Canton Girls Win Class B Title in Dramatic Fashion

#10 Natasha Bell celebrates with her teammates after scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.

The #1 Canton Bears win over the #2 Salmon River Shamrocks by the score of 5-4 in 10 innings of play for the Section 10 Class B championship. Canton started quick scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the first on a single by Samantha Corbett. Freshman Kacie Wentworth stepped up in the 2nd inning and did the same thing knocking in 2 runs on a single up the middle of the field. Kacie also shutdown the Shamrocks on the mound until the 4th inning. In the 4th, an initial out call by the third base umpire on a fly ball to left field was overruled by the first base umpire. Allison Smiddy and Joelle Porter followed with 2 singles and the Shamrocks went on to score 4 runs in the inning to tie the game at 4-4. The rest of the game was a spectacular pitching duel between 2 young and talented Section 10 athletes. Wentworth only allowed 1 hit in the final 6 innings and struck out a total of 9 batters in the game. Sophomore Shamrock pitcher Krista Oakes settled down after the first 2 innings and allowed just 4 hits and struck out 9 batters in her final 8 innings of work. Natasha Bell scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10 inning on a wild pitch. Salmon River wanted to intentionally walk the batter at the plate with runners on 2nd and 3rd, but the pitch got away and Natasha raced home for the game ending run. Canton will play the Section 7 winner on Monday at SUNY Canton.