Pitching and power lead Susquehanna Valley past Edison in Section 4 Class B softball final

Paige Weaver broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer, and Lil D'Introno tossed a four-hitter to lift Susquehanna Valley to a 7-0 victory over Thomas A. Edison in the Section 4 Class B softball final Saturday at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.

Weaver's home run to left-center came in the bottom of the third inning as part of a 2-for-4 day in which she drove in four runs. Two more runs followed in the third as the Sabers denied Edison a second-consecutive sectional title after the Spartans claimed the 2023 Class C crown on the way to the state final four.

"I'm so happy," Weaver said. "I knew we could do it. We just had to stay positive, work super hard. We worked hard all season to get to this point, and I'm excited."

Susquehanna Valley earned its first sectional title since 2021, when there was no state tournament because of the pandemic.

"These girls have been playing hard all season, but they’re really peaking at the right time with hitting and fielding and everything they’ve been doing," SV coach Karen Bidwell said. "Our pitching has been out of this world with Lil. She’s pitched every single inning of every single game, and she’s just been on fire the last few games. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of girls."

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D'Introno quieted TAE bats

Edison entered Saturday having had quite a week, rallying for sectional wins of 5-4 against Chenango Forks and 9-8 against Windsor. D'Introno became the first pitcher to shut out Edison this season.

D'Introno had a two-hitter until giving up a pair of singles in the seventh. She struck out seven and walked four. Bidwell described her as a sophomore who plays much older.

"A lot of tenacity. That kid digs deep," Bidwell said. "She's really the only pitcher we have, and she's had to pitch every inning of every game, and she's done such a great job."

Said Weaver of her pitcher: "Lil is always positive, always hard-working. She is always picking us up, and she is the best pitcher I know."

Weaver blast got Sabers' offense rolling

Edison ace Gabby Milazzo held SV to one run in a 3-1 victory April 27 and blanked the Sabers over the first two innings Saturday. But back-to-back singles from Norah Schneider (2-for-3, two runs) and Rianne Moelder set the stage for Weaver's home run.

"I just wasn’t thinking at all. I went up there calm and positive, and it happened," Weaver said.

She added the Sabers gained an idea of what was coming from Milazzo after the first meeting and adjusted. The Sabers collected 10 hits, with D'Introno and Danica LaBarre each contributing a hit and an RBI. Kiana Cipolla had two hits.

"They just attacked early today," Bidwell said of her team. "I think that was kind of the key, just get up there and hit. We know she’s going to throw strikes; we know she’s going to be a good pitcher."

Kailey Ripley took over pitching duties from Milazzo in the fourth inning.

Championship season closes for Edison

The Spartans finished with a record of 17-4 in a season that included the Interscholastic Athletic Conference Large School championship.

Mariana Jones-Frosolone and Rosie Wheeler had two hits each for Edison on Saturday. The Spartans committed four errors.

"I think the pressure won today," Edison coach Liz Warren said. "Sus Valley definitely came out, put the ball in play, did what they needed to do, so all respect to them. But I don’t think we came as ourselves today, and I think by the time we found it, it was just a little bit too late.

"We were saying the right things, but when it came time to execute we let the pressure win a little bit. But super proud of what they were able to do in their first year in Class B. Definitely will learn from it and hopefully grow for next year."

Up Next

Susquehanna Valley (19-3) will play the Section 3 champion in a regional final/state quarterfinal at 5 p.m. May 30 back at Binghamton's complex.

"I think we can go all the way if keep doing what we’re doing, keep working hard, and stay positive," Weaver said.

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Susquehanna Valley blanked TAE for Section 4 Class B softball title