It was a special first softball sectional time for Lyndonville, Albion and Medina

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 April 2020 at 9:27 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville pitcher Maddy Boyle and shortstop Rebekah Hoffee in action during the Lady Tigers 2013 sectional championship game win.

In a memorable six year stretch from 2012 to 2017 Albion, Lyndonville and Medina all captured their first sectional softball championships.  In fact, Lyndonville claimed two sectional titles during that stretch.

No. 3 seeded Lyndonville captured its first postseason title in 2013 with a narrow 6-5 victory over top seeded Romulus in the Section V Class D-1 championship game.

Coming from behind twice, Lyndonville tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth on a two-out, two-run single by winning pitcher Maddy Boyle. Singles by Madison Gardepe and Rebekah Hoffee set up the opportunity.

Keeping the momentum, the Lady Tigers then took the lead for good in the top of the seventh on a two-run double by Gardepe. Singles by Jenna Castricone and Caitlyn Albone set up the threat.

Romulus did rally for a run in the seventh but left the potential tying run stranded at third as Boyle got the final two outs herself on a pop up and a ground out.

Lyndonville advanced to the D-1 final by defeating Avoca 12-6 in the quarterfinals and Arkport 9-1 in the semis.

Three-run homers by Castricone and Alyssa Houseman highlighted the win over Avoca.

The Lady Tigers then scored in each of the first five innings against Arkport highlighted by a two-run double by Castricone and an RBI double by Houseman.

Lyndonville’s bid for a spot in the state playoffs was ended by a 7-3 loss to Andover in the Section V Class D state qualifier.

Breaking away from a 2-2 deadlock, Andover moved on top to stay by scoring two runs in the third inning on three more in the fourth.

Four years later Lyndonville captured its second Section V crown as the top seeded Lady Tigers defeated No. 2 Alfred-Almond 10-1 in the 2017 Class D-1 championship game.

After picking up to quick unearned runs in the first inning, Lyndonville built its advantage to 5-1 by scoring solo runs in each of the next three innings highlighted by doubles by Alecia Hinkson and Ella Lewis.

Another double by Hinkson later ignited a three run fifth inning and a triple by Lewis and double by Makenzie Muck keyed a three-run sixth.

The Lady Tigers advanced to the D-1 final by outlasting Fillmore 10-7 in the semifinals.

Trailing 4-3, Lyndonvlle regained the lead for good by scoring twice in the fourth on a pair of errors.

The Lady Tigers then put together a decisive five run fifth inning uprising on three wild pitches, a fielders choice play and a double by Anna Lewis, the only hit of the frame.

However, just as was the case in 2013, Lyndonville’s big for a berth in the state playoffs was ended, this time by a narrow 2-1 loss to Genesee Region League foe Elba in the Section V Class D stet qualifier.

Albion ignited the title run with a 2012 championship victory
Fresh from capturing a fourth straight Niagara-Orleans League title, Albion claimed its first sectional crown by outlasting Lew-Port 10-7 in the 2012 Section VI Class A-2 championship game.

Albion’s Sarah Papponetti puts down a bunt during the Purple Eagles 2012 sectional title run.

Trailing 3-0, Albion exploded for seven runs in the decisive fourth inning to key the milestone victory.

Ignited by a leadoff walk and a one out single by Erica Edwards, Albion scored the first three runs of the outburst n a wild pitch, a single by Ali O’Hearn and an error.

Then, following a single by Sarah Papponetti, an RBI single by winning pitcher Jenn Knaak drove in the go ahead run. Three straight bases loaded walks then capped off the Purple Eagles huge inning.

Albion tacked on two huge insurance runs in the fifth on a pair of errors and another in the sixth on a single by Edwards.

Lew-Port did make the finish interesting scoring twice in the top of the seventh on errors before Knaak and the Purple Eagles defense ended the uprising to preserve the historic win. Knaak scattered four hits and registered 10 strikeouts on the day.

Albion had advanced to the A-2 final by downing Pioneer 5-1 in the quarterfinals and blanking Maryvale 4-0 in the semis.

Against Pioneer, Albion scored quickly on a two-run double by Edwards and later locked up the win with two runs in the sixth on an RBI triple by Tanisha Moyer and an error.

In the circle, Knaak scattered four hits and struck out eight.

Knaak then hurled a three hit shutout with five strikeouts against Maryvale.

The Purple Eagles moved on top to stay early as Halle Jurs had an RBI single in the first inning and Kelsee Soule a home run in the third.

However, Albion’s dream of advancing to the state playoffs was dashed when Hamburg bested the Purple Eagles 7-1 in the Section VI Class A state qualifier.  Leading by a narrow 2-1 margin, the Bulldogs used a big five run sixth inning uprising to lock up the win.

Medina players and coaches proudly display their championship plaque after capturing the 2017 sectional crown.

Narrow wins earn Medina first title
Narrow one run victories were the rule for Medina during the Mustangs 2017 run for their first ever sectional title.

That successful Section VI Class B2 title run saw Medina nip Southwestern 5-4 in 10 innings in the quarterfinals, Fredonia 1-0 in the semis and Eden 5-4 in the championship game.

In the championship game No. 3 seeded Medina broke away from a scoreless deadlock by scoring four runs in the top of the sixth inning on a fielders choice play off the bat of Alyssa Beyer, an RBI single by Destiny Satkowski and a two-run double by Alisha Scroger.

Top seeded Eden answered back with one run in the home half of the sixth but Medina got that one back in the top of the seventh for what proved to be the winning tally as Ryenn Oliver tripled and came home on a sacrifice fly by Lacey Kenward.

The finish though proved to be a thriller as Eden rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to slice the Medina lead to just one with no outs.

However, Mustangs pitcher Emily Kams and her defensive mates got out of the jam by retiring the next three batters on a ground out and a pop out to Kams and a pop out to Kenward at second to lock up the championship.

In the semifinals, a solo home run by Satkowski in the sixth inning provided the only offense Medina needed to nip No. 2 Fredonia. In the circle, Kams hurled a one hitter with 8 strikeouts.

In the quarterfinals, Medina literally walked home with a wild 10 inning win over Southwestern as Cora Payne drew the decisive walk to force in Ashlee Howell with the game winner in the bottom of the 10th after two other walks had loaded the bases.

Southwestern had rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game with three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth.

However, Kams blanked the Lady Trojans over the final four innings registering 6 of her 14 strikeouts during that stretch.

Medina’s bid for a spot in the state playoffs was ended by Depew in the Section VI Class B state qualifier as the Wildcats downed the Mustangs 5-2. Three first inning runs keyed the win for Depew.