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It's uncharted territory for Webster Schroeder and Avon. Now the goal is a state title.

marquel slaughter, rochester democrat and chronicle
·6 min read

Webster Schroeder's response was loud and spirited.

Fresh off of a masterful regional championship game performance, senior pitcher Molly Broccolo, Maddy Spakoski and Sam Schoenhardt spoke for the entire Warriors team when asked what they wanted most from their upcoming state final four appearance.

"A state championship!" they all screamed.

With a team as good as Webster Schroeder's Warriors, why can't they win it all?

Coach Meaghan Keil has guided Schroeder further than the Warriors have gone over her 19 years. After back-to-back Section V titles, they'll will now seek the program's first state crown as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Softball Championships return after a two-year hiatus.

Webster Schroeder defeated Section VI's Williamsville South 13-1 in the NYSPHSAA Far West Regionals on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Grand Island's H. David Myers Athletic Complex.
Webster Schroeder defeated Section VI's Williamsville South 13-1 in the NYSPHSAA Far West Regionals on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Grand Island's H. David Myers Athletic Complex.

More: Webster Schroeder softball wins regionals, advances to NYS final four

Webster Schroeder, Avon and Friendship/Scio will all compete in the state semifinals Saturday morning at the Moriches Softball Complex on Long Island.

Schroeder will play Section VIII's Mepham in Class A. Avon battles Section IV's S.S. Seward in Class C. Friendship/Scio plays Section II's Eldred in Class D. The finals are set for the afternoon.

Avon won the NYSPHSAA Far West Regional championship.
Avon won the NYSPHSAA Far West Regional championship.

Each Section V team won a second straight section title last month. That goes for Webster Schroeder, this year's Class A champ after winning the Class AA crown in 2021.

"We practice hard. ... It's carrying over. It's been fun to watch," Keil said.

Friendship/Scio with the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional plaque. The Eagles defeated Section VI's Westfield 4-0 to advance to the final four.
Friendship/Scio with the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional plaque. The Eagles defeated Section VI's Westfield 4-0 to advance to the final four.

Class A girls softball semifinals

Webster Schroeder vs. Mepham (VIII) and Vestal (IV) vs. Troy (II), 11:15 a.m. at Moriches Athletic Complex in Moriches, Suffolk County

Final at 3:45 p.m.

Webster Schroeder pitcher Molly Broccolo is the Section V Class A1 Player of the Year. She's thrown two complete game shutouts during the Warriors' postseason run to the NYSPHSAA final four.
Webster Schroeder pitcher Molly Broccolo is the Section V Class A1 Player of the Year. She's thrown two complete game shutouts during the Warriors' postseason run to the NYSPHSAA final four.

Webster Schroeder went 10-0 in Monroe County Division I for a reason.

The Warriors limit errors defensively and can drive in runs anywhere in the order. A rigid schedule prepared them for their 12-game winning streak and impressive postseason start, outscoring opponents 47-3 across five playoff games.

Senior shortstop Krislyn Clement, Mikayla Bengsch, Hannah Secor, Haley Kucewicz, Sarah Ferruzza and Bizzie Baglieri are key players in a stacked Webster Schroeder roster.

Clement is the reigning All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year. She's homered three times in the playoffs. She hasn't thrown much recently, but the future Pittsburgh-Bradford player she's tough to hit if she pitches in relief.

Senior Molly Broccolo has proven yet again to be one of the best pitchers in the state. This season's Section V Class A1 regular season and tournament Player of the Year has been a part of Schroeder's three postseason shutouts. Broccolo's curve and fastballs have limited opponents to no more than two runs in 12 of the last 13 games. She'll pitch at the University of Rochester next season.

"They're an awesome group of kids. They're awesome to be around. They're loose and they get along really well. They're just fun," Keil said.

Class C girls softball semifinals

Avon senior Joleigh Crye is the Section V Class C1 Player of the Year. She's guided the Braves to two straight section titles and a 20-1 record entering the NYSPHSAA semifinals.
Avon senior Joleigh Crye is the Section V Class C1 Player of the Year. She's guided the Braves to two straight section titles and a 20-1 record entering the NYSPHSAA semifinals.

Avon vs. Greenwich (II) and Greene (IV) vs. S.S. Seward (IX), 9 a.m. at Moriches Athletic Complex in Moriches, Suffolk County

Final at 1:30 p.m.

Winning Section V Class C1 in back-to-back seasons was a preseason goal for Avon (20-1). The NYS final four is now uncharted territory for the Braves.

With a pitcher like senior Joleigh Crye, Avon has just as good a chance to win it all as anyone. Crye has an array of pitches. She's recorded an 18-strikeout game this season, one-hit Section VI's Falconer in regionals and shutout a Bolivar-Richburg team that was ranked No. 1 in the state all season.

More: Section V softball: Joleigh Crye guides Avon to state final four

Crye is just as good at the plate. Her three-run homer in regionals is exactly why she's been walked over 30 times. She is the Section V Class C1 regular season and tournament Player of the Year for the Livingston County Division II champs. Unfortunately for college softball teams, Crye will swim at the University of Cincinnati.

Jessie Crye, Joleigh's eighth-grade sister, is the team's star shortstop. Other standout players include catcher Olivia Pusloski and senior third baseman Courtney Yencer, who's part of a class that lost its sophomore season to COVID.

"I hope this fulfills some of that and it extra special," said coach Jill Terry, whose Braves have won five straight games. "It's going to be a great experience."

Class D girls softball semifinals

Friendship/Scio (17-4) is riding a seven-game winning streak into the NYSPHSAA Class D semifinals.
Friendship/Scio (17-4) is riding a seven-game winning streak into the NYSPHSAA Class D semifinals.

Friendship/Scio vs. Deposit-Hancock (IV) and Oriskany (III) vs. Arglye (II), 11:15 a.m. at Moriches Athletic Complex in Moriches, Suffolk County

Final at 3:45 p.m.

Sophomore Nevaeh Ross continued to show up for Scio/Friendship (17-4) on the big stage.

Ross scored the tying and go-ahead runs of the Section V Class D final. She had 16 strikeouts in the region championship. The Eagles' ace even has a 19-strikeout performance. As a freshman, Ross threw a 2-hitter to lead Friendship to the 2021 Section V Class D2 title.

In the circle, Ross has thrown over 300 strikeouts. She's batting .400 at the plate and is the team leader in most stats.

Coach Deb Warner has many key players. Nevaeh's catcher is her younger sister, eighth-grader Morghyn Ross, whose batting average and on-base percentage ranks second on the team. Claire Calhoun co-captains the Eagles with Jaedyn Shields and Nevaeh Ross. Kendra Gleason and Keely Sisson made big plays this postseason.

Warner's infield is veteran-laden with two juniors and a pair of seniors. Th Eagles' outfield is speedy.

In the first season of Friendship and Scio's merger, the Eagles will make their NYSPHSAA final four debut riding a seven-game winning streak, thanks to schedule that featured a pair of losses to Allegany County foe Bolivar-Richburg team, which won the league and the section's Class C3 title.

"Girls are nervous but ready for the challenge," Warner said.

Section V girls softball awards 2022

Players of the Year

Class AA: Cecelia Byrne, Fairport; Class A1: Molly Broccolo, Webster Schroeder; Class A2: Lilly Goldberg, Pittsford Mendon; Class B1: Madison Martine, Geneva; Class B2:  Makenzie Cowburn, Wellsville; Class C1: Joleigh Crye, Avon; Class C2: Caitlin Ryan, Oakfield-Alabama; Class C3: Aurora Sabins, Keshequa; Class D: Nevaeh Ross, Scio/Friendship.

Coaches of the Year

Class AA: Lynn Rotola, Rush-Henrietta; Class A1: Meaghen Keil, Webster Schroeder; Class A2: Bob Taylor, Wayne; Class B1: Kierstyn DeCoy, Waterloo; Class B2: Matt Burke, Wellsville; Class C1: Jill Terry, Avon; Class C2: Jeff Sclagenhauf, Oakfield-Alabama; Class C3: Bill Mann, Keshequa; Class D: Joe Marchard, C.G. Finney.

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: Webster Schroeder softball rolls toward NY state championship