State softball title eludes S.S. Seward's grasp as Gowanda rallies late in Class C final
MORICHES – Kailey Stolowski was loosely toting a New York state public schools trophy following Seward’s appearance in the Class C softball finals on Saturday but it was clear the second-place plaque wasn’t the one she wanted.
The Spartans allowed a 4-2 lead to slip away, spiraling out of control in the sixth inning with sharp hits by Gowanda, a walk and throwing the ball around a bit. The Section 5 champion Panthers capitalized with four runs and quickly turned Seward’s championship hopes into a 6-4 crushing setback at the Moriches Athletic Complex.
“We try to keep it as controlled as we can,’’ said catcher Kaitlin Stolowski, “but sometimes things just get out of reach. They got hits at the right time; we made errors at the right time. It is what it is.’’
The loss hurt, Kailey said, but she was able to draw satisfaction.
“Obviously no one else gets here except for two teams,’’ she said, “so for that I'm proud of every single one of my teammates. There was a lot of ups and downs during our season and since we got literally to the last game we could ever play I can't ask for really anything more other than to win. I'm still so, so, so proud of my team and it's just a great way to end my senior year.’’ The Stolowski twins will play for Hilbert College.
Head coach Don Lewis had the tough task of addressing his distraught players in an outfield chat moved out of earshot.
“One of my expressions that I have always lived by is, in big games it’s she who makes the least mistakes wins,’’ he said. “In games like this oftentimes, because everybody is pretty matched up, it's not one team or the other team that is overpowering each other. It's who blinks first, who comes up with the play when they really need it.’’
On that account, big points go to Gowanda. Down 2-0 in the top of the fifth, Seward put its first seven hitters on board; however, Gowanda’s infielders cut down two Spartans on splendid plays at home plate, turning a potential big inning into a bit unsatisfying three-run burst that staked Seward to the lead. An inning later, Kaitlin Stolowski scored on an infield error for the 4-2 advantage.
Kailey said she was throwing well, though maybe not as well as she did in Friday’s 1-0 semifinal win over Chatham. “I was doing my best I can, and they're just making hits, hitting them in the right spots,’’ she said. “It wasn't like we were making mistakes; it was just like unfortunate (ball) placement.’’
Gowanda’s lineup finally started tagging the ball, moving runners along. Holland Browning delivered a clutch two-run single and Kailyn Farner roped an RBI single to center for the 6-4 lead. “It was shocking kind of because my first two hits weren't my best ever,’’ Farner said. “So hitting that and bringing in … an RBI made me feel really great. I'm just happy I can do that for my team.’’
Seward put the tying runs on board with two outs in the seventh, and an infield groundout put an end to matters.
The state title was the first for all of Gowanda’s athletic teams.
“It means the world,’’ Farner said. “Our town is so small and so connected. To bring this home to our small town (is) honestly such an honor.’’
“To be seniors on a team that just like made history for our town is incredible,’’ added Gowanda center fielder Jaga Geiger, who reached safely three times and scored twice, including the tying run.
A year ago, Seward dropped its state semifinal contest on the same field.
“I think they're both painful in their own ways,’’ Kaitlin said of the two final four losses. “But this one, just because we were so close, It hurts a lot. … Either way there's good things to say about each game. It's just unfortunate.’’
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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: State softball title eludes S.S. Seward's grasp as Gowanda rallies late in Class C final
