Through all of its struggles, the Cazenovia softball team knew that, if it wanted, it could still take part in the Section III playoffs.
The section again waived its 40 percent qualification rule and will have an open tournament for all teams, regardless of their records, so the Lakers will not need to reach any specific win total.
Back on May 6, Cazenovia had a rare Sunday game at Marcellus, where it took an 8-2 defeat to the Mustangs.
Elora Wilmot pitched well for three innings, keeping Marcellus off the board. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Mustangs broke the 0-0 deadlock, scoring six runs as Wilmot was relieved by Samantha Morgan.
Cazenovia did cut into the deficit with two runs in the top of the fifth, driven in by Morgan Gregg and Delaney Yorks as Mackenzie Waite and Autumn Paddock scored the runs.
Marcellus then scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to establish its final margin, led by Emma MacLachlan, Evelyn Webster and Caroline Trytek, who each had two RBIs.
That same Marcellus team then cooled down Chittenango a day later, the Mustangs shutting out the Bears 12-0.
Combined, Marcellus pitchers Aubrey Fraher and Isabella Rodalico held Chittenango to four hits, one each by Cassidy Kelly, Avery Salce, Shayla Muncy and Sydney Bennett. Hannah Durand and Alyssa Cook each had four hits by themselves for Marcellus as Durand got four RBIs and Cook added three RBIs.
Meanwhile, Cazenovia lost a close 6-5 decision to Jordan-Elbridge, despite three hits by Morgan, who singled, doubled, tripled and scored three runs while also joining Wilmot, Waite and Hannah Matteson in the RBI column. Waite got two hits.
Chittenango struggled again on Tuesday, falling 5-1 to Phoenix. When it scored in the bottom of the fourth, Muncy doubling home Jada Masiclat, the Bears tied it, 1-1.
However, the Firebirds regained the lead with a two-run fifth inning and scored twice more in the seventh to get away, IsabellaGarofalo (three RBIs) and Cheyenne Wilson (two RBIs) driving in all the runs as Wilson also struck out 14 Chittenango batters.
Up against a tough Christian Brothers Academy side on Thursday, Chittenango lost again, 11-0, the Bears held to just two hits, one each by Shayla Muncy and Savannah Penoyer. Catherine Burns paced the Brothers with two hits and three RBIs.
Meanwhile, Cazenovia took yet another loss, 7-3, to Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, its record dipping to 2-8 as it stared at games this week against Mexico, Hannibal, CBA and Phoenix.
