Pittsford Sutherland, Webster Schroeder back on top: Section V softball champions, MVPs

Gabby Lyons made sure Pittsford Sutherland had the last laugh during the Section V Class A final, their latest postseason meeting with reigning champion Honeoye Falls-Lima.

A sophomore shortstop who played on Sutherland's 2022 title team, Lyons' two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth was just enough to help No. 1 Sutherland clip No. 3 HF-L 2-1 in a championship game postponed for five hours because of inclement weather at Finger Lakes Community College on Saturday. Lyons earned MVP honors for her memorable performance.

Coach Mike Scialo's Knights (18-4) have had crushing playoff endings to the Cougars (14-8) in the past, specifically to senior star Kate Dailor. With two down and runners on first and third base with Dailor stepping up to the plate, freshman pitcher Petra Hunt to "go right at her", forcing a pop fly for the 21st out.

"Finally getting past that third out in the seventh inning against that team is what it's all about," said Scialo, who believes his Knights will advance to their first region final during his tenure.

What it means

Sutherland made its third appearance Section V finals appearance in four seasons. As did champions Fairport (12-10) and Webster Schroeder (20-2). Center fielder Nicole Allen led her second-seeded Red Raiders to a 16-2 win over No. 4 Greece Storm (12-10) for the Class AAA crown — their first crown since 2022. Pitcher Liana DeValder starred on both sides of the plate during top-seeded Schroeder's 9-1 win over rival No. 3 Webster Thomas (17-6) to give the Warriors a third title in four seasons. In Class B, second-seeded Wellsville (19-1) and Makenzie Cowburn won their fourth straight title and 19th straight game after a 4-0 win over No. 1 Haverling (18-2) in the first of four games at FLCC through Saturday and Sunday.

"From the leadership from '05 it's just a well oiled machine. They come in. They know the expectations. They're ready to compete," Schroeder coach Meaghan Keil said.

Saturday at Fillmore High School, No. 3 Friendship/Scio (18-3) won the third straight Class D title of its merger after Friendship won in 2021, all behind the play of star Nevaeh Ross, after a 3-0 win over top-seeded Keshequa (18-5). In Class C1, top-seeded Bloomfield (17-2) won its first-ever championship with a 5-0 win over No. 4 Letchworth (15-7). In an 11-inning Class C2 thriller, No. 1 Dundee-Bradford (17-1) won its first crown as a merged team with a epic 4-3 win over Caledonia-Mumford (17-6).

MVPs of the Section V championships

Class AAA: Fairport senior Nicole Allen

During the Division I bound centerfielder's inside-the-park home run, Allen sped through the bases so fast that she nearly hawked eighth-grade pinch runner Lizzie Roessel to home plate. Allen's two-run right field shot was part of a six-run second inning. She added two more hits and five RBIs in total, including a two-run double. Allen is a five-year varsity player who's played in three finals.

"Did we not expect to be here and win? No, because that's been our goal and we knew this is a very good team," Fairport coach Curt Johnson said.

Class AA: Webster Schroeder junior Liana DeValder

The right-handed junior's filthy off-speed pitches kept Thomas without a hit until the fifth inning. DeValder struck out seven in a four-hitter and only walked three batters. And that's just in the circle. Hitting in the three-hole, DeValder's RBI single in the bottom of the first drove in Biz Baglieri for the game's first run. DeValder also worked two walks and scored twice. Schroeder defeated Thomas in the 2022 Class A1 final before winning the state title.

"People are sleeping on Liana DeValder and you are not going to get a kid that is going to compete and give evrey ounce of herself. Whether it's at the plate, in the field, pitching, the kid is just ... she's amazing. ... She's funny. She's humble. She deserves every accolade," Keil said.

Class A: Pittsford Sutherland sophomore Gabby Lyons

The game was scoreless before the sophomore's two-run homer. Lyons sent a bomb over the left field fence in the bottom of the fifth. Lyons' first inning double bounced off the wall. She finished 2-for-3 at the plate from the two-hole. Already a four-year varsity player, Lyons is one of the veterans of a roster with one senior and eight new starters. Gabby's older sister, Julianna, also homered and a doubled in the 2022 final.

"You just expect it from her, and we've got her for two more years, which is beautiful," Scialo said.

Class B: Wellsville senior Makenzie Cowburn

The star right-handed pitcher's one-hitter may have been the most impressive performance of the FLCC games. Cowburn allowed a hit on the game's first at-bat before retiring 20 of the next 21 batters. Cowburn finished an impressive 5-3-1 double play by tagging a runner at third, pulling her mask off to scream in excitement. Cowburn struck out eight, walked just one batter, and her Lions played error-free defense. At the plate, Cowburn forced an error that led to Makenna Dunbar's run and a 2-0 fourth inning lead. The Lions have been the state's top-ranked Class B team all season.

Class C1: Bloomfield pitcher Ashlyn Wright

The Bombers star pitched a two-hitter with 18 strikeouts. Wright didn't walk a single batter, and her defense played error-free in the shutout. She hasn't allowed an earned run all postseason and has struck out 42 of her last 66 batters faced. The junior also added a hit at the plate.

Class C2: Dundee-Bradford senior Madison Sutryk

The Bravescots pitcher's single scored Adrienne Kendall to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the 10th.

Class D: Friendship/Scio pitcher Nevaeh Ross

The right-handed pitcher struck out 19 and hit a two-run homer to win her fourth straight title. Ross' 1,400-plus career strikeouts rank second all-time in Section V and third in New York State history.

Game balls

Class AAA

Fairport pitcher Kailey Gardner went the distance with seven strikeouts. Juliana Catalano hit an RBI-double and went 4-for-4. Mikayla Fiorito hit an RBI-double, an RBI-single, and was hit by a pitch. Waverly Milliman was 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Millie Reed had two hits and an RBI-single. Greece Storm pitcher Carly Cegielski was 3 for 3 with an RBI triple and a double. Brooke Bassett had an RBI-triple and two hits.

"We recognized quickly that we've had a very good hitting team. .. I can pull off the bench a lot of good hitters when needed. So 1-9 we are not a weak out," Johnson said.

Class AA

Schroeder's Biz Baglieri finished 3 for 4 with two triples and an RBI-double, and worked a walk. She was aggressive on base and beat two throws to home plate, scoring four runs in the win. Leah Murray hit an RBI-single. Emma Juliano tripled. Amber Kohlmeier two hits. Sarah Ferruzza doubled, worked a walk and was hit by a pitch. Kinsley Keil scored after working a walk, but her fielder's choice helped Baglieri win a bang-bang play at the plate in the third. With two on base in the sixth, left fielder Anna Riedl tracked down Maddie Hicks' shot that sailed near the wall.

"We hit that same ball seven or eight times (in practice), and (Riedl) wants to stay after practice and work. It paid off today," Keil said.

Thomas' Ella Maloney scored the only run Schroeder allowed all postseason. She singled and scored on Maddie Throumoulos' RBI-single in the sixth. Molly Sweeney singled and worked a walk. Eliyah Hagan singled in the seventh. Hicks and Olivia Bowers shared the circle. If Hicks' left field shot would've dropped, she could have plated two runs and extended her history of big postseason hits, like the two-run single the 10th inning of a 9-8 semifinal win over Pittsford Mendon.

Class A

Sutherland freshman Petra Hunt struck out five to win her second title. Alex Sippel singled and walked. Hannah Glanton bunted on base. Center fielder Olivia Vorassi sparked an 8-2 double play, catching a fly ball and throwing a rope to catcher Alex Sippel to tag out a diving Dailor on a bang-bang play in the fourth. First baseman Ella Devaney caught a pop fly in foul territory outside for the game's final out.

"That's just a kid who came through in the clutch," said Scialo about Devaney's catch, as Sutherland has struggled catching similar pop flies all season.

HF-L pitcher Emma Dunman struck out 12 in a four-hitter and registered a hit at the plate. Madison Schubach's RBI-double plated Kate Dailor in the sixth. Dailor had two hits, scored one run, and was tagged out on a bang-bang play in the fourth. Dailor's walk-off homer eliminated Sutherland in the 2022 A2 semifinals, and she scored the game-winning run of their 2021 A2 finals meeting. Scialo thought about walking Dailor with two down in the seventh, but encouraged Hunt to "go right at her."

"She can't get a hit every time," Scialo said, chuckling. "We played the percentages. Nine out of 10 she gets the job done. That was the one time out of 10 she didn't. Kate's a great player."

Class B

Wellsville's Makenna Dunbar smacked an RBI-triple and a two-run double. Teagan Burke went 3 for 4 and Sawyer Burke had two hits. Marissa Ordway scored after reaching on a hit-by-pitch. Haverling's Kaili Witherell didn't allow a hit to the Lions' other six batters, though, striking out eight. She also worked a walk. Makayla Smith singled for the Rams' only hit.

Class C1

Bloomfield's Calla McCombs hit a two-run homer and finished 2 for 3. McCombs is hitting 11 for 13 with a homer, four triples, a double and 14 RBIs in three postseason games. Abby O'Brien and Bri Leitten each had a hit, RBI and walked. Letchworth's Trinity Scott and Reagan Bannister each had a hit. Pitcher Abbie DeRock struck out seven.

Class C2

Dundee-Bradford's Madalyn Knapp scored on a strikeout to walk it off in the 11th. Adalyn Tham doubled and scored on Addie Kendall's single to tie the game a 2 with two down in the seventh. Kendall tied the game at 1 on Korrin Yeoman's fourth inning sacrifice fly. Caledonia-Mumford's Madison Wyskiel scored in the top of the 10th on Mia Wilson's infield fly for a 3-2 lead. In the first, Emma Years' single plated Wyskiel for a 1-0 lead. Shea Drazkowski scored on Isabella Cochran's RBI-triple for a 2-1 in the top of the seventh.

What's next

Bloomfield and Dundee-Bradford will meet in the Class C crossover contest to determine a region qualifier at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Honeoye Falls-Lima.

New York State Public High School Athletic Association Far West Regional championship games against Section VI's champions are set for this weekend at Webster Schroeder. Friday night, Class C begins at 5 p.m. and D at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Class B begins at 10 a.m., followed by Class A at 12:30 p.m., Class AA at 3 p.m. and Class AAA at 5:30 p.m.

Region champions will advance to the NYSPHSAA semifinals at Martha Ave Rec Park set for Friday, June 7 on Long Island. State finals are Saturday, June 8.

— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been a reporter for 15 years. Follow him @MarquelSports and X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V softball champions: Pittsford Sutherland, Webster Schroeder