CENTRAL NEW YORK – Area high school softball is played at quite a high level, whether it was Solvay winning a state Class B title in 2017 or Marcellus notching three of the last four Section III championships, also in Class B.
While many questions existed about whether the Mustangs could stay on top now that pitching ace Bella Mondello had graduated, a new pitcher emerged and promptly threw a five-inning no-hitter in her debut.
Eighth-grader Kendall LaMarche was responsible for that gem in the 12-0 Marcellus victory, striking out nine and surrendering just a single walk while her teammates went to work at the plate.
Four runs in each of the first two innings proved more than enough, the Mustangs getting three RBIs from Janzen Long as Maddy Richer, Jordan O’Connor and Millie Novitsky drove in two runs apiece. LaMarche also starred at the plate with two hits, while Mariah Kolm scored three runs.
With most of its lineup back from a team which reached the sectional semifinals a season ago, Solvay could make a title run in 2025, too, as it showed last Thursday in its season opener, a 9-2 win over Skaneateles.
Up 2-1, the Bearcats got away from the Lakers with five runs in the second. Patience helped as Mackenzie Dwyer and Alivia Orr drew a combined seven walks and scored three runs between them. Annabelle Stewart and Ariana Ortiz had two RBIs apiece.
Jenna Wing also drove in a run to go with her complete-game pitching effort, Wing only allowing one hit (to Finn Pas’cal) and earning six strikeouts. Grace Wagner took the loss, with Lainey Lowe appearing in relief.
Far wilder for the Bearcats was Friday’s 14-9, eight-inning victory over Jordan-Elbridge where the Eagles jumped out 4-0 in the first inning off Stewart and still found itself leading 6-4 through six innings.
Then, in the top of the seventh Solvay struck for four runs to lead 8-6, only to have J-E pull back even with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
It required a seven-run eighth inning for the Bearcats to grab control for good. Janiya Walters and Gianna D’Eredita had three RBIs apiece, with Willsey scoring three runs. Wing, Dwyer, D’Eredita and Walters each scored twice.
Answering its defeat, Skaneateles flattened Mexico 22-5 on Friday, peaking with a nine-run second inning and getting 23 hits overall. Pas’cal homered and got four RBIs, with Lainey Lowe going three-for-three and driving in three runs to equal Norah Zapata. Carly Schell and Scarlett Georgianna got two RBIs apiece.
For the most part, Westhill has missed out on the glory, but was keen on changing this fact in 2025 and made quite an opening statement last Tuesday afternoon when it pounded Homer 11-1.
An early 1-0 deficit disappeared when the Warriors scored twice in the bottom of the second, then tacked on five runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to draw clear.
Cadence Ramsing nearly hit for the cycle. She belted a home run, added a double and single and finished with five RBIs as Sydney Medeiros went four-for-four and scored twice and Sabine Napolitano drove in two runs.
Meanwhile, pitcher Samantha Snyder blanked the Trojans after the first inning, struck out 11 and only allowed three hits. She also contributed two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.
Then Westhill lost 3-0 to Christian Brothers Academy on Friday, the game a scoreless duel between Snyder and Gracie Battles before the Brothers struck for two runs in the top of the sixth. The Warriors had just two hits, one each by Snyder and Lily Schmitz.
West Genesee dropped a close season opener 10-9 to Auburn on Thursday night when the Maroons rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Prior to that, the Wildcats had built a 7-0 lead through three innings. Auburn cut the margin to 7-5, but WG’s pair of runs in the top of the seventh doubled the lead before the Maroons came back.
Loreleai Lesksoke went three-for-four with two doubles and three RBIs to pace the Wildcats. Lexi Pallone also had three hits as she and Kyra Lynch broth drove in a pair of runs. Alanna Bowman and Anna Drogo also had two-hit outings.
Bishop Ludden was shut out 9-0 by Cato-Meridian in its Friday opener, only getting two hits, one each by Abby Mossati and Jordan Tripp, off Blue Devils pitcher Madyson Weller, who recorded 11 strikeouts.
