Ten long and dramatic innings later, the Bishop Ludden softball team finally emerged from Saturday’s Section III Class C-2 semifinal against Sandy Creek with its season still alive.
The no. 2 seed Gaelic Knights blew a three-run lead to the Comets late in regulation, then fell behind in the 10th inning before pulling out a 5-4 victory over the Comets.
As this went on, in the Class B quarterfinals no. 2 seed Westhill shut out no. 7 seed Adirondack 8-0 and no. 11 seed Marcellus saw its season end with a 5-3 loss to Cazenovia.
For a long while, it appeared that Ludden had passed its way through Sandy Creek, long a Class C softball power with lots of championships on its ledger.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Gaelic Knights scored twice off Comets pitcher Chelsea Claflin. Sandy Creek cut the margin to 2-1 in the second, but Ludden got single runs in the third and sixth innings, giving Korey Kibling a 4-1 lead to take to the top of the seventh.
Facing elimination, Sandy Creek made a dramatic comeback, getting three runs to tie it, 4-4, as Kendra Valley, Tayler Fravel and Karintha Myslivecek all drove in the runs that forced the game into extra frames.
Grace Rooney replaced Kibling and, in the eighth and ninth innings, kept the Comets off the board. Claflin did the same, and it remained even going to the 10th, when the international rules put a runner on second base.
Sandy Creek brought that runner home in the top of the 10th. Ludden did the same, then did a little bit more when Kim Balla singled, bringing Beth Jerome home with the winning run.
Rooney, aside from earning the win, scored two runs as Kayla Kibling produced three hits, including a double and triple, and earned two RBIs. Jerome and Catie Graf also drove in runs as Graf got three hits and Kristen Ryan two hits.
Just up the road, Westhill did not need anything extra – except more offense – to knock out Adirondack and move ahead in the Class B playoffs.
Toni Secreti did not need much help, though. The Warriors ace held the Wildcats to two hits and one walk while piling up 17 strikeouts.
Westhill scored single runs in the first and third innings, then pulled away with three runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Naturally, Secreti was part of that attack, hitting a home run and finishing with two RBIs.
Kelly Mascari had three of the Warriors’ 13 hits and drove in three runs, while Carrie Griffo joined Secreti with two hits and two RBIs. Courtney Morgan had an RBI.
Marcellus wanted a chance to play Westhill in the Class B semifinals. To do so, it had to beat Cazenovia and avenge two regular-season losses to the Lakers – just as it had done to upset Phoenix in the quarterfinals.
The Mustangs got off to the right start, scoring twice in the top of the first. But Cazenovia answered in the bottom of the first to tie it, 2-2, then used single runs in the fourth through sixth innings to move ahead.
Molly MacLachlan took the loss, not getting a strikeout and allowing 10 hits. Caitlin Henderson, Jenna Rodolico and Jessie Manahan each had one RBI as Bailey Donovan earned two hits. Taylor Malmsheimer led Cazenovia with two doubles and two RBIs.
So the Class B semifinal Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Gillette Road complex in Cicero will pit Westhill against Cazenovia, the team with which it shared the OHSL Liberty division regular-season title. The winner returns to Gillette to face Altmar-Parish-Williamstown or South Jefferson in Saturday’s Class B final.
Meanwhile, Ludden plays the C-2 final at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Gillette against Fabius-Pompey, looking to atone for a 4-1 loss to the Falcons on May 21. The winner will seek the overall Class C title Saturday at Gillette against South Lewis or Thousand Islands.
