If Chittenango softball pitcher Kaleigh Koegel wasn’t recognized as being among the top throwers in Central New York prior to Thursday’s Section III Class A quarterfinal against Fulton, maybe the recognition will come soon. Head-to-head against Red Raiders pitching ace Jessica Palmitesso, Koegel won the battle – and the no. 5 seed Bears prevailed, too, by a 2-1 margin on no. 4 seed Fulton’s home field. And the Bears will get a shot at top seed and defending champion Oneida in the Class A semifinals Wednesday at Hopkins Road Park in Liverpool, this after the Indians made its 2010 playoff debut Saturday with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Whitesboro. Chittenango and Fulton had met twice in the regular season – and Fulton had won both times, including a 7-1 decision just five days earlier. The Bears remembered those defeats – and in the third and most important encounter, Koegel – and her teammates – were ready. Not flinching when the Red Raiders poked across a run in the bottom of the second inning, Chittenango (13-8) made its move in the top of the third, scoring twice. Megan McPeak and Shelby Bogle scored the runs as Koegel got credit for an RBI. Having done her work at the plate, Koegel now turned to shutting Fulton down. She had to, since Palmitesso would not allow any more runs the rest of the way and just three hits (one each by Koegel, Brandy McDermott and Haley Landers) while earning 11 strikeouts. Proving that she was up to facing post-season pressure – and that she was good at getting payback – Koegel blanked Fulton over those last five innings and ran her strikeout total to 12, surrendering just four hits (three of them to Alicia Vann) and two walks. Two days later, it was Oneida’s turn against Whitesboro, the no. 9 seed – and it nearly ended before a late rally saved the Indians’ season. Whitesboro immediately got to Oneida pitcher Maria Rocco in her first playoff start, scoring twice in the first inning and again in the top of the second to put the Indians behind 3-0. Just as Rocco settled down, though, Oneida began to awaken its bats, getting two runs in the bottom of the third as Rocco and Jenna Didio earned the RBIs, then staying patient as the Warriors clung to that 3-2 lead for a while. Six outs from elimination, Oneida saved itself in the bottom of the sixth. Melissa Murawski singled, and Jamie Delgenio pinch-ran for her, showing her speed by stealing both second and third base. When Morgan Murawski (who already had two doubles) laid down a perfect squeeze bunt, Delgenio scored to make it 3-3, and the throw home allowed Murawski to reach second base. Erika Williams promptly singled, and Shannon Dowling’s fly ball was deep enough to let Murawski race home with the go-ahead run. Rocco tossed a scoreless seventh inning and earned the win, overcoming seven hits and five walks to earn eight strikeouts. Meanwhile, no. 7 seed Vernon Verona Sherrill lost its Class A quarterfinal to no. 2 seed Homer 12-1. VVS scored in the top of the first, but the Trojans got to Stephanie Siriano for four runs in the bottom of the first, then scored in four straight innings, starting in the third, to pull clear. The Red Devils had just four hits off Homer pitchers Alexis Brown and Alyssa Morgan.