But, if Steward and the Cardinals were going to accomplish that feat they would need a little more run support as the score remained tied at 1-1 after seven innings of play.

With Steward throwing a terrific game in the circle there was nobody better than her batterymate to help seal the deal for the Cardinals. In the top of the eighth inning, Randolph catcher Harper Smith stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third with two outs. Smith delivered in a big way, smacking a hard-hit single to left field to score both Juliana Syracuse and Kyra Pence to give Randolph the 3-1 lead that it would hold to clinch at least a share of the league title.

“When we got our leadoff on, Kyra gets on and we’ve got second and third with both Stewards and Harper coming up, I had a good feeling we’d score,” Randolph head coach Geoff Olson stated. “I was not expecting the two strikeouts, so when Harper came up to knock in two that’s just a huge clutch hit. There’s not much else you can say about that, it’s just a huge clutch hit in that spot.”

Steward continued to hold up her end of the bargain, inducing an opening pop out and then striking out the 1-2 batters to finish with 16 strikeouts, two hits, two walks and one earned run over the eight innings of work.

Silver Creek’s Laneya Olsen dives safely into second base as Randolph’s Kyra Pence applies a tag during Wednesday’s CCAA Division 1 East softball game in Silver Creek. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“Out on the mound she was dominant again,” Olson said about his senior pitcher. “Both pitchers pitched phenomenal tonight and we knew that coming in. We knew this would be a close game because we’ve both got good pitchers and when you’ve got pitchers as good as they are it’s always going to be a close game.”

Randolph (11-1, 8-1) struck first in the third inning when Syracuse got aboard with an infield single. She proceeded to steal second and reach third when the throw went into the outfield. Just 60 feet away, all that was needed to bring Syracuse home would have been a ball in play, but Kyra Pence opted to send a towering hit to left field for an RBI double.

The Cardinals’ 1-0 lead did not last long; it evaporated with one swing of the bat when Silver Creek pitcher Kaylee Hutchison was next up to bat in the fourth inning. Determined to get her run back, Hutchison sent a screamer over the left fielder’s head and she zoomed around the bases for a home run that many would have just gotten a triple on.

“She’s one of the most talented kids I’ve ever coached,” Silver Creek head coach Justin Cerne said about Hutchison. “She’s got a great attitude, she works super hard, she’s fun to be around and she’s wicked fast.”

After Hutchison tied the game, there was telling when it would end with how both pitchers were performing. Hutchison silenced the Randolph offense most of the day and emphasized it with 14 strikeouts over eight innings.

Randolph’s Kendall Steward delivers to the plate. P-J photo by Christian Storms

With both pitchers dialed in, it was ultimately errors that led to the downfall. In the top of the eighth, Syracuse reached based on and became the eventual winning run on Smith’s two-out single.

“I’ve been incredibly proud of this group all season,” Cerne added. “Every loss we’ve had — I mean I don’t want to take anything away from Randolph, they played a great game — but it’s been self-inflicted wounds, little mental lapse here and there. I think once these girls learn to put it all together and play a complete game they’re going to be a real force to reckon with.”

Randolph is now in position to claim sole ownership of the league title Friday at home against Gowanda, while Silver Creek (10-5, 6-3) will set its sights on getting ready for the postseason.

“This season has been a lot of fun,” Olson added. “They’re a great group of girls, they’ve been working hard all year and they’ve done a great job. We’ve got one more on Friday and we’ll see what we can do.”

Silver Creek pitcher Kaylee Hutchison winds up for a pitch during Wednesday's game. P-J photo by Christian Storms