However, Section IV’s Deposit-Hancock had different plans, stranding the two Golden Falcons in scoring position without any further damage and then getting the run back in the top of the fifth. Restoring a 5-1 lead, Deposit/Hancock thwarted any chance of a Falconer comeback with the score standing to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C quarterfinal.

“This is the third game in a row we’ve been talking about momentum,” Falconer head coach Emily Hair said. “That’s how momentum works. We have been lucky enough to keep it on our side for as long as we have, but when it goes away it is hard to get back. That was one of those situations where they gained the momentum back and chipped away. It’s something we’ve been doing all year and this time it was just against us.”

Falconer had jumped on all of its opponents first in the postseason, but in Friday’s regional it was the Eagles earning an early lead inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili High School Athletic Complex.

“They were swinging,” Hair said about both of the offenses in the game. “We were swinging the bats just the way we have, but credit to their pitcher and their defense especially. They were making plays that we haven’t seen all season, all around this Deposit team is so solid.”

Falconer catcher Nylah Sharpe tags out Deposit-Hancock’s Olivia Johnston during a fielder’s choice in the NYSPHSAA Class C quarterfinal inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili Athletic Complex on Friday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

In both the top of the second and third, the Eagles cranked leadoff home runs by Victoria Green and then Ivy Tice. Then, in each inning, those homers were followed up with hits to plate another run and establish a 4-0 lead through three innings.

Falconer managed its first hit in the bottom of the second courtesy of Swanson, but was unable to string many more together.

The best bit of action from Falconer came in that fourth inning as Hannah Melquist reached first on a bloop single to no-man’s land in left field and advanced to second on defensive interference. Emily Zaranek was hit by a pitch for the second time before Rachael Swanson dropped a single on the right-field foul line that drove Melquist in and put Zaranek and Swanson in scoring position.

That was the only run the Golden Falcons managed, but things were finally looking up.

Falconer got the first two batters out in the top of the fifth, but Deposit-Hancock would not go quietly with some hard-hit balls through the infield that eventually scored Green a third time to make it 5-1.

Falconer shortstop Emily Zaranek makes a throw to first base during the NYSPHSAA Class C quarterfinal inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili Athletic Complex on Friday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

With great pitching from Jordan Diemer, the road back for Falconer was made difficult. She finished the game allowing just four hits and striking out seven.

Emily Rhinehart attempted to help her cause in the bottom of the sixth as she got into scoring position with a single landing her on second after an error. Falconer was unable to hit her home, but Rhinehart still finished strong in the circle with five strikeouts and three walks while giving up nine hits.

“We knew this was going to be the best team we faced so far,” Hair said of Deposit-Hancock. “It only gets harder when you get deeper into the playoffs like this. Every team you see is going to be tough and there was no question they were tough. But these girls have worked their butts off their whole lives, they have put more work collectively than other groups have. I just can’t say enough about every single one of them.”

Falconer finished with enough wins that would normally end the team in the state semifinals, but with a subregional, the season ended at Gates Chili Athletic Complex.

“The subregional is what it is,” Hair added. “You have to beat them all to win them all anyway. We got another game together and these girls battled.”

Falconer’s Emily Rhinehart catches a pop fly during the NYSPHSAA Class C quarterfinal inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili Athletic Complex on Friday. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Deposit-Hancock returns to the state final four seeking its fourth title since merging programs after COVID and a fourth in five years. The Eagles will play Section X’s St. Lawrence Central next Friday in Binghamton at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park.