Bloomfield shut out as Berne-Knox-Westerlo wins title
Bloomfield lost to Berne-Knox-Westerlo 1-0 in the New York State Public High School Class C championship game Saturday at the Martha Avenue Recreational Park in Bellport on Long Island.
The Bombers (19-3) shut out Section IX’s Pine Plains 1-0 in Friday’s semifinals behind Bri Leitten’s RBI single that scored Calla McCombs. Ashlyn Wright threw a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts and has not allowed an earned run all postseason.
Bloomfield coach Mark Jacobs’ Bombers won their first Section V title this season. State champion BKW coach Jeff Muller’s Bulldogs finished 22-3.
Here is how the game unfolded:
Bloomfield 0, Berne Knox-Westerlo 0: End of first inning
T1: Bloomfield’s Syd Falsone’s diving catch from centerfield recorded the game’s first out. One BKW batter worked a walk.
B1: Sydney Falsone and Calla
McCombs worked walks.
Bloomfield 0, Berne Knox-Westerlo 0: End of third inning Bloomfield 0, Berne Knox-Westerlo 0: End of second inning
T2: Bloomfield’s Ashlyn Wright retired the side in order. She has three strikeouts.
B2: Abby O’Brien singled on base.
T3: Bloomfield centerfielder Syd Falsone made another spectacular diving catch for the first out.
B3: Sydney Falsone walked again and was the only Bloomfield runner to reach base.
Bloomfield 0, Berne Knox-Westerlo 0: End of fourth inning
T4: Bloomfield’s Ashlyn Wright struck out her sixth batter. Sawyer Gallup caught a deep fly ball into left field for the third out. BKW’s Emma Cyr hit a leadoff single but was left stranded.
B4: Bloomfield’s Bri Leitten hit a leadoff double into left field. Celia Falsone moved Leitten to third on a sacrifice bunt. Abby O’Brien reached on a fielder’s choice, where the BKW shortstop’s throw to the catcher beat Leitten home for a tag at the plate. Bloomfield coach Mark Jacobs quickly approached the umpires to discus the bang-bang play.
Bloomfield 0, Berne Knox-Westerlo 0: End of fifth inning
T5: Bloomfield’s Ashlyn Wright struck out two more and has eight strikeouts through five.
B5: Bloomfield’s Addison Falsone hit a one-out single.
Berne Knox-Westerlo 1, Bloomfield 0: End of sixth inning
T6: BKW’s Katie Stevens worked a walk, stole second, moved to third and scored the game’s first run. Emma Cyr put the ball into the infield and a throw was made to catcher Calla McCombs while Stevens slide into her before she touched the plate. Stevens then touched the plate after the collision, and was then called safe by the umpire. The NFHS Network broadcast team said the umpire called obstruction on the catcher, and Stevens had to touch the plate before walking to the dugout, or she would have been called out.
B6: Bloomfield’s Bri Leitten reached on an error by the right fielder with one down. Abby O’Brien and Marlee Poole both worked walks to load the bases with two down, but BKW pitcher Sara Macrina got out of the jam with a strikeout.
Berne Knox-Westerlo 1, Bloomfield 0: End of seventh inning
T7: Bloomfield’s Ashlyn Wright retired the side in order, striking out her ninth batter to keep the Bombers within one run. Addison Falsone, Sydney Falsone and Calla McCombs coming up in order 9-1-2.
B7: Addison Falsone reached on an error when the catcher and pitcher collided trying to catch a routine pop fly. She then moved to second on Sydney Falsone’s grounder, and on Calla McCombs 5-3 ground ball. Ashlyn Wright stepped up to bat with two down and and third baseman caught a pop fly to end it. BKW’s winning pitcher Sara Macrina tossed a three-hitter with five walks and four strikeouts. Bloomfield pitcher Ashlyn Wright threw a one-hitter with nine strikeouts with three base on balls.