Cohoes and Catholic Central's softball teams competed in Section II quarterfinal action Thursday afternoon at Veeder Park. The Tigers will be moving on, but the Crusaders saw their fine 2010 season come to an end against Saratoga Springs.

Cohoes first baseman Courtney Laughlin made a number of scoops defensively and also drove in a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning in Cohoes' 2-1 victory over Granville. (All photos by Will Montgomery - The Record).

COLONIE - The Cohoes Tigers had been waiting all game for the big hit and Bailei Tetrault delivered.

Tetrault, Cohoes’ junior second baseman, ripped a scorching triple over the third base bag with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning in Wednesday’s Section II Class B quarterfinal game against Granville.

Alex Remillard followed with a single to right that scored Tetrault for the game’s first run. After a sacrifice bunt by Nicole McOmber that moved Remillard to second base, Courtney Laughlin smacked a double to right center field that sent Remillard across home plate for an insurance run.

In the top of the seventh, Cohoes’ Courtney Dayter quickly recorded two outs, but the Golden Horde did not go down quietly. Lauren Zoristoski singled to left field, moved to second on an error and took third when the throw from the outfield came in behind her.

Darian Chapman followed with an RBI single, but Dayter got Granville pitcher Chelsea Lyons to fly out to center field to end the game, a 2-1 victory for Cohoes at Veeder Park.

No. 2 seed Cohoes (15-5) advances to face No. 3 Taconic Hills (17-2) and two-time defending Patroon Conference MVP pitcher Aleshia Link in Tuesday’s Section II Class B semifinal at Veeder Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Cohoes center fielder Alex Remillard caught the final out in Cohoes' 2-1 victory over Granville. She also drove in the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth.

"It was a playoff game and we knew we had to step it up," Laughlin said. "Once Bailei hit that triple, we were just fired up from there. That was a big thing. Once she got that triple, that was huge."

Granville’s Lyons basically baffled the Cohoes lineup for the first five innings, scattering two hits in the first two innings and retiring nine straight in the third, fourth and fifth. The Tigers, however, adjusted to the left-hander’s pitches and Tetrault pounced on a pitch on the inside half of the plate on a 1-0 count.

"I think it just took a while to catch on to it," said Laughlin. "And she was throwing them low."

Cohoes was playing the game without its starting shortstop and left fielder, but the Tigers’ defense was impressive nonetheless.

Danielle Beauchamp, who had never played shortstop before, filled in for Shana Cooper, who injured her left ankle in Monday’s non-league game against Colonie. Cohoes head coach Frank Ryan hopes that Cooper will be able to return by Tuesday’s game against Patroon Conference regular season champion Taconic Hills.

"She (Beauchamp) plays right field and pitches," Ryan said. "She never played there before. She did a very, very good job."

Cohoes’ infield defense was perfect – the Tigers made an error in the outfield in the seventh inning that resulted in Granville’s lone run being scored – helped in large part by the scoops made at first base by Laughlin.

"Our defense is top-notch, always," Laughlin said. "We always have the defense and then the bats come alive. Mr. Ryan always says defense is going to win your games."

It’s certainly an exciting time of year for the Remillard family of Cohoes. Alex’s cousins, Zach and Will Remillard, compete for the La Salle Institute baseball team, which has also advanced to the semifinal round of the playoffs.

"It’s awesome," Alex Remillard said. "They’re doing really well."

Catholic Central senior catcher Kirstan Buchan was all smiles after Thursday's game against Saratoga Springs, looking back at a wildly successful 2010 season for the Crusaders.

COLONIE - Sometimes you get the bear. Sometimes the bear gets you.

That was the message Catholic Central High School softball coach Jack O’Grady left for his team on a piece of dry-erase board prior to Thursday’s Section II Class AA quarterfinal against No. 5 Saratoga Springs.

Blue Streaks ace Alyson Onyon wound up being unbearably tough to hit, as she struck out 14 Lady Crusaders and drove in the game’s only run in a 1-0 victory at Veeder Park.

Onyon, the Cornell University-bound senior, was perfect through three innings and did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. She finished the two-hitter – with no walks – on 86 pitches.

Catholic Central (17-4), the No. 4 seed in the tournament, sent its ace, Maddie Coneys to the circle for the second straight day. Coneys allowed far more baserunners than Onyon – Saratoga recorded four hits and five walks – but she worked out of jams every time save for the third inning.

Saratoga’s Nicole Colamaria reached on a single to lead off the inning and scored on a bases-loaded walk issued to Onyon with no out. Coneys used a pair of fielder’s choices and a strikeout to escape otherwise unharmed. But with Onyon in the circle, that was all the offense the Blue Streaks needed.

Saratoga (13-6) will face No. 9 Colonie (12-8) in the Class AA semifinals Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Adirondack Sports Dome in Queensbury.

Still, it was a banner season for Catholic Central, which won the Big 10 Conference regular season title and the Uncle Sam Tournament.

"This is the best team I’ve played on and I’ve been playing since seventh grade," said senior catcher Kirstan Buchan. "This is the most talented infield and outfield and we all clicked perfectly and we all enjoyed our company no matter who was winning or losing."

Buchan will play at Southern Vermont College next year and she knows the CCHS pitching staff will be hard-pressed to find a replacement behind the plate.

"I’m going to miss them," Buchan said. "I’ve been with Maddie since she’s been playing."

Catholic Central junior pitcher Maddie Coneys, the 2010 Big 10 Conference MVP, throws a pitch to Saratoga Springs' Meagan Fleming during Thursday's game.

Here is Friday's Section II softball roundup.

Class AA
Columbia 7, Queensbury 0: Jena Servidone allowed just a leadoff single back up the middle in the sixth as the Blue Devils (17-4) advanced to take on Bethlehem in the semifinals on Tuesday.
Servidone also had two hits and scored two runs, while Anna Carey had three hits and drove in three runs.
Dani Bell had the lone hit for the Spartans (14-7).
Bethlehem 5, Shaker 1: Toni Edwards struck out 12, McKenzie Pezze had two hits and Meghan Burns drove in two runs for the Eagles (18-3).
Taylor Guerin hit a double for the Blue Bison.
Colonie 3, Shenendehowa 1: The Lady Plainsmen, the No. 1 seed and undefeated at 20-0 coming into the game, fell to No. 9 Colonie in a quarterfinal round shocker.
Class A
Burnt Hills 4, Lansingburgh 1: Emily Ostrom tossed a four-hitter as the sixth-seeded Spartans upended the third-seeded and defending sectional champion Knights in a quarterfinal at Veeder Park in Colonie.
Sam Woitkowski pitched a five-hitter for Lansingburgh and Kayla Cole and Meg Volz each doubled.
Averill Park 3, Glens Falls 0: The Warriors, the No. 5 seed, upset No. 4 Glens Falls in the Section II Class A quarterfinals. Averill Park will face No. 1 South Glens Falls in Tuesday’s Class A semifinal.
Ichabod Crane 3, Mohonasen 2: The Riders, the No. 2 seed, earned a date with Burnt Hills in the semifinals.
Class B
Mechanicville 12, Fonda-Fultonville 0: In a preview of a future Colonial Council rivalry, Mechanicville’s Anna Arceneaux struck out 12 in a one-hitter performance in the circle. Arceneaux, a junior, added a solo home run in the first inning in the Class B quarterfinal victory for the No. 1 seeded Red Raiders.
Aubrey Moore went 4-for-4 with four RBI and Andrea Mastropietro added a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
Schuylerville 3, Hudson Falls 0: Mikayla Wells was 4-for-4 as the Black Horses stampeded into the semifinals, where the face top-seeded Mechanicville.
Taconic Hills 4, Schalmont 1: Aleshia Link struck out 16 on the mound for the Titans (18-2).
Class D
Argyle 3, Whitehall 0: Krista Depew pitched a one-hitter, striking out 18 to pace the fourth-seeded Scots (11-5) to an opening-round victory.
Fort Ann 8, Sharon Springs 0: Fort Ann, the No. 3 seed, moved on in Class D.

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There has been yet another series of changes made to the Section II softball brackets. It really has been a problem for everyone. The committee keeps calling it "Vedder Park" and I overheard complaints from nearly everyone who can't find the place because that is not its name. Anywho.

Time changes for Tuesday, June 1 semifinal games:

Adirondack Sports Complex
AA- Saratoga/Colonie 5:00 field 4
A So Glens Falls/Averill Park- 4:15 field 2
B Mechanicville/ Schuylerville 5:30 field 1
D Ft.Ann/Hartford 3:45 field 1

Veeder Park, Colonie
AA- Columbia/Bethlehem- 3:45 field 5
A- Burnt Hills/ Ichabod Crane- 3:45 field 4
B - Cohoes/ Taconic Hills 4:15 field 2
D - Germantown/Argyle 4:15 field 3

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