Fillmore, NY – Joleigh Crye dominated from the circle, picking up 10 strikeouts as Section V’s Avon Braves defeated the Falconer Falcons 5-0 in Friday night’s Far West Regional at Fillmore Central School in Allegany County.
Crye started off hot, striking out seven batters through her first three innings of work from the circle. Falconer had a chance to get on the board in the third, loading the bases after a Dani Krenzer walk, an Angelina Fiasco infield single, and Kayla Lynn reaching on a fielder’s choice. Crye however was unfazed and forced a popout and picked up another strikeout to get herself out of the inning.
Crye then gave herself some run support in the bottom half of the third, hitting a three-run home run to left center field that put the Braves up 4-0.
Falconer was only able to get two base runners the rest of the way, and Crye was able to cruise to a shutout victory sending Avon to the state playoffs next weekend on Long Island.
Emily Rhinehart started the game for Falconer, pitching the first three innings and striking out four. Emily Melquist finished the game for the Falcons, also pitching three innings while picking up two strikeouts.
“She was dealing for sure, we watched the game the other night, and it wasn’t surprising to see the stats from this year, she was humming the ball,” coach Falconer coach Kayleigh Sieber said. “I felt we were the stronger team player to player, but you have to be able to put the ball in play against a pitcher that can deal like she did tonight. We had a couple of chances and couldn’t capitalize.”
Falconer was held to two hits – an infield single by Angelina Fiasco and then a single in the sixth inning by Tess Spangenburg, who was able to get into scoring position with a stolen base.
“She had more miles per hour than anyone we’ve seen all year,” Sieber said about Crye. “It’s hard to see on a livestream how quick they actually are until you see them in person.”
Falconer ends the season at 13-4 with a 9-3 league record in Sieber’s first season as varsity head coach.
“This is a family, the team chemistry is better than I could have imagined. It makes coaching a pleasure and makes it enjoyable, and that’s when you see things come together for the kids. It’s more than the stats, it’s about what you take away from the experiences and what you gained from it. Anyone who’s played sports will tell you it’s supposed to reveal character, and we’ve done that here.”
For Avon, they will face the winner of Section X’s Norwood-Norfolk and Section II’s Greenwich on Long Island next Saturday at the Moriches Athletic Complex on Long Island.
Falconer Stats:
Rhinehart: 3 IP, 4 K, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 R
Melquist: 3 IP, 2 K, 3 H, BB, R
Fiasco: 1-2, single
Spangenburg: 1-3, single, stolen base
Avon Stats:
Jo. Crye: 7 IP, 10 K, 2 H, 2 BB; 1-2, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Pusloskie: 1-3, Double, RBI
Jessie Crye: 1-3, Single, RBI, SB
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