softball

Batavia, the #2 seed in the Section V Class B Girls Softball tournament, beat Midlakes on Thursday to advance to the finals, where they will face #1 seed Waterloo on Saturday.

The final score was 5-4.

Libby Grazioplene was 2-4 with three RBIs, including driving in the winning run with a  two-run single.

Julia Clark was 2-3. 

Lila Fortes had an RBi while going 1-4.

Giana Mruzcek tossed a complete game for the win, striking out nine.

Saturday's game is at 11 a.m. at Webster Thomas High School.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Notre Dame scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to record a dramatic come-from-behind win in their sectional playoff game against Alfre-Almond on Tuesday at GCC.

Loretta Sorochty tossed a three-hitter, allowing two runs (no earned runs) and striking out 14.

She whiffed the side in the seventh to preserve the lead and secure the win for the Irish.

Katie Landers led the way for Notre Dame on offense with two base hits up the middle. She scored the go-ahead run and drove in the game-tying run in the 6th inning.  

Mia Treleaven accounted for the other ND base hit.  

Sorochty scored the first run in the 6th inning after drawing a walk. When Alfred's defense misplayed a bunt attempt by Cayleigh Havens, Sorochty was able to streak from first base to home. Katie Landers drove a ball up the middle for a base hit, plating Havens, and then she advanced to second on an error by left fielder.  Following an Anna Panepento walk, the bases were loaded. Landers scored on a wild pitch.

"I can't say enough about the fight in these ladies to come back like they did in the sixth inning and pull out the win tonight," said Head Coach Otis Thomas. " Hopefully, we can build on this game and play tough Thursday night."

The Irish, the #4 seed in Class D, play the #1 see Keshequa on Thursday.

Also scheduled for Thursday:

• In Class C: #4 Oakfield-Alabama vs. #8 Addison
• In Class C: #4 Byron-Bergen vs. #1 Bolivar-Richburg
• In Class B: #2 Batavia vs. #3 Midlakes at Batavia HS, game time is 5 p.m.

Submitted photo and information.

In Girls Softball on Friday, the Alexander Trojans kept their season going with a 20-5 win over East Rochester.

Freshman Ava Yax, along with Sophomores Faith Goodenbury and Brianna Neyman, led Alexander at the plate as the three hits each for a combined 9-11 on the day. 

Ava Yax was 3-4, with four RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases, while Faith Goodenbury was 3-3 with a two-RBI double, one run scored and one stolen base and Brianna Neyman was 3-4 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Madison Boyce, Melissa Sawyer, and Carley Shepard all contributed with Multi-hits games.  Emily Pietrzykowski extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a triple to right center. The 17 team hits pushed Alexander over 200 team hits on the year. 

Madison Boyce picked up her sixth win (6-2) on the bump with another dominant performance where the hurler tossed six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run,  and one walk. She whiffed 11 batters.  It was her fourth double-digit strikeout outing of the year and brought her strikeout total to 86 through nine starts.

Next up for Alexander (#5 seed) is the Section V Quarterfinal matchup with Oakfield (#4 seed) on Monday at 5 p.m. in Oakfield.

“The girls did a great job in the box again today," said Head Coach John Goodenbury. "Any game that your team can come out and get 17 hits while your pitcher tallies double-digit strikeouts is going to be a good day.  Today was nice for the girls, but we all know what lies ahead of us Monday with Oakfield.  We will try to focus on the game at hand, but we all had Oakfield on our minds today. That’s going to be a fun game, and they did beat us twice this season by one run each time, so we just want to go in there, play solid defense and let the chips fall where they fall. We’ve had a fantastic season so far, and we just don’t want it to end.”

Submitted information. Photos by Cathy Sawyer.

The Alexander Girls Softball team capped a winning season on Tuesday, beating rivals Attica in Attica. 

Alexander was down 5-0 until an eight-run fourth gave them the lead 8-5.  

Attica tied the game in the fifth at eight.  Both teams added a run in the sixth to tie it again at nine.  With one out in the top of the eighth inning, Madison Boyce delivered the knockout blow for Alexander when she tripled to right field and later scored the go-ahead and winning run.  

Emily Pietrzykowski nailed the win by retiring the side in order in the eighth to notch her sixth win of the season. She allowed eight hits, three earned runs, delivered four walks and whiffed seven Attica hitters. 

Alexander finished the regular season with a 12-6 record and potentially locking up the fifth seed for sectionals just behind potential fourth seed Oakfield in Class C1.

Pietrzykowski lead Alexander's batting, going 4-5 with two triples, two RBIs, two stolen bases and one run scored.  Melissa Sawyer was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored.  Maddison Boyce was 2-5 with a triple and two runs scored.

“We started out this game flat and made three errors that lead to three runs for them right away," said Coach John Goodenbury. "They tacked on two runs with Robinsons' long ball, and we found ourselves in a 5-0 hole going into the fourth.  I told the girls they could make a choice right then, in the moments before we went up to hit.  They could choose to just lay down and lose or get in the box and fight like heck for it.  What I told them landed, and they made their choice to fight for it as they exploded for eight runs.  It was a loud and intense finish, at the end of the game, every girl in our starting lineup came away with at least one hit, proving that we can overcome adversity if we have faith, dig deep and play for each other.  I’ve said it before, we have a young team with talent and heart, and when it mattered most, they chose to fight and showed again what the future for Alexander softball holds."

Photos by Cathy Sawyer.

Another big score and a big win for Alexander in Girls Softball on Thursday, with the Trojans cruising to its fifth consecutive win 19-7.

Melissa Sawyer hits for the cycle going 5-5 at the plate. Sawyer had a home run, a  triple, a double, two singles, five RBIs and four runs scored. 

Senior MaKenna Boyce went 4-4 with three RBIs and three stolen bases. Sister Madison Boyce crushed a three-run homer to center, while Faith Goodenbury and Brianna Neyman both had Multiple hits on the day.

Briann Neyman pitched part of the first, allowing one hit, three walks and five runs with a strikeout. Emily Pietrzykowski tossed five innings, allowing five hits, no runs, no walks and eight punchouts. Melissa Sawyer pitched the last frame, giving up one hit, two runs and getting two strikeouts.
Alexander improved to 11-5 and heads to Barker on Monday.

Submitted photos information.

Notre Dame beat Lyndonville 9-6 in Girls Softball on Thursday in a game played at GCC.

The Irish collected 14 hits, but coach Otis Thomas said pitching and defense were key.

Loretta Sorochty went the distance, pitching seven innings, giving up six hits, six runs (three earned) and striking out eight batters.  

Offensively, for Notre Dame, Katie Landers and Sorchty each had three hits to pace the offense.  Landers finished with two doubles, a single, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI, while Sorochty had three singles and two runs scored.  

Mia Treleaven, Kaydence Stehlar and Anna Panepento each had two hits for the Lady Irish. 

"This is a big win for us, and I am proud of the effort given by the ladies this evening," Thomas said. "It got a little shaky in the seventh giving up the 4 runs, but we settled down and got that last out.  As big as this one was, we need to put it behind us and continue our run to Sectionals." 

Submitted photo info.

Alexander Girls Softball cleaned up over the weekend, getting three wins over two days, including a muddy mess of a win over Kendall on Sunday evening.

Coach John Goodenbury called it a slip-and-slide contest.

The Trojans won 8-5.

Emily Pietrzykowski picked up the win for Alexander, pitching 7 innings allowing five hits, six free passes and notching eight whiffs.

Senior Olivia Delelys led Alexanders' offensive, going 3-3 with a double and 2 RBIs.  Melissa Sawyer went 2-2 with an RBI.  

“We were not sure we would get this game in today because of the forecast," Goodenbury said. "At game time, the weather didn’t seem like the rain was too heavy or that it would last long, but we were wrong.  Kendall’s head coach Jeff Parizek and I just wanted to play this game, so we rolled with mother nature’s punches and played on.  Looking back at the game, I think both teams had a blast, the girls got the chance to be like little kids again as they were sliding around the bases and getting covered in mud.  To see the girls with big smiles playing a game, I am sure they will always remember, is worth the extra laundry detergent to me.”

With the win, Alexander is now 9-5 on the season.

Two of those nine wins came on Saturday when Alexander beat Byron-Bergen and Barker.

In game one, the Trojans shut out the Bees 6-0.

Madison Boyce tossed a 4-hit shutout. Boyce pitched 7 innings, allowing four hits, eight walks and recording 

Emily Pietrzykowski was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, while Lilly Szymkowiak was 2-3 with a double and 1 run scored. 

In game two, Alexander beat Barker 11-6.

Alexander racked up 13 hits during the contest. 

Makenna Boyce, Olivia Delelys and Melissa Sawyer all collected multiple hits for Alexander. Senior Makenna Boyce led Alexander going 3-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs, and a stolen base.  Emily Pietrzykowski, Madison Boyce and Melissa Sawyer combined pitching efforts for the win, surrendering four hits while striking out 9.

“The past week was a tough week for the entire GR with bad weather that forced many cancellations and that resulted in us stacking a doubleheader today," Goodenbury said. "A scheduling conflict had us play both games today back-to-back with no break in between games, so our girls had to dig deep today.  They made it work and came out on top of both contests.  Maddison Boyce has been pitching outstanding for us, and today she completed her third shutout of the season and reached 60 strikeouts after 33.2 innings on the bump so far.  It was Senior Day for us, and both of our seniors, Makenna Boyce and Olivia Delelys, played great to make it a special day for Alexander.”

Story based on submitted information.  Submitted photos.

Submitted photos and game report.

A three-run sixth for Alexander broke a 3-3 tie and propelled the Trojans to a 10-4 win over Notre Dame in Girls Softball on Saturday at GCC.

With a runner on, Madison Boyce tripled to make it 4-3.  Makenna Boyce and Carley Shepard knocked in two more runs, and Alexander lead 6-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.  

Notre Dame’s Kaydence Stehlar hit her second home run of the day over the centerfield fence to get the Irish back within two runs.  

In the top of the seventh, a walk issued to Alexander’s Boyce loaded the bases for Emily Pietrzykowski.  Pietrzykowski didn’t miss the second pitch of the at-bat. She blasted it deep over the centerfield fence for a grand slam making it 10-4.  

It was Alexander's 100th team hit of the season.

Pietrzykowski (top photo) earned the win for Alexander, allowing four earned runs on seven hits over seven innings, walking three and striking out a trio of Irish.

Madison Boyce was 3-4 on the day with a triple, a double and two RBIs.  Carley Shepard, Olivia Delelys, and Ava Yax had multiple hits in the contest.  

As a team, Alexander collected 14 hits on the day.

 For Notre Dame: Sonji Warner had a homerun to center and Kaydence Stehlar had two homeruns to center.

"We went into this game knowing that Notre Dame is a well-coached and talented team, so we had to play sound ball to win," said Alexander's head coach, John Goodenbury. "Pietrzykowski pitched well and kept us in the game on the rubber with excellent defensive support from all positions.  Our team never got down on themselves despite losing the early lead.  We have a very young team, but they showed today they are scrappy and won’t go down without a fight.  Our motto this year is 'Go ahead, doubt us' because we like to feel like we are the underdog in every game.  This keeps the girls humble and hungry.  They play for each other instead of themselves, and I  couldn’t be more proud of them.”

 Next up for Alexander is a 5 p.m. dual with Kendall at home on Monday. 

Submitted game story and photos.

Emily Pietrzykowski was in control on the rubber against Pembroke, leading Alexander to the win allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out nine over seven innings. 

Pietrzykowski also led Alexander at the plate, going 2-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs.

For Alexander, Madison Boyce went 2-3 with a double and three runs scored. 

Olivia Delelys and Lillian Szymkowiak each knocked a double, and Faith Goodenbury hit a triple with two RBIs for the Trojans.

Pembroke's Reagan Schneider broke up the no-hitter in the bottom of the fourth with a single to center, and Aleena Maynard took the loss pitching while collecting seven strikeouts on the day.

Alexander played solid defense and did not commit an error in the field in support of the shutout. 

Alexander's next game is Friday, when they host Oakfield-Alabama at 5 p.m.

Notre Dame snagged a come-from-behind victory with a six-run seventh inning to beat Lyndonville on Monday in Girls Softball, 9-8.

Loretta Sorochty, Kaydence Stehlar, Mia Treleaven, and Emma Sisson all had multiple hits in the game.  Starting pitcher Mia Treleaven struck out seven batters, and Loretta Sorochty struck out 3 in relief.  

Photos by Pete Welker.

Alexander Varsity Softball fought back to earn the win after an early push by rival Attica Central in the second inning, where Alexander coughed up 4 runs. 

The early offensive assault by Attica was led by Grace Snyder and Elise Dresesel, who drove in runs in the second. Snyder hit a long ball over the right-field fence.

Alexander carved out 4 runs in the fifth inning to take the lead and didn’t look back behind the strong outing by Madison Boyce (top photo). 

Boyce earned the win for Alexander, allowing only five runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out 12.  Boyce also led Alexander with 2 hits.

“We needed this game bad after an upsetting underperformance yesterday against Lyndonville," said first-year Head Coach John Goodenbury. "Our team is young but talented, so we needed to regroup and redeem ourselves today.  We love to compete against our Attica neighbors, and that will never change. I am extremely proud of the heart and determination of this team.  Now, we focus on Alden at home this Saturday as they have always been a well-coached and strong team.”

Submitted photos and information.

It's more than just fun in the sun each of the last five summers when James Fazio has hosted his annual softball summer skills camp at Batavia High School.

It's about putting in the reps to learn the skills that leads to winning games.

The camp is open to softball players from throughout the region, not just Batavia students, and the girls work on the fundamentals of the game including hitting, throwing, fielding, base running, and pitching.

Fazio was assisted at this year's camp by Athletes Edge Coach Brian Mruczek, Batavia Varsity Assistant Coach Mike Almekinder, Batavia JV Coach Jamie Masters and Batavia Stingers Coach Stan Kaus.

"I like to open the camp up to girls from the whole area, not just Batavia girls, just so we promote the game," Fazio said. "If I can help them with their skills in any way possible, that's my main objective. Obviously, I'd like to have a lot of my Batavia girls attend, which we do have a good amount this year, and I have my varsity girls who are helping and they've done a tremendous job all week long. I'm just trying to promote the game in our area, which is very popular anyways."

Photos by Howard Owens.

Before Le Roy's U-16 softball game against Batavia on Monday evening, Lily Uberty received the first-ever Madison Grace Masters Peacemaker Award.

The purpose of the award is to honor Madison Master, who passed away in 2020. The Le Roy Youth Softball board created the award to secure the legacy of Master in the Le Roy athletic community. 

The MGM Peacemaker Award is given to a deserving player, as chosen by their coaches, who exemplifies:

• Commitment to the sport of softball and team.
• Model of sportsmanship in treating teammates, coaches, opposing teams, umpires and parents with the utmost respect.
• Acts as a mentor and example, embracing inclusivity and supporting teammates who may be struggling.
• Maintains a positive attitude in all aspects of practice and competition, especially in difficult situations.
• Displays the qualities of a leader where respect has been earned from teammates and coaches alike.

Uberty received a $100 gift certificate donated by Dick's Sporting Goods as well as a custom-crafted softball adorned with MGM and a red butterfly and #12, Maddie's number when she played softball.

Photos by Howard Owens

Press release:

The 2022 summer camp will be held at the Batavia High School Varsity softball field on July 5 through 7 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The 8th and 9th will be used as rain dates.

The camp is open to girls ages 8-17 (age 8 to upcoming seniors in HS) from any town.

The camp will feature Batavia Varsity Softball Coach Jim Fazio, Batavia Varsity Assistant Coach, and Athletes Edge Coach Brian Mruczek, Batavia Varsity Assistant Coach Mike Almekinder, Batavia JV Coach Jamie Masters, Batavia Stingers Coach Stan Kaus, and current Batavia Varsity players.

The camp will focus on the fundamentals of the game including hitting, throwing, fielding, base running, and pitching. A catcher (can be a friend, parent, etc.) must be provided for those taking part in the pitching lessons, which are from 9:15 to 10 a.m. The pitching lessons will be taught by Pembroke 2022 graduating senior Allie Schwerthoffer, a perennial Genesee Region League all-star. All players will be grouped according to age, ability, or both.

The cost of the camp is $75 and includes a camp t-shirt. Multiple kids from same the family will cost $65 per player. Make checks payable to Batavia Softball Boosters and mail to Jim Fazio, 5190 Ellicott Street Road,  Batavia, NY 14020 Contact info: 585-356-0901 jfazio@gvboces.org 

To download the sign-up form (PDF), click here.

Bryar Biracree pitched a complete game no-hitter for the Le Roy 12U Black Team on Thursday against Geneseo.  She gave up four unearned runs in Le Roy's 8-4 victory. She struck out 14.

LeRoy’s offense was led by Biracree and Abby Valdes scoring two runs each. Kallia Shannon and Annora Karcher both had RBIs.

The girls play Cal-Mum at home on Tuesday.

Information and photo submitted by Shannon Karcher

The Elba Lancers softball team came into the post-season as the #6 seed in the Class D2 Section V tournament and put together a string of wins carrying them to the championship game yesterday against Friendship.

Nice run but it came to an end with a 10-0 loss.

The Lancers finish the season with a record of 7-11.

Photos by Debra Reilly.