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Tri-Valley tops Rhinebeck in pitchers' duel

Anthony Morgano
Posted 5/26/23

GRAHAMSVILLE – Once the postseason begins, everything that teams have worked on throughout the season culminate as teams vie for the Section IX crown, and with it, a trip to the State …

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En garde

Tri-Valley tops Rhinebeck in pitchers' duel

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GRAHAMSVILLE – Once the postseason begins, everything that teams have worked on throughout the season culminate as teams vie for the Section IX crown, and with it, a trip to the State Championship tournament.

For Tri-Valley, who snagged the No. 3 seed for this year’s Section IX tourney, they hosted the No. 6-seeded Rhinebeck on Monday afternoon. 

After a stalemate for five and a half innings, Tri-Valley erupted for three runs in the home half of the sixth inning to give the Lady Bears a 5-0 lead.

Rhinebeck was able to plate two runs in the top of the 7th, but Tri-Valley’s defense locked down and got the win behind Jenna Carmody’s complete game.

The game kicked off with both pitchers throwing strikes and keeping the hitters off balance.

Through two innings, both pitchers had faced one more batter than the minimum six through two innings. But the third inning is where things began to get interesting.

In the top half of the third, Rhinebeck loaded the bases, but a clutch strikeout from Carmody kept the Hawks off the board.

In the bottom of the third, the Bears used small ball to bring in the first run of the game. Back-to-back bunt singles put runners on first and second, and a walk loaded the bases.

A fielder’s choice that was ruled safe by Emily Rusin led to the first run of the game, but the Bears failed to score a second run in the inning.

Rhinebeck threatened again in the top of the 4th, rallying with two outs to get runners on second and third before Carmody ended the inning with a stirkeout.

Tri-Valley tacked on a second run in the bottom of the 4th. Sierra Mickelson led off with a single and stole two bases before scoring on an error to give the Lady Bears a 2-0 lead.

After two high-drama innings, Carmody got a much needed 1-2-3 inning in the fifth to continue pushing the momentum towards TV.

Rhinebeck worked around a 2-out single from Tri-Valley in the fifth to keep the score close heading into the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, Tri-Valley worked around an error to escape the inning unscathed, and their bats were ready for the home half of the sixth.

Sierra Mickelson kicked off the insurance party with a single, moving over on a sacrifice and scoring on a double by Kaitlin Stungis. 

Two more runs scored in the bottom of the sixth with Stungis and Carmody both coming around to score in the inning.

Those insurance runs came in handy as the Hawks threatened in the top of the 7th. The 8 and 9 hitters for Rhinebeck each drew a walk and came around to score, but the Bears settled in and got three of the next four batters out to hold onto their 5-2 lead and take it to victory.

Tri-Valley headed to The Rock to take on Seward on Wednesday afternoon, but the Spartans were ready for them. Seward jumped out to an early lead and won 13-1 behind a stellar pitching performance by Kailey Stokowski.

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