No. 8 Bow softball started its first-round Division II playoff game against No. 9 ConVal (11-6) on Wednesday as it did for most of the season: with Hannah McGonigle in the circle and Emily Kiah at shortstop.

But on the first play of the game, things turned inauspiciously for the Falcons. The Cougars’ Samantha Henderson and Morgan Bemont started the game reaching safely on errors by Kiah. Before Bow could touch the bats, the Falcons trailed by three runs en route to a 4-3 defeat.

“Obviously the first inning was a little bit rough defensively,” Bow coach Jen Boyden said.

After the inning, Kiah approached Boyden and told her she felt more comfortable at third base.

The position switch wasn’t enough, however, as ConVal took advantage of Bow’s miscues to secure the win and end the Falcons’ season.

“I think they all showed up, especially defensively (later in the game),” Boyden said, referring to two double plays made by the Falcons’ defense. “Offensively, we hit the ball hard a lot. It was just right at people.”

Family and friends of the Falcons gathered in the bleachers, wearing bucket hats and oily with sunscreen. The baseball team, which has its first-round playoff game on Thursday, lined the fence on the third-base side.

Bow cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the first when junior Lilly Wright hit a two-run double.

The Cougars added a run in the top of the second to make it 4-2, and the Falcons’ offense went stagnant.

The incredible heat and cloudless sky were no friends to the players.

“I’m sweating profusely,” murmured McGonigle to Boyden while she lingered on third base.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, sophomore Caly Poitras tripled and stood on third. She came home two batters later to cut the Falcons’ deficit to one once again.

Bow still trailed, 4-3, In the bottom of the seventh. One run would push the two teams to extra innings, the teams having played a 14-inning affair last Monday.

Bow’s Ella Roos had two strikes on her before she hit a solid ground ball that allowed her to get to first base just as the ball did. The consensus from the crowd was that the batter was safe, but the umpire called her out.

Reis Domini then singled up the middle and Emma Kelly sacrificed her to second before Amelia Clark lined out to third, ending the team’s strong season.

Bow finishes the year 10-7 and has three graduating seniors: McGonigle, Kiah and Clark. McGonigle is off to play softball at the University of Buffalo. Boyden is hurt to see them leave but hopeful for the large incoming class of 11 freshmen.

“I think across the division, the 2023 class has been incredibly strong: a lot of great pitchers, a lot of great, smart defenders. And I think a lot of us are going to be fighting next year,” Boyden said. “But there is some excitement here because we have so many numbers coming in, so the future is bright.

“As sad as it is, I think what we’re losing in talent and experience, we’re definitely going to make up for it with a lot of very hungry, dedicated freshmen.”

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