CORTLAND – It’s doubtful that anyone associated with the Cazenovia softball team has ever experienced anything similar to what it did in Thursday’s game against Homer at Gutchess Field in Cortland – or ever will again.
Over the course of three hours, 45 minutes, the Lakers and Trojans kept scoring runs at a dizzying pace. Twice, Cazenovia found itself giving up double-digit rallies – and it still managed to win.
The 41-37 final represented the highest-scoring game in Section III annals, and second-most in state history behind a Palisade Prep-Gorton game in Yonkers that ended 46-36.
Not only did this game include 78 runs it featured 67 walks, 37 of which were issued to Cazenovia batters.
Homer began the affair with a 14-run first inning. Cazenovia responded to it with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the first, setting the game’s outrageous tone.
Trailing 19-12 going to the bottom of the second, the Lakers got five runs in that frame and three more an inning later, only allowing one in the top of the third.
In what proved to be a pivotal fourth inning, Cazenovia gave up 10 but then, trailing 30-15, managed six runs in this frame and eight more in the fifth, limiting the Trojans to two in the top of the fifth.
Only down 31-29, the Lakers brushed off Homer’s four runs in the top of the sixth and finally stormed out in front with a stunning 12-run rally of its own in the bottom of the sixth.
Seventh-grade pitcher Sophie Wilmot needed to get three outs in the seventh – and did, only giving up two runs. She also scored seven times off a triple and four walks as she was credited with four RBIs.
Cadence Walter drove in three runs aided by six walks. Lucy Bliss and Skylar Dannan each had two RBIs and five runs scored, with Mikayla Streator also getting two RBIs. Riley Newcomb’s six walks led to six runs scored.
Homer, in defeat, got three RBIs from four different players – Catherine Apker, Karigan Quaile, Khloe Young and Alexandra Kellaway, who hit the game’s only home run. Apker scored six runs and Kellway scored five times.
Compared to all this, Chittenango getting a landmark victory against a long-time powerhouse was fairly routine, even if the Bears put together a tremendous all-around performance Friday to beat Cicero-North Syracuse 6-0.
Part of it was the pitching of Caroline Porter, who limited the Northstars to four hits and five walks while amassing 13 strikeouts and maintaining the shutout.
The other part was the bat of Stephanie Huckabee, who belted a home run and double and drove in five of Chittenango’s six runs. Alivia Cavotta had the other RBI, scoring twice and getting two hits to match Huckabee and Carmella Furco as Anna Cavotta also scored twice.
