So your softball team made it out of Section V.
Congratulations.
Now are you good enough to make it through Section VI?
That's the only thing standing between the Section V champions —Fairport, Webster Schroeder, Wellsville, Avon, Friendship/Scio — and the state final four.
Local programs with high expectations stacked their 2022 schedules with the return of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Softball Championships looming.
Wellsville won Class B despite losing lost five senior starters from last year's title team. Led by sophom*ore pitcher Makenzie Cowburn, the Lions went 20-3 against a rough independent schedule, losing to eventual Class C3 champion Bolivar-Richburg, Section IV AA's Corning and Pennsylvania's Hollidaysburgh.
Those three losses were key to Wellsville's regionalsrun.
"We wanted to strengthen our schedule to give our girls challenges throughout the season," said coach Matt Burke, who's guided Wellsville to four finals in seven seasons.
"Scheduling Corning gave us a true test of where we were at. Excellent program and team. It gave our team a sense of quiet confidence that we could play with really good teams."
Cowburn was named an All-Greater Rochester first teamer for good reason.
There's no offseason for the Wellsville ace. Cowburn plays high-level travel softball and meticulously works on her pitches. In the circle, Sheis 13-3 with a 1.07 ERA. Cowburn's posted seven shutouts, one no-hitter, five one-hitters and three two-hitters. Oh, and she's hit nine homers at the plate.
Can Cowburnguide a young Lions team to their first final four since coach Frank Cady's crew in 1998?
"The bigger the game, the more focused she seems to be," Burke said.
Senior Marley Adams has had a "monster" season at shortstop and as the leadoff hitter. Junior Emma Dunnaway has been solid at second base. Sophom*ore Brazen Beck catches and is the three-hole hitter. Freshman Lindsay Stuck is known to throw out runners when she catches.
Freshman Makenna Dunbar pitches, and plays in the outfield and at first. Freshman Natalie Adams had been solid at third, and sophom*ore Sawyer Burke has played well in center field.
"I knew we had talented young players coming back. I give all the credit to our team for coming together. Their chemistry is excellent," Burke said.
Schroeder overcomes rough stretch
All five of Webster Schroeder's losses came during an 11-day stretch.
The Warriors (19-5) went 4-5 between April 20 and April 30. They lost to New Jersey's Egg Harbor and Middletown during a spring break trip to Florida, at Webster Thomas, to Section IV's Maine-Endwell and Pennsylvania's Abington Heights.
Four of those losses were by one run. Egg Harbor beat Schroeder 10-0. But the 1-0 loss to Thomas was the turning point. Coach Meaghan Keil was optimistic of the slow start because of the level of competition during the stretch.
"We knew were talented, we just got to show up everyday," Keil said. "There are no guarantees. They're thrilled (about regionals). To see theirhard work come to fruition is pretty exciting."
Reigning AGR Player of the Year Krislyn Clement has hit three homers since the section semifinals. Defensively, she's been busy auditioning as one of Section V's best shortstops, but only because Molly Broccolo has held down the circle during much of Schroeder's 11-game winning streak.
Far West Regionals
The NYSPHSAA quarterfinals, or the Far West Regionals, will take place over two days.
Winners advance to the NYSPHSAA final four on Saturday, June 11
Fillmore will host the Section V-Section VI doubleheader Friday night at the Moriches Athletic Complex on Long Island.
Friday
Class C: Avon vs. Falconer, 5 p.m. at Fillmore.
Pitcher Joleigh Crye has guided Avon (19-1) to consecutive titles. She's allowed four runs and has 237 strikeouts in the circle, and has 23 RBIs at the plate despite being walked 31 times. Younger sister Jessie Crye has 13 RBIs and 29 runs, and Courtney Yencer is batting .415 with 13 RBIs.
Class D: Friendship/Scio vs. Westfield, 7:30 p.m. at Fillmore.
Nevaeh Rosshas guided Friendship/Scio (16-4) to back-to-back championships.
Saturday
Class A: Webster Schroeder vs. Williamsville East or Williamsville South, noon at Grand Island.
Last year's Class AA champion, the Warriors (19-5) were able to capture consecutive titles behind the senior leadership of Broccolo,Krislyn Clement, Maddy Spakoski and Hannah Secor. Broccolo had 10 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Pittsford Sutherland in Tuesday's Class A regional qualifier. Clement and Haley Kucewicz had RBIs.
Class B: Wellsville vs. Fredonia or Depew, 2:30 p.m. at Grand Island.
Wellsville was still capable of winning back-to-back titles despite a very young roster. Shortstop Marley Adams is the only senior and second baseman Emma Dunnaway is the lone junior.
Class AA: Fairport vs Lancaster, 5 p.m. at Grand Island.
Cecelia Byrne,Julianna Haus andMorgan Kennedyavenged a 2021 section finals loss by guiding the Red Raidersto regionals.
Email Marquel Slaughter at mslaughter1@gannett.com and follow hisTwitter @MarquelSports. Sign up for our high school sports newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V high school softball regionals
