Cooperstown wins section
baseball title with
extra-innings walkoff

By GREG KLEIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

ONEONTA – Alex Hage's walk-off single to left field scored pinch runner P.J. Kiuber to give top seeded Cooperstown its third Section III Class C baseball title in five years, with a 4-3 eight-inning win over No. 3 Port Byron in the C1 tournament championship Saturday, June 12, at Damaschke Field.

"Right off the bat, I knew. We won," said Hage, a senior who plays first base.

"I was just thinking I had to do my job," he continued. "This was the spot. This is where I do the job I am here to do."

Although there could be a legion ball game or two left for him to play, Hage's walkoff was likely his last big at bat. He said he is looking forward to attending University of North Carolina-Wilmington in the fall, but he isn't planning to play college baseball.

Luckily, he'll have a section title to show for his final at bat, the third he and a handful of his fellow seniors have been around to experience for Cooperstown. The Hawkeyes won in 2017, advancing to the final four for the first time in school history. The 2019 team one-upped that performance, losing in the Class C state championship game.

The coronavirus pandemic took away two chances at state titles for the class of 2021, but the Hawkeye players and coaches said they are thrilled with their championships, especially after coming from behind Saturday, and also Thursday, against Pulaski.

"We ended the season on a win," Cooperstown Coach Frank Miosek said. "How many teams get to say that?"

"This is the highest you can go this year and all three tournament games have been dramatic," Miosek said. "We won 1-0, 10-9 and now 4-3."