PINE PLAINS — Stissing Mountain High School’s varsity baseball season ended last week, even if it look 11 innings to do it.
After clinching the Section IX title for the second consecutive year (2009’s team was in Class B, but Pine Plains moved down to Class C this year), the Bombers traveled to SUNY Purchase in Westchester County for a closely-fought game against Section I champs Valhalla.
Pine Plains led 3-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, one out away from the regional title game. But Valhalla scored twice to tie the game and the two teams battled back and forth for an additional four innings before a Pine Plains throwing error scored a runner on second base to end the game, 4-3.
There were opportunities for the Bombers to pull away early on, as Valhalla went through two pitchers in three innings. Pine Plains had the bases loaded in both the first and second innings, but could only bring home two runs.
Seth Knickerbocker pitched the entire game, striking out two and walking two, both of which were intentional in the bottom of the 10th. Offensively, Mark Flinn and Corey Weaver each had two hits for Pine Plains. The Bombers finished 16-6 on the season. Ten players graduate this year, including six starters.
