Section III softball semifinals: What to watch for this weekend
This week has been jam-packed with excitement in the world of high school softball in Section III. The postseason has been filled with shocking upsets, dominant pitching performances and stellar offensive outputs all throughout.
In this weekend's semifinals, each class — with the exception of Class B — will feature local teams.
Here's what you need to know heading into the semifinals this weekend:
Jump to: Class AA | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D
Class AA
In Section III's largest class, the Rome Free Academy Black Knights are the lone local team.
The Black Knights finished the season 10-9 and second place in the Colonial Division of the Tri-Valley League. Their regular season success earned them the fourth seed in Class AA.
Class AA only had four teams qualify for playoffs this year, so the semifinals will be RFA's first postseason game this season.
RFA has been led by senior Laina Beer on the mound. Beer has pitched 103.1 innings and retired 117 batters via strikeout this season. Offensively, Maggie Closinski has been the biggest threat for the Black Knights. Closinski leads the team with 27 hits, six doubles, five triples and 15 RBI.
RFA will play top-seeded Liverpool (13-6) at Onondaga Community College 4 p.m. Saturday, May 28. The other Class AA semifinal will take place 6:30 p.m. May 28 and OCC and will feature No. 2 Baldwinsville (17-1) and No. 3 Cicero-North Syracuse (6-12).
Class A
Both Class A semifinal matchups feature local schools. The fourth-seeded New Hartford Spartans (14-4) and third-seeded Camden Blue Devils (17-3) have both advanced to the Class A semifinals. Their games will take place May 28 at Ray Middle School in Baldwinsville.
The Blue Devils reached the semifinals by defeating No. 6 Christian Brothers Academy 9-4 in the quarterfinals.
Much like they have all year, Camden received a big boost from their sophomore leadoff hitter Brooke Musch. In the win, Musch went 2-3, scored two runs, drove in three runs, doubled and tripled.
Like the Blue Devils, New Hartford was fueled by a familiar name in the quarterfinals.
For the Spartans, it was Sienna Holmes who helped push the Spartans to the next round. Holmes pitched all seven innings, allowed five hits and struck out six on her way to a shutout victory. In the team's 3-0 over East Syracuse-Minoa, Holmes also jump- started the offense by driving in a run in the third inning.
In the semifinals, Camden will take on No. 2 Auburn (17-4) 1:30 p.m. May 28 and New Hartford will play No. 1 Jamesville-Dewitt (18-3) 11 a.m. May 28.
Class B
No. 7 Westhill (10-6) upset No. 2 Oneida (14-5) in the quarterfinals to advance in the playoffs. Westhill plays No. 11 APW (9-6) who upset No. 3 Chittenango (16-4) in the quarterfinals. Those teams will meet at Herkimer County Community College 1:30 p.m. May 28.
The other Class B semifinal features No. 1 Marcellus (15-3) and No. 12 Skaneateles (12-9). That game will also be played at 11 a.m. May 28 at HCCC.
Class C
Perhaps the biggest Cinderella story in the playoffs comes in the form of the No. 17 Notre Dame Jugglers. Notre Dame had to play their way into the round of 16 against No. 16 Adirondack. They won that game 5-1, then the next night they upset No. 1 Port Byron 8-7 to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals they shutout No. 9 Weedsport 6-0 behind a dominant effort from eighth-grader Ella Trinkaus.
Against Weedsport, Trinkaus pitched all seven innings of the shutout, surrendered only one hit, walked three and struck out 11. This performance was more of the same for the eighth-grader, who has tallied 37 strikeouts in 21 innings this postseason.
The Jugglers will take on No. 4 West Canada Valley (17-2) at OCC 11 a.m. May 28.
West Canada Valley defeated No. 13 Waterville 11-1 in the round of 16 and then bested No. 5 Thousand Islands 1-0 in the quarterfinals.
Like she has all year, Hanna Burdick has led West Canada with her strong play inside the pitcher's circle this postseason.
In the team's two games, Burdick has pitched all 14 innings, allowed no earned runs, seven hits, walked only five and racked up 25 strikeouts. She has produced at the plate as well. In the win over Waterville, Burdick was 2-3, scored two runs, hit a triple and drove in three runs.
The other class C semifinal features No. 7 Pulaski (14-3) -- who upset No. 2 Cooperstown 2-0 in the quarterfinals -- and No. 3 Sandy Creek (17-2). Pulaski and Sandy Creek will play at OCC 1:30 p.m. May 28.
Class D
The No. 4 Poland Tornadoes (12-8) will take on the No. 8 Hamilton Emerald Knights (15-5) in the semifinals 11 a.m. May 28 at Oneida High School.
The Tornadoes advanced to the final four of Class D by defeating No. 13 Belleville-Henderson 4-3 and No. 5 DeRuyter 1-0.
In the wins, junior Shelbi Hagues has been a leader for the Tornadoes. Hagues pitched seven innings against Belleville-Henderson and only allowed one earned run, 2 hits and struck out 10 batters. Against DeRuyter, she pitched a complete-game shutout, allowed 2 hits, and struck out 13 batters.
Hamilton has advanced to this round by besting No. 9 Cincinnatus 16-1 and upsetting No. 1 Stockbridge Valley 10-7.
Emily Neuenschwander has given the Emerald Knights the offensive firepower in the team's first two postseason games. Neuenschwander has a home run and triple in those games and has driven in six runs.
The other Class D semifinal will be between No. 2 Oriskany (15-3) and No. 3 Brookfield (12-4) 1:30 p.m. May 28 at Oneida High School.
Oriskany defeated No. 7 Sackets Harbor 7-4 in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals. In the win, Juliet Tagaliaferri and Ashley Reid starred for the team. Reid was 1-2 with a double and RBI. Tagaliaferri was 2-3 with an RBI and picked up the pitching win.
Kenny Lacy is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Kenny Lacy at klacy@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Section 3 softball: Semifinal matchups are set
