BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Southern Tier’s best softball teams, that of Vestal and Horseheads, Maine-Endwell and Oneonta, competed at Greenlight Grand Slam Park in Binghamton for the Class AA and A sectional title, respectively.
Maine-Endwell’s Tessa L’Amoreaux laid out the blueprint for her teammates, so to speak, serving as a model and key factor in the team’s 3-1 title victory over Oneonta. The junior pitcher managed 12 strikeouts in seven innings, while allowing the Yellowjackets only three hits in the game.
Vestal’s Natalie Frobel had three hits in the nine-inning performance against Horseheads, including a game-winning single line drive out to right field to bring teammate Tilly MacNamee her second run of the game and the Golden Bears’ close 5-4 victory over the former sectional and regional title holders.
Vestal will likely meet Section 6’s at-large team at 1:00 PM at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park on June 2, while Maine-Endwell will likely face Section 8’s at large team at 4:00 PM at the same venue for the continuation of the 2026 NYSPHSAA state softball tournament.
Maine-Endwell’s pitching proves to be second to none
Bottom line: L’Amoreaux’s dominance on the mound left Oneonta scoreless until the fifth inning, with the Yellowjackets then seeing some light at the end of the tunnel before L’Amoreaux ended the game the way she began, shutting out the last two innings to put the score at 3-1 and a shot at becoming back-to-back state regional champions.
Key plays & sequences:
Other key stats:
Tessa L’Amoreaux (P), M-E: at bat – 1 run, 2 hits, 1 RBI; Harper Eagan (1B), M-E: 1 hit, 2 RBIs
Carey Mistler (P), Oneonta: 4 strikeouts, 8 hits allowed; Desiree Wheeler (2B), Oneonta: 1 run, 1 hit
Vestal’s decisiveness comes in clutch
Bottom line: A walk-off home run by Vestal’s Maggie Costello and Horseheads’ Caitlyn Yearick brought the two powerhouses to a late standstill at 4-4 before pivotal decisions made by Vestal’s Tilly MacNamee named Vestal the 2026 sectional champions with a 5-4 victory over last year’s champs.
Key plays & sequences:
Other key stats:
Erin Gowe (P), Vestal: 14 strikeouts, 8 hits allowed; Maggie Costello (SS): 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 hit
Raegan Burge (P), Horseheads: 6 strikeouts, 11 hits allowed; Caitlin Yearick (3B), Horseheads: 2 runs, 4 RBIs, 3 hits
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Vestal and M-E softball overcome Horseheads and Oneonta at sectionals
Reporting by Aniya Sumner, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
