PLATTSBURGH — Northeastern Clinton gave the No. 3-ranked Class B baseball team in the state all it could handle Thursday afternoon.
Section II champion Taconic Hills (20-2), however, held on for a 2-1 win over the Cougars (16-8) in a NYSPHSAA regional semifinal at Plattsburgh High.
The game featured a duel between two left-handed pitchers, the Titans’ Maky Kirby and the Cougars’ Jacob Perkins. Both went the distance.
Kirby, who is the Titans’ No. 2 pitcher behind Tristan Super, allowed four hits, walked four and struck out eight.
Perkins, meanwhile, surrendered eight hits, walked two, allowed one earned run and struck out eight.
“This was an unbelievably tense and competitive playoff baseball game,” NCCS coach Jeff Norton said.
“Both pitchers were excellent all game, pitching into and out of trouble at times. Jacob Perkins, as he has done all year, gave us a great performance on the mound and a chance to win. The season he has put together for us both on and off the field as a leader is immeasurable.”
Kirby and Aidan Buchinsky had three hits each to account for six of the eight hits for Taconic Hills.
The Titans grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Kirby led off with a single and later scored on Super’s single to left field.
Buchinsky led off the second with a single and came around to score an unearned run on Kirby’s two-out infield hit to make it 2-0.
The Cougars got one of the runs back in the fourth. Jacob Perkins drew a walk with one out, advanced to second base on a throwing error, to third on an infield grounder and scored on a balk.
“We had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the seventh when Kirby got us on a fly out to end the game,” Norton said.
“Taconic Hills made a few key defensive plays in important moments, and the big difference was them being able to string together a few more hits to take advantage of a couple of early mistakes by our defense.
“In big games against good teams, any mistakes can come back to hurt you. With that being said, we made our share of important plays and outs throughout the game, as well.
“In the bottom of the second inning, we had two runners on with nobody out and were not able to score a run. That was an important moment in the game because we had a great opportunity to get at least one run, if not two, right after Taconic Hills scored.”
Cobe Lafountain, Jordan Wells, Jacob Perkins and Carter Garceau accounted for the four hits for the Section VII champions.
“We will miss this senior class of Robert McIntyre, Jordan Wells, Otis Reed and Jacob Perkins,” Norton said. “All of those players have been on the varsity for anywhere between three and five years.
“Not only have they provided quality play on the field, but the leadership, accountability and work ethic they bring each day to practice has been hugely valuable to our success this year.
“This roster, as a whole, has had some years that have been very difficult — early exits from playoffs, poor regular season records and being on the end of the lop-sided scores. Even though many of these players had to be moved up early as underclassmen and take their lumps, they have never quit on this team or program.
“This year, we were able to experience the fruits of our labor. I consider myself grateful to coach these young men.”
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Taconic Hills 2, NCCS 1
TH 110 000 0 — 2 8 1
NCCS 000 100 0 — 1 4 4
Kirby and Alvarez. J. Perkins and G. Lafountain. WP- Kirby. LP- J. Perkins.