IAC SOFTBALL: NEWARK VALLEY COMES UP SHORT IN SLUGFEST (2024-04-23)

Tioga County Sports Report
MARATHON — Newark Valley struggled defensively as it came out on the short side of a 19-18 slugfest with Marathon in IAC softball action Monday.

NV outhit the Olympians, 15-10, but also committed 10 errors.

The Cardinals trailed 2-1 after an inning and 6-4 after two, but took a brief 10-6 lead in the top of the third.

After Ruthanne Walburn led off the third with a double, NV received singles from Abby Groover, Lexi Rosengrant, Joslyn Wright and Jenna Vosburgh, and walks by Haven Aylesworth, Laura Ludwig and Walburn.

Marathon came back with five runs on two singles, two walks and two errors in its half of the inning to go back in front, 11-10.

The Olympians extended their advantage to 15-10 with two runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, but NV erupted for seven sixth-inning runs.

An Aylesworth double, singles by Kayden Rockwell and Walburn, walks to Wright, Kaitlyn Keith and Walburn, errors off the bats of Rosengrant and Rosie Wandell, and Ludwig’s steal of home made it 17-15.

Marathon scored three runs in the home half of the sixth for an 18-17 edge and each team scored a run in the seventh. Wright tripled and scored on Rockwell’s sacrifice bunt to tie the score, but a walk, stolen base and error allowed the Olympians to win it.

Wright was solid at the plate, going 5-for-5 with a triple, three runs and an RBI. Ludwig was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI; Walburn was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI; and Aylesworth went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI.

Rockwell had a hit, two runs and four RBI; Keith scored twice; Vosburgh added a hit and three RBI; Groover tacked on a hit and two runs; Rosengrant had a hit, two runs and an RBI; and Wandell scored a run.

Only nine of Marathon’s runs were earned as Wright and Wandell combined to strike out eight and walk seven.

NV (5-3) hosts Southern Cayuga at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.