#10 Natasha Bell celebrates with her teammates after scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning. (Photo - hsxn.com)

Canton defeated Beekmantown 8-2 in the Class B first round this afternoon, meaning Cohoes will play Canton (21-2) on Wednesday. The game will be played at the Adirondack Sports Complex in Queensbury at 4 pm.

Canton was ranked No. 8 in the latest state poll released on Sunday.
With the victory over Hoosic Valley, Cohoes (15-1) vaulted to No. 4.

Both of Canton's losses came to Malone, ranked No. 8 and the Section X representative from Class A.

Canton begins their celebration after Natasha Bell scored from third base on a passed ball for the Section X Class B championship's winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning in a 5-4 victory over the Salmon River Shamrocks. Bell scored three of Canton’s five runs. Brown scored the other Bears’ runs after two walks. Canton winning pitcher Kacie Wentworth stroked two hits, struck out nine batters and allowed just five hits in the game. (Eric Foote photo)

Here is an article on the Golden Bears' victory in the Section X final against Salmon River.
Just like Cohoes' thrilling victory over Hoosic Valley - it sounded like a great game.
Canton scored the winning run on a passed ball in the tenth inning.

Natasha Bell celebrates after scoring the winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning to clinch the Section 10 Class B championship Friday for Canton against Salmon River. (SCOTT SCHILD / WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES)

It sounds like Canton's star player is freshman pitcher Kacie Wentworth. In 153 innings pitched, she's struck out exactly 220 batters and has a 0.48 ERA on the season.

In Monday's 8-2 win over Beekmantown, Wentworth also hit an RBI-double and hurled the Bears to another triumph.

According to this website, Canton is hitting .330 as a team and Wentworth is Section X's leading hitter at a .481 clip. She's also driven in an outstanding 47 runs in 81 at bats.

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We know the Tigers can win the close ones. In the semis against Greenville, one hit was enough. In the finals against Hoosic Valley, the No. 1 team in the state, one hit was enough.

And I'll venture to guess that Canton doesn't face teams like Lansingburgh and Mechanicville in league play and the Golden Bears aren't playing No. 1 ranked teams like Shenendehowa and South Glens Falls just for kicks.

Think about that for Cohoes - they've played three teams legitimately ranked No. 1 this season. Shenendehowa in the AAs, South Glens Falls in the As and Hoosic Valley - all strong teams in-section with realistic state title hopes. (Don't forget Mechanicville at No. 2/3 in the Cs).

Plus, it's virtually a home game for the Tigers in Glens Falls/Queensbury and the Bears will have to make a much longer trip. A short ride and lots of fans could very well mean the difference.

Anyway, there's a little reading for you and we will find out what happens on Wednesday afternoon.
-- Will Montgomery

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The La Salle baseball team rolled over Utica-Proctor 7-0 in state quarterfinal action at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam.
Kyle Charron threw a complete game shutout as the Cadets advance to the state semifinal/final round at Sylvester Field at Union-Endicott High School near Binghamton on Saturday at 1 pm.
Should La Salle win that game, they would play in the state final at 4 pm.

Charron dominated on the mound throwing all three of his pitches with great command and throwing them for strikes whether ahead or behind in the count. He finished with 11 strike outs.

Will Remillard continued his hot hitting going 3-for-3 and belting a solo home run in the fourth, Scott Morrissey drove in a pair of runs and Brian Beaury and Lukas Bridenbeck each scored two runs.

The Cadets will face the Mamaroneck (section I)/Miniskink Valley (section IV) winner played on Tuesday. Mamaroneck is the No.-2 ranked team in the state, Minisink Valley is No. 18