NYS softball: Broccolo guides Webster Schroeder to first state championship

Webster Schroeder winning its first softball state championship was never in question.

With an ace like Molly Broccolo, the Warriors don't need many runs, but they still scored four runs in the first inning of Saturday afternoon's NYSPHSAA Class A final.

Broccolo's high school career ended triumphantly. She engineered another dominant defensive effort in Webster Schroeder's 5-1 victory over Section IV's Vestal in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association title game at the Moriches Softball Complex on Long Island.

In the morning, Broccolo was just as difficult to hit during a 4-2 semifinal victory over Section VIII's Mepham.

Coach Meaghan Keil said her team could not have made this run without the "unreal" senior leadership of Broccolo, Krislyn Clement, Maddy Spakoski and Hannah Secor.

"It's unbelievable," Keil said. "I'm so proud and grateful to coach a great group of kids."

Joining Webster Schroeder in Moriches was Section V champions Avon and Friendship/Scio. Both teams lost their NYSPHSAA semifinal contests Saturday morning.

What it means

The Warriors (22-5) ended the season on a 14-game winning streak.

Many key players returned from their 2021 Section V Class AA title team. But there was no state championship to play for. With the first NYSPHSAA tournament since COVID looming, Keil packed Schroeder's non-league schedule for this very day.

Now the Warriors have their first NYS title to show for it.

Avon senior Joleigh Crye and her Braves (20-2) lost to Section II's Greenwich 5-0 in Class C. Sophomore Nevaeh Ross and her Friendship/Scio Eagles (17-5) led early but dropped a 7-2 decision to Deposit-Hancock in Class D.

Player of the game

Who else but Molly Broccolo?

Already the Section V Class A1 regular season and tournament MVP, Broccolo proved why she's one of the best pitchers in the state one last time.

Broccolo's location was pinpoint. Vestal batters couldn't get clean hits off of the future University of Rochester pitcher.

Famous for her two-seam and drop curve, Broccolo scattered four hits, and that's after retiring the side in order across the first three innings.

"They never hit the ball hard off of her. She has such good pinpoint location," Keil said.

Unsung heroes

Broccolo couldn't do it without a tough defense backing her.

Mikayla Bengsch caught line drives from third all tournament. Second baseman Hannah Secor and Sam Schoenhardt at first connected on key outs. Right fielder Maddy Spakoski caught a foul ball in the final.

Left fielder Carley Casteline played well and caught pop flies in the first inning of both final four games. Catcher Sarah Ferruzza had a strong first year behind the plate.

Shortstop Krislyn Clement and centerfield Haley Kucewicz helped solidify a defensive unit that committed just two errors all day.

With the help of lively batting order — Schroeder combined for 13 hits in the final four —, Broccolo helped the Warriors outscore opponents 56-6 during their seven-game postseason run.

Coach Jill Terry's Avon softball team also gets an unsung hero recognition. When Webster Schroeder couldn't secure a bus, the Braves let their Section V associates ride to Long Island with them

That was just the beginning of troubles for the Warriors. Their hotel was overbooked, so they slept in a different hotel than the other teams. Schroeder even had problems with practice time at the facility.

Good thing the Warriors came out of all that mess as state champions.

Key moments

Class A final

Webster Schroeder 5, Vestal (IV) 1

Let's talk about Broccolo some more.

What better way for a pitcher to end her high school career by striking out the final three batters of the state final?

Broccolo did that in the top of the seventh. Vestal's Kay Farro led the inning with a base hit, but Broccolo fanned the final three Golden Bears before jumping into catcher Ferruzza's arms.

The top four batters in Vestal's order went 2-for-11 against Broccolo.

Webster Schroeder's first eight batters had an at-bat during a four-run first inning. Spakoski's two-run double opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, plating Bengsch — who was 2-for-3 — and Hannah Secor (single). Bizzie Baglieri, who missed most of her sophomore season with an injury, has played well since returning, plating Spakoski and Clement for a 4-0 lead through the first.

"We just set the tone early, and we know with Molly pitching, we were in a pretty good spot," Keil said.

The Warriors wouldn't score again until the fifth. Clement's RBI-double scored Bengsch for a a 5-1 advantage. Schoenhardt doubled, and Ferruzza also had a base hit in the Warriors' state championship victory.

In the top of the fourth, Vestal got on the board via Faith Hicks' RBI-single up the right field line. That put the Golden Bears within 4-1, and that's as close as they'd get.

Class A semifinals

Webster Schroeder 4, Mepham (VIII) 2

Webster Schroeder was against the ropes late in the semis.

Alanna Morse drove in two runs for a 2-1 Mepham lead in the top of the fifth. She could have registered a stand-up triple, but she was sent home and tagged at the plate on an impressive relay to catcher Ferruzza.

Clement responded at the bottom of the inning. Her two-run, two-out double plated Bengsch and Secor for a 3-2 Schroeder lead. Baglieri followed with an RBI-double for the insurance run.

Schroeder scored first in the bottom of the third when. Secor worked a walk and scored on the third baseman's errant throw to first for a 1-0 lead.

Class C semifinals

Greenwich (II) 5, Avon 0

Senior Joleigh Crye and Avon (20-2) met their match in the state final four.

Section II's Greenwich used a three-run fifth inning to run away with the game. The Witches (19-4) already led 2-0, but scored on a passed ball, and RBI's from Lily McCauliffe and Morgan Randall, for a five-run lead.

McCauliffe added 11 strikeouts in the circle. The senior Springfield College-commit scattered three hits.

Coach Jill Terry's Braves collected two of those hits came late. Avon's Madeline Ruter singled in the fifth. Crye sent a rope down the third down line in the sixth.

Class D semifinals

Deposit-Hancock (IV) 7, Friendship/Scio 2

Friendship/Scio watched a 2-0 lead crumble.

Nevaeh Ross scored on a passed ball in the first, and Kiara Grover's RBI-single gave coach Debra Warner's Eagles a two-run lead entering the bottom of the third.

It was all Deposit-Hancock the rest of the way. Senior Rylee Smith tossed a one-hitter, walking eight batters but keeping the Section V off the board the final four innings.

D-H's Kaitlyn Macumber's inside-the-park home run produced two runs in the third to tie the game at 2. RBIs by Riley Martin, Zoe Gifford and Smith extended the lead to 5-2 in the fifth. Martin's sacrifice fly was one of two sixth-inning runs.

Email Marquel Slaughter at mslaughter1@gannett.com and follow his Twitter @MarquelSports. Sign up for our high school sports newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NYSPHSAA softball semifinals are underway Saturday