By PAUL GOTHAM
Fairport closed out a 5-2 victory over Lancaster of Section VI, late Saturday night at Grand Island High School. With that, the Red Raiders put the finishing touches on one of Section V Baseball’s best performances against its counterparts from the west. Five wins in the Far West Regionals, local squads have only accomplished that feat one other time in the history of baseball’s state quarterfinals.
Victor (AA), Pittsford Sutherland (A), Bolivar-Richburg (C) and Arkport-Canaseraga (D) will join Fairport (AAA) this upcoming weekend in Binghamton – site of the NYSPHSAA semifinals and finals.
It was a 31-hour period that saw Sutherland win in 13 innings – a game sure to go on the timeline of greatest moments in Section V Baseball history. Fairport avenge last year’s loss in regionals. Victor’s Weston Elkovitch throw a second straight complete game. Bolivar-Richburg end a 10-year regional championship drought, and Arkport-Canaseraga get its first regional title.
The last time Section V teams combined for five wins in a single regional was 2014 when Victor (AA), Pittsford Sutherland (A), Livonia (B), Bolivar-Richburg (C) and Notre Dame-Batavia (D) pulled off the sweep of what was then five classifications of play. This year was the first of state play at the Triple-A level adding a sixth class to the championships. Section V has won four regionals on four occasions: 2003, 2008, 2011 and 2017. From 1997 to 2002, four classifications competed for state titles.
In the 27 years since Section V started participating in the state tournament (no tournament in 2020 and 2021), local squads have combined for 62 state-quarterfinal victories against Section VI. Sutherland (’08, ’10, ’11, ’14, ’17, ’24) and Victor (’04, ’11, ’12, ’14, ’18, ’24) lead the pack with six of those wins apiece. Bolivar-Richburg (’02, ’10, ’14, ’24) won its fourth regional championship this past weekend.
Fairport, making its first state semifinal appearance since 2006, will face reigning Class AA finalist Commack (XI) at Mirabito Stadium – home of the the New York Mets Double-A affiliate, Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Victor will do battle with Hauppauge, also of Section XI, in the Class AA semifinal at Binghamton University. Sutherland will take on Kings Park (XI) in Class A action at Union-Endicott High School. All three of those games have a 7 p.m. scheduled start time.
Arkport-Canaseraga, which reached the final four for the first time as a combined program, will start the day at Mirabito with a 1 p.m. first pitch against reigning NYS Class D champion, Chapel Field (IX). (Northstar Christian lost to Chapel Field in the 2023 title game). Bolivar-Richburg takes on Burke Catholic (IX) in a 1:00 p.m. first pitch at Binghamton University.
Sutherland will be looking to reach the state finals for the first time since 2011 when the Knights lost to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (II). Sutherland won the 2010 NYS Class A title with a 6-5 victory over Wantagh (VIII). The Knights last reached the state semis in 2017 in current head coach Brandon DeRosa’s first season at the helm.
“It helps having the experience of going there in the past and what to expect as we approach the weekend,” DeRosa said. “It’s a very exciting time, and the boys are ready for whatever is thrown at them. They know they have the chance to do something special this weekend and add to an already incredible year.
“We try to take the approach of it doesn’t matter who we play. Just execute the game plan and we will be where we need to be in the end.”
DeRosa also has an ace up his sleeve with assistant coach Brad Kaczka, a member of the 2010 Sutherland state champion.
“He brings a perspective as a player who has been there. He also showed his championship ring from 2010 as a little extra motivation.”
DeRosa, who was a member of the ’06 Fairport state semifinalist, also has playing experience on the final weekend of the high school season.
Victor last reached the state finals in 2014 when the Blue Devils won their Section V-best third state title. Victor last advanced to the state semis in 2018.
Fairport head coach Kieran Murphy has the chance to get his alma mater’s first state semifinal win and state championship.
“To lead these guys and my alma mater is a dream come true,” Murphy said after Saturday’s win.
Bolivar-Richburg last advanced to the state semis in 2014. The Wolverines reached the Class D finals in 2010.
“This one, I’m savoring,” said Bolivar-Richburg head coach Dustin Allen after his Wolverines defeated Wilson, 8-1 in the Class C Far West Regional. “I didn’t know if we’d make it back after 10 years. You never know.”
Nick Smith was the starting catcher on the 2009 Arkport state champion and is guiding the current Arkport-Canaseraga nine.
“The outpouring of support from our community, the schools, the teachers and staff, former coaches of mine, former players, it’s amazing and awesome to have these boys see who is there for them,” Smith said via text after the Wolves 5-4 win over North Collins. “They know I’m there for them and know that they are there for each other as well as their parents. But to see strangers support you and people you don’t even know, that’s the power of sports and it has such a giant ripple effect into the future of our younger athletes. It’s truly what it is all about. I couldn’t be more proud, but we aren’t done yet.”
Good day for the Rucker family
Father’s Day came early for Ron Rucker. As has been the case for several years, the Section V Hall of Fame member accompanied his son Sean in the Victor dugout. After the Blue Devils celebrated a championship, Ron didn’t go too far as he stayed and watched his grandson, Jackson (Sean’s nephew), help Fairport to a title. Ron Rucker guided East Rochester to six sectional titles during his tenure from 1967 to 2000.
What’s that saying about defense?
The play that stands out from the past weekend and one that will be talked about for years to come is Sam Renica’s diving catch in left field. With bases-loaded in the bottom of the 11th and two outs in a scoreless game, it looked like Sutherland’s season was about to end when Amherst’s Adam Sarzynski sent flare into left center field. That is until Renica happened on the situation.
NYS Class A Far West Regional: Game-saving catch Sam Renica! Bases loaded, two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Renica dives, juggles and holds on. Going to the 12th Sutherland 0 Amherst 0 #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/v8Z4rEykn3
— Section V Baseball (@baseballsectv) June 1, 2024
Not to be overlooked were a trio of plays from Sutherland second baseman Owen Osborne who went to his knees for one stop up the middle, then another between second and first. The junior infielder also alertly tagged a runner who slid past the bag at second.
NYS Class A Far West Regional: Owen Osborne! Fantastic play for the third out in the bottom of the seventh. FREE BASEBALL – Sutherland 0 Amherst 0 pic.twitter.com/r4BQCXQLNW
— Section V Baseball (@baseballsectv) June 1, 2024
Fairport’s Nathan VanDeVoorde changed the momentum of the Class AAA game when the Red Raiders centerfielder threw out the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth. Top of the next inning, Fairport scored twice and grabbed a lead it did not surrender.
“That was a great throw,” said VanDeVoorde’s teammate and Fairport starter, Sam Miller. “He’s got a great arm. He has shown that all year.”
NYS Class AAA Far West Regional: Cole Notaro connects on a two-out RBI single to tie the score, but Nathan VanDeVoorde erases the go-ahead run with a throw from center. AJ Nelson makes the tag. Four in the 📚 Fairport 2 Lancaster 2 pic.twitter.com/zY5ImdhovD
— Section V Baseball (@baseballsectv) June 2, 2024
In the bottom of the fifth, Jonathan Roessel and Matt Bartusek combined on an unconventional 5-3-5 inning-ending double play.
NYS Class AAA Far West Regional: Another massive sequence from the @FHSBaseballFY13 defense. Jonathan Roessel makes the initial play from third before Matt Bartusek gets the runner at third trying to advance. Five full: Fairport 4 Lancaster 2 pic.twitter.com/H677h3DEuy
— Section V Baseball (@baseballsectv) June 2, 2024
Bolivar-Richburg’s Trey Buchholz handled three different bunt attempts from Wilson batters. The Wolverines starter came off the mound and grabbed the offerings along the third baseline and fired strikes to first.
Further evidence to the correlation between work with the gloves and winning championships.
Section V’s past state champions
Section V has also had nine state finalists: 2001 – McQuaid Jesuit (A); 2010 – Bolivar-Richburg (D); 2012 – Victor (AA); 2013 – Geneseo (C); 2015 – Livonia (B), Geneseo (C); 2016 – Webster Schroeder (AA), Avon (C); 2023 – Northstar Christian (D).
Detailed previews of this weekend’s semifinal matchups are forthcoming.
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