Class D softball: Deposit-Hancock powers to state title with 8-1 finals win over Oriskany

Deposit-Hancock left no doubt Saturday afternoon in the Class D state softball championship game.

The Section 4 representative scored early and often, powering to the first state title in the history of the combined program with an 8-1 win over Oriskany at the Moriches Sports Complex on Long Island.

The victory marked the seventh state title for Deposit softball, and the first in Hancock history. The Deposit-Hancock baseball team also won the Class D title not long after the softball squad recorded the final out, marking the first time since 2013 a school swept the Class D baseball and softball state titles.

After falling behind in the semifinal game earlier in the day, the Deposit-Hancock softball team was locked in from the opening pitch in the finals. Deposit-Hancock loaded the bases in the first inning and pushed one run across when Sarah Gross touched home plate. The offense plated two more runs in the second keyed by a triple from Kaitlyn Macumber and singles from Pagen Macumber and Riley Martin.

Deposit-Hancock remained on the attack in the third inning when Kaitlyn Macumber broke the game open with a three-run home run, putting an exclamation point on a standout performance at the state final four.

Deposit-Hancock added one more run in the fourth inning as Amanda Ray drove in Zoe Gifford with an RBI single.

Oriskany, of Section 3, spoiled the shutout with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Oriskany finishes the season 18-4.

Deposit-Hancock rallies by Scio-Friendship in state semifinals

Section 4 Deposit-Hancock advanced to the Class D state semifinals Saturday with a 7-2 win over Section V Scio-Friendship.

Allegany County’s Scio-Friendship led 2-0 in the early going, but Deposit-Hancock responded with seven unanswered runs to advance to Saturday afternoon’s championship game.

Scio-Friendship jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore Nevaeh Ross worked a walk, stole a base and scored a run on a passed ball. Deposit-Hancock threatened in its half of the first inning as Pagen Macumber walked and Martin singled, but Ross and the Scio-Friendship defense escaped with no further damage.

Scio-Friendship tacked on another run in the top of the third inning. Junior Kiara Grover ripped a single up the middle to drive in Morghyn Ross for a 2-0 lead.

The Deposit-Hancock offense got going in the bottom of the inning and tied the game up with two runs. Gross was hit by a pitch and Kaitlyn Macumber followed up with a blast to right field and came all the way around to score on the play for the Eagles.

The game turned in the fifth inning as Deposit-Hancock took the lead with three runs. Martin and Gifford drove in runs, scoring Kaitlyn Macumber and Pagen Macumber.

After leaving a Scio-Friendship runner stranded at third in the top of the sixth, Deposit-Hancock added two big insurance runs in the bottom half as Kaitlyn Macumber and Gross both crossed home plate for a 7-2 lead and a trip to the state finals.

Scio-Friendship completed its season with a 17-5 overall record. The team loses just three seniors to graduation in Kendra Gleason, Keely Sisson and Jaedyn Shields.

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Class D softball: Deposit-Hancock wins state title over Oriskany