By PAUL GOTHAM
Little more than a year after finishing as a sectional runner-up Webster Thomas softball will take the diamond this weekend with a spot in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championship game on the line.
The Titans (18-7) will face Section II champion Troy (21-4) in Friday’s Class A semifinal at the Moriches Athletic Complex on Long Island.
Last-season’s end has paved the way to current success for Emily Castro’s squad.
“It was the motivation,” Castro said of the 6-2 loss to eventual state champion and crosstown foe Webster Schroeder in the 2022 A1 championship game. “I have a lot of respect for (Schroeder head coach) Megan Keil, but there’s a rivalry there for sure. Losing to Schroeder in sectional finals was a tough pill for us to swallow.”
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Thomas went into that matchup with a record of 17-5 and winners of 14 of 15 games including a 1-0 victory over Schroeder, the Warriors only loss of the season to a Section V team. The rematch proved too much.
“We walked away from that game and spent the next year preparing to make sure that we didn’t lose in sectional finals,” Castro said. “That we would get this opportunity to be able to go to states and compete.”
Castro credits a rigorous schedule in getting the Titans ready for postseason play. The ledger included matchups against reigning state Class AA finalist Liverpool (III) and current Section III Class A champion Jamesville-Dewitt as well as a victory in a rematch with Schroeder and two meetings with Section V AA finalist Victor. The Titans’ seven defeats have either been to schools from a larger classification and/or from schools outside Section V.
“I did that on purpose,” Castro said of the schedule. “I wanted to make sure that we were doing everything that we possibly could to be ready.”
Thomas, currently winners of nine straight, shrugged off losses to Victor (11-0) and Brighton (7-3) on back-to-back days during the week of Advanced Placement (AP) exams in mid-May.
“We hit just a rut in the season before we got going again,” said Castro who is in her 10th season as head coach at Thomas. “I don’t want to make excuses. It is what it is. Victor beat us. Brighton beat us. Fair and square. We have a high-achieving group of kids, and AP week is tough for us. I don’t want to make excuses. It is the reality of the situation.
“I didn’t think about until it was over. When we were in the moment, I was like what is happening? I think the girls felt that way. Brighton’s going through APs too and so was Victor. I don’t even know that that’s the best reasoning, but I think that was part of it. It was what we needed to do to get where we’re at now. It sent us a reminder of we need to just keep working hard and not leave anything to chance and things will go our way. It was what needed to happen to get us where we are now.”
NYS CLASS A SEMIFINALS
TROY FLYING HORSES (21-4/Section II/Suburban Council)
vs.
WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS (19-7/Monroe County II)
10:00 AM FRIDAY, MORICHES ATHLETIC COMPLEX (Field 2)
How they arrived here: Webster Thomas defeated Greece Arcadia (10-0), Bishop Kearney (5-3) and top-seeded Irondequoit (21-5), before earning a spot in the Class A Far West Regional with a 5-3 win over Honeoye Falls-Lima. The Titans defeated Section VI champion Williamsville East, 6-1.
Troy defeated Scotia-Glenville (12-0), Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (5-0), South Glens Falls (6-2), Jamesville-Dewitt (9-0) and Massena (14-0) to reach the state semis.
What’s at stake: The winner will advance to the NYSPHSAA Class A championship to play either Maine-Endwell (IV) or Bayport-Blue Point (XI).
History 101: Webster Thomas is making its first appearance in the state semifinals.
Players to watch for Webster Thomas: Julia Maciag Jr. INF; Madison Hicks Jr. INF; Emma Bello Sr. OF; Ruby Marrapese So. OF; Madeleine Throumoulos Jr. OF/IF; Emma Maloney So. UTIL
Troy: Gianna Barringer, Olivia DeCitise, Ava Salvaggio and Madison Schmidt.
CLASS B
MARLBORO CENTRAL DUKES (18-2/ Section IX/ Mid-Hudson Athletic)
vs.
WELLSVILLE LIONS (21-1/Independent)
4:00 PM FRIDAY, MORICHES ATHLETIC COMPLEX
How they arrived here: Wellsville bested Aquinas (9-0), Penn Yan (15-0) and Haverling (3-2) before defeating Batavia (15-0) and Iroquois (15-5) to reach the state semis. Marlboro defeated Ellenville (7-1), Rye Neck (1-0) and Seaford (5-0).
What’s at stake: The winner will advance to the NYSPHSAA Class B final to play either Windsor Central (IV) or Ichabod Crane (II).
History 101: Wellsville is making its first trip to the state final four since taking the Class C title in 2000.
Players to watch for Wellsville: Kaylie Fuller Jr. OF; Makenna Dunbar So. P/1B; Marissa Ordway Jr. P/1B; Averee Palmatier So. OF; Lindsay Stuck So. C/3B; Makenzie Cowburn Jr. P; Brazen Beckwith Jr. C/3B.
CLASS D
SCIO/FRIENDSHIP TIGERS (20-3/Allegany County Division II)
vs.
POLAND TORNADOES (16-4/SECTION III/Center State IV)
1:00 PM FRIDAY MORICHES ATHLETIC COMPLEX
How they arrived here: Scio/Friendship Andover/Whitesville (8-0) and Charles G. Finney (13-0), before beating Notre Dame-Batavia (3-0) and Gowanda (3-0). Poland defeated Oriskany (5-0), West Canada Valley (6-1) and Edwards-Knox (7-0). Poland has won nine of its past 10 games and has not allowed more than three runs in any single game over that time.
What’s at stake: The winner will play either Deposit-Hancock (IV) or Salem (II) in the NYSPHSAA Class D final.
History 101: Scio/Friendship is appearing in its second-straight NYS semifinal. The Tigers lost to Deposit-Hancock last season. Poland softball is coming off its first sectional title since 1991.
Players to watch for Scio/Friendship: Claire Calhoun Sr. 3B (.265 AVG, .396 OBP, 7 1B, 4 2B, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 15 R, 6 SB); Kadence Donohue Sr. SS (.352 AVG, .476 OBP, 11 1B, 4 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R); Kiara Grover Sr. 1B (.255 AVG, .412 OBP, 12 1B, 2 2B, 1 HR); Katherine Lamberson Sr. 3B/CF (.286 AVG, .439 OBP, 14 1B, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 15 R, 7 SB); Morghyn Ross Fr. C (.510 AVG, .594 OBP, 20 1B, 5 2B, 4 3B, 21 RBI, 10 SB, 11 CS); Neveah Ross Jr. P (.530 ERA, .087 OBA, 15 SHO, 2 Perfect Games/ .580 AVG, .653 OBP, 21 1B, 5 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 23 RBI, 34 R, 20 SB).
For Poland: Logan Cookinham Sr. 1B (.434 AVG, 3 2B, 20 RBI, 17 BB); Shelbi Hagues Sr. P (.532 AVG, 6 2B, 31 R, 21 RBI/115.2 IP, 166 K, 1.80 ERA); Morgan Weigand Sr. C (.375 AVG, 20 R, 11 RBI) and Sarah Zuchowski Sr. Sr. SS (.317 AVG, 19 RBI, 13 BB).
Coaches: Deb Warner (Scio/Friendship); Erin Meeker (Poland)
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