CENTRAL NEW YORK – When high school softball returned in 2021, the highlights included a dominant run by Marcellus to the Section III Class B championship and Bishop Ludden going on a late-season surge to take the sectional Class D title.
A new season got underway last week for some of these local sides, and two of them met each other last Wednesday as West Genesee got the best of Westhill in a 15-8 classic decided by a big seventh inning.
The Wildcats built a 6-2 advantage, mostly through a four-run fourth inning, before Westhill netted four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take an 8-7 lead. Alexa Korne led the way with a pair of home runs.
But in the top of the seventh, WG batted around and amassed eight decisive runs. Maria Brandt, Sophia VanHorn, Anna Drogo and Leah Todeschini finished with three hits apiece, with Brandt and Todeschini each scoring three runs.
Bishop Ludden returns senior Kaitlyn Kibling, who is headed to the University of Connecticut. Still, the Gaelic Knights struggled in its opener, falling 19-4 to Port Byron as the Panthers accumulated 15 hits and scored in every inning except the third, though Sophia Chemotti did hit a three-run home run in the third inning.
Solvay had a bit more success in its first game of 2022, taking on Cazenovia and pulling out a 5-4 decision when it plated a run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Prior to that, the Bearcats had put up four runs in the fifth to overcome the Lakers’ early 3-0 lead. Susie Overend had two hits and two RBIs, with Jenna Wing adding three singles to go with her complete-game picthing effort. Natalie Orr singled twice and drove in a run. Gianna D’Eredita also had an RBI.
Skaneateles dropped its season opener 10-1 to Chittenango. Kelly Goldberger drove in Ellie Watson for the Lakers’ lone run as Watson got a pair of hits. Olivia Jackson homered for the Bears as Lily Callahan and Stephanie Huckabee got three hits apiece.
An 8-2 defeat to Christian Brothers Academy followed on Wednesday, with Laci Galdis and Ayla Pas’cal earning the Lakers’ only hits as Pas’cal and Kelly Goldberger scored runs. CBA’s Mackenzie Witz had a home run, double and six RBIs.
Jordan-Elbridge had a successful start to its season last Friday, taking on Weedsport and putting together an 8-1 victory as pitcher Alexis DelFavero only allowed two hits and struck out 11 Warriors batters.
Already up 1-0, J-E broke it open with four runs in the bottom of the third. Three more runs followed as DelFavero and Cameron Fraher both got two hits. Abby DelFavero, Heather Sorts, Sarah Lane, Erin LaVancha and Ava Hildebrant had one RBI apiece.
Playing on Saturday, Westhill lost, 12-8, to East Syracuse Minoa, even though Vittoria Mills and Amanda Case both scored a pair of runs. Natalie Quonce homered twice for the Spartans, getting three RBIs.
