Ichabod Crane softball rides to the Class A final four
MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Ichabod Crane softball had a tough task in its Class A regional championship game against Camden, but came out on top thanks to a big day from ace Kari Graziano and timely batting from their offense.
Graziano went the distance, sitting down t10 batters, allowing 10 hits and four runs. In addition, she went 1-3 at the plate, tallying an RBI.
The Riders and Blue Devils were scoreless until the fourth inning. Makayla Walsh singled, allowing Abbey Milazzo to plate the game's first run. Graziano singled to second - bringing in Ava Heffner, and then Gabby Wendelken whacked a shot to right, plating the Riders' third straight run.
Moments later, with the bases loaded, Ichabod's Emma Holmberg cranked a shot into right, bringing home two runs and extending the lead to five. Holmberg went 2-4 at the dish with two RBI.
Camden cut the lead to two in the fifth inning, but the Riders countered in the bottom half. The Blue Devils defense tried to throw out Olivia McCrudden, who was stealing second, but she advanced safely. That allowed Heffner to score from third, giving the Riders a 6-3 lead. Ichabod tallied six stolen bases in total.
"We've been preaching to them all season about winning," said head coach Tracy Nytransky McComb. "That was our main goal at the beginning of the year, and here we are now. Getting to states is a big deal and we have a job to finish."
The Riders aim to take another step towards finishing the job when they play Marlboro Central in the Class A state semifinals at Martha Avenue Recreational Park on Friday, June 7, at 9:00 a.m.