Barker seeks win to gain sectional finals
File Photo – Erika Moeller delivers a pitch for Barker during the 2016 sectional playoffs.
Looking to earn a berth in the finals for the first time in nine years, top seeded Barker will host No. 5 Westfield in the Section VI Class C softball semifinals at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Barker’s last trip to the sectional finals was in 2016 when current Co-Coach Bill Moeller’s daughter Erika hurled three straight shutout wins in route to reaching the title contest.
During that clutch three game span Barker blanked Holland 8-0 as Moeller hurled a no hitter with 13 strikeouts, Cassadaga Valley 2-0 in the quarterfinals (3 hitter, 18 strikeouts) and 1-0 n 8 innings over Chautauqua Lake in the semifinals (3 hitter, 12 strikeouts).
Cleveland Hill then nipped Barker 2-0 in the Class C championship game despite a 2 hit, 8 strikeout performance by Moeller.
Barker brings a 17-4 record into Wednesday’s semifinals while Westfield is 14-5.
In the quarterfinals, Barker downed No. 8 Maple Grove 14-9 while Westfield nipped No. 4 Silver Creek 1-0.
The victor advances to the Class C title game which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 at 5 p.m. at Allegany-Limestone. The opponent will be the winner of Wednesday’s other semifinals between No. 2 Chautauqua Lake and No. 3 Gowanda which are both 15-3 on the season.
