By P.J. Harmer

Staff Writer

ONEONTA _ Edmeston’s Kati Dennis got a storybook ending Monday at Oneonta State.

Dennis struck out 14 in a one-hitter, and Edmeston rallied for a 3-2 victory over Schenevus to win its third straight Tri-Valley League championship.

Edmeston second baseman Juli Vibbard throws to first for an out as shortstop Annamarie Davoulas watches during Monday’s Tri-Valley League championship game at Oneonta State. Edmeston beat Schenevus, 3-2, for its third straight league title.

"It was a good game, and good teams persevere," said Edmeston coach Brian Burgess, whose team improved to 16-1. "We showed our true heart tonight coming back. We basically gutted it out. Kati kept us in it and we did enough in the seventh offensively to pull it out."

Dennis was choked up and fighting back tears after the game, saying it was sad that this was her last league game.

"It hadn’t hit me until tonight," she said. "That’s why I keep crying."

With the scored tied at 2, Dennis took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a one-out single to Brittni Gulotty. Pinch-runner Sam Vosatka then stole second, but she was thrown out trying to steal third by Edmeston catcher Jennifer Norton. Dennis ended the inning by striking out opposing pitcher Kelly Tiderencel.

Freshman Megan Lawrence led off the bottom of the seventh with a perfectly placed bunt single up the third-base line. Schenevus’ Jayme Bentley, who was playing back at third base, charged and made a clean scoop and throw, but Lawrence beat the ball to first by a step.

Dennis, who finished 3-for-4, then singled sharply up the middle on the first pitch she saw.

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"I don’t choose to be in that situation," Dennis said, "but I certainly put my all into it."

Lawrence rounded second and shuffled her feet before heading to third. Center fielder Nicole Dulkis and right fielder Julia Hernandez each overran the ball, allowing Lawrence to reach third safely. The throw from Dulkis skipped away from Bentley, which let Dennis move up to second as well.

Clean-up hitter Annamarie Davoulas fell behind, 1-2, but Tiderencel’s fourth pitch was low and hard. Lawrence didn’t hesitate this time as the ball got past catcher Marion Murphy and hit the backstop. Lawrence sprinted home and slid in safely, ahead of Murphy’s throw to a covering Tiderencel.

"I just needed to slide, and it’s not my strongest point," Lawrence said. "Run. That’s all I thought about. I was ready."

Dennis, who struck out the side in the first and third, had at least one strikeout each inning. She had two in the second, fourth and sixth as well.

"You have to put the ball in play and we have yet to step that up in a game," Schenevus coach Jennifer Pier said. "We had bad decisions at the plate and were swinging at pitches we shouldn’t swing at. We have to be disciplined up there."

Still, even with the wild swings and five errors in the field, the Dragons (11-4) held a 2-1 lead after scoring a run in the top of the sixth _ still without a hit.

Dulkis walked to start the inning and moved to second on Jessica Bentley’s sacrifice bunt. Dulkis rounded the bag on the play and drew a throw to third from Edmeston first baseman Susanna Johnson. Her throw to third sailed over Lawrence, allowing Dulkis to snap a 1-all tie.

"I had to keep my cool," Dennis said. "If I lose my composure, I’ll pitch bad and they’ll get their runs."

Dennis struck out Holli Oberacker swinging and Murphy looking to end the inning.

Edmeston tied it in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, April Bartlett (2-for-3) singled to left-center and was sacrificed to second by Brittanie Becraft. She scored when Johnson singled off the glove of shortstop Oberacker as the ball trickled into the outfield.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first on Dennis’ two-out single to right. Hernandez’s throw to first was low and bounced past Amber Canter, allowing Dennis a chance at second. Murphy ended up with the ball and tried to throw out Dennis at second, but her throw short-hopped second baseman Jessica Bentley. Dennis scored as the ball bounced into center field.

The Dragons tied it in the third when Jayme Bentley walked, stole second and third and scored when Norton overthrew Lawrence on the second steal attempt.

"Both teams have a lot of nerves tonight," Burgess said. "This is one of the best (championships) for me. The three seniors with me (Dennis, Davoulas, Bartlett) the last three years, it will be sad to see them go. I feel happy they accomplished this their last season."

Sixth-seeded Schenevus hosts No. 11 Morris in the opening round of the Section Four Class D Tournament at 4:30 p.m. Friday. No. 3 Edmeston plays host to No. 14 Laurens at the same time.

Edmeston 3, Schenevus 2

TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday at Oneonta State

Schenevus 001 001 0 _ 2 1 5

Edmeston 100 001 1 _ 3 8 3

Kelly Tiderencel (L) and Marion Murphy. Kati Dennis (W,14-1) and Jennifer Norton. 2B _ Kati Dennis (E).

___

P.J. Harmer can be reached at mailto:pharmer@thedailystar.com">pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.