TROY — Thursday evening, the Troy High School girls volleyball team remained undefeated in the Big 10 Conference – a streak that has stretched for nearly three seasons – defeating Amsterdam, 3-0 in the Clement H. Zotto Gymnasium at Troy High School.

 Troy High senior Sylvia Sorriento serves a ball in the third game against Amsterdam Thursday night in a Big 10 Conference match in Troy. The Flying Horses won, keeping their unbeaten streak, which dates back to 2007, alive in league play. (Photos by Will Montgomery - The Record).

Senior Sylvia Sorriento provided 22 service points – seven were aces – and six kills in the victory and Rachel Martin chipped in with 10 kills and a pair of blocks. Fellow senior Bridget Haggerty smashed seven kills for the Flying Horses (6-0, 11-0), who won by game scores of 25-17, 25-8 and 25-17.

Troy setter Mary Gallagher dished out 27 assists.

Troy High's volleyball team huddles up around second-year head coach Christine Danz during a break in the action Thursday evening.

Undefeated Big 10 Conference regular season champions in 2008 and 2009, the Flying Horses last lost a league game in 2007, when Sorriento, Martin and Haggerty were freshmen.

Amsterdam (0-6, 0-8) remains winless in 2010.

Troy High and Amsterdam volleyball players shake hands after Thursday's 3-0 Big 10 Conference match.

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Look for pictures and video from Thursday's match coming soon. We will publish a feature story on the team's three senior leaders - Sorriento, Martin (left to right, above) and Haggerty (below) - in The Record sometime early next week.

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Troy High drew 16 walks in a 15-0, six-inning Big 10 Conference victory over Amsterdam Monday afternoon.

Troy High sophomore catcher Mackenzie Heiser warms up prior to the start of Monday's Big 10 Conference softball game against Amsterdam. (All photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Monday's game got ugly in a hurry when Amsterdam pitcher Aimee Reksc just could not find the strike zone. Reksc threw 163 pitches in four innings of work, walking 15 and allowing eight hits in wound up a 15-0 victory for Troy High.

Amsterdam didn't arrive at Troy High until 4:30 p.m. and the game didn't start until 5 p.m. It ended just before 7 p.m.

So instead of writing a game story for Tuesday's paper, I spoke with sophomore catcher Mackenzie Heiser and how she's dealing with balancing three pitchers - Liz Belleville, Ang Acierno and Julie Brinkman - on her first year on the varsity. To read that piece, check out Tuesday's edition of The Record.

Liz Belleville, a junior pitcher for Troy High, hurls the ball during Monday's game. She struck out seven in four innings of work.

Gabby Daniels lays down a successful sacrifice bunt attempt in the first inning of Monday's game against Amsterdam.

For a full box score, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

So, here was what happened in the game: Troy walked and walked and walked all over the Rams.

In the first inning, Amsterdam's Reksc walked Lauren Cooney to lead off the game. Gabby Daniels followed with a sacrifice bunt. Anansa Benbow followed with an RBI single and the Flying Horses were on the board.

Mackenzie Heiser followed that with a walk and Ang Acierno walloped a ball to right field, racing around the bases for a patented Troy High fenceless outfield four-bagger. The rout was on.

Ang Acierno connects on a three-run home run in the first inning of Monday's game against Amsterdam.

Lauren Cooney reached base five times (one hit, three walks and one Amsterdam error), scoring four runs and driving in two.

Gabby Daniels scored two runs. Anansa Benbow singled three times and Mackenzie Heiser walked three times and added a two-run single in the fourth inning.

Julie Brinkman singled twice. Maddie Weaver singled twice and scored two runs. Connor Spain drew a pair of walks and scored a pair of runs. Jamie Brinkman laid down a bunt single and scored in the fourth.

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Some strange notes from the game...

Troy High runners were twice sent back to the bench (and an out recorded) for leading off first base before the pitch was released. I had never seen that rule called once the past few years, never mind twice in the same game.

Thanks to the 16 walks issued by Amsterdam pitchers, Troy needed just the one extra base hit - Acierno's home run - in scoring 15 runs.

Acierno, a junior at Troy High, rounds third base on her home run trot in the first inning of Monday's game.

Troy hosts Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons Friday and Catholic Central on Tuesday, May 18 to close out the Big 10 regular season.

Troy (9-1, 10-5) will likely be fighting CCHS (7-1, 11-3) for first place in what is always a hard-fought rivalry game.

"That’s always the main game of our season," Heiser said. "It’s a big rivalry. Hopefully we’ll win. Hopefully."

"We really want to beat them," said Julie Brinkman. "They’re our big rivals."

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

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Catholic Central High School's Sam Clement rocks the rim during Friday's 72-58 Section II Class AA play-in victory over Amsterdam. Clement scored a team-high 18 points in the game. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Catholic Central topped Amsterdam, 72-58, in Friday's Section II Class AA play-in game, earning the No. 8 Big 10 seed. The Crusaders (5-12) travel to Clifton Park to take on Suburban Council No. 1 Shenendehowa (17-1) Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.

It was the third time CCHS defeated Amsterdam this season.

"When you play a team three times obviously you can study how to defeat them," said Catholic Central senior point guard Keaton Woods. "I think tonight we did a good job of conquering them."

Catholic Central's Keaton Woods splits Amsterdam defenders Tony Sobkowich (22) and Hector Julia (4).

"It’s a lot of pressure," Catholic Central senior Sam Clement said. "We beat them twice before but they just beat Troy who beat us twice so there was a lot of pressure. We knew they’re a good team and any one can win on any night."

The Crusaders are aware they will be a major longshot at Shen Wednesday night, but they are not backing down from the challenge.

"They’re a good team," Clement said of Shenendehowa. "They’re a Suburban team so they have a different style than we’re used to playing. It’s going to be tough going over there, but I think we have enough talent and I think we can bring the energy over from this game."

A big thanks to our Ryan Kircher, who covered this game and provided these quotes.

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In other Section II play-in action Friday night:

MECHANICVILLE - Dylan Guido’s layup with four seconds remaining in regulation lifted the Mechanicville High School boys basketball team to a 57-56 victory over Tamarac in the Section II Class B play-in game Friday night.
Tamarac outscored Mechanicville in the fourth quarter 22-9.
With the victory, the Red Raiders (6-13) earned the No. 16 seed in the Class B tournament and will travel to face No. 1 Fonda-Fultonville (18-0) in an opening round game Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Bryan Gorman scored a game-high 18 points for Tamarac, which finished 4-15 in its first season under head coach Rick Roden.
Greenwich 69, Berlin 36: Ryan McFee scored a game-high 29 points and also grabbed 14 rebounds as Greenwich defeated Berlin in a Section II Class C boys basketball play-in game Friday night.
Greenwich (9-10) earned the No. 14 seed and will travel to No. 3 Voorheesville Wednesday night for an opening round game at 7 p.m.
Joe Estramonte added 15 points and eight assists for the Witches.
Cody Blain scored 15 points and Drew Webster added 13 for the Mountaineers (1-17).
Waterford 47, Duanesburg 46: The Fordians (9-10) outscored Duanesburg 15-6 in the fourth quarter to earn the No. 15 seed in the upcoming Section II Class C boys basketball tournament with a play-in victory over the Eagles.
Matt Berthiaume scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Fordians, who will play No. 2 Hoosick Falls Wednesday at 7 p.m. David Fletcher added eight points and seven assists for Waterford.
Berne-Knox-Westerlo 46, Hadley-Luzerne 38.

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In hockey news, No. 3 Shaker/Colonie defeated No. 2 Shenendehowa 3-0 in the Division I semifinals.
La Salle faces No. 1 Saratoga Springs Saturday afternoon in the other semifinal.
Look for Stan Hudy's full game story on Shaker's upset in Saturday's edition of The Record.