Jamie Horn from Niagara Falls of Western New York's softball team hits a foul during their game with Hudson Valley at BAGSAI Park in Binghamton. (Heather Telesca) Click on photo for larger image

Western Region softball team sputters
By Pat Murray
Friday, July 30, 2026

BINGHAMTON — Heading into the Empire State Games, Western Region softball coach Mike Rappl was concerned about his team’s offense. It turns out those fears were well-founded.

Western scored just one run Thursday as it opened competition with a pair of losses. Western fell to Hudson Valley 2-1 in eight innings before dropping a 1-0 decision to Long Island.

“Our inexperience showed,” Rappl said. “We had our chances but didn’t capitalize on them.”

Western squandered a chance to win the opener, putting runners on first and third with no outs in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at 1. But Hudson Valley pitcher Tara DiMaggio managed to wiggle out of the jam.

The international tie-breaker rule went into effect in the eighth inning, allowing each team to start the inning with a runner on second. Hudson Valley managed to cash in its run thanks to a pair of Western errors, but things didn’t go as well for Western in the bottom of the eighth.

Western’s Katie Miranto popped up on her sacrifice bunt attempt. Hudson Valley catcher Christine Sweeney caught the popup and doubled off Natalie Osika, who had wandered too far off second. DiMaggio then struck out Jordan Rutkowski to end the game.

“We weren’t hitting well in the games we played before the Empires,” Rappl said. “We’re getting good pitching, but we can’t score.”

Western’s Lindsay Garbacz allowed six hits in the loss to Hudson Valley and struck out eight. Garbacz allowed just three hits after the first inning.

Courtney Piar pitched a three-hitter in the loss to Long Island.

Western, which most likely now has a shot at only the bronze medal, has a pair of games today, taking on Adirondack at 9 a.m. and Central at 2 p.m.
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