Herkimer Generals Softball Team Wins Regional Title and moves on to NJCAA World Series
From back left: Assistant Coach Brad Crysler, Kimora Brown, Caroline Furner, Louise Dassy, Jazelle Reivera, Danielle Filapello, Olivia Friend, and Head Coach Louis Friend.
From front left: Jessica Zalucki, Cassidy Will, Kelsey Richardson, Alexys Rosick, Shelbi Hagues, Naomi Cohen, and Kerrigan Crysler.
The Herkimer Generals softball team clinched the Region 3A crown with a 15-12 win over Jefferson Community College resulting in the program's 12th consecutive World Series appearance, the longest active streak in Region III.
Despite a setback in the first game of the best two-out-of-three-game series on Thursday, the Generals demonstrated their resilience with a resounding 15-3 victory over the Cannoneers in the second game.
In the finals, Jefferson scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a four-run lead just over halfway through the game. However, the Generals, united in their determination, answered with an eight-run fifth inning to retake the lead. The team added three runs in the sixth to lead by as many as seven runs. The Cannoneers scored four runs in the final inning, but ultimately, freshman Shelbi Hagues induced a game-ending ground ball to seal the game.
Alexys Rosick (Hudson Falls, NY) led both teams with four hits while adding three RBI. Olivia Friend (Oneida, NY) added three hits and four RBIs in the win. Both Rosick and Friend were named to the Region III All-Tournament Team. Hagues was named Region III Tournament MVP after going 3-for-7 with four runs scored in the final two games.
"I couldn't be happier," said Herkimer College Softball Head Coach Louie Friend after the game. "I always say big players make big plays and they certainly did that."
The team advances to the NJCAA World Series in Chattanooga, TN. In the first round, they will play the No. 2 seed Patrick & Henry Community College on Wednesday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m.
Alexys Rosick
Olivia Friend
Shelbi Hagues