Corning's STAC West softball title led by high-powered offense
A look at Southern Tier Athletic Conference West Division softball champion Corning as the Hawks prepare to participate in the STAC tournament.
Up next for the Hawks
Two years after earning the program's first STAC tournament championship at Chenango Valley, Corning returns to the school in a bid to earn a shot at a second conference title.
Corning will face East Division champion Susquehanna Valley at noon Saturday in the second semifinal. Central champ Chenango Valley hosts Metro titlist Vestal at 10 a.m. in semifinal No. 1.
The championship game was originally scheduled to follow but will now be played Monday at the home of the largest remaining school. A Corning win Saturday gives the Hawks home field.
Favorite status has to belong to Metro champ Vestal, which is 16-0.
Key victory
West competition was limited to three teams this season because Ithaca did not field a varsity team. Corning split its two games with defending champion Horseheads, with the Hawks' 16-4 win in the first meeting part of a stretch in which Corning won six consecutive STAC contests.
All things being the same, a Horseheads win in that game would have put the Blue Raiders in position to force a tiebreaker with a win over Johnson City in the Blue Raiders' league finale Thursday.
Spotlight players
Corning has a pair of senior veterans who have signed to play at the college level. Sophia Polzella, a catcher, will play at Division I Hofstra University and pitcher/outfielder Peyton Sullivan has signed to play for Division II University of New Haven.
Those two have nine seasons of varsity experience between them. Both carry big bats and have the ability to hit the ball out of the park.
Other Hawks to watch
Corning's 9-5 record comes largely through its offensive prowess. The Hawks have averaged just over 10 runs per game while facing a schedule that ranks among the toughest in Section 4.
Contributions to that success come from all through the lineup. Sophomore pitcher/center fielder Matti Johnston has been a breakout star in her first varsity season. Other keys to the success include junior first baseman Daphne Sherman, junior shortstop Kendall Curreri, freshman outfielder Lauren DeRosa and junior second baseman Kayleigh Sparks.
More: HS Softball: Corning offense steals show in Elmira stadium opener
Defining moment in program history
Corning softball, which has been around since the 2011 season following the sports mergers of Corning East and Corning West, captured the 2019 Class AA state championship with a 4-3 victory over Cicero-North Syracuse in 11 innings.
Eighth-grader Olivia Keegan drove home Erin Austin with the winning run with a two-out single in the top of the 11th.
From 2021: Meet the ultimate sports family: 3 generations making impact on 3 New York schools
About the coach
In addition to guiding Corning to four sectional championships in softball, Mike Johnston Jr. has been offensive coordinator or head coach for several sectional football titles at Corning and Elmira. Johnston also coaches boys basketball at Corning, most recently guiding the Hawks to the 2022 Section 4 Class AA crown.
Johnston joined his dad, Mike Johnston Sr., in coaching state champs. The original Mike Johnston coached Elmira Notre Dame to the 1978 Class A state title in basketball, which remains the only state championship for a boys basketball team from the Elmira region.
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: A look at STAC West softball champion Corning
