Troy's Youngsters Step Up

Click over here to view the updated brackets from tonight's Class AA, A and B sectional softball games.

I saw Troy beat Columbia 4-1 thanks to a cool head and a strong arm from eighth-grader Julie Brinkman. (She is Courtney Brinkman's cousin).
Troy freshman starter Liz Belleville faced the minimum over the first four innings, but worked into a two-on no out jam in the fifth. Troy called on Brinkman, called up from the JV team just last week and she retired the next three batters in order and closed out the next two innings for the victory.

Freshman third baseman Gabby Daniels drew three walks and scored two runs, leading the way for the Flying Horses' O.
Emily Jones and Carissa Kramer added RBI singles.

The most impressive play on the afternoon was junior Shannon Jones' Jim Edmonds-esque full extensions, face-first diving grab on a deep fly ball. Her teammates on the bench were singing the SportsCenter theme after the catch - it was that good.

The two teams met in a non-league game on April 18th, a game Columbia won 7-1.

Troy will face Colonie next Tuesday, after the Garnet Raiders beat the No. 6 team in New York, Niskayuna on a Kayla Lynch home run. It was crushed. I was watching the Troy game on an adjacent field, but I could see the ball almost hit the concession stand/garage/barn in the middle of the Veeder Park complex.

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Shen moves on to play Queensbury in the other Class AA semi.

In Class A, Burnt Hills beat Scotia in the Route 50 rivalry and the Lady Spartans take on the Lady Knights from Lansingburgh in the Class A semis next Tuesday at the Dome in Queensbury.
Glens Falls plays South Glens Falls in the other semi.

Hoosic Valley pitcher Jen Mineau fires to the plate against Fonda. (J.S. Carras — The Record).

In Class B, Hoosic Valley blanked Fonda and will play Schuylerville, who blanked Spa Catholic. Check out the full story on Hoosic Valley in Saturday's Record.
Cohoes beat Taconic Hill on Thursday and they will play an upstart Greenville club who beat Patroon Conference champion Ichabod Crane 5-2 on field two at Veeder Park just before Troy took the field. The Spartans aren't the most talented team, but the team from Greenville is riding high after beating a team that went 18-0 in league play (including two head-to-head games). The Tigers will have their hands full with this energized team, but it should be one of the best semifinal games to watch next Tuesday.

-- Will Montgomery

With the weather looking shaky for Saturday the section II baseball committee gave schools the opportunity to play today.

In one of the top match ups of the first round in any class two-seed Waterford topped seven-seed Maple Hill 9-4 to advance to the class C semifinals. Three's were wild for the Fordians Kevin Terry as he singled three times and drove in three runs. Jeff Yattaw hit a two-run home run and Ray Carmel doubled for Waterford. The Fordians out of the CHVL will take on Duanesburg (WAC) Tuesday, June 3 at Clifton Comon at 4p.m.

In other class C action three-seed Duanesburg beat Warrensburg 9-2.

Cick here to see the updated brackets from the Section II Baseball Tournament.
--Ryan Kircher