Pine Bush softball takes advantage of two errors for winning rally against Newburgh
Don't let the regular-season matchups fool you.
Pine Bush dropped both contests against Newburgh Free Academy during the Orange County league season, but got the big one when it counted most.
Trailing 2-0 headed into the top of the fourth inning the fourth-seeded Bushmen took advantage of a pair of Newburgh errors, scored three times and made it stand up for a 3-2 victory for the Section 9 Class AAA championship, played at Newburgh's Mount Saint Mary College. Newburgh Free Academy (11-9) was the No. 3 seed.
Pine Bush sophomore hurler Avery Ogden allowed only six hits (only one coming after the third inning) and struck out six to earn the win.
With one down in the fourth, Ava Boffalo dropped down a bunt that NFA pitcher Alina Ferguson fielded and threw just wide of first base, sending Boffalo to second base. Kendall Morris reached safely when her pop fly was dropped by shortstop Samantha Williams, with Boffalo staying put. Meaghan Wishinski singled past second base, scoring Boffalo. One out later, Natalie Longobardo drilled a shot to center fielder - Parker Mullarkey made a valiant try for a diving catch but the ball dropped in, plating two runs for the 3-2 lead.
Newburgh put four runners aboard in the fourth and fifth, only to get erased and two left aboard.
Fittingly, it was Ogden who went to her right to snare a chopper from Madison Gravel and threw her out for the final play.
Ferguson concluded the game allowing seven hits and fanning three.
Newburgh scratched out single runs in the second and third innings. Melissa Schulze led off the second with a double and scored on Ferguson's single up the middle. An inning later, leadoff batter Samantha Williams singled past shortstop, moved up on a passed ball and wild pitch and scored on Gravel's punched single to left field. After Taryn Judson reached on a single, the rally killer came as third baseman Madison Sheets snared a line drive by Schulze and beat Gravel's dive back into the bag to complete a double play.
Newburgh had beaten Pine Bush 7-5 on May 3 and 7-2 on May 16.
CLASS D FINAL: Chapel Field struggles in field but beats Eldred for Section 9-D softball championship
CLASS C FINAL: Pine Plains scores nine early runs, rolls to Section 9-C softball title over Tri-Valley
Pine Bush, which had beaten Middletown in the section semifinals, will face the Section 1 champion on Tuesday at Monroe-Woodbury High School.
Newburgh loses only two seniors - third baseman Judson and Ferguson - and should return 11, all of whom but one are sophomores and younger.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Pine Bush beats Newburgh for Section 9-AAA softball crown
