By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — School of the Arts (SOTA) outlasted the weather and a change of location to win its second straight league title and third in the past four years.
Tournament MVP Henry Hawkinson hurled a complete game and reached base each time he came to the plate to lead SOTA past Edison, 6-4 in the 2025 Rochester City Athletic Conference (RCAC) championship game.
“It feels amazing,” said the junior who struck out 10 in the win. “We’ve been working so hard every day.”
Benjamin Prior led the fourth inning with a single and eventually scored the go-ahead when Bruce Newton reached on an error. Hawkinson added another score with a two-out RBI base hit to left field.
SOTA had its final margin of victory.
“We know how to bring energy to every game,” Hawkinson said. “I love this group of guys. We’ve been playing together for five, six years. Three different sports. We just have so much chemistry. It’s amazing.”
The game originally started this past Saturday when SOTA took a 4-1 lead after the first inning. That’s when the skies opened and the rain came forcing the game to be suspended. That first inning was played at Greece Olympia High School.
The schedule change also brought a switch in location. Tuesday’s innings were played at Edison Tech, creating the irony of the lower-seeded team getting a home game.
Edison students filled a bleacher behind the Inventors’ bench and provided support.
“The fact is we don’t have a home field,” said SOTA head coach Cam Scharf. “We played away most of the season. Even in our home game, we’re playing on the enemy turf. It shows the resiliency of these guys.”
The change in venue looked favorable in the early going.
Edison scored three runs in the third to tie the game.
Michael Alvarez led the frame with a base hit. Dariel Ponce drew a base on balls, and Carlos Gonzalez followed with a two-run triple. Gonzalez eventually scored on a passed ball.
Hawkinson struck out the side to end the inning.
“I just came in a little slow,” he said of Tuesday’s work.
The right-hander settled in and retired the last seven of the game.
“We’ve been in that situation at least four times this year,” Hawkinson said. “We just know how to deal with it. We know how to lock in, get clutch hits, get on base.”
The title was the second straight for the Silverhawks and third in the past four years. Edison won the 2023 championship.
The two teams have met in each of the past three RCAC title games.
Benjamin Barnowsky and James Laver joined Hawkinson on the All-Tournament team.
Carlos Gonzalez and Miguel Vargas represented Edison on the All-Tournament squad.
Hawkinson finished 3-for-3 with a walk in the game. Barnosky was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Laver scored one run.
Newton walked twice and reached base three times. Prior went 2-3. Paul Stevens II added a hit. Ben Laver singled and scored.
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