One squad is back in the in the state tournament for the first time in 21 years. The other program is searching for its fourth state quarterfinal appearance since 2016. Penfield (V) and Orchard Park (VI) are set to go head-to-head for the Class AA sub-regional on Wednesday, June 3. Here’s the breakdown:
PENFIELD PATRIOTS (21-2 / Monroe County)
vs.
ORCHARD PARK QUAKERS (13-4 / ECIC 1)
Wednesday, Churchville-Chili, 5 p.m.
How they arrived: After earning a first round bye, top-seeded Penfield (NYSSWA Class AA No. 3) kicked off its postseason with a 12-0 shutout over No. 9 Edison Tech in the quarterfinals. The Patriots then walked it off in the semifinals against No. 5 Webster Thomas 8-7 to grab a spot in the championship. Penfield knocked off Hilton 6-4 in the Class AA1 sectional final and earned a spot in the sub-regional after a 8-6 victory over Class AA2 champs Pittsford Sutherland in the AA regional qualifier. After receiving a first round bye, Orchard Park (NYSSWA Class AA No. 7) ignited its postseason run with a 9-0 shutout against West Seneca West in the quarterfinals and a 3-0 victory over top-seeded Williamsville North in the semis. In the Section VI AA final, the Quakers fell to undefeated North Tonawanda 8-3.
Scoring offense: Penfield (10.4 RPG), Orchard Park (6.6)
Scoring defense: Penfield (2.4 RPG), Orchard Park (4.4)
Trends: Penfield rolls into the championship on a 16-game win streak, outscoring its opponents 174-30 in that stretch. During the win streak, the Patriots have won nine games by 10 or more runs (11 on the season) and pitched eight shutouts. Penfield has scored 10-plus runs 13 times this season and have held opponents to three runs or less on 15 different occasions. Orchard Park enters the sub-regional with shutout victories in three of its last four matchups, outscoring its opponents 26-8 during that stretch. On the season, the Quakers have scored 10-plus runs five times this season while holding opponents to three runs or less seven times. In games decided by one run, Orchard Park is undefeated (4-0).
Players to watch for Penfield: Zara Vattimo-Fetouh Sr. P/IF (62 IP, 75 Ks, 1.69 ERA, .209 BAA, 1.210 WHIP, .444 AVG, .539 OBP, 1.079 OPS, .540 SLG, 28 Hs, 22 1B, 6 2B, 19 RBI, 20 Rs); Mackenzie Noble Fr. P/IF (56.1 IP, 41 Ks, 1.24 ERA, .215 BAA, 1.189 WHIP); Alexi Cimino Sr. OF (.500 AVG, .535 OBP, 1.270 OPS, .734 SLG, 32 Hs, 22 1B, 6 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 25 Rs, 6 SB); Ella Maley Sr. OF (.488 AVG, .517 OBP, 1.236 OPS, .720 SLG, 40 Hs, 26 1B, 10 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 37 Rs, 8 SB); Vivian Russo Jr. IF (.448 AVG, .565 OBP, 1.177 OPS, .612 SLG, 30 Hs, 21 1B, 7 2B, 2 3B, 21 RBI, 33 Rs, 2 SB); Mackenzie Whitehead Jr. IF (.446 AVG, .512 OBP, 1.097 OPS, .585 SLG, 29 Hs, 21 1B, 7 2B, 1 3B, 25 RBI, 22 Rs, 1 SB); Stephanie Coughlin So. IF (.397 AVG, .443 OBP, .994 OPS, .551 SLG, 31 Hs, 22 1B, 6 2B, 3 3B, 19 RBI, 28 Rs, 10 SB)
Orchard Park: Ella Hernandez (.444 AVG, 20 H, 7 2B, 5 3B, 16 RBI, 15 R); Lauren Patterson P (42 IP, 6-0, 1.83 ERA, 33 K); Brooklyn Meganck (42.1 IP, 4-2, 2.15 ERA, 36 K, .380 AVG, 19 H, 3 2B, 19 RBI, 5 R); Emma Gibson (.467 AVG, 21 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 16 R); McKenzie McCann (.340 AVG, 16 H, 4 2B,1 3B, 8 RBI, 13 R); Madison Dombek (.302 AVG, 13 H, 1 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 16 R)
Coaches: Frank Clark (Penfield), Brittany Schemorhorn (Orchard Park)
History 101: After earning its second sectional title in program history, Penfield is back in the state tournament for the first time since 2005. Orchard Park will make back-to-back state tournament appearances after defeating Webster Thomas in 2025 11-4. The Quakers went on to win the NYS Class AA Championship 3-1 over Horseheads (IV) and are now looking to earn a fourth state quarterfinal appearance in 10 years.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class AA quarterfinal against either North Tonawanda (VI).
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