BALLSTON SPA — The month of May has not been littered with victories for the Saratoga Springs softball team. The Blue Streaks opened Class AA sectional play at Ballston Spa on Thursday and if their performance is any indication, the squad’s latest playoff push could result in another title.
The program’s 2022 squad was seeded seventh and proceeded to beat No. 2 Bethlehem, No. 3 Columbia and No. 1 Shenendehowa in succession to claim the championship. Thursday, fifth-seeded Saratoga Springs edged fourth-seeded Ballston Spa 1-0 as sophomore pitcher Jackie Cutting tossed a three-hitter to outduel junior Hadley Donnelly.
Cutting, who excelled during the 2022 playoffs, struck out five and was a benefactor of superlative defensive play made by her teammates.
“I think that is the best game we have played defensively,” said Saratoga Springs senior shortstop Mackenzie Waghorn, who turned in a pair of dazzling plays in the first and seventh innings. “Everyone wanted the ball hit to them.”
“This is a game of inches. Today, the inches were with us,” Saratoga Springs coach Geoff Loiacono said. “They came to win today. Hats off to Ballston Spa. (Donnelly) pitched a great game.”
Up next for Saratoga Springs (14-7) is a semifinal contest Tuesday vs. No. 1 seed Colonie (16-2) at Schalmont High School. Game time is 5 p.m.
Saratoga Springs senior second baseman Karley Austin said dropping a 5-2 decision against Ballston Spa on the Blue Streaks’ Senior Night on May 10 really bothered the team. It concluded regular-season play with Saratoga Springs dropping five of six games entering sectional play.
But just as they did during the team’s 2022 playoff run, the Blue Streaks hit the road in the quarterfinals and defeated the higher-seeded foe. The victory improved the team’s record to 3-5 this month.
The…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply