CONKLIN, NY – It wasn’t your ordinary night in Section IV as Owego Free Academy’s River Hawks (5-1) made their way down to Susquehanna Valley on Friday night and upset the defending champions by a score of 6-2. The victory marks the first time anyone has defeated the Sabers in their newly constructed field since last year.
After falling to Oneonta two nights before, the River Hawks had little room for complacency. Even without STAC All-Conference performer Carsten Crawford, Owego displayed what they are made of in the STAC Central Conference.
It was mostly a pitchers’ battle for most of the game, with Susquehanna Valley starter LilliOnna D’Introno leading the Sabers with a two-run advantage heading into the 6th inning. That would all change after the River Hawks exploded for four runs in the inning.
The turnaround began when Schmidt laid down a successful bunt single, followed by two walks that loaded the bases for Isabella Beams and Joslynn Space. Elise Silvanic gave Owego a boost by hitting a solid double that brought home two runs, tying the game. Not too long after that, Owego took the lead after Geneva Crawford hit a sacrifice fly, resulting in Space scoring the go-ahead run. After that, the error allowed Silvanic to come home, raising the score to 4-2.
The Owego offense did not stop there in the seventh inning. Joslynn Space added more fuel to their fire as she hit a triple that scored some insurance runs before scoring herself again due to a wild pitch. Joslynn Space was dominant in the circle. The Owego pitcher threw a shutout, giving up only five hits while striking out nine Sabers in seven innings.
The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and defensive prowess.
"The team bounced back in a HUGE way after losing to Oneonta Wednesday," Coach Emily Crawford noted. "They played flawless defense, and our outfield was on fire, making big plays to keep their hitters off the bases!"
Looking Ahead: Now 5-1 on the season and riding high after wins over Waverly, Chenango Forks, Windsor, and now SV, the River Hawks will look to keep the momentum going.
Next Matchup: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Chenango Forks.
OFA Softball Schedule: https://www.schedulegalaxy.com/schools/158/teams/58123?utf8=%E2%9C%93&type=&game_types%5B%5D=regular_season&game_types%5B%5D=post_season&commit=Filter+activities#filters
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