One team enters the title game on a 14-game winning streak. The other, on a 12-game winning streak. Kendall and Genesee Valley-Belfast combine for a record of 42-2 and will fight it out to decide who will be crowned as the Section V Baseball Class C2 champion. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed KENDALL EAGLES (21-1/Genesee Region Division I)
vs.
No. 2 seed GENESEE VALLEY-BELFAST JAGUARS (21-1/Allegany County Division I)
Friday, Dwyer Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
How they arrived here: Kendall kicked off its playoff run with an 11-0 victory over No. 8 seed Perry in the quarterfinal round. A 3-2 victory over No. 5 seed Oakfield-Alabama in the semifinal round booked the Eagles a spot in the championship. Genesee Valley-Belfast first took down No.15 seed Warsaw by a score of 17-4. Then, the Jaguars knocked off No. 7 seed and defending C2 champion Bolivar-Richburg 4-3. In the semifinal round, a 4-3 victory over No. 3 seed Gananda got Genesee Valley-Belfast into the title game.
Tempo and trends: Kendall averages 9.5 runs per game on offense and allows 1.6 runs per game on defense. The Eagles have won their last 14 games. Genesee Valley-Belfast scores an average of 10.8 runs per game and allows an average of 3.0 runs per game. The Jaguars have won a dozen games in a row.
Players to watch for Kendall: Gavin Braun Sr.; Michael Colucci Jr.; Nicholas Cole Jr.; Jonathan Conte Jr.; Samuel Conte Fr.; Vincent D’Agostino Jr.; Colby Hughes Sr.
Players to watch for Genesee Valley Belfast: Ben Cater So. P .405 BA, 25 RBI, 1.59 ERA, 4-0 record; Derek Calanni So. 1B .386 BA, 28 RBI; Ryan Daciw Sr. P .550 BA, 21 RBI, 7 HR, 2.85 ERA, 5-0 record; Ethan Davenport Jr. P .410 BA, 32 SB, 1.57 ERA, 54 IP, 8-1 record; Ian MacKenzie Jr. SS .395 BA, 21 RBI, 17 SB; Evan Turybury Sr. C .385 BA, 14 RBI
Coaches: Tige Noni (Kendall), Dennis Miles (Genesee Valley-Belfast)
History 101: Kendall is looking to capture its second sectional title in program history, with its first coming in 1999. With a win, Genesee Valley-Belfast would win its first sectional title as a combined program. Genesee Valley has won four titles (2003, 2007, 2015, and 2016), while Belfast has won one (1986). The Jaguars made it to the Class D title game in 2024, but lost. GV-B head coach Dennie Miles became the all-time winningest coach in NYSPHSAA history earlier this season. Miles, who previously coached Wellsville and Avoca-Prattsburgh, has led teams to 14 sectional titles during his career.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Regional Qualifier against the C1 winner, either Sodus or Geneseo.
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