One more day of action remains for the Hamilton softball team in 2011, and it will determine whether the Emerald Knights can earn a state Class D championship.
The Emerald Knights earned its trip to the state final four in the most dominant way possible, as eighth-grade pitcher Rebecca Rogers threw yet another no-hitter in a 7-0 shutout of Section IV champion Deposit in the Class D regional final at the BAGSAI complex near Binghamton.
Other than allowing four walks in the fifth and sixth innings, Rogers contained Deposit, striking out nine and getting vast run support in the game’s middle stages.
It was still 0-0 in the bottom of the third inning when the Emerald Knights moved out in front. With a runner on third, Sara Whyatt’s fly ball plated the first run and Jordan Peterson ripped a run-scoring single. Kelby Watkins, whose power surge included a home run that turned around the sectional Class D final against Stockbridge Valley, doubled home Peterson to make It 3-0.
An inning later, Hamilton was at it again. Singles by Jenna Schell and Katie Weeks helped load the bases before Rogers brought one run home with a sacrifice fly, expanding the lead to 4-0.
Whyatt returned and, with a double to the gap, brought two more runs home, giving her three RBIs for the afternoon, and Peterson followed with an RBI triple to round out the scoring.
Now the Emerald Knights can focus on the state final four, which begins Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury when Hamilton faces Livingston Manor (Section IX) in the state semifinals. The winner plays in the championship game later that afternoon, at 4:30.
