Elba beat CG Finney 16-1 on Tuesday in Girls Softball.
Stats:
Maddie Thompson was 3-4 and scored twice
Maddie Hall was 2-5, 2 RBIs and scored 3 times
Madison Marks and Madilyn Marks each had 2 RBIs
Adi Norton was 2-4 and 2 RBIs
"Offensively our team had 19 hits and ran the bases well," said Coach Dean Gottler. "Defensively, our fielding was outstanding to back up another great outing from winning pitcher Brea Smith, who struck out four and walked only one."
Notre Dame pulled out the close league matchup over Alexander behind the pitching of senior Loretta Sorochty.
Sorochty pitched a complete game, giving up just 3 hits, no earned runs and striking out 18 batters.
Emily Pietrzykowski pitched a strong game for Alexander as well, going the distance and only giving up 4 runs on 7 hits, striking out 3 batters.
Offensively for ND, Sorochty helped her cause with two hits and two RBIs. Katie Landers added two hits and a run scored. Mia Treleaven (double), Anna Panepento and Amelia Sorochty each contributed a hit, with Treleaven and A. Sorochty each adding a run scored. Sofia Falleti added a sac fly RBI, while Clairissa Milliman added a run scored.
"Tonight was a good test against a very strong Alexander squad," said Coach Otis Thomas. "I'm proud of the way the girls battled the entire game and can't say enough about our ace Loretta. Our bats were a little cold, but Loretta kept us in the game until we could score a few insurance runs. We have to put this one behind us and prepare for a tough league game vs Lyndonville on Friday."
The young players who are learning the game as members of the Batavia Stingers, so Batavia High School's varsity softball team members coaching the Stingers players is good for both teams, said Rob Kersch.
Kersch is Batavia's varsity softball coach.
The Blue Devils hosted a clinic for Stingers players in the auxiliary gym at the high school on Saturday.
"I wanted to make sure our kids are giving back to the community," Kersch said. "They were all little softball players, you know, like they're teaching and coaching right now. I wanted to give back, and they're excited about it, too. They want to get involved with these kids. The other thing is, you're looking at future Batavia Blue Devils. We want to foster some a relationship with them, and help build them up, so when they come up to us, they will be much better players."
Saturday's clinic was all about hitting. Clinics scheduled for April 7 and April 21 will concentrate on fielding and base running.
Current Stingers Board President Michelle Gillard said, "This is a great opportunity for our young athletes to learn and be mentored by older players."
Matt Landers, one of the co-founders of the Stingers, helped facilitate the clinic and said he thinks there is demand for the Stingers program to grow in Batavia, but more parents need to get involved, especially as coaches.
"I think that we definitely have a need in the community and more interest in the community," Landers said. "We're thrilled to be able to do this, again to keep this program going. But we know we can get bigger and have more more kids play ball, but it all comes down to having more coaches."
After trailing the entire game, Batavia PD staged a comeback win in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the third meeting in a charity baseball game between the police department and the City of Batavia Fire Department.
The final score was 14-13 on Saturday evening at Dwyer Stadium.
Proceeds benefited the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
The Edge Softball Travel Team is holding tryouts starting Aug. 7 at Batavia High School.
Tryout times are 6 to 6:30 p.m. for pitchers and catchers, 6:30 to 8 p.m. for all other positions.
Registration begins 15 minutes prior to tryout.
Teams:
Aug. 7, 16u and 18u
Aug. 8, 12u and 14u
Aug. 9, 16u and 18u
Aug. 10, 12u & 14u.
For pre-registration text or email Coach Brian Mruczek, brianmruczek@yahoo.com or 585-993*1170. Please include the player's name, date of birth, contact information, and position.
Jim Fazio at Dwyer Stadium on Monday evening. Photo by Howard Owens.
Health issues and a desire to see his son play more baseball in his final season with the Batavia Blue Devils have led Jim Fazio to step down as head coach of the Batavia High School softball team.
"The team means the world to me," Fazio told The Batavian at Dwyer Stadium during the Batavia Muckdogs game on Monday evening. "Ever since I started coaching, it was a dream to win a sectional title. To finally get it this year, it's just something that, you know, you just dream about."
Fazio has been coaching since 2000 and became varsity softball coach in 2018.
Under the circumstances, coaching in 2024 isn't possible, he said. He's been diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease and is on two waiting lists for a kidney transplant.
"That's the main reason why I'm stepping down," Fazio said. "I think I should be able to coach tennis, but things right now are up in the air."
His son is also entering his senior year, and in the spring, Fazio wants to take the time to see more of his son's baseball games.
"I miss a lot of his games because their schedule almost mimics ours," Fazio said.
Jim and Nikki Fazio enjoying the moment after Batavia won a Girls Softball Section V title on May 27. Photo by Howard Owens.
Saturday was quite the sports day for Notre Dame High School with both the baseball and softball teams winning championships.
When the teams returned to Batavia, they were met in the Eastown parking lot by Batavia PD patrols and a City Fire truck and given a championship escort through Downtown.
The Notre Dame GIrls Softball team captured the Section V Class D1 title in Fillmore on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Lyndonville. Photo by Keira Stehlar Keira Stehlar
Submitted game story:
Notre Dame used a balanced offensive attack, flawless defense and, as always, solid pitching to pull out the 5-2 win in the Class D1 Sectional finals over Lyndonville on Saturday afternoon in Fillmore.
Notre Dame scored runs in the second, third, five, sixth and seventh innings and stopped a late rally by Lyndonville in which the Lady Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Starter Loretta Sorochty fanned the last two Tigers to preserve the win. She was named MVP of the tournament.
Sorochty pitched a complete game for the Lady Irish, going seven innings, giving up five hits, two runs and had 11 strikeouts.
Lyndonville pitcher Shaffer gave up 11 hits, five runs and had six strikeouts.
Leading the way offensively for ND were Sorochty, Mia Treleaven, Sonji Warner and Anna Panepento, who each had two hits. Sorochty had a double, single, a run scored and an RBI. Treleaven had two singles and an RBI. Warner had two singles, and Panepento had two singles and an RBI. Katie Landers added a base hit, scored a run and was hit by a pitch twice. Cayleigh Havens had a base hit, and Kaydence Stehlar had a hit and a run scored.
Notre Dame now moves on to face the D2 champion Tuesday night in Fillmore.
"I couldn't be more proud of these ladies," said Coach Otis Thomas. "Between the fall league at MCC, the winter workouts and all the practices we had this spring, it is nice to see their hard work pay off. This a special group that plays for each other and I hope we can keep this momentum going a little longer and see how far we can go."
Batavia already had a 4-2 lead when Giana Mruczek scored the second run on a two runs that scored on a Sophia Minuto base hit in the fifth inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
For the first time in a decade and the second time in program history, Batavia's softball players lifted a Section V trophy over their heads after beating Waterloo for the Class B1 crown, 7-2.
Giana Mruczek tossed a complete game three-hitter, fanning seven and going 1-3 at the plate and driving in a run. She was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Libby Grazioplene went 4-4. Julia Clark had two stolen bases and scored two runs.
This was the third year straight that Batavia and Waterloo have clashed in sectional finals and the first time in those three contests that Batavia came out on top.
"To beat Waterloo is a big accomplishment," said Coach James Fazio. "I had a feeling that if we made it this far, it was going to be Waterloo again. And it was, thankfully, we're able to get the job done today."
A key difference this year, Fazio said, is Batavia took an early lead.
"They're such a strong hitting team from top to bottom that no lead to safe against them," Fazio said. "For once, we were able to get the lead on them, and that's been our struggle the last couple of years -- we always play from behind. But this time, we put them on their heels, and we were just able to hold on. They're a tough team, and we were fortunate enough to beat him."
Mruczek said the win felt really special because she and her teammates have worked hard and grown close.
"I think it's very heartfelt," Mruczek said. "This team has worked so hard for these past two years, and this team (Waterloo), they've always come for us. This was the third year playing them, and I think that we really wanted it so bad. This one is just what everyone deserved. I think it's great."
Clark said there was something special about beating Waterloo, given the history between the two teams.
"This means everything," Clark said. "We've fallen so many times to this team, and we don't see him in the regular season. So it's really this game or nothing. So we always have to put our all in."
The win was also special, Clark said, because of the decade between championship trophies for the softball team.
"We haven't won it all in a very long time," Clark said. "We're always division champs and stuff like that. But to finally win a sectional title for our school means a lot."
Other performance highlights:
Sophia Minuto, 1-3, two RBIs
Drew Stevens, 1-3, one RBI
Arianna Almekinder, 1-3, one RBI
Lyndsey Grazioplene, 1-3
Next up for Batavia: The Class B consolidation game against either Wellsville or Haverling on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Honeoye Falls-Lima HS.
Photos by Howard Owens. To view more photos, click here.
Arianna Almekinder popped up a bunt in the 7th inning that landed fair just out of reach of ....
... Waterloo catcher Logan Amidon.
Giana Mruczek tossed a complete game three-hitter, fanning seven.
Giana Mruczek
Sofia Branche scores.
Third baseman Hannah Carney charges toward the plate on a chop swing by Waterloo's Emily Plate.
Giana Mruczek takes a pitch.
Sophia Minuto fouls one off.
Hannah Carney throwing to first.
Kennedy Beniamino is out at first. Batavia's first baseman is Sophia Minuto
Batavia, the #2 seed in the Section V Class B Girls Softball tournament, beat Midlakes on Thursday to advance to the finals, where they will face #1 seed Waterloo on Saturday.
The final score was 5-4.
Libby Grazioplene was 2-4 with three RBIs, including driving in the winning run with a two-run single.
Julia Clark was 2-3.
Lila Fortes had an RBi while going 1-4.
Giana Mruzcek tossed a complete game for the win, striking out nine.
Saturday's game is at 11 a.m. at Webster Thomas High School.
Notre Dame, the #4 seed in Class D, jumped on top-seeded Keshequa early, scoring two runs in the first and two runs in the third inning and then held on for the 7-4 victory in the Girls Softball Section V semifinals.
Keshequa threatened with three runs in the 6th inning, aided by two Irish errors, but back-to-back strong plays by shortstop Katie Landers (6-3 each time) ended the Keshequa rally.
Loretta Sorochty pitched the complete game for the Lady Irish, going seven innings, giving up six hits, four runs (1 earned) and striking out six batters. Sorochty helped her own cause with 4 fielding putouts during the game.
Keshequa pitcher Aurora Sabins pitched a complete game, 7 innings, giving up 10 hits, 7 runs (4 earned) and struck out 11 batters.
Offensively for Notre Dame, four different batter had two hits each: Sorochty, Landers, Mia Treleaven and Emma Sisson.
Sorochty helped her pitching effort with a sixth-inning solo shot over the left field fence, along with a single, two runs scored, and one RBI. Landers had a double, single, one run scored and one RBI, Treleaven had a double, single and two runs scored, while Sisson had two singles. Kaydence Stehlar had a single, one run scored, and one RBI and Sonji Warner had a double and RBI
"The ladies are really playing as a team right now, and it is great to watch," said Coath Otis Thomas. "I told them the job wasn't finished tonight, we have one more game to get. We will enjoy this tonight but be back to work tomorrow to prepare for the finals on Saturday."
The Irish will play for the Class C Section V block at Filmore High School on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Lyndonville.
Notre Dame scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to record a dramatic come-from-behind win in their sectional playoff game against Alfre-Almond on Tuesday at GCC.
Loretta Sorochty tossed a three-hitter, allowing two runs (no earned runs) and striking out 14.
She whiffed the side in the seventh to preserve the lead and secure the win for the Irish.
Katie Landers led the way for Notre Dame on offense with two base hits up the middle. She scored the go-ahead run and drove in the game-tying run in the 6th inning.
Mia Treleaven accounted for the other ND base hit.
Sorochty scored the first run in the 6th inning after drawing a walk. When Alfred's defense misplayed a bunt attempt by Cayleigh Havens, Sorochty was able to streak from first base to home. Katie Landers drove a ball up the middle for a base hit, plating Havens, and then she advanced to second on an error by left fielder. Following an Anna Panepento walk, the bases were loaded. Landers scored on a wild pitch.
"I can't say enough about the fight in these ladies to come back like they did in the sixth inning and pull out the win tonight," said Head Coach Otis Thomas. " Hopefully, we can build on this game and play tough Thursday night."
The Irish, the #4 seed in Class D, play the #1 see Keshequa on Thursday.
Also scheduled for Thursday:
In Class C: #4 Oakfield-Alabama vs. #8 Addison
In Class C: #4 Byron-Bergen vs. #1 Bolivar-Richburg
In Class B: #2 Batavia vs. #3 Midlakes at Batavia HS, game time is 5 p.m.
In Girls Softball on Friday, the Alexander Trojans kept their season going with a 20-5 win over East Rochester.
Freshman Ava Yax, along with Sophomores Faith Goodenbury and Brianna Neyman, led Alexander at the plate as the three hits each for a combined 9-11 on the day.
Ava Yax was 3-4, with four RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases, while Faith Goodenbury was 3-3 with a two-RBI double, one run scored and one stolen base and Brianna Neyman was 3-4 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Madison Boyce, Melissa Sawyer, and Carley Shepard all contributed with Multi-hits games. Emily Pietrzykowski extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a triple to right center. The 17 team hits pushed Alexander over 200 team hits on the year.
Madison Boyce picked up her sixth win (6-2) on the bump with another dominant performance where the hurler tossed six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and one walk. She whiffed 11 batters. It was her fourth double-digit strikeout outing of the year and brought her strikeout total to 86 through nine starts.
Next up for Alexander (#5 seed) is the Section V Quarterfinal matchup with Oakfield (#4 seed) on Monday at 5 p.m. in Oakfield.
“The girls did a great job in the box again today," said Head Coach John Goodenbury. "Any game that your team can come out and get 17 hits while your pitcher tallies double-digit strikeouts is going to be a good day. Today was nice for the girls, but we all know what lies ahead of us Monday with Oakfield. We will try to focus on the game at hand, but we all had Oakfield on our minds today. That’s going to be a fun game, and they did beat us twice this season by one run each time, so we just want to go in there, play solid defense and let the chips fall where they fall. We’ve had a fantastic season so far, and we just don’t want it to end.”
The Alexander Girls Softball team capped a winning season on Tuesday, beating rivals Attica in Attica.
Alexander was down 5-0 until an eight-run fourth gave them the lead 8-5.
Attica tied the game in the fifth at eight. Both teams added a run in the sixth to tie it again at nine. With one out in the top of the eighth inning, Madison Boyce delivered the knockout blow for Alexander when she tripled to right field and later scored the go-ahead and winning run.
Emily Pietrzykowski nailed the win by retiring the side in order in the eighth to notch her sixth win of the season. She allowed eight hits, three earned runs, delivered four walks and whiffed seven Attica hitters.
Alexander finished the regular season with a 12-6 record and potentially locking up the fifth seed for sectionals just behind potential fourth seed Oakfield in Class C1.
Pietrzykowski lead Alexander's batting, going 4-5 with two triples, two RBIs, two stolen bases and one run scored. Melissa Sawyer was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Maddison Boyce was 2-5 with a triple and two runs scored.
“We started out this game flat and made three errors that lead to three runs for them right away," said Coach John Goodenbury. "They tacked on two runs with Robinsons' long ball, and we found ourselves in a 5-0 hole going into the fourth. I told the girls they could make a choice right then, in the moments before we went up to hit. They could choose to just lay down and lose or get in the box and fight like heck for it. What I told them landed, and they made their choice to fight for it as they exploded for eight runs. It was a loud and intense finish, at the end of the game, every girl in our starting lineup came away with at least one hit, proving that we can overcome adversity if we have faith, dig deep and play for each other. I’ve said it before, we have a young team with talent and heart, and when it mattered most, they chose to fight and showed again what the future for Alexander softball holds."
In the Mudville Softball Tournment on Saturday, Notre Dame posted a pair of wins.
The Irish beat Section II's Voorheesville 5-4 and Section VI's Saranac 6-1.
In the first game, the Irish had to come back in the bottom of the 7th to pull out the victory, with Emma Sisson driving in the winning run with a fly ball to left field that was mishandled. Mia Treleaven scored the winning run. A 1-2-3 double play by the Irish to end the second inning was huge as bases were loaded.
Treleaven got the start on the mound for ND, but after a couple of walks, a hit and an error caused ND to drop behind 3-0 with only 1 out, Coach Otis Thomas made the pitching change and put in Junior pitcher Loretta Sorochty. Sorochty pitched 6 and 2/3 innings giving up 4 hits, 1 run and striking out 13.
Offensively the lady Irish had 9 hits, with Katie Landers, Sonji Warner and Mia Treleaven accounting for all 9. Landers led the way with 4 singles, 3 runs scored and an RBI, Warner had 3 singles, and 3 RBIs, and Treleaven had a double, single, walk and scored a run.
In the second game, ND cruised to the easier win in the second game of the afternoon, winning 6-1. Sorochty got the start on the mound for the Lady Irish and had another dominating performance, pitching a 2-hitter, allowing 1 run and striking out 13.
Offensively the Irish had 9 hits in the game with Kaydence Stehlar and Emma Sisson leading the way with 2 hits each. Stehlar had 2 singles, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI, while Sisson had 2 singles and a run scored. Chipping in with a hit apiece were Sorochty, Landers, Treleaven, Cayleigh Havens and Amelia Sorochty.
Coaches Quote, "I'm super proud of the way the ladies battled back against Voorheesville and then responded by not having a let down in the next game. The team is really gelling right now and we hope to keep things rolling into this week with three big regular season games left." ND Head Coach Otis Thomas
Another big score and a big win for Alexander in Girls Softball on Thursday, with the Trojans cruising to its fifth consecutive win 19-7.
Melissa Sawyer hits for the cycle going 5-5 at the plate. Sawyer had a home run, a triple, a double, two singles, five RBIs and four runs scored.
Senior MaKenna Boyce went 4-4 with three RBIs and three stolen bases. Sister Madison Boyce crushed a three-run homer to center, while Faith Goodenbury and Brianna Neyman both had Multiple hits on the day.
Briann Neyman pitched part of the first, allowing one hit, three walks and five runs with a strikeout. Emily Pietrzykowski tossed five innings, allowing five hits, no runs, no walks and eight punchouts. Melissa Sawyer pitched the last frame, giving up one hit, two runs and getting two strikeouts. Alexander improved to 11-5 and heads to Barker on Monday.
Notre Dame beat Lyndonville 9-6 in Girls Softball on Thursday in a game played at GCC.
The Irish collected 14 hits, but coach Otis Thomas said pitching and defense were key.
Loretta Sorochty went the distance, pitching seven innings, giving up six hits, six runs (three earned) and striking out eight batters.
Offensively, for Notre Dame, Katie Landers and Sorchty each had three hits to pace the offense. Landers finished with two doubles, a single, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI, while Sorochty had three singles and two runs scored.
Mia Treleaven, Kaydence Stehlar and Anna Panepento each had two hits for the Lady Irish.
"This is a big win for us, and I am proud of the effort given by the ladies this evening," Thomas said. "It got a little shaky in the seventh giving up the 4 runs, but we settled down and got that last out. As big as this one was, we need to put it behind us and continue our run to Sectionals."
Alexander Girls Softball cleaned up over the weekend, getting three wins over two days, including a muddy mess of a win over Kendall on Sunday evening.
Coach John Goodenbury called it a slip-and-slide contest.
The Trojans won 8-5.
Emily Pietrzykowski picked up the win for Alexander, pitching 7 innings allowing five hits, six free passes and notching eight whiffs.
Senior Olivia Delelys led Alexanders' offensive, going 3-3 with a double and 2 RBIs. Melissa Sawyer went 2-2 with an RBI.
“We were not sure we would get this game in today because of the forecast," Goodenbury said. "At game time, the weather didn’t seem like the rain was too heavy or that it would last long, but we were wrong. Kendall’s head coach Jeff Parizek and I just wanted to play this game, so we rolled with mother nature’s punches and played on. Looking back at the game, I think both teams had a blast, the girls got the chance to be like little kids again as they were sliding around the bases and getting covered in mud. To see the girls with big smiles playing a game, I am sure they will always remember, is worth the extra laundry detergent to me.”
With the win, Alexander is now 9-5 on the season.
Two of those nine wins came on Saturday when Alexander beat Byron-Bergen and Barker.
In game one, the Trojans shut out the Bees 6-0.
Madison Boyce tossed a 4-hit shutout. Boyce pitched 7 innings, allowing four hits, eight walks and recording
Emily Pietrzykowski was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, while Lilly Szymkowiak was 2-3 with a double and 1 run scored.
In game two, Alexander beat Barker 11-6.
Alexander racked up 13 hits during the contest.
Makenna Boyce, Olivia Delelys and Melissa Sawyer all collected multiple hits for Alexander. Senior Makenna Boyce led Alexander going 3-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs, and a stolen base. Emily Pietrzykowski, Madison Boyce and Melissa Sawyer combined pitching efforts for the win, surrendering four hits while striking out 9.
“The past week was a tough week for the entire GR with bad weather that forced many cancellations and that resulted in us stacking a doubleheader today," Goodenbury said. "A scheduling conflict had us play both games today back-to-back with no break in between games, so our girls had to dig deep today. They made it work and came out on top of both contests. Maddison Boyce has been pitching outstanding for us, and today she completed her third shutout of the season and reached 60 strikeouts after 33.2 innings on the bump so far. It was Senior Day for us, and both of our seniors, Makenna Boyce and Olivia Delelys, played great to make it a special day for Alexander.”
Story based on submitted information. Submitted photos.
