Glens Falls softball snaps 22-year drought against South Glens Falls

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Craig Archambault is in his 19th season at the helm of the Glens Falls softball team. During his tenure, the Black Bears have beaten Foothills Council rival South Glens Falls just once. That one victory came Thursday night.

Glens Falls erased a three-run deficit out at Moreau Recreational Park to take down South Glens Falls - ranked 23rd in the state for Class AA - 4-3, for the program's first win against the Bulldogs since 2003.

South Glens Falls raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and seemed poised for yet another league victory. But Glens Falls starting pitcher Isabella Johnson locked in after that early blemish, and kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest.

The offense finally came to her aid in the top of the fifth frame, loading the bases for Lily Canale, who reached on an error to force in the Black Bears' first run. Johnson stepped up to the dish next and ripped an infield single that caromed off the glove of South Glens Falls pitcher Isabelle Ames, plating Parker McTague to close to the margin to one run.

It remained a 3-2 ballgame until the top of the seventh. Glens Falls' Darielle Gooden recorded a one-out single, which ended Ames' day in the circle. Ames put together a stellar outing overall, allowing just one earned run on six hits.

That earned run came at an inopportune time, though, as Gooden, - whom Ames was responsible for - came across to score on an RBI single from Canale off South Glens Falls reliever Marley Brogan. Brogan then issued a walk to Johnson, forcing in McTague for the go-ahead run.

South Glens Falls put a runner in scoring position in the home half of the inning. With two outs, Aubrey Hay sent a deep drive out to right field, but it found the glove of Gooden, who was promptly joined by her teammates in the outfield to celebrate the end of a 22-year stretch of domination from the Bulldogs.

Along with driving in the go-ahead run, Johnson earned the win in the circle. Only one of the three first-inning runs she allowed was earned. She only surrendered four hits and struck out eight.

Glens Falls improves to 11-6, (11-4) in the Foothills, and will return home Friday to take on Maple Hill at 4:45.

South Glens Falls falls to 14-3, (13-3) in its final league contest. The Bulldogs close out the regular season with a pair of Suburban Council tests. They'll travel to Shen Friday at 4:30 and Shaker Monday.