LIVE BLOG: NYSPHSAA softball championships

SOUTH GLENS FALLS — Today is the day, the NYSPHSAA softball championships here at Moreau Park. Section II has sent five teams to compete, one from each class. 

Here’s the semifinal schedule for the day, be sure to check back throughout the morning for updates!

 

9 a.m.: Class AA semifinal: Ballston Spa vs East Meadow (Section XIII)

Ballston Spa trailed 5-3 in the sixth inning but was not going to let their season end, winning 6-5 on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh off the bat of Angelina Stile.

Through five innings and the game tied 3-3, East Meadow scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning, scoring on a pair of RBI singles from Sara Polansky and Amanda Thompson to give the Jets a 5-3 lead and Ballston Spa down to their two final outs.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Alison Sgambati ripped an RBI double to make it 5-4 and it went to the seventh inning with the same score. The first batter of the Ballston Spa seventh reached on an error, then Angelina Stile drove a pitch from East Meadow pitcher Christina Loeffler over the centerfield fence to put them in the state final. They will face Victor in the state championship at 1:30 p.m.

 

9 a.m.: Class B semifinal: Ichabod Crane vs Olean (Section XI)

Calista Phippen threw a no-hitter, lifting Ichabod Crane to a 5-0 victory over Olean. She had an even 20 strikeouts, only two Olean hitters putting the ball in play, at-bats which resulted in a flyout and a batter reaching on an error. Phippen also walked two hitters, but that was all Olean would end up getting.

The offense set the tone in the second inning as Jenna Downey hit a home run in the second inning then in the third inning the Riders extended the lead to 3-0 on a two-run single from Kaili Saccento. After that, it was smooth sailing as they advanced to the state championship. They will face Susquehanna Valley in the state championship at 1:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m.: Class A semifinal: Averill Park vs Maine-Endwell (Section IX)

Averill Park took a 1-0 lead early but quickly gave it up as Maine-Endwell scored four unanswered runs off of Kylie Gavitt and Jadyn Lee, and ended up taking a 4-1 victory. 

After the Warriors had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Maine-Endwell tied the game in the top of the second inning on an RBI double from Jacqueline Bigelow. The game stayed tied until the fourth inning, until Amanda DeSantis ripped a two-run single to give the Spartans a lead that they would never relinquish. In the sixth, freshman Helena Layton launched a solo home run that helped out the cause and allowed them to advance. In the state final, Maine-Endwell will play Iroquois at 4 p.m.

11:30 a.m.: Class C semifinal: Greenville vs Chautauqua Lake (Section XI)

Chautuaqua Lake took an early lead with two runs in the first inning and they ended up carrying it to a win, beating Greenville. 

Chautaqua Lake scored their first run on an error which was a collision between two Greenville outfielders in the first inning to make it 1-0, and they later added a second run on later in the inning. 

From there on, Chautuaqua Lake junior starting pitcher Olivia Anderson dominated the Greenville lineup in the circle, throwing a complete game shutout. Chautauqua Lake will now advance to the Class C state championship, facing Pine Plains at 4 p.m.

1:30 p.m.: Class D semifinal: Fort Ann vs Fabius Pompey (Section III)

Down 2-0 and with only three outs to work with to save their season, Fort Ann launched a furious comeback and forced extra innings, eventually scoring three runs in the top of the tenth inning and carrying that to a 5-2 victory to advance to the state championship game.

The game was tied 2-2 heading into the tenth inning, and after errors from Fabius Pompey three Fort Ann runs were scored and the Cardinals held on. 

Kayla Bailey threw a complete game for Fort Ann. They now advance to the state championship game, where they will face Deposit-Hancock at 5:30 p.m. for a state title.