MADISON COUNTY – Whether on the baseball diamond or softball diamond, teams from Cazenovia and Chittenango achieved something special with their respective first-round wins Tuesday in the Section III Class B playoffs.
In baseball, Cazenovia, the no. 8 seed, earned a trip to meet top seed South Jefferson as Jack Byrnes pitched the Lakers past no. 9 seed Oneida 5-1.
Byrnes found himself opposed by the Indians’ Tom Lacy and both pitchers controlled matters early, Lacy settling down after Cazenovia earned a first-inning run to go in front.
However, in the bottom of the fourth the Lakers struck for four decisive runs, all while managing just a single hit, from Taven Reilley. Ben Orbach managed to drive in three runs as A.J. Rothfeld also got credit for an RBI.
Given that cushion, Byrnes lost his shutout when Oneida scored in the top of the sixth, but he still closed out the game, only allowing two hits overall along with four walks while striking out eight.
Even more impressive, though, was what Chittenango softball pitcher did Caroline Porter did, throwing a five-inning no-hitter to help the no. 3 seed Bears oust no. 14 seed Homer 15-0.
As Chittenango continued to pile up runs, Porter made sure the Trojans were unable to respond, giving up three walks but earning six strikeouts.
Avree Salce went two-for-four at the plate, scoring three times and adding three RBIs. Lily Callahan and Stephanie Huckabee each drove in a pair of runs as Savannah Drake added an RBI while scoring twice to equal Allison Soulier and Anna Cavotta.
