BINGHAMTON – Raine and Rylee Denny won’t forget their 17th birthday.
Emma Moeller won’t forget hers, either.
No later than the first day of softball practice did the Oakfield-Alabama trio identify this possibility.
Saturday, June 13 wasn’t just each player’s 17th birthday. It also marked the New York state high school softball finals.
O-A defeated Section IV’s Windham-Ashland-Jewett, 4-1, in the NYSPHSAA Class D championship game – quite the birthday gift for three juniors who proved essential to the Hornets’ success.
Despite the elation they enjoyed at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park, Moeller and the Denny twins didn’t have long to celebrate. Each would play again 24 hours later with their travel softball club.
That’s life for the Hornets, a battle-tested group which captured O-A’s first state title in any sport. Birthdays together – especially on the softball field – are nothing new for a group which has played together for a decade.
This time, the Hornets will return to Genesee County with the gift of a lifetime.
“There’s going to be a sign when you come into the village of Oakfield that says 2026 softball state champs,” O-A coach Jeff Schlagenhauf said postgame. “I just feel joy for these kids. They worked so hard, they love what they do and they’re super coachable.”
Closing the deal
Sunshine beat down on Grand Slam Park as O-A hoisted its championship trophy.
The Hornets didn’t mind the heat. They awaited this day for months, if not years.
“We were looking at brackets and we were like, oh shoot!” Moeller recalled.
“We have a chance!” Raine Denny added.
O-A’s path proved anything but easy. It started the playoffs seeded second in a Section V field which featured six Class D teams ranked in the state’s top 25.
The Hornets navigated Class D2 before defeating Avoca/Prattsburgh to reach the NYSPHSAA quarterfinals. A 6-1 victory against Section VI champ Forestville punched their ticket to Binghamton.
“I started crying. It just doesn’t feel real yet,” Moeller said. “After last year losing in sectional finals, we came back hungry. We were ready for this.”
O-A defeated Cincinnatus of Section III, 9-0, in the Class D semifinals. Savannah Durham then struck out nine in a five-hit performance which handed W-A-J its first loss.
“I have a good arsenal, so using (movement),” Durham said of her postseason success. “Allowing them to make contact and my defense making plays.”
Sophomore third baseman Allison Harkness delivered two hits and an RBI in the final. She and the Hornets’ infield used defensive plays to erase multiple W-A-J runners on the base paths.
“We do bunt coverage every single day. It’s one of our favorite things to do,” Harkness said. “We pride ourselves on it. These are some of my best friends and I’m so glad I got to experience this with them.”
Long time coming
Watch parties sprung up across northwestern Genesee County as the Hornets battled on. A parade welcomed them home.
They felt that support, Schlagenhauf said, as they stayed stoic on the state’s highest stage.
“We never talked about being happy to be here,” Schlagenhauf said. “You get ahead of the moment sometimes, and we didn’t let that happen.”
O-A had reason for confidence. Its only loss occurred on May 8.
The Hornets hit, pitched and defended with Section V’s best. As games grew closer, the latter grew in importance.
“You know you’re not going to score 15 runs at this level,” Schlagenhauf said. “We knew we could hit and we’ve had great pitching, so we really focused on defense, and it came through.”
One constant throughout the playoffs? Durham’s pitching.
She held all but one playoff opponent to one run or less.
“(Durham) doesn’t beat herself,” Schlagenhauf said. “If there aren’t extra kids on base, it takes pressure off the defense. She’s not very big, but she’s a bulldog. She grinds and she’s really good at her craft.”
Most of O-A’s roster, including the birthday girls, will return next season. They’ll be sure to check their calendars come spring.
Jeff Uveino joined the USA Today Network in 2023 and began covering Rochester-area high school sports in 2026. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication and native of Perry. Contact him at juveino@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino and on Instagram @jeffusports.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Three unforgettable birthdays, one championship for Oakfield-Alabama
Reporting by Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
