Jordan Schroeder, left, battles Columbia's Sam Kessler for control of the ball during Thursday's Section II Class AA opening round playoff game at Troy High School. For the second straight game, Schroeder scored the game-winning goal, although Thursday's came in the penalty kick round. (Photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

TROY — Keeping a clean sheet has been the name of the game for the Troy High School boys soccer team all season.

Troy sophomore back Brandon Dory (left) and Columbia's Connor White (right) tussle for a loose ball during Thursday's Section II Class AA opening round playoff game at Troy High.

Bobby Strang took care of that in spectacular fashion Thursday afternoon in a Section II Class AA preliminary round game against Columbia.

Strang, Troy’s junior goalkeeper, made nine saves in regulation, two more in the first overtime and one in the second overtime as the teams played to a scoreless draw.

Troy's Shafi Kabir (10) heads the ball toward the net among a scrum of Columbia and Troy players during Thursday's game.

In the penalty kick round, Strang shone the brightest when the pressure was greatest. Strong stopped all four penalty kicks he faced and Jordan Schroeder and Mekhaldi Rafik scored penalty kick goals as the Flying Horses posted their first Section II playoff victory since the early 1980s at Troy High School.

For video highlights from Thursday's game, visit www.troyrecord.com/video/sports

“This is something we’ve wanted sine the first day,” Strang, at left, said of snapping the school’s postseason losing streak. “We didn’t have it until we beat Albany and then we were all focused on this. This was the biggest thing for us.”

Troy (15-0-1), the Big 10 Conference regular season champion and No. 1 seed, has outscored opponents 51-3 this season. The Flying Horses allowed one goal apiece in each of their final three regular season games, but Strang literally saved the day Thursday afternoon.

“Bobby? What else can you say?” said Troy head coach Mike Murnane. “That was just outright amazing. Not letting a ball touch the back of the net all day? That’s just unbelievable.”

Murnane, who played for Troy in the 1990s, could not remember exactly Troy’s last postseason win, but places it in the 1981-83 range.

Although neither team could score in regulation or in a pair of overtime periods, it was not for a lack of offensive chances.

Troy senior Sean Wilson, seen at left, racing Columbia's Drew Pintus for the ball, made a number of his signature long throw-ins toward the net, but could never connect with a teammate for a head-in goal. A strong wind blowing from west to east during much of the game frustrated players on both sides as they watched passes and shots miss their mark.

Columbia (2-13-2) received a valiant 17 saves in net from junior keeper Alex Morrison, pictured at right.

Schroeder, who was the hero for Troy High on Monday, scoring his first goal of the season with five seconds remaining in regulation in a 2-1 victory over Albany High that clinched the Big 10 title outright for the Flying Horses, had the golden foot again Thursday afternoon.

Troy’s first player to shoot a penalty kick, Schroeder beat Morrison to the high corner on Morrison’s right.

“We had one practice where we had a penalty shoot-off and I got by the third round and coach said, ‘OK, you’re going to be the penalty kicker,” Schroeder said. “I thought he was joking. So, since then, I’ve always had it in my mind, ‘go to my left.”

Troy's Wayne Russel attempts to corral a loose ball as a Columbia player has his back during Thursday's game.

“I couldn’t look. I knew if I watched, I knew I would either become very happy or very sad,” Strang said. “I just waited for the kick, waited to hear if it hit the net, hit the post or hit glove. I couldn’t stop there because we missed two of them. I had to keep going. I had to keep working.”

Troy will host Suburban Council No. 4 seed Ballston Spa (8-5-4) in a Class AA quarterfinal Monday at 3 p.m.

Troy's Brandon Wilson and Columbia's Nico Waligora challenge for the ball during Thursday's Section II Class AA playoff game at Troy High.

“It’s amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world right now,” said Strang. “It’s unbelievable. But I don’t know how we’re going to deal with it, because we haven’t seen anybody else do it.”

“It’s really awesome. We were looking online at the blogs and stuff and a lot of people didn’t think we could do it,” Schroeder, at right, said. “They thought the Suburban teams were going to crush us. It feels really good to prove them wrong.”

TROY 0, COLUMBIA 0

Columbia (2-13-2) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Troy (15-0-1) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Troy advances on penalty kicks, 2-0.
Scoring: None.
Goalie saves: C: Morrison, 17. T: Strang, 12.
Corner kicks: C: 5. T: 8.

Troy's Jordan Schroeder (right) and Columbia's Caleb Milford battle for the ball during Thursday's game.

• Notes: Columbia looked like it played a highly defensive style in the first half, content to keep Troy off the board rather than take any offensive chances itself. Since Troy had the wind at its back and Columbia goalkeeper Alex Morrison had the sun in his eyes in the first half, it wasn't a bad idea at all.
• Early in the second half, Columbia rattled off three quick shots in the first five minutes, but Strang obviously saved them all.
• Troy had a ton of set-piece shots off throw-ins and corners, but the wind wreaked havoc with their long-throw strategy. 
• Here is the penalty kick play-by-play:
• 1) Troy's Jordan Schroeder scores on a high kick to the left side of the net.
• 2) Columbia's Logan Murphy is denied on a low kick to the right side.
• 3) Troy's Will Valle kicked it toward the far right post, but Morrison made a sprawling, bobbling save to keep it out of the net.
• 4) Columbia's Connor White, like Murphy, goes low and right, and Strang again makes the save.
• 5) Troy's Mekhaldi Rafik buries a low shot to the left side for the Flying Horses' second goal.
• 6) Columbia's Peter Browne goes to his left, but Strang is there to make a sprawling palm save.
• 7) Troy's Shafi Kabir hits the crossbar, giving Columbia once last chance.
• 8) Columbia's Tanner Chester goes to his left, but Strang is there again to make the game-winning save.
• Although Troy advances to the next round of the playoffs, it goes in the book as a tie for both sides - the first time Troy didn't win a game outright this season. I think they'll take that, though.

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
YouTube Channel
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published
Send an email to OTR
High school football central on www.troyrecord.com

Anna Boughtwood, a senior at Columbia High School, won the Kiwanis Glover Cross Country Invitational Saturday morning at Maple Hill High School, turning in a time of 19:30 to edge out teammate Kaylee Scott, an eighth-grader, at the finish line. Columbia placed five runners in the top 10 to win the team title.

An honor roll student at Columbia, Boughtwood qualified for the New York State Indoor Track and Field championships in 2009 and 2010 and also ran at the New York State Outdoor Track and Field Meet in 2009. Boughtwood owns the Columbia school records in the indoor 400 and 600 meter runs. She also holds the meet records in the outdoor 200 and the 400 at the Queensbury Invitational, races she has won each of the last two years.

Name: Anna Boughtwood
High school: Columbia High School
Class in school: Senior
Colleges I’m interested in attending: Undecided, but hopes running is part of the plan.
Possible career/major: Psychology. "I’m not really sure what I want to do. I just think it’s really interesting and I like learning about the mind."
What’s on TV: How I Met Your Mother.
What’s in my iPod: World Party.
Favorite flicks: Blades of Glory. "Anything with Will Ferrell."
What I’m reading: Jane Eyre.
Bookmarks: "I like to read the New York Times website."
Talent I’d most like to have: "I wish I could swim better."
Favorite meal: "I love rigatoni before a race."
Favorite place to visit: England.
Favorite sports teams: "No, not really."
Favorite runner: Allyson Felix.
Favorite physical attribute: Eyes.
My motto: "Try your best, no matter what."
Heroes: My grandma.
My bucket list: "I want to travel. I want to go to college. That’s about it."
Favorite restaurant: "I love to go to Hot Harry’s Burritos."
X-C PR: "For a 5k, 18:51, maybe."
Favorite X-C course: "I like our home course a lot."
Least favorite X-C course: "I don’t really like the Saratoga course. I don’t like all the pebbles."
Other sports played: Indoor and outdoor track. Races from 200 to 600 meters.
Friday night, there isn’t a cross country race and I’m: "Usually homework, or I’m watching a movie at a friend’s house."

(Above photo by Mike McMahon - The Record)

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
YouTube Channel
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published
Send an email to OTR
High school football central on www.troyrecord.com

CASTLETON — They hit the crossbar and hit the post. They failed to capitalize on breakaway opportunities and wide-open chances in front of the net.

Given a second life in overtime, Maple Hill High School junior forward Jakob Yager provided the golden goal in a 1-0 boys soccer victory for the Wildcats over Cobleskill-Richmondville.

Maple Hill junior forward Jakob Yager (above) scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Saturday's first round victory over Cobleskill-Richmondville.

 “That’s what some of our games have been like,” Yager said. “1-0 games where we control the game. That’s what this was.”

 Maple Hill and Cobleskill-Richmondville captains shake hands after the coin toss prior to the golden goal overtime session Saturday afternoon. Maple Hill, which had plenty of chances in regulation, did not waste any time in the extra period.

Maple Hill’s defense allowed just two shots on goalkeeper Derek VanAlstyne. The Wildcats had 11 corner kicks in the game and forced Cobleskill’s C.J. Blohm to make 12 tough saves.

For video highlights from Saturday's events, visit www.troyrecord.com/video/sports

Johnstown used a pair of second half goals in defeating Tamarac 2-0 in the other first round game.

Maple Hill (8-0-0, 9-0-0) will play host to Johnstown (4-4-0, 5-4-0) in the championship game at 3 p.m. Monday behind Maple Hill Middle School. Tamarac (2-3-3, 2-4-3) and Cobleskill-Richmondville (2-7-0, 2-8-0) will play in a consolation game at the same time.

MAPLE HILL 1, COBLESKILL-RICHMONDVILLE 0 (OT)

C-R (2-7-0, 2-8-0) 0 0 0 - 0
Maple Hill (8-0-0, 9-0-0) 0 0 1 - 1
Scoring: MH: Yager 1-0, Morgan 0-1.
Goalie saves: MH: VanAlstyne, 2. CR: Blohm, 12.
Corner kicks: MH: 11. CR: 0.

JOHNSTOWN 2, TAMARAC 0

Johnstown (4-4-0, 5-4-0) 0 2 - 2
Tamarac (2-3-3, 2-4-3) 0 0 - 0

Girls Soccer

The Maple Hill girls soccer team saved its offense for its homecoming celebration, as Meeghan Arno, the school's all-time leading scorer, tallied three goals and Alysha Cross added one goal and two assists in a 6-1 victory over Albany High. 

Sierra Legge (left) and Meeghan Arno (right) are the only seniors on this year's Maple Hill girls soccer team, which is still undefeated.

Maple Hill (10-0-0, 11-0-0) will host Cambridge (7-2-1, 8-2-1) in the tournament championship game Monday at 1 p.m. at Maple Hill Middle School. Cambridge defeated Catholic Central 2-0 on a pair of goals from Bridget Cuddihy in the other first round game.

The Cambridge girls soccer team works on calisthenics prior to Saturday's opening round game against Catholic Central.

Big 10 Conference rivals Albany High (0-4-0, 1-7-0) and Catholic Central (2-1-1, 6-3-1) will square off in a consolation game at the same time.

“This is natural for us to have this weekend,” Arno said. “We’re finally back in our own tournament and not just playing league games. We’re playing AA schools and showing our stuff. But all of our friends from other school think it’s weird we don’t have football.”

Monday's game between Cambridge and Maple Hill won't only be an interesting non-conference small-school game at the midway point of the 2010 season, it will be a rematch of a great 2009 Section II playoff game.

A season ago, Cambridge defeated Maple Hill, 4-3, in the Section II Class CC semifinals. Click here to read that story.

"We're looking forward to it," Arno said. "We played them last year and we didn't quite come out on top. We're looking to come out on top this time."

--
It was a bit of a strange day for the girls soccer teams. Albany High and Maple Hill played 10-on-10 in the first half since a number of Albany High players were late to the game because they took SAT exams in the morning. The same thing affected the Catholic Central team, which had to use a player in goal who had never played there before.

MAPLE HILL 6, ALBANY 1

Albany (0-4-0, 1-7-0) 0 1 - 1
Maple Hill (10-0-0, 11-0-0) 2 4 - 6
Scoring: A: Mattei 1-0. MH: Arno 3-1, Cross 1-2, Legge 1-1, Czajkowski 1-0.
Goalie saves: A: Waterson, 8; Honeyghan, 3. MH: Briggs, 2.

CAMBRIDGE 2, CATHOLIC CENTRAL 0

Cambridge (7-2-1, 8-2-1) 2 0 - 2

CCHS (2-1-1, 6-3-1) 0 0 - 0

Scoring: Cambridge: Cuddihy 2-0, Roverby 0-1. 

Goalie saves: Cambridge, Andrew, 7. CCHS: O'Brien, 3; Regan, 4.

Girls Volleyball

A pair of teams with undefeated records in their respective leagues squared off in the championship match of the girls volleyball tournament and the Wasaren League leaders from Tamarac bumped off the homestanding Patroon leaders in Maple Hill.

Tamarac put together an inspirational rally in the second and final game of the championship match to win the tournament title by scores of 25-21 and 25-23.

“I think it was really great that we came together and we really built our energy as we were going,” said Tamarac senior setter Sarah Malsch, pictured, above, who was named tournament MVP. “We started off down and we were down by a lot. Once we started getting point after pint, we started building our energy and confidence.”

The Bengals (7-0, 9-2) won their first-ever regular season league title in 2009 and are hoping to build on that in 2010.

“The program is really starting to grow and get a lot better,” Malsch said. “Last year was our first league championship and we’re headed in that direction this year, so I think it’s getting better and better.”

Maple Hill (10-0, 10-1) is also on the way up under fourth-year varsity head coach Len Bacon.

"It makes us better when we play against a high-level team like that," Bacon said. "Obviously, we would have liked to won, but we played a pretty nice game."

Kiwanis Glover Cross Country Invitational

Ravena senior Mike Morrow covered the course in 16:42 to claim the individual title in the boys race. Berlin, which placed five runners in the top 19, took home the team title in the varsity cross country race. Senior captain Llew Palmer, who placed seventh in 18:03, paced the Mountaineers.

Lansingburgh senior C.J. Sousis placed third overall in a time of 17:07.

Columbia's Anna Boughtwood crosses the finish line one second in front of teammate Kaylee Scott at Saturday's Kiwanis Glover Cross Country Invitational at Maple Hill High School. (Mike McMahon photo - The Record).

In the girls race, the Columbia High girls team passed up the Manhattan Invitational to stay close to home for homecoming weekend and cleaned up at Maple Hill. Senior Anna Boughtwood (19:30), eighth-grader Kaylee Scott (19:31) and freshman Cali Palumbo (20:17) finished 1-2-3 to lead the Blue Devils to the team title.


"I was just trying to stay with her and she just started kicking, so I was like, 'I have to go with her," Boughtwood said of chasing Scott. "We were pushing each other."

"I know what we have as a team. We're up there," said Columbia head coach Doug Hadley. "I'm glad for her, being her senior year. I know Kaylee has a couple of more years. I'm happy with the way they ran today."

Scott, an eighth-grader, finished 10th overall in a time of 19:22.00 in the Great American Cross Country race in Cary, N.C. over the 3.1-mile course. She was the third eighth-grader overall and led Columbia to a sixth place finish in the seeded race.



Anna Boughtwood (25th), Cali Palumbo (32nd), Kailyn Balzano (52nd) and Amanda Jones (53rd) also placed for the Blue Devils. Jones, a seventh-grader, was the top runner at the meet in her grade level.

Scott said that the warm welcome from veterans like Boughtwood has made the transition to the varsity level easy for the youth movement on the Columbia girls team.

 "It's nervewracking, because the first day I was scared that no one would like me, but Anna was so sweet," said Scott. "The state meet is so nervewracking because everyone is taller than you and it's so scary because you're the youngest one there. Oh yeah, it's scary. But it's a fun sport, so I guess you just have to deal with that."

Columbia High School senior Anna Boughtwood (left) passes teammate Kaylee Scott at the finish line during Saturday's Kiwanis Glover Cross Country Invitational at Maple Hill High School. (Mike McMahon photo - The Record).

Hoosic Valley’s Maggie Sanderson was fifth overall in 20:36 and Maple Hill’s Kelsey Oglesby (21:01) and Hannah Riordan (21:07) placed eighth and ninth, respectively, leading the Wildcats to a third place team finish.

For full results, click on the Scribd window below:

Glover2010

The Columbia High School girls pose with the team championship trophy at the 2010 Kiwanis Glover Cross Country Invitational at Maple Hill High School. (Video capture - Will Montgomery - The Record).

Girls Tennis

Ichabod Crane, paced by Emily Qua, won the team title, winning all nine of its matches. Maple Hill finished second and was followed, in order, by Cobleskill and Greenwich.

Round One
Cobleskill 3, Greenwich 0
Feldman (C) def. Collet (G), 10-7
Brust/Shaw (C) def Boyce/Pellington, 10-8
Krisowaty/Moore (C) def Smith/Curley, 10-5

Ichabod Crane 3, Maple Hill 0
Qua (IC) def Duffy, 10-4
Patzwahl/Geiger (IC) def Bhaskar/Wood, 10-0
Downing/Curry (IC) def Dugan/Quint, 10-3

Round Two
Maple Hill 3, Cobleskill 0
Duffy (MH) def Feldman, 10-6
Bhaskar/Wood (MH) def Brust/Mrisowaty, 10-3
Kirsch/Osmanzai (MH) def Kohler/Moore, 10-0

Ichabod Crane 3, Greenwich 0
Qua (IC) def Collet, 10-0
Geiger/Patwahl (IC) def Pellington/Smith, 10-0
Downing/Geiger (IC) def Boyce/Curley, 10-5

Round Three
Ichabod Crane 3, Cobleskill 0
Qua (IC) def Feldman, 10-1
Patzwahl/Geiger (IC) def Brust/Shaw, 10-1
Geiger/Curry (IC) def Krisowaty/Moore, 10-0

Maple Hill 3, Greenwich 0
Duffy (MH) dfe Collet, 10-5
Bhaskar/Quint (MH) def Boyce/Smith, 10-4
Wood/Dugan (MH) def Pellington/Curley, 10-2

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
YouTube Channel
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published
Send an email to OTR
High school football central on www.troyrecord.com

EAST GREENBUSH -- Columbia High School's football team has not had a winning season since Section II shifted to a classification-based regular season in 2004. The Blue Devils’ last winning season 2003, when Columbia finished 2-3 in Suburban Council’s Blue Division and went 5-4 overall.

Now that Drew Romanowski is in his second year as the Blue Devils' head coach, the program is starting to gain traction, largely because of an increased presence in the weight room, particularly among seventh and eighth graders.

Still, the team will have to turn that hard work into results on the field, which is obviously easier said than done. The Blue Devils open the season Sept. 3 at Christian Brothers Academy, another up-and-coming team looking to make a statement in 2010.

Columbia's scout defense leans in for a play call during Wednesday's afternoon practice at the high school. (Photo by Will Montgomery - The Record).

"We have confidence with this group because we were all together as a JV team and there is no complaining this year compared to last year, where people were always complaining about practice," said senior strong safety, sometime linebacker and sometime running back Jake Wronoski. "This year, everyone is ready to go."

Columbia head coach Drew Romanowski looks on as the Blue Devils discuss a play in the huddle during Wednesday's practice. (Photo by Will Montgomery - The Record).

"I think we’re more excited to be here than the last senior class," said senior offensive tackle and defensive end Shawn Gibson. "Nothing against them, but we just want to play football and we’ll pretty much do anything we can to win. We have a good senior class this year. We’re not messing around this year and we just want to get the job done."

Columbia High School varsity football head coach Drew Romanowski talks with the team after Wednesday's practice. (Photo by Will Montgomery - The Record).

The Blue Devils will have to adjust its offense now that Mr. Everything, Alex Tesoriero, has graduated. Although losing a player that led the team in nearly every statistical category from a season ago is never a positive for a team, Columbia is looking forward to having to adjust.

Playing a power running game behind big lineman a season ago, the Blue Devils will be taking a speed-based, perimeter-oriented attack that will maximize the team's strengths in 2010.

Shawn Gibson (left) and Jake Wronoski (right) will be key pieces on defense this season for the Blue Devils. (Photo by Will Montgomery - The Record).

The Blue Devils are going to be an unbalanced team in 2010, at least in terms of experience. Nine starters return on defense, but only five come back on the offensive side of the ball.

John Stanley and Zac Larson are going to battle it out for the quarterback job in training camp and the team could have a number of sophomores, including Camron Wynn, factor in as major contributors.

"Even though we have a tremendous group of seniors coming back who obviously learned in the fire – and that was certainly quite a fire around them – the young kids who are coming up had a great year on JV," said Romanowski. "Stealing a couple of younger kids that could help us as well. They can do some things the other guys can’t."

From left to right, Kyle Richard, John Stanley and Camron Wynn anticipate the snap in the backfield during Wednesday's practice at Columbia High School. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Columbia High playbook

COACH: Drew Romanowski

STARTERS RETURNING: 5 offense, 9 defense

2009 RECORD: 2-7

NICKNAME: Blue Devils

OFFENSE: Spread

DEFENSE: Multiple

LAST PLAYOFF GAME: 2008

LAST SECTION II TITLE: 1991 Metroland (Division IV)

DIVISION: Class AA, Liberty

Columbia players await the snap during a scrimmage session in the first week of training camp. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Columbia, 2009 game-by-game results

BALLSTON SPA, L 42-0

Guilderland, L 47-7

Bethlehem, W 24-7

Colonie, L 24-7

LA SALLE, L 28-0

SCHENECTADY, L 42-21

SHAKER, L 30-20

Albany, W 28-7*

CBA, L 14-6*

*Crossover games

Home games in CAPS

Columbia High School head coach Drew Romanowski instructs his players during a practice session this week. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Columbia, 2009 stats review

Rushing, Att, Yds., Avg., TDs

Alex Tesoriero, 205, 1445, 7.0, 11

Passing, Comp., Att., Yds., Avg., TDs

Brandon Talar, 36, 109, 337, 9.4, 1

Receiving, No., Yds., Avg., TDs

Paul Burlingame, 5, 96, 19.2, 2

Chris Williams, 5, 15, 3.0, 0

Scoring, TD, 2-pt, PAT, FG, Tot.

Alex Tesoriero, 11, 2, 6, 1, 79

For video highlights from Columbia's training camp, visit www.troyrecord.com/video/sports

Columbia High School quarterback John Stanley flips an option pitch to a teammate out of the frame. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Columbia, 2010 schedule

Friday Sept. 3, at Christian Brothers Academy, 7 p.m.

Friday Sept. 10, vs. Niskayuna, 7 p.m.

Friday Sept. 17, at Colonie, 7 p.m.

Friday Sept. 24, vs. Troy, 7 p.m.

Friday Oct. 1, at Schenectady, 7 p.m.

Friday Oct. 8, vs. Shaker, 7 p.m.

Friday Oct. 15, at La Salle Institute, 7 p.m.

Camron Wynn cradles the ball during Wednesday's practice at Columbia High School. He could be an impact sophomore for the Blue Devils this season. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Columbia’s three keys to the season

1, Health on the lines. “Our offensive and defensive line that are very experienced and very athletic, we have to keep them healthy,” said head coach Drew Romanowski.

2, How the quarterback competition shakes out. “We have Zac Larson, who saw some varsity time here and there before he got hurt, and John Stanley coming up from the JV,” Romanowski said.

3, Underclassmen impact. A handful of juniors and sophomores coming up from the junior varsity squad could play an immediate role if they impress in training camp.

--

Keep checking back on the blog for a training camp report posted every day between now and opening day of the high school football season on Thursday, Sept. 2. The schools will be posted in no particular order, so please be patient if you don't see your school right away.

Also keep your eyes open for our 48-page preview section - Kickoff 2010 - which hits the newsstands inside The Record on Thursday, Sept. 2.

Follow OTR: Twitter

Facebook

iTunes video podcast

RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published

Send an email to OTR

Hoosick Falls High School sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush deals during Wednesday's game against Hoosic Valley in the Section II Class CC championship game. Quackenbush pitched a perfect game and led the Panthers to an 8-0 victory at Clifton Common. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

It was just another day at the office for Hoosick Falls High School sophomore Rachel Quackenbush.

Quackenbush had something special cooking in the Section II Class CC softball championship game, but her and her Hoosick Falls High School teammates did not recognize it until after the bottom of the fifth inning.

At that point, Quackenbush had faced 15 Hoosic Valley batters and set them all down in order. In the sixth, she struck out the side.

Quackenbush struck out the first two batters she saw in the seventh and up strode Eileen Farrell as the Indians’ last hope for a baserunner. Farrell ripped a line drive to shortstop, but Hoosick Falls senior Jenna Priore was there to make the catch, preserving Quackenbush’s perfect game and a second straight Section II Class CC title for the Panthers in an 8-0 victory at Clifton Common.

Rachel Quackenbush speaks with the media after her perfect game performance against Hoosic Valley.

"I didn’t even know I had a perfect game going until the bottom of the fifth," said Quackenbush. "Then I thought about it and I started getting nervous and I had to buckle down because I had a perfect game going. It’s amazing."

Quackenbush struck out 16 and made two assists in the field in the effort.

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

Hoosic Valley second baseman Chrissy Sanderson watches the ball float in front of her during Wednesday's game against Hoosick Falls.

In three games this year against Hoosic Valley, Quackenbush went 3-0, allowing 0 runs over 21 innings pitched. It's no wonder that coaches from around Section II call her the best pitcher in the area, regardless of her age or classification in which she plays. There aren't many pitchers who could throw a no-hitter, no less a perfect game, with a title on the line for the other team.

There was no secret to her success on Wednesday. She threw it hard - she did mix in a few nasty changeups - and the Hoosic Valley hitters just could not time her up.

"I don’t think she had to throw anything fancy," said Hoosick Falls head coach Charlie Weeden. "When she threw straight heat, they didn’t catch up to it."

Her hot pitching carried a Hoosick Falls team to the New York State Class C Final Four a season ago...but the story in 2010 is that this team can do some damage with the bat.

Junior third baseman Karley Morin went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's championship game.

Morin played right field a season ago, but moved to third base this year.

"This year we put her at third base and she’s played great at third base," Weeden said of Morin. "I think she’s the best third baseman in our league."

For more from Quackenbush and Morin, check out the video in this post.

Jenna Priore, Shelby Jones, Katie Kovage, Marissa Davendonis, Samantha Skott and Alysson Schneider also added base hits for the Panthers in the 10-hit attack.

Hoosic Valley, it should be noted, made an unlikely, yet inspiring, run to the title game. The No. 8 seeded Indians topped No. 1 Lake George in the quarterfinals and beat No. 4 Maple Hill in the semis, setting up a third game against Wasaren League rival Hoosick Falls.

The Indians have a roster of primarily younger players and should be a threat in the Wasaren and in Section II yet again in 2011.

Rachel Quackenbush prepares to throw the ball against Hoosic Valley Wednesday afternoon in Clifton Park.

It was her second perfect game on the varsity level. She also tossed one as an eighth-grader.

No. 2 Hoosick Falls plays Section II Class C champion Duanesburg in Friday's Class CC/C Playoff game, which will be contested at 5 p.m. at Clifton Common. Tickets are $6 and the section-wide awards ceremony will precede the games.

Hoosick Falls won a 1-0 non-league contest over Duanesburg earlier this season. It should be an instant classic between two of Section II's premier programs.

The box score is below. Click on it to see a full-size image.

--
Our Ed Weaver was all over the games at Veeder Park, where Cohoes and Columbia both lost in the semifinal round.

Taconic Hills scored on the international tiebreaker rule in the 10th inning, posting a 1-0 victory over the Tigers.

Taconic Hills' Aleshia Link struck out 16 in the game, and she fanned two in the bottom of the 10th inning to protect the Titans' precarious lead as Cohoes had the game-tying and game-winning runs in scoring position.

"Yeah, they were some tears," said Cohoes sophomore pitcher Courtney Dayter. "We have a five seniors and they felt pretty bad."

"We just didn’t get it done," said Cohoes coach Frank Ryan. "We didn’t hit the whole game. Usually, someone gets a key hit or two but not today."

Ryan had commented for my column on the international tiebreaker rule in May.

This was what he said at the time:

“You get a runner on second, you bunt her over and you hope something happens,” said Cohoes head coach Frank Ryan. “You score and then they have the same scenario. You gave them a run and now we’re going to try to give you a run. It’s not like you really earn the run. I’d rather just play, myself.”

Not that Ryan was blaming Wednesday's loss on the rule at all....I just found it ironic that his team was the first to lose a game with the rule in effect this postseason.

Taconic Hills and Mechanicville should be a great game on Friday.

--
Bethlehem beat Columbia, winning the season series 2-1, and advancing to the Section II Class AA title game against upstart Colonie with a 3-1 victory over the Blue Devils

"We haven’t been in the finals in over 10 years," said a jubilant Bethlehem coach Karen Gentile, who also added the school last won a Section II softball title 31 years ago.

The Eagles scored twice in the second inning, as McKenzie Pezza doubled home one run and scored on Kat Rice’s single against Columbia ace Jena Servidone.
They added another run in the fourth.

"Jena pitched very well," Columbia coach Gary Holtz said. "That one inning, they put some people on and that was it. They’re very good at (producing runs) and they work very hard at it."

For the full story on both of those games, check out Thursday's edition of The Record.

Section II softball championship games

Friday, June 4
All games at Clifton Common at 5:15 p.m. following Section II awards ceremony
Admission is $6
Class AA

S9 Colonie vs. S2 Bethlehem

Class A

1 South Glens Falls vs. 2 Ichabod Crane

Class B

1 Mechanicville vs. 3 Taconic Hills

Class CC/C Playoff

CC2 Hoosick Falls vs. C 1 Duanesburg

Class D

1 Germantown vs. 2 Hartford

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
iTunes video podcast
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published

Bethlehem High's softball team had scored just one run off Columbia's Jena Servidone in the last 28 innings of action between the two teams, but the Eagles' offense exploded Monday afternoon.

Columbia's Paige Sovey (13) is tagged out at home plate in the second inning of Monday's Suburban Council softball game by Bethlehem catcher Sammy Smaldone (with ball). Bethlehem won, 8-4. (Photo by Tom Killips - The Record).

Bethlehem head coach Karen Gentile called it a "fluke." Columbia's Jena Servidone, who had allowed just one run in her last 28 innings pitched against Bethlehem, was touched up by the Eagles Monday afternoon with the Suburban Council South Division title on the line.

The Eagles connected on 10 base hits and made the most of four Columbia errors, posting an 8-4 victory in East Greenbush. Meghan Burns led the offensive attack with three hits and three RBI while Sammy Smaldone added two RBI.

"We’ve seen Jena the last few years and she knows us," said Bethlehem head coach Karen Gentile. "She usually shuts us down. Today was a fluke. I don’t expect this to happen every time. She is a very, very good pitcher."

Bethlehem starter Toni Edwards walked two hitters in the first inning and allowed a single run in the third, but was otherwise solid through six innings.

Then the Blue Devils started to mount a comeback in the seventh. Edwards' first seven pitches in the inning were balls and she walked five around a strikeout, forcing Gentile to bring Erica Palleschi in from the bullpen.

Palleschi allowed Caitlyn Cooper to drive in two runs on a single, but retired the next two batters in order to preserve the 8-4 victory.

Bethlehem (12-3, 16-3) hosts Guilderland Wednesday in its Suburban Council finale. Columbia (11-4, 15-4) travels to Mohonasen Wednesday with a chance to split the division title if the Eagles stumble against Guilderland.

Suburban Council

North Division
Shenendehowa, 14-0, 18-0
Saratoga Springs, 8-5, 9-5
Shaker, 7-5, 7-5
Niskayuna, 6-6, 6-6
Burnt Hills, 4-8, 4-8
Ballston Spa, 1-11, 1-11

South Division
Bethlehem, 12-3, 16-3
Columbia, 11-4, 15-4
Guilderland, 7-8, 8-10
Colonie, 6-8, 8-8
Averill Park, 5-10, 5-10
Mohonasen, 2-10, 2-10

The Eagles had lost three straight before beating some of the best teams in the state en route to winning the prestigious ‘Ace’ Morabito Tournament title in Binghamton the weekend before last.

"I give them credit because we handled them, Shen beat them and they lost to Ballston Spa," said Columbia High head coach Gary Holtz. "And then they came back. They have the ability to do that, so I really give them credit for that."

We will see how the Blue Devils rebound in the postseason. Along with Shenendehowa and Bethlehem, Columbia has to be considered one of the favorites for the Section II Class AA title.

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
iTunes video podcast
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published

South Colonie sophomore Kyle Plante meets the press after being named the Most Outstanding Female Performer at the 2010 Eddy Meet at Union College. (Video capture by Will Montgomery).

A year ago, Kyle Plante was busy playing lacrosse for Colonie. This year, she decided to run track and field for the Garnet Raiders, much to the delight of the spectators gathered at Union College for the 70th running of the William F. Eddy Memorial Invitational.

Plante became the first female to crack the Eddy Meet's one-minute barrier in the 400 meter hurdles, as her 59.95 second pace was a new meet record.

She also cruised to victory in the 200 meters, finishing first in 24.66 seconds. She earned 14 of 15 MOP votes. For more from Plante, click on the video below.

Saratoga Springs senior Madalayne Smith clears a hurdle en route to her third straight Eddy Meet 100 meters hurdles victory Saturday afternoon at Union College. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Madalayne Smith, who will run at the University of Connecticut next year, won the 100 meter hurdles at the Eddy Meet for the third straight year. She also added the 100 meter dash title this year, joining Plante as a double champion.

Plante joked after the races that she just might have to get a new trophy shelf soon - she's running out of space.

Averill Park junior Chris Miller bounds down the track en route to a second place finish in the 100 meter dash at the 2010 Eddy Meet.

Miller's time of 11.19 was a personal best and he admitted he just wanted to keep pace with Albany's Kareem Morris, who placed first in 11.02 second.

Morris also won the 200 meter dash (22.33) and led the Falcons' 4x100 relay team to a first-place prize, running a 43.38 team effort. Albany High edged Shenendehowa for the boys' team title.

Fonda-Fultonville's Shane Smith, who won the discus and shot put events, was named the Most Outstanding Male Performer.

For more with Miller, click on the video below.

Columbia High runner Anna Boughtwood crosses the finish line at the conclusion of the 400 meter dash.

Anna Boughtwood placed fourth in the 400 meters, as her 59.87 seconds kept her on the right side of the one-minute mark.

She spoke with our Ryan Kircher for a feature story that will run in Sunday's paper. Here is a brief excerpt:

The past two years Boughtwood has quietly excelled in distances ranging from 200 to 600 meters both indoors and outdoors. In sprint events sometimes run with more flash than substance Boughtwood brings a simple yet efficient approach.

And it works for her.

"I just want to run my best," Boughtwood said. "I always want to keep improving and just not get slower."

Boughtwood getting slower is highly unlikely. In fact, she has her sights set on only getting faster and breaking the Columbia High School record in the 400 meters. She also has a very good chance of making the state championship meet for the second straight year.

Saratoga Springs' Amanda Borroughs crosses the finish line as the winner in the girls' 800 meter dash.

Thanks to the efforts of the aforementioned Smith and runners such as Amanda Borroughs, Kelly Fredette and Keelin Hollowood, Saratoga Springs won the girls' team title. Other local teams in the top 10 included Holy Names (third), Shenendehowa (sixth), Schenectady (eighth), Colonie (ninth) and Queensbury (tenth).

Shenendehowa's Lizzie Predmore, featured here by Ryan Kircher, won the 1500 meter run in a time of 4:36.09. That time was less than one second off the meet record of 4:35.46, set in 1994 by Columbia's Susanne Heyer.

Lansingburgh High School senior Alney Tobias, who will run at the University of Nebraska next year, leads the pack after one lap in the boys' 800 meter dash. He finished seventh.

It wasn't the greatest day on the track for Rensselaer County runners, as none took home a first-place trophy across the Hudson River. Still, the weather was great and there were a ton of great performances from athletes from around the state.

For the full story - and a feature on Columbia's Anna Boughtwood - check out Sunday's edition of The Record.

70th annual William F. Eddy Memorial Track and Field Meet at Union College
15 May, 2010

BOYS

Team scores: 1, Albany (61). 2, Shenendehowa (56). 3, Bay Shore (48). 4, Westbury (42). 5, Shaker (39). 6, Ballston Spa (31). 7, Burnt Hills and Cooperstown (29). 9, Uniondale (24). 10, Fonda-Fultonville (21). 11, Northport (20). 12, La Salle and Bethlehem (14). 14, Albany Academy (13). 15, Stillwater (12). 16, Saratoga Springs (11). 17, Colonie and Mt. Anthony (10). 19, Amsterdam (9). 20, Averill Park, Springfield Griffith, Gloversville and South Glens Falls (8). 24, Ticonderoga and Lake George (6). 26, Mohonasen and Bishop Gibbons (5). 28, Voorheesville and Canajoharie (4). 30, Schalmont (3). 31, Maple Hill, Lansingburgh, West Seneca West, Niskayuna and Glens Falls (2). 36, Seton Catholic, Whitesboro and Port Jefferson (1).
Individual results: 110H—Stewart (West) 14.83. 100M—Morris (AHS) 11.02. 800M—Sainato (Colonie) 1:55.14. 400M—Mount (Saratoga) 48.97. 400H—Roberts (Bay Shore) 55.04. 4x100—AHS (Arrington, Gates, Morris and Murrell) 43.38. 1 mile—Ubriaco (BH) 4:21.47. 200M—Morris (AHS) 22.33. 3200M—Edmonds (Cooper) 9:18.16. 4x800—Shaker (Delago, Foster, Hedderman, Rechhia) 8:09.48. 4x400—Shen (Hildenbrandt, Charbonneau, Jacobs, Campoli) 3:20.25. High jump—Silber (Mt. Anthony) 6-4. Pole vault—Schettino (AHS) 14-6. Long jump—Hutchinson (Bay Shore) 23-11. Triple jump—Hutchinson (Bay Shore) 47-0. Discus—Smith (Fonda) 183-10. Shot put—Smith (Fonda) 55-1.

GIRLS

Team scores: 1, Saratoga Springs (65). 2, Utica Proctor (56). 3, Holy Names (52). 4, Northport (49). 5, Bay Shore (42). 6, Shenendehowa (41). 7, Uniondale (26). 8, Schenectady (23). 9, Colonie and Queensbury (22). 11, Rome Free Academy (18). 12, Westbury (14). 13, Ballston Spa (13). 14, Shaker and Guilderland (11). 16, Schuylerville, Niskayuna and Glens Falls (10). 19, Greenwich (8). 20, Emma Willard (7). 21, Mohonasen (6). 22, Averill Park, Ichabod Crane, Ward Melville and Columbia (5). 26, Voorheesville and Mayfield (4). 28, East Aurora (3). 29, Berne-Knox-Westerlo (2). 30, West Seneca West, Lake George and Iroquois (1).
Individual results: 100H—Smith (Saratoga) 14.11. 100M—Smith (Saratoga) 12.00. 800M—Borroughs (Saratoga) 2:13.89. 400M—Fredette (Saratoga) 58.56. 400H—Plante (Colonie) 59.95*. 1500M—Predmore (Shen) 4:36.09. 200M—Plante (Colonie) 24.66. 3000M—Hollowood (Saratoga) 9:55.49. 4x800—Niskayuna (Farley, Valero, Hensel, Higgins) 9:22.23. 4x400—Uniondale (Lawal, Powell, Mitchell, Webley) 4:00.18. 4x100—Rome Free Academy (Baker, Gallagher, Southwell, Razy) 50.69. High jump—Palmer (Schuy) 5-8. Pole vault—Kunst (GF) 10-6. Long jump—Ricks (Holy Names) 18-8.75. Triple jump—Ricketts (West) 39-5.25*. Discus—Gordon (Shen) 108-3. Shot put—Smith (Holy Names) 39-9.
*=meet record.

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
iTunes video podcast
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published

Nick Keefe (10) is celebrated by his teammates after hitting a two-run home run in Tuesday's victory over Averill Park. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

AVERILL PARK -- Nick Keefe belted a two-run home run, doubled and knocked in three runs to power Columbia High past Averill Park, 10-3 on Tuesday in Suburban Council baseball.
Stephen Proper tossed a five-hitter to earn the win for the Blue Devils (6-7, 6-9).
John Stanley doubled and singled twice, Matt Kasper doubled and singled and Eric Martin tripled in a run for Columbia.

Tyler Listing hit a two-run home run and doubled for the Warriors (6-7, 7-9) and Brian Hardy singled twice.

Stephen Proper throws a pitch for the Blue Devils in Tuesday's game against Averill Park.

Shaker 6, Niskayuna 0: Jeff Hoffman hurled a four-hitter to pace the Blue Bison to a Suburban Council triumph.
Derek Gardella (two doubles) drove in three runs for Shaker (10-3, 12-3) and Joe Snyder (three singles) knocked in a run.
Ethan Kelly doubled for the Silver Warriors (8-5, 10-5).
Guilderland 2, Colonie 1: Jimmy Quinn walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in the sixth inning to lift the Dutchmen to victory in the Suburban Council.
Nick Mastrianni drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning for Guilderland (7-6, 8-8).
Jeff Gerard doubled and singled for the Garnet Raiders (8-5 league) and Brian O’Keefe and Zack Longo each singled twice.
Bethlehem 8, Mohonasen 4: Seamus Fitzpatrick singled twice and drove in two runs as the Eagles won in the Suburban Council.
John Morrill doubled and singled for Bethlehem (3-10 league) and Luke Flood doubled twice for the Mighty Warriors (0-13 league).
Saratoga 5, Ballston Spa 2: Luke Fauler pitched a four-hitter, striking out 11, to pace the Blue Streaks (9-4, 10-6) to a Suburban Council victory.
Mechanicville 8, Albany Academy 0: Alex Grayson came within one out of perfection, retiring the first 20 batters he faced before allowing a hit in the seventh inning as the Red Raiders won in the Colonial Council.
The junior right-hander struck out seven and with two outs in the top of the seventh, allowed only a swinging-bunt single to Hunter McCarthy.
Mike Hipwell doubled in two runs in the first inning and doubled in another run in the second for the Red Raiders (9-3, 11-4) against the Cadets (6-5, 8-5).
Josh Coreno singled twice and doubled for Mechanicville, Sam DeCelle doubled and Tyler Cook chipped in with two singles.
Schalmont 6, Watervliet 4: Chris Amorosi pitched a complete game with 10 strikeouts as the Sabres prevailed in the Colonial Council.
Joe Bergami (two RBI) and Joe Amorosi each doubled and singled for Schalmont (11-1, 13-3).
Josh Veshia singled three times for the Cannoneers (3-9, 3-12), Dan Nittinger (RBI) doubled and singled and Pat Ebenhoch singled twice.
Troy 3, Bishop Maginn 2: Stephen Ziter delivered the game-winning, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning as the Flying Horses won in the Big 10.
Winning pitcher Iziah McGowan singled twice for Troy (8-3, 8-4). Brandon Watson singled twice and Chris Jeffers doubled in a run and singled for the Griffins (2-10, 2-13 league).
CBA 6, Albany 5: Casey McPartlon went 3-for-5, including two doubles, and scored two runs, as the Brothers (10-1, 13-1) rallied for a Big 10 victory.
Stephen Richards singled, scored twice and stole three bases for the Falcons (2-8, 3-8).
Greenwich 12, Hoosic Valley 1: Neil Fryer homered, singled and knocked in five runs to power the Witches to victory in the Wasaren League.
Ryan Beck singled twice and drove in four runs for Greenwich (7-3, 11-4).
Matt Molesky hit two singles and doubled for the Indians (3-6 league).
Loudonville Christian 5, Rensselaer 1: Caleb Barton pitched a four-hitter and Dillon King broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run single for the Eagles, who improved to 12-2 in the Central Hudson Valley League.
Kim Foust singled in the run for the 4-7 Rams.

Softball
Loudonville Christian 14, Emma Willard 3: Alex Rollis hurled a no-hitter, strik¬ing out 10, as the Eagles won in the CHVL.
Rollis also singled twice and drove in a run and Justine Makinson (three RBI), Valerie King (RBI), Chelsea Wagner and Stephanie Zaloom hit two singles each for Loudonville Christian (12-1, 12-2) against the Jesters (3-8 league).
Cohoes 11, Ravena 0: Sophomore Courtney Dayter spun a two-hitter, striking out 12 as the Tigers blanked the Indians in the Colonial Council.
Shana Cooper and Bailei Tetrault each dou¬bled and singled for Liberty League-leading Cohoes (9-1, 9-2).
Morgan Dunn tripled for the Tigers and Cherish Kilventon doubled.
CCHS 3, Schenectady 0: Maddie Coneys pitched a three-hitter for the shutout, striking out nine, and Hannah Kutny stole home to break a scoreless tie in the fourth inning to pace the Crusaders (7-1, 12-3) to the Big Ten victory.
Averill Park 4, Columbia 3: Cara Danish hit a game-winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Warriors rallied for a Suburban Council victory.
Winning pitcher Lauren Hagerty (10 strikeouts) tripled and Meg Haggerty doubled and singled for Averill Park.
Bethlehem 16, Mohonasen 3: Courtney Sullivan hit a two-run home run and singled to pace the Eagles to a Suburban Council win.
Winning pitcher Erica Pallechi singled three times and knocked in two runs for Bethlehem (10-3, 14-3) and Megan Crucetti tripled, sin¬gled and drove in three runs.
Rachel Jackson singled twice for the Mighty Warriors (2-10, 3-11).
Saratoga 7, Ballston Spa 1: Alyson Onyon twirled a three-hitter and struck out 10 to pace the Blue Streaks to victory in the Suburban Council.
Nicole Colamaria tripled and doubled and Meagan Fleming doubled for Saratoga. Audry Avery doubled for the Scotties.
Guilderland 3, Colonie 0: Jess Saburro tossed a three-hitter and Sammie Schroeter doubled, singled and drove in a run to pace the Lady Dutch to victory in the Suburban Council.
Hoosic Valley 3, Greenwich 0: Sophomore Morgan Anderson pitched a two-hitter, striking out nine to pace the Indians to a Wasaren League triumph.
Eileen Farrell tripled and doubled for Hoosic Valley (6-5, 8-6) against the Witches (4-7, 5-10).
Schuylerville 1, Granville 0: Rachel Baker singled and scored the winning run on Stephanie Ost’s single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Black Horses (7-3 league) to a Wasaren League victory over the Golden Horde (6-4, 7-4).
Maple Hill 17, Rensselaer 2: Maggie Miller pitched a complete game, striking out 10, and also drove in three runs to pace the Wildcats to a non-league victory.
Caitlin Wemette (triple, double, single) and Lauren Aitken (double, two singles) each drove in three runs for Maple Hill (7-7).
Cambridge 10, Berlin 4: Taylor Johnston hit a three-run home run and Sally Frakes had two hits and an RBI as the Indians improved to 7-6 with the non-league triumph.
Erin Berschwinger doubled home a run and also singled, while Emily Dooley added a triple for 6-8 Berlin.

Boys Lacrosse
La Salle 8, Schenectady 6: Mike Koberger scored three goals and assisted on another to pace the Cadets to victory in the Big 10.
Brett Bernardo added two goals for La Salle (4-2, 6-6) and Pat Hussey registered three assists. Goalie Shawn Quinn made 17 saves to record the win.
Troy 10, Amsterdam 4: Nic Capano totaled seven points, including five assists, to power the Flying Horses to a Big 10 victory.
Blaise Kearns scored three goals and assisted on three others for the Flying Horses (2-5, 6-6) against the Rams (0-7, 3-8) and Dan Carley scored twice.
Schuylerville 5, Lansingburgh 2: Colton Barber had a hand in all of the Black Horses’ scoring with four goals and an assist en route to recording a Wasaren League triumph.
Charlie Casey tallied a goal and an assist for the Knights.

Girls Lacrosse
South Glens Falls 14, Emma Willard 9: Jackie Atkins (assist), Taira Mandy and Katelyn Ayers each scored three goals to pace the Bulldogs to a non-league win.
Corrine Laviana, Sarah Ohanesian, Hannah Christiansen and Francesca Gundrum tallied two goals apiece to lead the Jesters.

Boys Tennis
Shaker 9, Troy 0: The Blue Bison blanked the Flying Horses in the first round of the Class AA sectional tournament.

Boys Track and Field
Tobias, Kemp, Nichols pace Lansingburgh: Alney Tobias (1,600-meter run, 3,200 run), T.J. Kemp (110 high hurdles, long jump) and Tyrone Nichols (shot put, discus) each won two individual events to spark Lansingburgh to a pair of Colonial Council vic¬tories.
The Knights defeated Albany Academy, 83-58, and Cobleskill-Richmondville, 112-29, to improve to 7-0 on the season.
Cohoes sweeps in Colonial: Noah McKnight (110 high hurdles, 400 hurdles), Andrew Casper (800, 1,600) and Zac Mainville (shot put, discus) each won two indi¬vidual events to spark Cohoes, which defeated Voorheesville, 77-60, and Waterford, 116-15, in a Colonial Council meet.

Girls Track and Field
Holy Names wins three in Colonial: Catherine Maloy won the 800 run and the 1,500 to pace Holy Names to a trio of Colonial Council victories.
Holy Names defeated Voorheesville, 85-56, Cohoes, 102-35, and Waterford, 129-7.
Meisha Lewis won the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles to pace Cohoes to a 118-3 win over Waterford. Also, Voorheesville bested Cohoes, 92-48, and Waterford, 127.5-1.5.
Maple Hill 109, Hudson 20: Katie Roth won the discus (100 feet-7 inches) and the high jump (4-8) to pace the Wildcats to victory in a Patroon Conference meet.