PLATTSBURGH — Ticonderoga started strong in its NYSPHSAA softball regional semifinal Monday, scoring three runs in the first inning.
The Sentinels, however, learned what happens when you commit errors on the state level.
Section X's Norwood-Norfolk took advantage of seven Ticonderoga errors and Paige Harvey settled down to lead the Flyers to a 10-3 Class C win at Plattsburgh State's Cardinal Park.
"You have to play error free to win and Norwood, give them the credit, they played strong defensively," Ticonderoga co-coach Shelly Young said.
Jessica Harvey had two hits, two RBI and reached base safely four times for the Flyers (18-2), who will play Section II's Greenwich on Wednesday at the Adirondack Spots Complex in Queensbury.
Paige Harvey allowed just one hit and two baserunners past the second inning. The junior struck out six and walked four.
The Flyers plated their first in the third inning on an RBI double by Jessica Harvey.
When Harvey came up in the fifth with two on, the Sentinels elected to intentionally walk her. But on the fourth pitch, Harvey poked the ball to second, and the Sentinels committed a run-scoring error.
"I hollered at her, 'Just swing, you never know!' I think that really caught them off guard, and I think that especially in that inning it took some wind out of their sails," Norwood-Norfolk coach Becky Byrns said.
The Flyers tied the game on a fielder's choice to short and went up 4-3 on an error when the throw to second was bobbled.
Harvey was intentionally walked in the sixth — this time successfully — to load the bases. The Flyers tacked on two runs on a misplayed shot to right field.
"Once you get to regionals, the team that makes the errors is going to lose, and we made the errors in the field and they didn't," Ticonderoga co-coach Shannon Huntington said.
Ticonderoga had a chance to extend a 3-0 lead in the second inning if not for a bizarre double play.
With two on and one out, Jessica Blodgett hit a soft liner to short. The Sentinels thought the short stop made a shoe-string catch, but the umpires ruled the ball hit the dirt.
Autumn Olcott was stuck in no-man's land after trying to get back to second. The Flyers threw to second and then to third to end the inning.
"We thought she caught the ball, so a runner went back to second, a runner went back to first, and then it wasn't and everyone stood around frozen, not sure what had happened," Young said. "That changed the momentum of the game."
Paige Harvey retired 11 straight batters after the double play before issuing a two-out walk in the six inning. She ended the frame with a strikeout on a called third strike.
Andrea Rich hit a two-out triple in the seventh inning, but Harvey ended the game on a four-pitch strikeout.
"Paige kind of starts out maybe a little bit slow sometimes, but then she really gets a feel for her pitching," Byrns said.
Rich, who led the Sentinels with two hits, opened the bottom of the first with a single and a stolen base. She scored on a RBI single from Blodgett.
Megan Campney and Calsie Granger walked to load the bases. Jordan McKee, who took the loss on the mound, laced a two-run single to center field.
The Sentinels (12-5), who won the Section VII Class C title on a dramatic walk-off grand slam, are a young team losing just three seniors.
"Just work hard this summer..." Huntington said.
"...and get ready to go again," Young finished.
Norwood-Norfolk 10, Ticonderoga 3
Norwood-Norfolk 001 032 4 — 10 9 0
Ticonderoga 300 000 0 — 3 5 7
P. Harvey and Weaver. McKee, Austin (7) and Palandrani. WP- P. Harvey. LP- McKee. 2B- J. Harvey (N-N), P. Harvey (N-N). 3B- Rich (T).
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