STAC SOFTBALL: TOUGH LUCK HITS OWEGO IN LOSS TO JOHNSON CITY (19 PHOTOS) (2019-04-11)

Tioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — Victory just wasn’t in the cards as Owego fell to Johnson City, 12-7, in STAC action here Thursday.

It seemed like all of the close calls went JC’s way and the Indians left nine base runners stranded in scoring position. In addition to those struggles, the ball wouldn’t even bounce in the home team’s favor.

Owego went into the bottom of the fifth inning trailing, 7-5, but Abby Shirley looked to spark a comeback when she beat out an infield single. Chelsea Sellars would lay down a bunt, but as she came out of the batter’s box the backspin on the ball created contact with Sellars for an automatic out. Next up was Anna Felice, who smacked a one-hop shot between first and second, but directly at Shirley, who had no chance of avoiding contact with the ball — she would be called out.

The Indians opened the game with a 3-0 lead on an Emma Howe double, walks to Grace Thomas and Miki Worzel, and Shirley’s RBI double.

The Wildcats scored a run in the second, but Owego got it back in the third on a Worzel base hit and Shirley’s RBI single.

Trailing, 4-1, the JC wheels started churning in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs on a triple, two singles, two errors and a walk.

Owego picked up a run in its half of the inning when Worzel drew a bases-loaded walk, to score Felice, but that’s as close was the Indians would get.

The Wildcats added single runs in the fifth and sixth to go up, 8-5.

Worzel scored Emma Stevenson with a triple in the sixth, but JC plated four more runs in the top of the seventh.

The Indians tried to rally in their final at-bats, but could only muster one run despite putting four players on base.

Shirley went 3-for-4 at the plate; Worzel was 2-for-2 with two runs and two walks; and Felice was 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk. Pierce went 2-for-4; Howe had a hit and a run;  Sellars added a hit; and Thomas and Stevenson scored a run apiece.

Owego heads to Chenango Valley Monday.

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IN PHOTO 1: Owego’s Grace Thomas. … PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.