Most of the area’s softball attention will center around Solvay as, this week, it will begin the pursuit of a third consecutive Section III Class B championship and will try to maintain a perfect record all the way to a first state title in program history.
But the Bearcats are not alone in heading to the sectional playoffs. West Genesee, who at 7-12 had to win its last game of the regular season to reach the Section III Class AA playoffs, clinched a berth with Tuesday’s come-from-behind, 10-5 victory over Marcellus.
And the way it happened was more remarkable. For five innings, Mustangs pitcher Laura Finn blanked the Wildcats. Meanwhile, Marcellus used three runs in the third inning, plus single runs in the fourth and fifth, to move out in front, 5-0, Jennie Delia driving in a pair of runs as Rylie Spicer, Jayme Lema and Kristin Field had one RBI apiece.
Then, out of nowhere, WG’s bats sprung to life in the bottom of the sixth. By the time the long inning was done, a five-run deficit had turned into a five-run lead thanks to a well-timed 10-spot that saved the Wildcats’ season.
During the uprising, Marisa Joyce doubled twice and earned three RBIs, while Shannon Churchill and Lexy White drove in two runs apiece. Amanda Prell doubled twice, scored twice and earned an RBI as Alli Nave (who pitched a complete game) and Grace Schnorr also drove in runs.
All of this overshadowed Solvay finishing off its unbeaten regular season with yet another big run-producing effort at Cazenovia, the state Class B no. 5-ranked Bearcats bashing the Lakers 22-2.
A four-run first inning proved the appetizer, but Solvay kept feasting with six runs in the third, four runs in the fourth and peaked with seven runs in the top of the fifth.
While pitcher Lauren Nichols struck out 12 in her two-hit effort, the Bearcats had 24 hits at the plate. Nichols, Chelsie Delperuto and Jackie Gardner each hit home runs, with Delperuto piling up five RBIs as Jordyn Everett earned four hits and scored twice.
Nicole Antonacci doubled, scored four times and earned an RBI. Molly McGuire and Brandi Pidkaminy earned four RBIs apiece, with Gardner adding a double to her round-tripper and driving in three runs overall. Aleah Yaizzo and Maya Martineau had two RBIs apiece.
Westhill is going to the sectional tournament, too, and picked up more late-season momentum last Monday by rallying past Skaneateles 9-3.
Bella Lavigne pitched for the Warriors and fell behind, 3-0, in the bottom of the second, with Kyra Cottrill’s two-run single the big blow in the Lakers’ rally.
But Westhill put up a run in the third inning and, with a four-run outburst in the top of the fourth, went in front for good. Claire Hewitt and Claire Diefendorf led the way, each of them smashing home runs and both finishing with three RBIs.
Katie Lobello went five-for five, doubling twice, singling three other times and scoring three runs as she joined Nicole Moriarty and Leah Diefendorf in the RBI column. Lavigne, meanwhile, blanked Skaneateles from the third inning onward, holding the Lakers to five hits overall and striking out six.
