Meg Volz (right) and Becca Pratt (left) sign their National Letters of Intent in the Lansingburgh High School library Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

TROY — Lansingburgh High School seniors Becca Pratt and Meg Volz both put pen to paper Wednesday afternoon on National Letters of Intent to compete athletically in college at the Division I level.

One will be staying close to home and the other will be going far, far away.

Pratt, the captain of Lansingburgh's varsity bowling team for the past two seasons, has committed to bowl at the University of Nebraska, one of the nation's elite collegiate programs.

Volz, who captained the Lansingburgh softball team this past spring, will join a host of former Section II standouts at Siena College.

“I've really been looking to go to Nebraska. It's my dream school,” said Pratt, pictured at right. “I can't believe it's actually happening.”

Women's bowling, which was established as an NCAA-sanctioned sport in the fall of 2003, has just 29 participating schools at the Division I level, 15 more in Division II and six in Division III. Nebraska, which finished as the runner-up to Farleigh Dickinson last season, has won three national titles since 2004.

Pratt's statistics intrigued the Cornhuskers, as she rolled a 219 average en route to a Colonial Council MVP season in 2010. She also has a 300 game to her credit and was listed in Bowler's Journal Top 30 High School Prospects in 2009 and 2010.

Pratt led the Section II All-Star team to a New York State title in March, scoring a high six-game tournament total of 1,320.

Outside of high school competition, Pratt won the Troy Annual Prestige Tournament each year from 2007 to 2010 and won the Maria Rapp Award as the City Tournament all-events champion in 2009 and 2010.

The challenges of long-distance recruiting required Pratt to send video clips of her form and technique to Nebraska, which led the Huskers to offer her an invitation for an official visit.

“We did team bonding and they took me to a football game and we just had a lot of fun,” she said. “I just felt really comfortable at the school.”

On her visit, she met Alney Tobias, a former star for the Lansingburgh cross country and track and field teams who currently runs at Nebraska. His recommendation helped seal the deal for Pratt, who plans on double majoring in business law and Spanish.

“It was amazing there,” Pratt said. “Like the coaches said, as long as you have the red 'N' on you, everyone is going to be cheering for you.”

For Volz, at left, a catcher on the softball diamond, Siena, which has heavily recruited local players in recent years, was a natural choice. This summer, Volz played with a pair of former Troy High stars who currently shine for the Saints in the Empire State Games. The Adirondack team took home the bronze medal.

“I played with Shannon Jones and Courtney Brinkman on the Empire State team and they're just awesome to play with,” Volz said. “It definitely played a part.”

Volz's varsity career began in seventh grade at Catholic Central High School, but she transferred to Lansingburgh for her freshman season. She helped lead the Lady Knights to a Section II Class A title in 2009.

“Basically what they told me is you earn your spot, so that's what I'm going to try to do,” Volz said. “Just earn my spot, whether it's outfield, infield or catching. As long as I'm playing, I'll play wherever the team needs me.”

A first team All-Area selection by The Record in 2009 and 2010, Volz batted .474 with 37 hits – 14 for extra bases – and 17 RBI during the 2010 high school season. She was a second team All-State selection this past spring.

Volz, like Pratt, is in the top 10 in her class at Lansingburgh and plans to major in business and minor in psychology at Siena.

2010 high school stats

POS., NAME, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BA, SB

c, Meg Volz, Jr., Lansingburgh, 78, 24, 37, 8, 2, 4, 17, .474, 1

2009 high school stats

POS., NAME, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BA, SB

c, Meg Volz, So., Lansingburgh, 92, 32, 47, 9, 7, 3, 23, .511, 3

2008 high school stats
POS., NAME, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BA, SB
DH, Meg Volz, Fr., Lansingburgh, 68, 20, 30, 5, 4, 3, 25, .441, 0

Former Section II players on Siena College softball roster:
Courtney Brinkman, Troy
Sara Gallacchi, Schenectady
Shannon Jones, Troy
Mandy Ferro, Shenendehowa
Lindsey McKeever, Mechanicville
Taylor Guerin, Shaker
Pitching coach, Abby Arceneaux, Mechanicville
Assistant coach, Stacy Simpson, Shenendehowa
Head coach, Bill Lajeunesse, former head coach at Waterford, Shaker and Cohoes

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High school football central on www.troyrecord.com

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT WITKO FAMILY: The East Greenbush Girls Softball League and the East Greenbush Police Benevolent Association will sponsor a softball tournament to benefit the family of the late officer Ed Witko on Fri. Oct. 1 and Sat. Oct. 2. For more information on how to register, please contact EGGSL officer Elaine Rudzinski-Miano at emrudzinski@aol.com or 518-378-4448 or President Chris Armando at carmando@nycap.rr.com or 518-496-9469. The entry fee is $250 per team, which includes a t-shirt for each player. Games will be played at the EGGSL fields on Gilligan Road.

Witko Softball Tournament Flyer

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Player of the Year
Rachel Quackenbush, Soph., p, Hoosick Falls

Quackenbush, Hoosick Falls’ sophomore righthander, was yet again dominant in the circle in this, her third varsity season. Her strikeout to walk ratio (54.8:1) was out of this world, as was her ERA (0.25) and her average of 1.98 strikeouts per inning.

In the Section II postseason, she was excellent. She did not allow a run or walk a batter in four games, tossing a perfect game in Class CC championship game against Hoosic Valley. She also threw one no-hitter during the regular season.

For the second straight season, Hoosick Falls advanced to the New York State Class C Final Four. This year, Quackenbush struck out 11 and allowed two runs over seven innings in a 3-2 semifinal victory over Gananda, vaulting Hoosick Falls into the championship game for the first time since 1988.

Hoosick Falls fell to two-time state champion Rhinebeck (Section IX) in extra innings in the championship game, a year after Rhinebeck had ousted the Panthers in the state semifinals.
The cleanup hitter in the Panthers’ lineup, Quackenbush added 35 hits and 17 RBI at the plate.

Quackenbush, who plays with the Original Slik Chix in the summer, still has two more years to go on the varsity level. The Panthers will have to replace the loss of three key seniors, but her presence alone already makes Hoosick Falls an early favorite in Section II at the Class B level in 2011.

2010 HS Softball All-Stars

HONORABLE MENTION
c: Kirstan Buchan (Sr., Catholic Central), Eileen Farrell (Sr., Hoosic Valley), Tegan Fox (Soph., Tamarac), Taylor Guerin (Sr., Shaker), Courtney Gumprecht (Soph., Cohoes), Meg Hagerty (Soph., Averill Park), Mackenzie Heiser (Soph., Troy), Maggie Mulligan (Sr., Amsterdam), Dee Nash (Sr., Berlin), Maggie Quinn (Sr., Shenendehowa), Kolbi Smith (Sr., Holy Names), Rebecca Smith (Sr., Ichabod Crane).
1b: Kylie Benoit (Jr., Catholic Central), Laura Loudis (Sr., Colonie), Courtney Loughlin (Jr., Cohoes), Jackie Tomisman (Sr., Niskayuna).
2b: Maria Casale (Sr., Colonie), Ali Frary (8th, Niskayuna), Amanda LaPlante (Jr., Catholic Central).
3b: Meghan Burns (Jr., Bethlehem), Heather Dugan (Frosh., Maple Hill), Giuliana Figliomeni (Jr., Shenendehowa), Nicole McOmber (Sr., Cohoes), Megan Riley (Frosh., Waterford).
ss: Gabby Daniels (Jr., Troy), Taylor Daniels (8th, Watervliet), Emily O’Donnell (Jr., Niskayuna), Jenna Priore (Sr., Hoosick Falls), Marlin Solano (Jr., Shenendehowa), Christina Wilson (Soph., Waterford).
of: Stephanie Bouchard (Sr., Catholic Central), Jamie Brinkman (Sr., Troy), Danielle Manupella (Jr., Mechanicville), Andrea Mastropietro (Sr., Mechanicville), Missy Urkevich (Sr., Tamarac), Katie Vishneowski (Jr., Ravena).
dp: Ang Acierno (Jr., Troy), Aubrey Moore (Sr., Mechanicville), Andrea Strohmeier (Jr., Waterford).
util.: Julie Brinkman (Soph., Troy), Anna Cochis (Frosh., Catholic Central).
p: Bianca Bojarczuk (Sr., Schalmont), Amanda Gatt (Frosh., Voorheesville), Lauren Hagerty (Sr., Averill Park), Aleshia Link (Sr., Taconic Hills), Katie McGreevy (Jr., Waterford), Maggie Miller (Soph., Maple Hill), Mikayla Moore (Soph., Stillwater), Emily Ostrom (Sr., Burnt Hills), Katie Plunkett (Jr., Watervliet), Jess Saburro (Sr., Guilderland), Mikayla Wells (Sr., Schuylerville).

Coach of the Year
Don Arceneaux, Mechanicville

Since 2000, what the Mechanicville High School softball team has done in postseason competition is nothing short of remarkable.

The Red Raiders have won eight Section II and regional championships in that 11-year span, winning a New York State title six times.

Unlike professional teams that can make trades and sign free agents or a college program that can recruit talent from around the nation, Arceneaux has turned a small city of about 5,000 people into the softball capital of New York State.

This season’s run to the Final Four was not a breeze. Trailing by a run and down to their final strike in the regional semifinal against Canton, the Red Raiders triumphantly rallied to post a 4-3 victory.

Although Mechanicville fell short of a third consecutive state title, losing to Chenango Valley, 7-5, in the Class B semifinals, Red Raiders fans can thank Arceneaux and assistants Bruce Fellows and Paul DeVoe – and of course, all the players that have come through the dugout since 2000 - for making the program the best of its kind in the Empire State.

Note: The Record's All-Area team was published in the paper on June 27. I wanted to type up all the stats in Excel and transfer them to Scribd before posting it online.

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Hoosick Falls High School sophomore Rachel Quackenbush was one of a number of players selected to the All-State team by the New York State Sportswriters Association. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

The New York State Sportswriters Association recently released its All-State softball team for the 2010 season. The full team will soon be available on their website, http://www.newyorksportswriters.org/

Below is a list of the top award-winners and all of the Section II players to make the cut.
The first number refers to a player's year in school during the 2010 season.


CLASS AA
NYSSCOGS New York State Coach of the Year: Mike Ponsiglione (St. Joseph by the Sea-CHSAA)
NYSSCOGS New York State Player of the Year: Liz Weber (Bay Shore-11)

First team
12, P, Danielle Amyot (Shenendehowa)
11, SS, Mary Beth Dombrowski (Bethlehem)

Second team
12, P, Jena Servidone (Columbia)
12, C, Maggie Quinn (Shenendehowa)

Third team
12, OF, Megan Price (Niskayuna)

Fourth team
11, 3B, Guilianna Figliomeni (Shenendehowa)
11, P, Toni Edwards (Bethlehem)

Fifth team
12, P, Alyson Onyon (Saratoga)
11, P, Casey Rowland (Colonie)


CLASS A
NYSSCOGS New York State Coach of the Year: Mike Carlacci (Pearl River-1)
NYSSCOGS New York State Player of the Year: Tammy Wray (Somers-1)

Second team
11, P, Maddy Wheeler (South Glens Falls)
11, C, Meg Volz (Lansingburgh)

Third team
12, P, Delores Mattice (Mohonasen)
12, C, Rebecca Smith (Ichabod Crane)

Fourth team
12, P, Emily Ostrom (Burnt Hills)
12, 2B, Kelsey Fish (South Glens Falls)

Fifth team
12, SS, Sarah Cipperly (Lansingburgh)

CLASS B
NYSSCOGS New York State Coach of the Year: Eric Coleman (Chenango Valley-4)
NYSSCOGS New York State Player of the Year: Mikaela King (Chenango Valley-4) and Anna Arceneaux (Mechanicville-2)

First team
11, P/3B, Anna Arceneaux (Mechanicville)
10, 3B/SS, Alyssa Russell (Mechanicville)
12, P, Aleshia Link (Taconic Hills)

Second team
12, P, Sarah Harrison (Cobleskill-Richmondville)

Third team
11, 1B/2B, Kelsey Hines (Mechanicville)

Fourth team
12, 2B/P, Bianca Bojarczuk (Schalmont)

Fifth team
10, P, Courtney Dayter (Cohoes)


CLASS C
NYSSCOGS New York State Coach of the Year: Chris Villiere (South Lewis-3) and Dave Helak (Lancaster St. Mary’s-CHSAA)
NYSSCOGS New York State Player of the Year: Megan Michie (Rhinebeck-9)

First team
10, P, Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls)

Second team
10, P, Dani Hennel (Duanesburg)
11, 1B/P, Katie Kovage (Hoosick Falls)

Third team
12, C, Aimee Palleschi (Chatham)
12, P, Katelyn Callahan (Lake George)

Fourth team
10, 2B/P, Caitlyn Sanders (Duanesburg)

Fifth team
10, OF, Dani DeGregory (Greenwich)


CLASS D
NYSSCOGS New York State Coach of the Year: Kevin Clifford (Livingston Manor-9)
NYSSCOGS New York State Player of the Year: Jessie Winans (Afton-4) and Marissa Diescher (Livingston Manor-9)

First team
11, SS, Lauren Fix (Germantown)
12, C, Patti Cameron (Germantown)

Second team
12, P, Jackie Petteys (Hartford)
10, C, Brittany Brayman (Hartford)

Third team
12, P, Krista Depew (Argyle)

Fourth team
12, 3B, Stephanie Ryman (Germantown)

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The Record's 2010 All-Area baseball and softball teams are being put together right now, but we're also looking for your input.

Which players deserve to make the cut? Who did you think was the Player of the Year? Which coach earned this year's Coach of the Year award?

I will be in touch with coaches to get their opinions and stats (coaches, if you're reading, please submit any nominations or numbers to me via troyrecordsports AT gmail DOT com) and I'll also be factoring in my notes and recollections from the season in determining which players will make the teams.

For now, cast your votes in the comments or send them to me via email. In a few days, I will post a poll listing the top vote-getters to see who the readers have picked as the Players and Coaches of the Year.

Here is your chance to have a say, so have at it!

(Update 10 a.m., June 18): Thanks for all of your responses so far. Keep them coming in the comments or via email. I can't promise that everyone will make the cut, but I will certainly give everyone consideration.

(Update, 1:30 p.m., June 21): We plan on publishing the All-Star section on Sunday, so please keep your nominations coming through Saturday. It will be a very tough job, but I'll do my best to slot all of these players where they belong, based on statistics, team success and input from coaches.

(Update, 6:45 p.m., June 23): Thanks again to all of you who have sent in your votes and comments for our All-Area teams which are set to be published on Sunday.
I have done my best to reach out to coaches and athletic directors, but there are still a few schools I yet to hear back from. I know some folks change phone numbers and emails over time, so my contacts list may not be up-to-date anymore. If you know these coaches or ADs, please let them know that I need their stats ASAP or I'll be forced to leave them on our honorable mention team.
Baseball: Heatly, Berlin, Mechanicville, Averill Park, Watervliet, Guilderland.
Softball: Troy, Shenendehowa, Berlin, Averill Park.

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Mechanicville High School junior pitcher and infielder Anna Arceneaux was named the 2010 Colonial Council MVP. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

MVP - Anna Arceneaux, Jr., Mechanicville, p/3b

First team
Alysa Russell, Soph., Mechanicville, 3b/ss
Sarah Harrison, Sr., Cobleskill-Richmmondville, p
Meg Volz, Jr., Lansingburgh, c
Bianca Bojarczuk, Sr., Schalmont, 2b/p
Courtney Dayter, Soph., Cohoes, p
Shana Cooper, Jr., Cohoes, ss
Kelsey Hines, Jr., Mechanicville, 1b/2b
Sarah Cipperly, Sr., Lansingburgh, ss
Amanda Gatt, Frosh., Voorheesville, p/ss

Second team
Bailei Tetrault, Jr., Cohoes, 2b
Shannon McBride, Sr., Mechanicville, ss/p
Ashley Miley, Sr., Schalmont, ss
Taylor Daniels, 8th, Watervliet, ss
Abby Maiello, Soph., Mechanicville, 2b/cf
Katie Vishneowski, Jr., Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, cf
Kolbi Smith, Sr., Holy Names, c/3b
Sarah Connolly, Jr., Albany Academy for Girls, c
Kelsey DeZalia, Sr., Voorheesville, 3b/c
Sam Woitkoski, Jr., Lansingburgh, p

Honorable mention team
Joelle DiDomenico, Sr., 1B, Mechanicville
Andrea Mastropietro, Sr. RF, Mechanicville
Aubrey Moore, Sr, DP, Mechanicville
Alex Remillard, Sr., CF, Cohoes
Nicole McOmber, Sr., 3B, Cohoes
Morgan Dunn, Jr., OF/DP, Cohoes
Courtney Gumprecht, Soph, C, Cohoes
Kayla Cole, Sr., 3B, Lansingburgh
Brianna Zadoorian, Sr., 2B, Lansingburgh
Casey Brown, Sr., C, Schalmont
Shelby Taylor, Sr., LF/3B, Schalmont
Katarina Miley, Soph, P, Schalmont
Britney Creed, Sr., SS/CF, Voorheesville
Liz Madden, Sr., CF/LF, Voorheesville
Kelsey Wegener, Soph, 1B, Voorheesville
Meghan Pentak, Soph, 1B, Ravena Coeymans Selkirk
Rebecca Phillips, Soph, OF, Ravena Coeymans Selkirk
Michelle Malin, Soph, P/OF, Ravena Coeymans Selkirk
Katie Reinemann, Sr., SS, Cobleskill Richmondville
Brooke Slater, Sr., 2B/P, Cobleskill Richmondville
Kate Brust, Jr., C, Cobleskill Richmondville
Lauren Walsh, Jr., P/SS, Academy of the Holy Names
Ali Miller, 8th, P/CF, Academy of the Holy Names
Jackie Murphy, Sr. LF, Academy of the Holy Names
Patricia Johnson, Soph, 3B/C, Academy of the Holy Names
Rebecca Smith, Fresh, P, Albany Academy for Girls
Carylann Geddes, Fresh, SS, Albany Academy for Girls
Teagen Ketchum, Fresh, 3B, Albany Academy for Girls
Asley Yoo, Sr., CF, Albany Academy for Girls
Katie Plunkett, Jr., 1B/P, Watervliet
Noelle Gilchrist, Sr., P/1B, Watervliet
Bea Lease, Soph., CF, Watervliet
Jocelyn Brunick, Fresh, 2B, Watervliet

Note: As voted on by the league's head coaches.

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Cohoes High School softball head coach Frank Ryan tipped me off to the new Colonial Council softball divisions for 2011 when I spoke with him about our All-Area team today.

With the addition of Fonda-Fultonville and Ichabod Crane for the 2010-11 season, the Colonial Council decided to rearrange its divisions for softball.

Patriot Division
Academy of the Holy Names
Cohoes
Ichabod Crane
Lansingburgh
Mechanicville
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk

Liberty Division
Albany Academy for Girls
Cobleskill-Richmondville
Fonda-Fultonville
Schalmont
Voorheesville
Watervliet

I'd imagine the divisions will be the same for girls soccer and basketball, but since the boys don't have a match for Holy Names, they may go with just one 11-team division.

Teams will play each other school in their division home and away. Teams will play each team in the opposite division just once during the regular season. Division winners will meet in a season-ending championship game.

The Ichabod Crane/Lansingburgh games should be pretty competitive in most sports, so that will be an interesting new rivalry to track.

What do you think? Was there a better way to organize the teams?

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The New York State Sportswriters Association has published its final 2010 high school baseball and softball rankings now that the final games have been played.

I've chopped out just the Section II teams, but for the full lists, please click on the links in red to visit the NYSSWA's site.

Baseball
2010 NYSSWA rankings (Final)

Class AA
4. Guilderland 16-10
19. Saratoga 15-9

Class A
6. Ichabod Crane-2 22-1

Class B
4. Saratoga Catholic-2 22-3
15. Granville-2 19-4

Class C
4. Greenwich-2 19-6
14. Fort Plain-2 17-4
19. Chatham-2 14-8

Class D
1. Fort Ann-2 21-2
10. Germantown-2 18-4
16. Fort Edward-2 12-6

Softball
2010 NYSSWA rankings (final)

Class AA
11: 17-9 Colonie
12: 20-1 Shenendehowa
18: 19-4 Bethlehem
24: 17-5 Columbia

Class A
7: 18-2 South Glens Falls-
16: 19-4 Ichabod Crane

Class B
2: 23-3 Mechanicville-2
5: 19-3 Taconic Hills-2
12: 15-6 Cohoes-2

Class C
3: 24-3 Hoosick Falls-2
9: 19-4 Duanesburg-2

Class D
4: 22-3 Germantown-2
6: 18-2 Hartford-2
13: 15-4 Fort Ann-2

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Hoosick Falls junior first baseman Katie Kovage reacts after making the final out in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C championship game against Rhinebeck. Rhinebeck's Becky Ferry (right) and Meredith Mimoso (left) embrace behind home plate. (All photos by Will Montgomery - The Record). To see full-size versions of these pictures, click on the image.

Hoosick Falls head coach Charlie Weeden had preached making contact all season long and it certainly paid off for the Panthers in a Class C semifinal victory over Gananda. Hoosick Falls forced three Gananda errors, scoring two unearned runs in a 3-2 victory.

In the championship game against Rhinebeck, Hoosick Falls had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the seventh. A hit, an error...anything, really...would have scored the state title-winning run, but Rhinebeck's Megan Mitchie struck out two hitters in a row to end the threat.

Rhinebeck scored two runs in the top of the eighth and Mitchie closed out a 3-1, eight inning victory at Waterloo High School for Rhinebeck's second straight NYS Class C title.

Hoosick Falls sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush throws a pitch in the state championship game against Rhinebeck. She struck out 28 batters in two games Saturday in Waterloo.

Rachel Quackenbush did everything she could to keep her team in the game in the final, including strike out four batters in the eighth inning.

Olivia Rogine, however, reached on a dropped third strike and scored on Katie Braggins' RBI single. A pair of passed balls allowed the second run to score, making a potential Hoosick Falls comeback that much harder.

In the bottom of the eighth, Samantha Skott reached first on a two-out single, but the Panthers could not move her around.

Hoosick Falls first baseman Katie Kovage takes a cut against Rhinebeck's Megan Mitchie during Saturday's New York State Class C championship game.

Still, it was a remarkable season for Hoosick Falls, which finished 24-3. The Panthers suffered through some early season struggles, but really came together through team dinners and sleepovers.

"They were a little....picky...early in the year, but they came together as a team," Weeden said. "We had some pressure to start the year, but at the end, we got along. Winning helps that. I think we win as a team and we lose as a team."

Senior shortstop Jenna Priore will play at Nichols College next season. A four-year starter at shortstop, she will be missed in Hoosick Falls in 2011.

“She didn't have a great day hitting today, but up until now, from sectionals on, she had a great tournament,” Weeden said. “Regionals and everything. That's the one spot we'll have a hard time filling. She's been at shortstop for four years.”

Hoosick Falls head coach Charlie Weeden and assistant Ralph Quackenbush accept certificates after the Panthers defeated Gananda 3-2 in a New York State Class C semifinal Saturday morning in Waterloo.

Hoosick Falls defeated Gananda in its first game, 3-2. Rachel Quackenbush struck out 11 and the Panthers took advantage of three Gananda errors to score unearned runs in the third and fourth innings to build an early lead. Quackenbush worked out of a jam in the sixth to earn the win. A box score is below.

Here is the championship game box:

Mechanicville players high-five the Chenango Valley after losing a Class B semifinal game, 7-5.

Mechanicville High School leadoff hitter Alysa Russell sent a 3-1 pitch from Chenango Valley's Taylor Hendrickson flying over the right center field fence in the first inning of Saturday's New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B semifinal.

The first four Red Raiders to the plate in the first inning all collected hits and later came around to score, chasing Hendrickson from the game before she recorded a single out.

It looked like just another fantastic start for Mechanicville.

“The game wasn't over and I told the girls that it wasn't over after the first inning,” said Mechanicville head coach Don Arceneaux.

Mechanicville sophomore third baseman Alysa Russell meets the press after Saturday's Class B semifinal. She hit a home run to spark the Red Raiders' offense in the bottom of the first inning.

Chenango Valley 's Mikala King hit a pair of home runs and Meaghan Lewis added a three-run blast as the Section IV champions fought back from a five-run deficit. Hendrickson reentered the game as the pitcher in the third inning, and she allowed just one hit and struck out seven over the final five innings, lifting Chenango Valley to a 7-5 victory at Waterloo High School.

“They're a good team,” Arceneaux said of Chenango Valley. “I'm always worried at this time of the year. You never know what's going to happen at this level. It didn't end the way we wanted it to, but what are you going to do? They battled for it. They deserved it.”

Note:You can click on the box scores to view full-size images.

For the full story on both of these games, be sure to check out Sunday's edition of The Record.

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Saturday morning, the Hoosick Falls High School softball team (23-2) will face Section V champion Gananda (25-0) in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal at Waterloo High School. Game time is 9 a.m.

Hoosick Falls' senior left fielder Marissa Davendonis takes a cut during last Friday's Section II Class CC/C playoff game against Duanesburg. Hoosick Falls won, 1-0. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

I stopped by Hoosick Falls' practice today before the Panthers head off to Waterloo Friday morning. The school will host a pep rally for the team and the elementary school students will give them a send-off before they board the bus.

In Friday's edition of The Record, we will have a story on the three softball seniors - Mel Mentiply, Marissa Davendonis and Jenna Priore - and how they have been a part of Hoosick Falls' magical 2009-10 athletic school year. For a video featuring those seniors, scroll down or subscribe to the Off The Record vodcast by clicking on the Uncle Sam logo to your right.

There are a ton of hyperlinks for more information in this post, so anytime you see something in red, feel free to take a brief detour.

Saturday, if we have space, there will be a separate story on just how head coach Charlie Weeden motivates his team with numbers...and with laughs.

Before we begin, here is an information box for Saturday's Final Four in Waterloo.

If you go: New York State Public High School Athletic Association Softball Final Four
Directions: Waterloo High School, 96 Stark Street, Waterloo, NY 13165. Take I-90 west to Exit 41. Follow Rte. 414 south for five miles. Turn right onto Balsey Road and follow for two miles. Turn left on Stark Street. School parking lot is on the left.
Tickets: $8
Class AA
Bay Shore (XI) vs. Clarence (VI) 11 a.m.
Cicero-North Syracuse (III) vs. North Rockland (I) 11 a.m.
Championship game 3 p.m.
Class A
South Glens Falls (II) vs. Pittsford-Mendon (V) 1:30 p.m.
Floral Park (VIII) vs. Pearl River (I) 1:30 p.m.
Championship game 5 p.m.
Class B
Mechanicville (II) vs. Chenango Valley (IV) 11 a.m.
Dobbs Ferry (I) vs. Olean (VI) 11 a.m.
Championship game 3:30 p.m.
Class C
Hoosick Falls (II) vs. Gananda (V) 9 a.m.
Rhinebeck (9) vs. South Lewis (III) 9 a.m.
Championship game 1:30 p.m.
Class D
Germantown (II) vs. Livingston Manor (IX) 9 a.m.
Bolivar-Richburg (V) vs. Afton (IV) 9 a.m.
Championship game 1:30 p.m.

Saturday's weather forecast in Waterloo: 50% chance of rain

There is plenty of parking around the school and on the north edge of the facility. Last year's event pretty much went off without a hitch, except a few showers at the end of Mechanicville's Class B championship game. Hopefully this year's event will be just as smooth and entertaining.

I hope to update the blog and possibly Tweet some scores as Hoosick Falls' and Mechanicville's games are going on. Be sure to check back here on Saturday for updates, pictures, stories, quotes and videos as soon as the games are over.

Hoosick Falls senior shortstop Jenna Priore rounds first base during last Friday's Section II Class CC/C playoff game. She will play softball at Nichols College next year.

Hoosick Falls' sophomore pitcher Rachel Quackenbush has posted some incredible numbers in 2010.

With a won-loss record of 19-2, Quackenbush has recorded 297 strikeouts in 153 innings pitched and allowed just five earned runs and five walks.

Her ERA is 0.23. She averages 1.94 strikeouts per inning and it's no wonder why many of the coaches in Section II call her hands-down the best pitcher in the area.

(Junior first baseman Katie Kovage went 4-0 in the circle for the Panthers this season, who are 23-2 overall).

Underclassmen certainly have been part of the story for the Panthers this year, who have just three seniors, all of whom start. Jenna Priore, the shortstop, will play softball at Nichols College next year. Marissa Davendonis (left field) and Mel Mentiply (right field) will play field hockey together at Utica College.

"I think everyone stepped up," Priore said. "We have Frankie (Pearson, a freshman) coming in and running for us and she’s made smart plays running. And then we have us seniors who have tried to take control. We also have sophomores and juniors who have also tried to take control. It’s everybody wanting it just as bad as everyone else."

Click here for the full New York State Class C bracket.

Hoosick Falls (23-2) faces Section V champion Gananda (25-0) Saturday at 9 a.m. in a New York State Class C semifinal. The victor faces the winner of the semifinal between Section IX’s Rhinebeck (17-6) and Section III’s South Lewis (18-5) in the title game at 1:30 p.m.

A season ago, Rhinebeck defeated Hoosick Falls, 1-0, in the semifinals en route to winning the state championship.

Hoosick Falls, making its second consecutive appearance in the New York State Final Four, won state titles in 1987 and 1988.

Section V champion Gananda (25-0) is appearing in the New York State Final Four for the first time in school history. Nicknamed the Blue Panthers, Gananda pounded out 16 hits in Tuesday’s 9-0 regional final victory over Section VI’s Westfield.

Section IX’s Rhinebeck (17-6) and Section III’s South Lewis (18-5) square off in the other Class C semifinal. Rhinebeck, the defending state champion, returns pitcher Megan Michie, who pitched a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Hoosick Falls in the 2009 semifinals. South Lewis’ junior third baseman Mackenzie Colwell has driven in 32 runs this season and is batting .486.

“It’s going to be heartbreak for somebody,” Weeden said. “Somebody has to lose in the semifinals and it will break their hearts. Last year, kids were crying about it and it’s going to happen. It should bother them, though. It bothered them last year when they lost.”

Mel Mentiply (left) and Marissa Davendonis (right) as well as Jenna Priore (below, right) chat with The Record after Thursday's brief indoor practice session. All three are making a second consecutive trip to the New York State softball Final Four. (Vidcaps by Will Montgomery). Click on the images for a full-size version.

With four Section II teams playing in the Final Four for the second straight year - three of them (Mechanicville, Hoosick Falls and Germantown) are back for more - it's no surprise that the players have become the biggest fans of the other Section II teams.

Priore traded text messages with the Germantown team when they met last year in Waterloo and they were back in touch Wednesday after both teams played games in Plattsburgh.



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Mechanicville (23-2) will attempt to win a third straight New York State championship, a second straight in Class B. The Red Raiders have won eight regional championships since the 2000 season, a remarkable accomplishment. Mechanicville has won six state titles during that span.

Click here to see the full Class B bracket.

First up for the Red Raiders is Section IV champion Chenango Valley (17-6).

For a Chenango Valley All-Star story, click here.

Chenango junior pitcher Taylor Hendrickson has posted a 0.77 ERA, is 17-5 and has struck out 202 batters in 145 and 2.3 innings this season.

Dobbs Ferry (Section I, 23-2) and Olean (Section VI, 19-6) will clash in the other semifinal, which also starts at 11 a.m.

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Mechanicville junior Anna Arceneaux throws a pitch against Peru in Wednesday's Class B regional final at SUNY-Plattsburgh. (Photos for The Record by The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh).

Class B
Mechanicville 9, Peru 0: Mechanicville jumped out to a big advantage early and help Potsdam scoreless the rest of the way to secure the 9-0 shutout on Wednesday and advance to the Class B softball state championship game.

The Red Raiders (23-2) tallied five runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone for the game. In the next frame, Mechanicville added another two runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead.

Mechanicville was silenced in the third, but they bounced back in the fourth with its final two runs, making the count 9-0.

Anna Arceneaux pitched a gem on the mound for the Red Raiders. She earned the complete-game win, while surrendering only three hits and striking out 12 batters.

On the offensive end, Andrea Mastropietro led the way for Mechanicville. She finished 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI, while Kelsey Hines went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.

The Red Raiders return to the diamond on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Waterloo High School to take on Section IV champion Chenango Valley.

MECHANICVILLE 9, PERU 0

Mechanicville 520 200 0 - 9 7 2
Peru 000 000 0 - 0 3 2

The Mechanicville High School softball team celebrates after beating Peru in the Class B regional finals Wednesday afternoon at SUNY-Plattsburgh.

Hoosick Falls also won its regional final game, defeating Ticonderoga, 5-2. Courtney Lewis filed a game story for us and here it is. It will also appear in Thursday's edition of The Record.

Courtney Lewis
For The Record
PLATTSBURGH - Coach Charlie Weeden didn’t think his Panthers were going to be that good this season.

That didn’t stop them from returning to the NYSPHSAA Class C softball semifinals.

Hoosick Falls took advantage of seven errors and beat Ticonderoga, 5-2, Wednesday in a regional final at Plattsburgh State’s Cardinal Park.

The Panthers (23-2) will make their second straight appearance in the final four when they take on Gananda Saturday in Waterloo.

"It’s nice," Weeden said. "We aimed here even though we thought we didn’t have a real great team compared to last year. I thought we were a little down.

"(We’re) a decent team, we’ve got good pitching, we played pretty good defense. So we know we always had a chance."

Rachel Quackenbush allowed just three hits. She struck out 12 batters, including six straight in the second and third innings, and didn’t walk any.

Four of the Panthers’ runs were unearned.

Lead-off hitter Jenna Priore scored on a throwing error to put them ahead 1-0 in the first inning, and they plated runs on two passed balls during the same at-bat in the fourth. Before that inning was over, Samantha Scott drove in another run with a hit to center field, giving the Panthers a 4-0 lead.

"I think our errors hurt us. The kids were nervous and they overthrew the ball, which they normally don’t do," Ticonderoga coach Shannon Huntington said. "I was really proud because we did hit the ball, and we hit it hard."

In the bottom of the fourth, Ashley St. Andrews hit a grounder past shortstop to give Ticonderoga just its second base runner of the game, and Katie Karkoski doubled her in.

The Sentinels scored again in the sixth.

Quackenbush hit an RBI double in the seventh, and, after giving up a single in the bottom half, retired the next three to finish off the Sentinels (16-3).

Karkoski took the loss, walking two in four innings.

Quackenbush had two of Hoosick Falls’ five hits. The Panthers struck out just three times, and Weeden said that was key.

"That’s been one of our things. If our girl doesn’t walk a girl, we have no errors ... and we don’t strike out much, we’re going to win the game," Weeden said. "Something good’s going to happen if you put it in play.

"Everybody says you need so many hits to win a game. No, we need no strikeouts, maybe a couple strikeouts, and we’ll win the game if we do that. We’ve got good enough pitching that it’s going to happen."

Hoosick Falls 5, Ticonderoga 2

Hoosick Falls 100 300 1 – 5 5 2
Ticonderoga 000 101 0 – 2 3 7
Quackenbush and Jones; Karkoski, Best (5) and Palandrani. WP- Quackenbush. LP- Karkoski. 2B- Quackenbush (HF), Karkoski (Ti), St. Andrews (Ti).

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All four Section II teams still alive Wednesday advanced to Saturday's New York State Final Four at Waterloo High School. For full brackets, click here to the New York State Sportswriters Association website.

Class A regional final
South Glens Falls 5, Massena 0

Class B regional final
Mechanicville 9, Peru 0

Class C regional final
Hoosick Falls 5, Ticonderoga 2

Class D regional final
Germantown 6, Crown Point 1

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MVP: Aleshia Link, Taconic Hills

First team
Rebecca Smith, Ichabod Crane
Kailynn Keeler, Taconic Hills
Aimee Palleschi, Chatham
Lindsey Drumm, Ichabod Crane
Courtney Mesick, Chatham
Erin Wadsworth, Ichabod Crane
Elyse DeRuzzio, Taconic Hills
Karsyn Sawyer, Chatham
Alexis McComb, Taconic Hills
Alyssa VanAlphen, Taconic Hills

Second team
Christy Zander, Ichabod Crane
Kayla Doty, Chatham
Mikala Kusewich, Hudson
Justina Rilang, Cairo-Durham
Jessica VanAlphen, Ichabod Crane
Emily Gaylord, Hudson
Sarah Wheeler, Ichabod Crane
Sarah Patzwahl, Chatham
Heather Dugan, Maple Hill
Jaime Staunch, Greenville
Courtney Partridge, Cairo-Durham

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Ichabod Crane head coach Jack Brady (second from left) watches his team compete Tuesday afternoon against Whitesboro in the New York State Class A regional final at Bob Bellizzi Field in Albany. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Former Troy High head coach Jack Brady had a wonderful year at Ichabod Crane. Check out Wednesday's edition of The Record for a full story on his journey back into coaching.

Here are some excerpts from his players.

"Going into last year, we didn’t know what to expect or who our coach would be at first," senior catcher Derick Horn said. "He came in and he kind of brought a new attitude, or a swagger, as he would like to call it.

"Just over time, he got to know us and we got to know him. And coming into this year we felt really confident in our approach to our game and our philosophy," continued Horn. "We were able to have a really successful year and accomplish all of our goals. We won the Patroon Conference and a sectional championship. It was a great run."

"He’s a great guy," Ingham said. "He’ll wear his emotions on his sleeve and he’s taught me a lot about not only being a player, but just about being a good person. He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever met. He’s a great coach and an even better person."

Ichabod Crane lost the game, 8-4, but they still walked off the field as Patroon Conference and Section II champions, which was a point Brady was sure to make in his final on-field meeting with the team in 2010.

"Coach just kind of talked and reflected over the year and what a good job we’ve done and how we accomplished so much," Horn said. "He said, ‘we can walk off the field today, even though we didn’t win today, as champions.

"It shows a lot of Coach Brady, how he looks at us as champions even though we lost today’s game."

Click the box score to see a full-size image.

It was the first game I had seen at the new Plumeri Sports Complex in Albany and I was very pleased with the field and the setting. The only problem Tuesday was a lack of seating...which I would imagine would make a Section II playoff game with a pair of local teams a tough ticket. Other than that, it's a beautiful place to watch a ballgame.

Check out The Saratogian on Wednesday for stories on Greenwich and Spa Catholic moving on to the New York State Final Four in Class C and Class B, respectively.

Tuesday's scores:

BASEBALL

Class A regional final
Whitesboro 8, Ichabod Crane 4
Class B regional final
Saratoga Central Catholic 7, Potsdam 6
Class C regional final
Greenwich 7, Ticonderoga 3
Class D regional finalFort Ann 10, Chateaugay 1

Winners advance to NYS Final Four Saturday in Binghamton. Click here for brackets. Schedule below.
Class AA
Guilderland vs. McQuaid (Section V) at 1 p.m. at Binghamton UniversityClass B
Spa Catholic vs. JF Kennedy Catholic (Section I) at 10 a.m. at NYSEG Stadium
Class C
Greenwich vs. Valhalla (Section I) at 10 a.m. at Broome Community College

Class D
Fort Ann vs. Chapel Field (Section IX) at 10 a.m. at Conlon Field

SOFTBALL

Class AA regional final
Cicero-North Syracuse 1, Colonie 0

Colonie's Casey Rowland throws a pitch during Tuesday's regional final against Cicero-North Syracuse. The Garnet Raiders lost on an unearned run, watching their dream postseason run come to an end in Queensbury. (Photo by Ed Burke - For The Record).

Rowland was fantastic in the Section II playoffs, as the Garnet Raiders, the No. 9 seed, were an underdog every step of the way. She'll have a big following, and a big target on her back, in 2011.

"She’s the rock of our team and we love her," Colonie senior first baseman Laura Loudis said. "I can not wait to come watch her (next year). I know she’s going to do great things with her career."

For the full story, check out Andrew Santillo's account in Wednesday's edition of The Record.

Class A regional semifinal
South Glens Falls 5, Oneida
South Glens Falls will play Wednesday at SUNY Potsdam at 5:00 vs Massena

Hoosick Falls' Rachel Quackenbush (left) high-fives her catcher, Shelby Jones, during last Friday's victory over Duanesburg. The Panthers play Ticonderoga in Plattsburgh today at 5:30 p.m. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Wednesday's schedule - all games at SUNY-Plattsburgh

Class B- Mechanicville 1:00 vs. Peru
Class D- Germantown 3:15 vs. Crown Point
Class C- Hoosick Falls 5:30 vs. Ticonderoga

I'll have a preview story on Hoosick Falls' second straight trip to the regional round in Wednesday's edition of The Record.

A big part of the Panthers' success in 2010 is thanks to rookies like Jones, Alyssa Schneider and center fielder Samantha Skott, pictured below.


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Baseball

Class AA regional
Guilderland 2, Auburn 0

Guilderland advances to NYS Final Four in Binghamton this weekend

Class A regional

Ichabod Crane 13, Massena 2

Ichabod Crane plays Whitesboro, Tuesday, 4:00 pm, Bellizi Field, @ St. Rose

Class B regional

Saratoga Catholic 6, Beekmantown 4

Saratoga Catholic plays Potsdam of Section X Tuesday at 4:00 pm at Bleecker Stadium in Albany

Class C regional

Greenwich 16, Norwood-Norfolk 0

Greenwich plays Ticonderoga of Section VII Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Veterans Park on Geyser Road in Saratoga Springs

Note: as submitted by Section II coordinator Al Roy

Softball

Class B
Mechanicville 4, Canton 3
Mechanicville will play Wednesday at SUNY Plattsburgh against Peru at 1:00 p.m.

Class C
Hoosick Falls will play Ticonderoga at 5:30 at SUNY Plattsburgh at 5:30 p.m.

Class D
Germantown 13, Heuvelton 5
Germantown will play on Wednesday at SUNY Plattsburg vs Crown Point at 3:15 p.m.

Note: As submitted by Section II coordinator Cathy Allen

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The 2010 Big 10 Conference softball All-Star team has created a decent amount of controversy, at least among anonymous internet comment-makers.

Big 10 softball chairman Jerry Dagostino, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons' head coach, was kind enough to reply with the exact methods by which the team is chosen.

The league's head coaches all get together and first discuss the players in particular that they feel should be recognized.

Then, the coaches rank their top 10 players - excluding their own - and assign point values in descending order. Thus, their top player gets 10 points and the next best gets nine and so on. The player with the most points becomes MVP and the next nine make up the first team.

Others receiving more than one vote are listed as honorable mention selections.

Coaches in the Big 10 have used this system for over 15 years. They have decided not to go by positions because positions such as shortstop, catcher and pitcher tend to be loaded. More often than not, those are the players that deserve to be recognized, so it makes more sense to leave positions open than forcefully put a left fielder, for example, on the team that may not have had an All-Star caliber season.

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I hope that puts the conspiracy theories to rest.

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It wasn't a perfect effort, but it was the next best thing. Hoosick Falls' Rachel Quackenbush held Duanesburg to one hit through nine innings, allowing Katie Kovage to drive in the game-winning run in a 1-0 victory in the Section II Class CC/C playoff game at Clifton Common.

Hoosick Falls' sophomore ace Rachel Quackenbush readies to throw a pitch to a Duanesburg batter in Friday's Section II Class CC/C playoff game. (All photos by J.S. Carras - The Record - unless specified.)

Rachel Quackenbush had been absolutely perfect in Wednesday's Class CC title game against No. 8 Hoosic Valley. She faced 21 batters and got each and every one of them out in the 8-0 victory.

Friday, she faced Class C champ Duanesburg and was as near perfect as she could be.

Duanesburg's Nicole Dexter led off the third inning with a double to left field. She was bunted to third in the next at-bat, but Quackenbush rallied with a strikeout and a soft grounder back to the circle to escape unharmed. In fact, she retired 17 batters in a row after Dexter's double.

Hoosick Falls junior first baseman (and second pitcher) Katie Kovage had a dream come true as she drove in the game's winning run in the top of the ninth inning. (Vidcap by Will Montgomery).

Katie Kovage drove in Jenna Priore in the top of the ninth on a single that plunked into left field. It was the first run of the game as two pitchers dueled it out.

Shelby Jones had tried to bunt Priore to second after her leadoff single, but fouled off two pitches in a row. A wild pitch allowed Priore to take second and move into scoring position.

Hoosick Falls' RBI machines, Kovage and Quackenbush, were the next two hitters in the lineup.

"When Shelby was up, I was taking a walk down the sideline," said Kovage. "I didn’t even know what to do with myself. But I just relaxed because I’ve been playing this game since I was seven.

"It just came to me," she continued. "I just got up there, took a look around at the atmosphere, took a breath and swung just like I normally do."

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

Hoosick Falls head coach Charlie Weeden and left fielder Marissa Davendonis do their celebratory postgame belly-bump following the 1-0 victory over Duanesburg. (Vidcap by Will Montgomery).

For the video of this belly-bump, with some voiceover commentary from YNN's Joe Calderone, watch the video posted below in this post.

--
Both pitchers were absolutely fantastic in this game. Quackenbush pitched nine innings with 15 strikeouts on a mere 92 pitches, a economical wonder.

Duanesburg's Dani Hennel, also just a sophomore, worked nine innings on 97 pitches, striking out 12 and allowing just the one run on six hits.

Duanesburg has played in the Section II Class CC/C playoff game six years in a row, but has defeated the slightly larger school just once during that span.

Hoosick Falls will be moving to Class B next season, so Quackenbush and Hennel won't catch each other in the playoffs next year.

Rachel Quackenbush, Hoosick Falls' sophomore pitcher, throws one to a Duanesburg hitter during Friday's game.

Hoosick Falls (22-2), two-time defending Section II Class CC champions, play Wednesday in the North Country in a regional final. The Panthers will play of winner of Monday’s regional semifinal between the Section VII and X champions.

For the state's Class C bracket, click here.

Hoosick Falls second baseman Alysa Schneider throws to first baseman Katie Kovage to record an out in the sixth inning of Friday's game. Since Quackenbush recorded 15 strikeouts, it was one of the few defensive chances in the game for the Panthers.

For the team’s veterans – Kovage, Priore, Quackenbush, Mel Mentiply, Marissa Davendonis and Karley Morin – 2010 will mark a return berth in the regional round and what they hope will be second straight trip to the New York State Final Four.

For the rookies, Friday’s game was the highlight of their careers…so far.

"It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt in my life," Shelby Jones said. "I can’t wait to go as far as we possibly can. I’m just hoping we bring it all home."



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Mechanicville's Anna Arceneaux tossed a one-hitter in a 5-0 victory over Taconic Hills in Friday's Section II Class B title game. It was Mechanicville's eight Section II title in the past 10 years.

"I felt more comfortable today," Anna Arceneaux said. "The other day I felt a little shaky (a 2-0 win over Schuylerville). I buckled down and did what I had to do."

Stan Hudy from The Saratogian and the Community News covered the game for us, so be sure to check out his story in The Record on Saturday.

Alysa Russell (left) and Alison Ford share a laugh during Friday's Section II Class B championship game against Taconic Hills.

Anna Arceneaux drove in Alysa Russell and Alison Ford early in the game to give herself a 2-0 lead.

The Red Raiders tacked on three more runs in the fifth after Arceneaux led off with a single to right. Kelsey Hines reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and Shannon McBride plated both with her double, reaching third on the throw. She came in to score on Andrera Mastropeitro’s groundout for the unbeatable 5-0 lead, which was surprising to many.

"All day long you’re on pins and needles expecting a 1-0 game," Mechanicville head coach Don Arceneaux said.

Mechanicville's Abby Maiello slides into second base as Taconic Hills' Michelle Link tries to apply the tag.

Two-time defending New York State champions, Mechanicville will play Monday at Section X champion Potsdam. Should they win that, they'll play again Wednesday in Plattsburgh in a regional final. The regional final winner advances to the New York State Final Four in Waterloo.

For the state's Class B bracket, click here.

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And the rest of Friday's roundup:

CLIFTON PARK - The clock failed to strike midnight on No. 9 Colonie in the Section II Class AA softball finale Friday afternoon at Clifton Common.
The Garnet Raiders, an underdog at each step of the 2010 playoffs, defeated No. 2 Bethlehem in the Class AA title game, 4-3.
Colonie defeated No. 8 Troy in the opening round before knocking off No. 1 Shenendehowa in the quarterfinals. The Garnet Raiders then topped No. 5 Saratoga Springs in the semifinals, 5-2.
Bethlehem, which made a late rally that fell just short, was playing in the final for the first time in 10 years. The Eagles finished the season with a 19-4 record.
Class A
South Glens Falls 3, Ichabod Crane 2 (10 innings): Making its 14th straight appearance in the Section II Class A title game, South Glens Falls won it for the 10th time during that span, needing extra innings to top No. 2 seed Ichabod Crane.
Class D
Germantown 8, Hartford 2: Taylor Race, Carissa Phillips and Nicole Van Alstyne drove in two runs apiece for the Clippers in a title game victory over No. 2 seeded Hartford.
No. 1 Germantown won its second straight Section II Class D title.

Baseball
Greenwich 7, Canajoharie 2: The Witches advanced to the NYS regional round, where they will play Norwood-Norfolk Monday at 4 p.m. at Clarkson University.

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