Section V softball: 'Perfect' ending lifts Sutherland to A2 final

PITTSFORD, NY — Clinching a finals berth in walk-off fashion would have many softball teams jumping for joy.

Nevertheless, senior Riley Gonzalez and her second-seeded Pittsford Sutherland Knights sounded more relieved than elated Thursday after a come-from-behind 5-4 win over No. 3 Wayne in the Section V Class A2 semifinals.

Awaiting Sutherland in its fourth consecutive championship game appearance is, of course, rival Pittsford Mendon. Sutherland (17-5) and Mendon (16-4) will meet for the A2 title at 2 p.m. Saturday during an AA-A1-A2 tripleheader at Greece Odyssey.

On Thursday, Gonzalez's walk-off sacrifice fly was a "perfect" ending after uncharacteristic defensive struggles almost costed Sutherland the game.

"Sometimes when you try your best things just don't go your way the whole game," Gonzalez said. "But we kept our heads up, we stayed together as a team, focused, and kept our calm."

Coach Mike Scialo was disappointed by Sutherland's "shaky" defense. A fifth-inning error helped Wayne's Tori Mueller tie the game at 4 for coach Bob Taylor's Eagles (16-4).

Sutherland pitcher Maddy Ward and her infield tightened up to allow just one baserunner across the last two innings.

"Defense is what we take pride in," Scialo said.

'Perfect' ending

Pittsford Sutherland's batting order could not have been timed any better.

The order made its way back to Gonzalez in the three-hole, and with two on and one out, she crushed Emma Grasso's pitch into left field for the game-winning sacrifice fly.

"It couldn't have played out more perfect for us," Scialo said. "If we have another part of the order up it's a completely different story."

The Knights entered the bottom of the seventh with 9-1-2 coming up in the order. Gonzalez, who didn't collect a hit Thursday, hoped to put the ball in play for the baserunners to have a chance at scoring.

"I rounded first and threw my helmet off before she even got home," Gonzalez said.

Freshman right fielder Hannah Glanton was greeted with hugs from her teammates after scoring the game-winning run. She led the inning with a "perfectly" placed bunt, then stole second during Tia Lehtonen's at-bat, and advanced to third when Julianna Lyons reached on an error.

Glanton reached home easily on the next at-bat. Gonzalez hit the ball so deep that Wayne didn't attempt to throw Glanton out at the plate.

"She hit it far enough that I knew I would've scored. It was a great hit," said Glanton, who had three hits.

Scialo remembered a similar one-run loss to Section IV's Susquehanna Valley in April. He scheduled such games so Sutherland could prepare for close postseason contests.

Will Sutherland be prepared for Pittsford Mendon? The Vikings are the only team to beat the Knights in their last eight games. Mendon's Lilly Goldberg, Mary Ciaccio and company haven't given up more than three runs during their five-game winning streak.

"If we play our defense we'll be OK. We just have to hit Lilly Goldberg. We've got one more shot to try to get her. She's a really good pitcher," Scialo said.

Who wouldn't be worried about Lilly Goldberg?

All Pittsford Mendon's sophomore pitcher did Thursday was toss a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts in a 5-0 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima in the semifinals. Arina van Baaren had two hits and an RBI in the win, and Emma Giordano added an RBI.

The Pittsford-Pittsford final will serve as the season's rubber match. Both teams split their two regular season meetings.

Who's headed to the finals?

Class AA

No. 1 Fairport (16-5) vs. No. 2 Victor (14-6) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Greece Odyssey

Fairport returns to the final after a 3-2 win over Penfield. Amanda Linnenbrink struck out 11 and Juliana Catalano drove in a run. The Red Raiders swept Victor in the regular season.

Marissa Mancini has three homers in two playoff games. She homered twice in the Blue Devils' 5-0 semifinal victory over Rush-Henrietta. Olivia Steinorth had 10 strikeouts.

Class A1

No. 1 Webster Schroeder (17-5) vs. No. 2 Webster Thomas (17-5) at 5 p.m. Saturday at Greece Odyssey

Another crosstown rivalry title game. Schroeder is riding a nine-game winning streak, which began after its April 26 loss to Thomas.

Senior Krislyn Clement hit two homers in Schroeder's 4-0 semifinal win over Brighton. Maddy Spakoski hit a homer as well. Molly Broccolo struck out nine in a two-hitter.

In Thomas' 10-1 win over Bishop Kearney, Anna Bello had a homer and double, and Maddie Hicks doubled for the Titans. Pitcher Rose Nicastro, heralded by area coaches as one of Section V's best, picked up another win.

Class B1

No. 1 Batavia (14-7) vs. No. 2 Waterloo (15-7) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Webster Schroeder

Pitcher Giana Mruzcek picked up another win, but Julia Clark's three-run homer was the highlight of a 4-3 semifinal win over Hornell.

Class B2

No. 1 Wellsville (18-3) vs. No. 2 Haverling (15-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Webster Schroeder

Both teams won their semifinals convincingly. Wellsville beat Mynderse 12-2 and Haverling dropped Penn Yan 5-0.

Class C1

No. 1 Avon (17-1) vs. No. 2 Bloomfield (21-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School

Maddy Ruter drove in Olivia Pusloskie for Avon's game-winning run in the sixth inning of a 1-0 win over Addison. Joleigh Crye threw a one-hitter with 17 strikeouts. At the plate, Crye was walked three times, bringing her season total to 28.

Bloomfield scored all eight of its runs in the sixth to remain undefeated. Sofie Kachmaryk had a 2-out, 2-run hit that opened the scoring. Ava Hawkins followed with an RBI-single.

Class C2

No. 1 Oakfield-Alabama (13-4) vs. No. 2 Pembroke (11-6) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School

Both teams allowed just two runs in the semifinals. Oakfield-Alabama beat South Seneca/Romulus 17-2. Pembroke beat Kendall 6-2.

Class C3

No. 1 Lyndonville (20-0) vs. No. 3 Bolivar-Richburg (19-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday at Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School

Haley Shaffer won in the circle while collecting a triple and an RBI in unbeaten Lyndonville's 10-1 win over Dundee/Bradford . Ella Lewis went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Addie Dillenbeck went 4-for-4.

Class D

No. 1 Honeoye (17-4) vs. No. 2 Friendship/Scio (15-4) at 5 p.m. Saturday at Fillmore Central School

Top-seeded Honeoye had lively bats during a 14-3 semifinal win over Fillmore. Alexa Colon was 4-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs Clare Griffin had a double and two RBIs. Alexis Johnson struck out eight.

Postseason dates

Winners of Saturday's finals will in the state-qualifying crossover games Tuesday.

Class C, which has three classifications, will host the semifinals Tuesday and the final Wednesday.

Far West Regionals

• Friday, June 3: Class C and D at Section V.

• Saturday, June 4: Class AA, A and B at Section VI.

• Saturday, June 11: NYSPHSAA final four tournament at the Moriches Sports Complex in Moriches on Long Island.

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: Section V softball: 'Perfect' ending lifts Sutherland to A2 final