,” according to coach Melanie Persons.

They lived up to that saying, May 26, during their Section VII Class D championship win over Boquet Valley, 13-3, exploding on offense in the third and fourth innings to put the game out of reach for the Griffins.

The Wild Eagles also proved that throughout the season, remaining undefeated with the win. The victory brings home the Class D crown to both Bolton and Schroon Lake for the first time since 1986.

“I feel like I am on a cloud right now. I don’t have words for how proud I am of this group of girls,” Persons said. “They have worked so hard this season, and they have really put every ounce of everything they have into every practice and every game.”

“It’s unreal,” pitcher and center fielder Jadynn Egloff said. “I can’t even comprehend how big this is.” DOMINANT ALL AROUND

Their attacks at-bat were led by Maddy Monahan, Dakotah Cutting, Ali Baker and Kayla Navitsky. Monahan smacked two doubles, Cutting one, while Baker recorded a triple and Navitsky tallied four RBIs. Monahan and Cutting also ran in three each, while winning pitcher Jane Trowbridge had two RBIs.

Trowbridge threw for four innings, switching out with eighth grader Egloff in the third and later returning in the sixth. Trowbridge struck out eight while Egloff added four. Boquet Valley’s Abbey Schwoebel took the loss in the circle, fanning three.

“Jane is a phenomenal pitcher,” Navitsky said. “She’s so good. She pitches basically down the center pretty much the whole time. and Jadynn, she got pulled up to varsity and she’s just an absolute addition to this team.”

Egloff showed appreciation to be a part of such a dominant pitching duo.

“It’s good to throw the other team off and we both worked really hard,” she said. “It’s just great to know that you have support, if you’re having a bad game, you have that other pitcher to back you up. It’s good reassurance.” THE GAME

Bolton/Schroon Lake got themselves on the board, right away in the first inning, with catcher Skyler Scott leading off the lineup with a single, and then later running in the first score, giving her team a 1-0 advantage.

Then, at the top of the second, with the Griffins on offense, the Wild Eagles’ defense was put on display as well. Earning three strikeouts, they were able to force Boquet Valley to leave the bases stranded. Bolton/Schroon Lake then scored again with Baker running it across, but giving Cutting the RBI. The third and fourth innings were really where things got going. With a 2-0 lead, the Wild Eagles almost saw things

JOEY LAFRANCA/P-R PHOTO Bolton/Schroon Lake catcher Skyler Scott runs with joy out to Jane Trowbridge to celebrate winning the Section VII Class D softball championship with a 13-3 victory against Boquet Valley on May 26 at Cardinal Park in Plattsburgh. SEE BsL, PAGE 5

Crown Point beats Chazy, 2-1

BY JOHN CORYER

Press-Republican

PLATTSBURGH — This one, without a doubt, goes down as one of the greatest pitching duels in Section VII baseball history.

Evan Carey’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning on May 27 ended a 2-1 victory for top-seeded Crown Point over third-seeded Chazy in the Section VII Class D championship game at Chip Cummings Field.

Crown Point senior Noah Spaulding and Chazy junior Chase Clukey engaged in a battle that seemed would never end.

Spaulding pitched 9.1 innings before leaving due to the pitch count rule and allowed two hits, one walk, one hit batter and struck out 23.

Clukey, meanwhile, went nine innings before reaching his pitch count limit. He allowed four hits, walked two and fanned 20.

Spaulding struck out nine batters in a row during one stretch and Clukey fanned the first eight batters he faced.

In all, there were just seven combined hits and 45 strikeouts in the contest.

“It was an unbelievable game,” Crown Point coach Randy Pertak said. “It was sad to see either team lose. Both teams battled with all their heart and guts.

“Noah has been getting better and better as the season has gone on and he kept us in it today.”

“You can’t ask for more out of our kids,” Chazy coach John Tregan said. “I’m heartbroken for them. Chase pitched his best game ever for us.

“Noah was Noah. He was great as always and we just couldn’t put the ball in play against him.”

Carey took over for Spaulding with one out in the top of the 10th and got the two batters he faced to end up getting the pitching win.

In the bottom of the 10th, Chazy reliever Zane Stevens hit Tyler Beeman with a pitch to open the inning. Stevens struck out the next batter, but Reese Pertak got aboard on an error. Another hit batter loaded the bases and Carey ended the game with his single.

Carey had three of the five Crown Point hits with two doubles and a single, to go along with an intentional walk. He drove in both runs for the

Panthers. “Carey was clutch for us all day and also got the two outs when he came in to relieve,” Pertak said. “We were finally able to find a way to pull it out.” The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first when Dale Gonyo Jr. was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a passed ball and came across to score on a wild pitch. The Panthers drew even in the fourth when Alex Stone drew a oneout walk, stole second and scored on FERNANDO ALBA/STAFF PHOTO Carey’s first double of the game. The Crown Point baseball team celebrates with the Class D trophy after they beat It remained tied into the 10th, but Chazy, 2-1, in 10 innings. Crown Point senior Noah Spaulding and Chazy junior Chase there were plenty of anxious moClukey combined for 43 strikeouts in the extra-innings matchup. ments up until that point. Crown Point loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh before

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