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This Storm chase yielded a championship.
Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour secured the first overall Interscholastic Athletic Conference softball championship as a combined team with a 7-6 victory over Lansing in the rain Thursday, May 14 at Watkins Glen High School.
The title came two days after the program also known as Schuyler Storm topped Thomas A. Edison, 8-5, in a tiebreaker that decided the IAC South Large School champion.
Both titles were part of a rapid progression for Schuyler softball since the programs at Watkins Glen and O-M were merged prior to the 2023 season.
Following a 10-6 season in 2024, last year's team finished 15-3. This year's record is now 16-4, with two losses coming to teams from outside Section 4, and the other two to Section 4 perennial state powers Deposit-Hancock and Edison.
Watkins Glen's last overall IAC title as a solo outfit came in 1996, 15-7, over Moravia. O-M's lone conference championship came by a 13-6 score over McGraw in 1982.
"Couldn't be happier with the girls," Storm head coach Shannon Ells said. "We fought hard all week, we worked hard.
"Every single girl on the team has done their part, from the first girl on the field to the last girl on the bench. They're all fighting for the same cause, pulling in the same direction, believing in each other, and that's what got it done this week."
More: 9 large-school players from Section 4 named all-state in girls hoops
Brooklynn Thompson, Amy Field, and Keira Ells each went 2-for-3 for Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour. Thompson and Field each scored 2 runs, while Field and Ells had 2 RBIs apiece.
Storm pitcher Paige Ells also scored 2 runs and pitched a complete game. She struck out 9, allowed 8 hits and 4 walks. Three of Lansing's runs were unearned.
Reagan Chalupsky went the distance for Lansing and gave up 7 hits and 6 hits while striking out 2.
Kennedy Perine was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Bobcats. Esme Kennedy-Smith went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and Piper Mason went 1-for-2 with 2 walks, 2 runs, and an RBI.
The teams went back-and-forth on the scoreboard while the rain did the same at Watkins Glen's hybrid turf/grass field.
With the score tied 4-4 and two out in the sixth, Field lined a two-run single into center field to give the Storm the lead for good. Thompson added what turned out to be a pivotal insurance run when she raced home on a wild pitch.
In the top of the seventh, Perine and Kennedy-Smith delivered RBI singles to get Lansing within one. Paige Ells induced a one-hopper to Field at third base to put the championship away.
Just after the final out, Lansing's coaches congratulated their players for how well they played. Lansing (13-5) lost to the Storm by scores of 13-1 and 9-1 during the regular season. The Bobcats fell by a 17-2 score to Edison in last year's IAC Large School final.
"This was our goal, to win the division, to win the IAC," said Shannon Ells, father of both Paige and Keira.
"Give credit to Lansing. They played us really tough today, they took us to our limits, they pushed us and the girls fought back. They had a ton of grit and heart and they showed it and rose to the top today and super proud of them."
Both teams now turn their sights to the Section 4 playoffs. Watkins Glen/O-M will be among the top seeds in Class B, which is the bracket Lansing will also compete.
In the IAC Small School championship game, played prior to the Large School meeting, Union Springs repeated as titlist with a 13-2 over Tioga Central.
Gracie Chalupnicki tossed a 4-hitter for Union Springs. Abbi Tracy led the offense with 4 hits and 4 RBIs.
Follow Andrew Legare on X: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at [email protected]. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Recap of Schuyler Storm's win over Lansing in IAC softball title game
Continue reading...
Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour secured the first overall Interscholastic Athletic Conference softball championship as a combined team with a 7-6 victory over Lansing in the rain Thursday, May 14 at Watkins Glen High School.
The title came two days after the program also known as Schuyler Storm topped Thomas A. Edison, 8-5, in a tiebreaker that decided the IAC South Large School champion.
Both titles were part of a rapid progression for Schuyler softball since the programs at Watkins Glen and O-M were merged prior to the 2023 season.
Following a 10-6 season in 2024, last year's team finished 15-3. This year's record is now 16-4, with two losses coming to teams from outside Section 4, and the other two to Section 4 perennial state powers Deposit-Hancock and Edison.
Watkins Glen's last overall IAC title as a solo outfit came in 1996, 15-7, over Moravia. O-M's lone conference championship came by a 13-6 score over McGraw in 1982.
"Couldn't be happier with the girls," Storm head coach Shannon Ells said. "We fought hard all week, we worked hard.
"Every single girl on the team has done their part, from the first girl on the field to the last girl on the bench. They're all fighting for the same cause, pulling in the same direction, believing in each other, and that's what got it done this week."
More: 9 large-school players from Section 4 named all-state in girls hoops
Stars of the game
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Brooklynn Thompson, Amy Field, and Keira Ells each went 2-for-3 for Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour. Thompson and Field each scored 2 runs, while Field and Ells had 2 RBIs apiece.
Storm pitcher Paige Ells also scored 2 runs and pitched a complete game. She struck out 9, allowed 8 hits and 4 walks. Three of Lansing's runs were unearned.
Reagan Chalupsky went the distance for Lansing and gave up 7 hits and 6 hits while striking out 2.
Kennedy Perine was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Bobcats. Esme Kennedy-Smith went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI, and Piper Mason went 1-for-2 with 2 walks, 2 runs, and an RBI.
Turning point
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The teams went back-and-forth on the scoreboard while the rain did the same at Watkins Glen's hybrid turf/grass field.
With the score tied 4-4 and two out in the sixth, Field lined a two-run single into center field to give the Storm the lead for good. Thompson added what turned out to be a pivotal insurance run when she raced home on a wild pitch.
In the top of the seventh, Perine and Kennedy-Smith delivered RBI singles to get Lansing within one. Paige Ells induced a one-hopper to Field at third base to put the championship away.
Just after the final out, Lansing's coaches congratulated their players for how well they played. Lansing (13-5) lost to the Storm by scores of 13-1 and 9-1 during the regular season. The Bobcats fell by a 17-2 score to Edison in last year's IAC Large School final.
"This was our goal, to win the division, to win the IAC," said Shannon Ells, father of both Paige and Keira.
"Give credit to Lansing. They played us really tough today, they took us to our limits, they pushed us and the girls fought back. They had a ton of grit and heart and they showed it and rose to the top today and super proud of them."
Up Next
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Both teams now turn their sights to the Section 4 playoffs. Watkins Glen/O-M will be among the top seeds in Class B, which is the bracket Lansing will also compete.
Union Springs repeated as Small School champ
In the IAC Small School championship game, played prior to the Large School meeting, Union Springs repeated as titlist with a 13-2 over Tioga Central.
Gracie Chalupnicki tossed a 4-hitter for Union Springs. Abbi Tracy led the offense with 4 hits and 4 RBIs.
Follow Andrew Legare on X: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at [email protected]. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Recap of Schuyler Storm's win over Lansing in IAC softball title game
Continue reading...
