If the slipper fits, wear it - Hoosic Valley moving on to Section II title game; Friday's softball roundup

Hoosic Valley's Cinderella run through the Section II Class CC bracket continued Friday afternoon as the No. 8 seeded Indians defeated No. 4 Maple Hill in a semifinal round contest.

Hoosic Valley sophomore pitcher Morgan Anderson deals against No. 4 seed Maple Hill during Friday's Section II Class CC semifinal at Clifton Common. Anderson struck out eight and earned the win in a 13-2 victory over the Wildcats. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Tuesday morning, the Hoosic Valley Indians were not even sure they would be competing in the Section II postseason in 2010. Friday afternoon, the team had punched its ticket to the Class CC championship game.

The Indians rapped out 10 hits and scored 13 runs against No. 4 seed Maple Hill, posting a 13-2 victory at Clifton Common.

"We weren’t even supposed to make it into sectionals and it’s just really great that we’ve come this far," sophomore right fielder Rachel Moore said. "Our team has done really great and all the teams we have played have been really great. It’s been fun."

Hoosic Valley finished the regular sea¬son in the Wasaren League with a 6-8 record, one win short of the automatic qualifier for the postseason, a .500 conference record. The Section II committee, however, can award berths to teams on the bubble at its discretion.

"We didn’t make it, so we thought we’d petition in and whatever happens, happens," Hoosic Valley head coach Blake Bochette said. "We felt like the league was strong enough and that we were strong enough that we could compete in sectionals. So we just petitioned in, they let us in and from there on out, we’ve been ready to play."

For the full story, check out Saturday's edition of The Record.

Maple Hill first baseman Lauren Aitken snares a throw from catcher Bri Roe to force Hoosic Valley's Whitney Kugler (15) out in the first inning of Friday's game.

The Indians topped No. 9 Schoharie in a play-in game Tuesday in Colonie, 10-4. Wednesday, they traveled to Queensbury to face No. 1 Lake George, blanking the Warriors, 2-0.

"We got really excited when we beat Lake George and now we’re going to the finals and we’re all shocked," said senior center fielder Beth Drescher. "We’re excited. We’re ready to go. We’re really ready."

Hoosic Valley second baseman Chrissy Sanderson makes a throw to first base during Friday's game against Maple Hill.

A big part of Hoosic Valley's success in the playoffs has been its defense. Sophomore pitcher Morgan Anderson isn't a fireballing type that can simply blow hitters away. She relies on a low ball and the defense behind her to collect the outs.

Anderson struck out eight in Friday's game, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk.

In Wednesday's Section II Class CC championship game against No. 2 Hoosick Falls, the Indians will be facing the polar opposite in Panthers' sophomore ace Rachel Quackenbush, one of the, if not the, best arms in the area.

Hoosic Valley senior center fielder Beth Drescher collected three hits and scored three runs in Friday's victory over Maple Hill.

Hoosick Falls won both Wasaren League games over Hoosic Valley by a combined score of 5-0.

Still, the Indians won't be stressing out about having to face Quackenbush for a third time.

"We know what to expect," Drescher said. "We’re pumped now and we know we have to beat them and it’s going to be a close game no matter what. We’re really going to show them we deserve it. It should be a good game."

Hoosick Falls knocked out Hoosic Valley in the Section II Class CC semifinals in 2009 en route to a berth in the New York State Final Four.

Hoosic Valley sophomore right fielder Rachel Moore hit a triple and a double in Friday's game.

For Moore, Friday's game also had a bit of history behind it. She was eliminated from the postseason on the soccer and basketball teams this year by....you guessed it...Maple Hill.

"They’re a great team and we really wanted to beat them because of that, too," Moore laughed.

Click on the box score for a full-size image.

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Here is Friday's roundup. Check back Saturday for news and notes from the 12 high school baseball semifinals that will be played as well as CBA's Section II semifinal lacrosse game against Bethlehem.

High Schools
Softball
Class CC Semifinals
Hoosick Falls 2, Chatham 0: Rachel Quackenbush struck out 14 and had the only two hits for the Panthers as the No. 2 seed advanced into the championship game.
Hoosick Falls will meet Wasaren League foe and rival Hoosic Valley in the championship game on Wednesday at Clifton Commons.
Quackenbush and Frankie Pearson both scored runs for the Panthers.
Class C Semifinals
Greenwich 6, Loudonville Christian 0: The No. 6 seed Witches (9-11) continued their magical run, getting 15 strikeouts from Sarah Heimbach to advance to Wednesday’s Class C Final.
Heimbach, who also doubled in the game, hasn’t given up a run in two sectional victories in the circle.
Sarah Gailbraith doubled home three runs in the seventh to solidify the victory for Greenwich.
Dani DeGregory had two hits and stole three bases, while Alicyn Stein added two hits and drove in three runs for the Witches, who meet top-seeded Duanesburg at 3 p.m. at Clifton Commons in the title game.
Duanesburg topped Mayfield 5-0 in the other Class C semifinal.

Next week's softball schedule:

Tuesday, June 1

Class AA
Semifinals
At Adirondack Dome, Queensbury
9 Colonie vs. 5 Saratoga, 4 p.m.
At Veeder Park, Colonie
2 Bethlehem vs. 3 Columbia, 4 p.m.

Class A
Semifinals
At Veeder Park, Colonie
6 Burnt Hills vs. 2 Ichabod Crane, 4 p.m.
At Adirondack Dome, Queensbury
5 Averill Park vs. 1 South Glens Falls, 4 p.m.

Class B
Semifinals
At Veeder Park Colonie
2 Cohoes vs. 3 Taconic Hills, 4 p.m.
At Adirondack Dome, Queensbury
1 Mechanicville vs. 5 Schuylerville, 4 p.m.

Class D
Semifinals
At Veeder Park, Colonie
4 Argyle vs. 1 Germantown, 4 p.m.
At Adirondack Dome, Queensbury
3 Fort Ann vs. 2 Hartford, 4 p.m.

Wednesday, June 2

Both games at Clifton Common
Class CC Final
8 Hoosic Valley vs. 9 Hoosick Falls, 3 p.m.
Class C Final
6 Greenwich vs. 1 Duanesburg, 3 p.m.

Friday, June 4

All games at Clifton Common
Class AA
Final, 5 p.m.
Class A
Final, 5 p.m.
Class B
Final, 5 p.m.
Class CC/C
Playoff, 5 p.m.
Class D
Final, 5 p.m.

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