Stone, Tighe Give Softball Postseason Win

It took extra innings. But Hopatcong will take a playoff win any way it can get it.

The No. 7 Chiefs dropped No. 10 Kittatinny in the first round of the North 1, Group 2 playoffs Wednesday at a neutral site at Maple Grange Park in Vernon when Taylor Tighe scored on Courtney Stone's game-winning single in the eighth.

Tighe led off the frame with a single before nabbing second on a Julie Brennan sacrifice bunt and third on a wild pitch.

Ace Hannah Bibeault struck out 16 while walking two and relenting three hits in the complete-game win.

The Cougars grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first. But the Chiefs stormed back with a three-run fourth inning on Bibeault's two-run single and a three-base error that plated Bibeault.

Kitatinny tied things up with a two-run seventh before Stone's extra-frame heroics.

Hopatcong will visit No. 2 Pequannock in the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. Thursday.