Webster Thomas, HF-L win routs in Class A Section V softball title games
Marquel SlaughterWEBSTER — The third's time's the charm for both Webster Thomas and Honeoye Falls-Lima.
Appearing in its third consecutive Section V final, No. 2 Webster Thomas beat top-seeded Irondequoit 21-5 in Saturday's Class A1 final at Webster Schroeder. The Titans, who was the section runner-up the last two seasons, was tied with Irondequoit at five through two innings before coach Emily Castro's Titans outscored the Eagles 16-0 across the final five frames.
Sixth-seeded Honeoye Falls-Lima won their second title in three seasons, returning to capture the Class A2 crown 9-4 over No. 8 Mercy. Coach Bailey Smith's Cougars jumped out to a 6-0 lead through two innings and never looked back.
What it means
Webster Thomas (16-7) won its first Section V title since 2009. They fell to Webster Schroeder and Brighton in the previous two championship games. Castro said the 16-run win was the Titans' best game of the season.
"Absolutely it was our best game of the season," Castro said. "This is what we've prepared for. Now we just keep going. Now we celebrate, enjoy it today, and then start thinking about Tuesday."
HFL (11-10) won its second title since 2021 with a few holdovers from that last title-clinching squad.
"They are so hard working," Smith said. "They started at such a young age and they have the drive and the passion to get better and better. These girls don't settle for anything less than perfection."
Tournament MVPs
Maddy Throumoulos
The Webster Thomas junior earned Class A1 tournament MVP honors. Throumoulos was 3-5 with a double and three runs scored Saturday.
Ellie Casler
The HFL senior was named MVP of the Class A2 tournament. Casler was 2-4, but it was her two-run home run over the centerfield fence gave the Cougars a 6-0 lead in the second.
"She's been playing this well since the age of 10 probably," Smith said. "She's a class act. She's a softball player. She's willing to help her teammates. She's a future hitting coach, I told her. She knows every mechanic and every breakdown in a swing. It helps herself and her teammates asses what they can do better that the plate. She's been a tremendous part of our success as a team, and her own success."
Top plays
Class A1
Too many to choose from in the case of Webster Thomas. How about Anna Bello drove in six runs, including an two-run single. Julia Maciag and Maddie Hicks each had an RBI-double. Emma Bello had an RBI-double and a two-run single. Olivia Constantino hit a two-run double. Defensively, the Titans closed with game turning a 6-4-3 double play.
"The plan was to get in there and find your pitch, you just drive it and keep going," Castro said. "Create opportunities, get bunts down in the right situation, and keep the pressure on Irondequoit."
Class A2
Casler's two-run homer gave the Cougars a 6-0 lead through two. But Kate Dailor hit her second homer of the season in the fourth. Her first came Thursday — a three-run shot to win the semifinals. Dailor, who scored the game-winning run of the 2021 final, was in a hitting slump before coming alive in the postseason.
"I'm just really happy that all of that extra time she's put in when she was in that slump paid off in the end," Smith said.
Game balls
Marlayna Cartagena
Irondequoit's senior was 3-3 with three doubles and two runs scored. Cartagena also pitched through the first six innings for the Eagles (20-3).
Maia Gathercole
Honeoye Falls-Lima's junior pitcher had seven strikeouts and scattered five hits to pick up the win. She screamed, "Let's go to prom with the brick!" during the postgame celebrations.
Madison Macko
HFL's senior lefty hit a second inning triple.
Madeline Oleksyn
The sophomore hit an RBI-single for Mercy (8-15).
Abby Ras
The Irondequoit sophomore hit a two-run single and ended the day with two hits.
Madison Schubach
HFL's junior leadoff hitter went 2-3 with a double and base on ball.
What's next
Webster Thomas and Honeoye Falls-Lima will play each other for the overall Section V Class A title at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Eastridge. Winner advances to the NYSPHSAA Far West Regionals to play the Section VI winner.