Softball championship season is a pitch perfect way to finish spring and dive headfirst into summer sports.
And as is always the case, both high school and NCAA softball have generated compelling storylines this season.
Sectional and Regional champion Shenendehowa sent a team missing three starters to the Class AA state semifinals in Long Island when seven seniors chose to attend prom instead of joining their Plainsmen teammates for the last road trip of their high school career.
And while the issue of playing versus prom got heated in social media, the players kept it cool.
A dramatic and unlikely win in the semifinals Friday put the young squad in the position of playing for the state championship on Saturday.
But a miracle state championship for the Plainsmen was not to be, despite finishing off their season with two thrilling games led by junior pitcher Bre Hayes.
Section VI champion Clarence plated the game’s only run in the championship game on Saturday with a two-out bloop hit in the top of the 11th inning in a 1-0 win against the Plainsmen at Moriches Athletic Complex in Long Island.
“As time goes by, they’ll realize it was a special moment,” Plainsmen coach Chris Farquharson said of his team.
His young players already have a special bond going into next year. Shen hasn’t won a state title since 2003 and next year’s team will have experience at the highest level of high school competition.
“We went 11 innings,” Farquharson said. “We battled. It was very special. They never gave up. They never lost their energy.”
I firmly stand in the camp of those who believe a season-long commitment to a team should take precedence over prom.
But complicating the situation is the location of the tournament.
Section VI champion Clarence had to travel 450 miles from…
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