Sophomore pitcher Cody LaFlamme is a big reason why the Hoosick Falls High School baseball team earned a No. 2 seed in the Section II Class CC tournament. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

LATHAM -- The Hoosick Falls High School baseball team was supposed to be a fringe playoff team in 2010, at best. With a roster full of young players – head coach Mike Lilac Jr. often penciled in four sophomores and a freshman in the starting lineup - the Panthers were out to exceed expectations.
That they did.
Hoosick Falls (11-3, 13-4) won a share of the Wasaren League regular season title with Granville and Schuylerville and earned the No. 2 seed in the Section II Class CC bracket. The Panthers play host to No. 7 Voorheesville (8-8, 11-9) in Thursday’s quarterfinal round game at Hoosick Falls High School.
"I’m glad we’re home," Lilac Jr. said at the Section II baseball committee meeting Monday at the Boght Area Baseball Complex. "We’re getting rewarded for a good year with a home game, so that is nice."
Hoosick Falls won a Section II Class C title on the gridiron this fall and the Panthers’ basketball team advanced to the Class C championship game against Maple Hill in the winter. Lilac Jr. is taking a "cautiously optimistic" approach to the baseball playoffs, but he admits the experience boosts the confidence of his players.
Junior catcher Mike Brewster quarterbacked the football team and sophomore second baseman Alex Lilac was the point guard on the basketball team, but the leadership is spread out on the diamond.
Senior Adam Ferrannini and sophomore Cody LaFlamme have carried the Panthers on the mound and Seth Foster has been solid in the middle of the order and at third base.
"They’ve played in pressure-packed games in other sports and it definitely helps," Lilac Jr. said.
Hoosick Falls’ field hockey team won a Section II title in the fall as well and the softball team is one of the favorites in Class CC.
Starting sophomore shortstop Tanner Williams is out with a broken hand, but he may be used as a pinch runner in late-inning situations.
Elsewhere around Section II, Shenendehowa, La Salle and Shaker secured first round byes in Class AA and will host quarterfinal games Thursday.
In Class B, Watervliet (7-9, 7-13) earned the No. 13 seed and will travel to Schuylerville (11-3, 14-6) to take on the No. 4-seeded Black Horses today at 4:30 p.m.
Defending New York State champion Maple Hill (5-11, 7-12) earned the No. 8 seed in the Class CC bracket and will face No. 1 Schoharie (10-2, 15-5) Thursday.
Two local CHVL teams will appear in the Class C playoffs Thursday. No. 5 Waterford (9-5, 9-7) will play No. 4 Greenwich (10-4, 15-5) and No. 7 Rensselaer (6-8, 6-11) will hit the road to take on defending Section II champion No. 2 Fort Plain (9-3, 15-3).
Loudonville Christian (11-3, 13-5) earned the No. 3 seed in Class D and will host No. 6 Hartford (9-6, 9-8) Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Cook Park in Colonie. Heatly (9-5, 11-5), the No. 5 seed, will travel to No. 4 Fort Edward (10-5, 11-5) for a quarterfinal game Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
All classes will play semifinal games Saturday at neutral sites. Championship games, all of which will be played at Joe Bruno Stadium, begin Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Section II Class CC/C playoff game will be contested at 4 p.m. Friday at Veterans Field on Geyser Road in Saratoga Springs.

For brackets, click here.

Section II baseball tournament schedule
Tuesday, May 25

Class AA
Opening round
S5 Saratoga Springs at B4 Troy, 4 p.m.
S7 Columbia at B2 CBA, 4 p.m.
B6 Schenectady at S3 Colonie, 4 p.m.
B5 Catholic Central at S4 Niskayuna, 4 p.m.
S6 Guilderland at B3 Queensbury, 4 p.m.

Class B
Opening round
9 Coxsackie-Athens at 8 Albany Academy, 4 p.m.
12 Greenville at 5 Mechanicville, 4:30 p.m.
13 Watervliet at 4 Schuylerville, 4:30 p.m.
11 Hudson Falls at 6 Cairo-Durham, 4:30 p.m.
10 Johnstown at 7 Hudson, 4:30 p.m.

Class D
Opening round
9 Argyle vs. 8 Sharon Springs at Geyser Road Field, 7 p.m.

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