Nothing has proven easy for the Marcellus softball team in 2016, but it still has gained entry into the Section III Class B playoffs thanks to a pair of timely wins in the penultimate week of the regular season.

That playoff-clinching eighth victory came last Wednesday afternoon, when the Mustangs rallied from an early deficit to defeat the combined Syracuse city team 4-3.

All of Syracuse’s runs came in the first inning on hits from Raeven Hicks, Rachel Schmidt and Erica Phillips. From there, though, Marcellus pitcher Laura Finn tossed a shutout, eventually earning nine strikeouts.

The Mustangs rewarded that effort by tying it, 3-3, in the bottom of the third, and then poking across the go-ahead run two innings later off Syracuse pitcher Adonia Wade. Evelyn Webster drove in two of those runs, with McKenna Donegan and Emily Welch each getting a double and RBI. Finn notched three hits and also scored a run.

Marcellus began its week by pummeling rival Skaneateles 14-3 last Monday afternoon, easily overcoming a 3-1 first-inning deficit with a run in the third inning and an eight-run outburst in the top of the fourth to support Finn, who earned 14 strikeouts in the pitcher’s circle.

Welch, Jayme Lema (who scored three runs) and Sydney Stehle gained three RBIs apiece. Lema and Welch each drove in two runs, as did Emily Durand, who matched Donegan as they each had two hits and two runs scored.

Westhill won an impressive 13-5 decision over East Syracuse Minoa on Tuesday as Katie Lobello proved unstoppable at the plate, going four-for-four with a home run, two doubles, a single and four RBIs. Gabriella Wicker added three hits and drove in three runs as Melissa Newcomb scored three runs and Nicole Moriarty got two hits and two RBIs.

Bishop Ludden opened its week last Monday with a harsh 25-8 defeat to Bishop Grimes, who scored four runs in each of the first two innings and then put together a nine-run fourth inning to get away.  Ally Weigand did hit a home run for the Gaelic Knights and earned three RBIs, with Sara Hayes driving in a run and Taylor Fink scoring twice.

Somehow, Ludden turned it around a day later and edged Onondaga 6-5, rallying from a 3-1 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but needing single runs in the next two innings to build a 6-3 cushion before the Tigers scored twice in the top of the seventh.

Weigand did manage to record the final out, though, ending a game where Rachel Martens hit a solo home run and Fink earned two RBIs. Hayes and Olivia Martens also drove in runs as Bridget Brogan contributed a pair of hits.

Then Ludden beat Weedsport 11-8 on Wednesday afternoon by making a monstrous seventh-inning comeback. Down 8-3 going to the top of the seventh inning, the Gaelic Knights stunned Warriors pitcher Jesslyn Files with an eight-run rally where everyone got involved.

Weigand doubled, singled, scored three runs and earned an RBI. Hayes and Brogan each crossed the plate twice as Brogan’s triple led to two RBIs.

Ludden scored in double digits again on Friday – and still lost, 13-10, to Port Byron, who used an eight-run fourth inning to amass a 9-0 lead before the Gaelic Knights staged a furious late comeback attempt.

Fink, Weigand and Rachel Martens each drove in two runs during that late surge, Weigand going three-for-four at the plate. Meghan Wilkinson added two hits as she and Abbey Bombard both had one RBI. Emma Greenfield scored two runs. Amanda Chuttey led Port Byron with four RBIs.