Most sequels to great movies never seem to live up to what made the original great. There are some memorable moments but for the most part, the plot and outcomes are forgettable. Such is not the case for Rhinebeck's run during this year's sectional softball tournament.On Saturday, the Hawks got past Mid-Hudson Athletic League foe Pine Plains by a score of 2-1 to capture the Section 9, Class C championship in a game that had some tense moments and a heart-pounding finish.
" It gets harder and harder and a lot of it comes down to luck," smiled Olivia Rogine after Rhinebeck's thrilling victory. " How can we make three runs toward states in a row without hard work? We just have to keep our heads in the game for every inning and every at-bat."
It may seem silly to anyone that hasn't seen Rhinebeck play, but a 2-0 advantage for the Hawks entering the bottom of the seventh seemed as insurmountable as a 10-0 lead with ace Megan Michie on the mound.
Michie had a slight stretch of wildness though, hitting two batters in the inning, as the Bombers put runners on first and second with on one out. Jess Richard then lifted a fly ball down the right field line that just barely grazed off the glove of streaking Rhinebeck outfielder Katie Braggins for a double, allowing a run to score and leaving runners at second and third.
Michie then whiffed Deanna Strang to set up the game's tense, final sequence. Cassandra Inserillo hit a hump-backed fly ball that seemed perfectly placed between Rhinebeck second baseman, Candace Bernitt, and Braggins. Just as it appeared as though the ball would barely elude Bernitt, Braggins came skidding across the ground on her knees to make the game-saving catch.
" The first ball went right off the tip of my glove so that was really frustrating but, on the second ball, I just remember running for it, seeing Candace and from there I really don't remember much else," smiled Braggins. " I just remember thinking that I have to catch this ball, I have to catch this ball. I sort of woke up on my knees and realized I had caught it. I really, really wanted to catch that ball."
As Braggins was making her mad dash, Hawks fans and Bombers fans were collectively holding their breath.
" I couldn't see Katie coming behind Candace," said shortstop Karen Kirker who was heading to cover second base. " I didn't know Katie was there until Candace fell and I saw Katie sliding by. I was kind of like no and then yay. It was a good surpise."
And what was Hawks coach, Steve Boucher, thinking as the ball took flight?
" Catch it, catch it," he said with a smile. " I was yelling for Katie to catch it because she was coming in on the ball. I had all the confidence in the world, all the confidence in the world. Katie did what she needed to do."
Braggins was instantly surrounded by her friends as they piled together to enjoy their third straight Section 9, Class C title.
A funny moment then happened when Boucher, reciting the words her teammates chant during her at-bats, serenaded her with these words.
" Braggins, Braggins, you're the one!" After talking to his happy team, Boucher had this to say when asked if the winning ever gets old for his group.
" The names and the faces change but they still have that program mentality," Boucher said. " They know what it takes to get here. They know the hard work, the dedication and the commitment involved."
The Hawks got their first run in the game when Michie reached base on a fielder's choice. Moira Nugent then ran for her and scooted all the way to third base on Heather Hanaburgh's infield basehit. Olivia Rogine then hit a liner just over the shortstop for a single that made it 1-0.
" It felt good," Rogine said about her big single. " I just said to myself, head in and hit and as I was going to first base I heard the cheers, which was a good thing. I can't lie, I had forgotten that Moira was on base but that RBI was a good feeling."
Rhinebeck tacked on the second run when Paige Albano smoked a hard single to left field that eluded the left fielder, allowing Albano to run all the way to third. Karen Kirker then smacked a single to drive home her teammate to make the score 2-0 which is the way it stood until Braggins pulled off her play.
" As coach always says, any person can be a hero on any given day and, today, it was Katie in the end," said Rogine about how the Hawks win because they are a team.
" Our team is so strong that when one person is having a bad game, someone else is having a great game and it just overshadows it," said Kirker. " Our team is so close that we all seem to take turns in the limelight. There's Megan, of course, and she is just amazing. We just always have to pick each other up."
Michie, who struck out eight, walked one and yielded only four hits, had plenty of praise for her teammates.
" It can be anyone at any time," Michie said about the team aspect of the Hawks' success. " The defense played really well today and we had some big hits."
Kirker finished the afternoon with three singles. Hanaburgh stroked two hits with teammate Candace Bernitt adding a double. Amy Mandigo, Paige Albano and Olivia Rogine also had singles for the winners.
" This never gets old," said Rogine with a big grin when asked how this title compared to last year's state championship and sectional titles.
" It feels good every time," said Michie. " Its not new but its very cool."
