The Valley Central softball team fell to the Minisink Valley Warriors 7-6 in the Class AA section championship game, with the Warriors proving for a third time this season they could defeat the Vikings.

Minisink Valley, 18-4, defeated Valley Central, also 18-4, despite a valiant late comeback by the Vikings.

Senior pitcher Emily Sharpe led Valley Central from the circle, adding a double in the third inning. Senior Adrianna Ferraro tallied a triple in the third inning and a double in the fourth. Minisink junior pitcher Emily Smith delivered key strikeouts in high-pressure moments, including a pivotal strikeout of Valley Central’s Cailyn Richner in the fourth inning with two outs, the bases loaded and the Warriors clinging to a 7-4 lead. Minisink sealed the win in the seventh inning when its outfield caught two fly balls to end the game.

Minisink’s Kiera Filip opened the game with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Filip scored on a wild pitch after aggressive base running set the tone early for the Warriors. Sharpe recovered with a strikeout before first baseman Eleanor O’Neill caught a foul ball to end the inning.

Ferraro started the Vikings’ half of the first inning with a walk and stole second on an athletic dive, but Valley Central could not capitalize as the next two batters struck out.

Valley Central limited Minisink to one additional run in the second inning. O’Neill made a key play with two outs, and Sharpe earned a strikeout on a full count to quiet the Warriors’ dugout.

Sharpe hit a ground-rule double in the third inning when her hit bounced over the fence. Senior McKenzie Rodriguez followed with an RBI single, scoring Sharpe to put Valley Central on the board. Makenna Bush added a base hit, and Ferraro followed with a triple that scored two runners, giving the Vikings a 3-1 lead.

Minisink answered immediately. Filip drew a walk and stole second. Lyla LaBarbera hit a single, and Filip scored from second after stealing third. Hannah Ringus hit a double when Ferraro’s diving catch attempt failed. Eighth-grader Brooke Dragone hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. Freshman Aubrey Rotolo then hit a single to score another run, giving Minisink a 4-3 lead. Valley Central ended the inning by fielding a ground ball and throwing to first in time.

Valley Central’s batters could not find a rhythm offensively in the fourth, but the defense helped keep the game close with a diving catch in the outfield and a timely putout by shortstop Mackenzie Hinspeter. Ferraro responded with a double that scored a run and tied the game at 4-4 heading to the fifth.

Minisink regained the lead after a passed ball with the bases loaded scored a run. Ringus hit a single, and a wild throw on a force attempt reloaded the bases. A sacrifice bunt and another base hit by Filip extended the Warriors’ lead to 7-4. The inning ended on a Sharpe strikeout and a caught fly ball.

Sharpe hit a double to open Valley Central’s half of the fifth. A baserunner was called out at third after being struck by a batted ball. Rodriguez hit a fly ball out, and Richner struck out with the bases loaded, ending the threat.

Minisink was held scoreless in the sixth as Valley Central mounted a comeback. Ferraro singled and stole second, then eventually stole third. Emily Smit was tagged out after a single, but Ferraro scored to cut the deficit to 7-6.

Valley Central needed its defense to hold, and O’Neill and the outfield came through. In Valley Central’s final at-bat, an unidentified player referred to as Hall opened with a base hit, putting runners on first and second. Rodriguez bunted, but Hall was tagged out at second. With one out, the Vikings hit a fly ball that was caught. With two strikes on the final batter, Valley Central hit another fly ball that was caught, ending the game.