All Five Section 1 champions Clarkstown South (AAA), Eastchester (AA), Pearl River (A), Dobbs Ferry (B), and Tuckahoe (C) received byes into the NYSPHSAA Regional finals.
All five games will be played at Monroe-Woodbury High School. The winner advances to next weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Final Four at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.
Friday, June 5
At Monroe-Woodbury HS
Class B: Dobbs Ferry 4, Spackenkill (Section 9) 3
Class A: Pearl River 3, Marlboro (Section 9) 0
Class AA: Minisink Valley (Section 9) 4, Eastchester 2
Thursday, June 4
At Monroe-Woodbury HS
Class C: Pine Plains (Section 9) 4, Tuckahoe 1
Class AAA: Pine Bush (Section 9) 7, Clarkstown South 3
Dobbs Ferry advances to the final four for first time since 2010
CENTRAL VALLEY ― For the first time since 2010, Dobbs Ferry softball is headed to the state final four.
On Friday afternoon, the Eagles defeated Section 9 champion Spackenkill 4-3 at Monroe-Woodbury High School.
“It’s so special,” Dobbs Ferry right fielder Emma DeFilippis, an eighth grader, said. “I’m so excited to be part of a team that gets to do this.”
And this didn’t come easy for the Eagles. In the first two innings, nothing seemed to be going right. There were some miscues on the basepaths and they found themselves down 1-0.
But no one panicked.
“We learned how to pick each other up,” junior shortstop Nicolette Giorgio said. “When someone makes an error or we make an out at bat, the next person comes up and does something to better the team. We don’t let anyone get down on themselves. We know it can pick up at any second.
And pick it up the Eagles did in the top of the third inning.
After back to back hits by Lucy Logan and Olivia Hochleutner, DeFilippis ripped an RBI single to center field to tie the game. Kamryn Addis followed with a two-run single to center field to give the Eagles the lead. Two batters later, Emily Marron had an RBI single to give Dobbs Ferry the 4-1 lead.
It was eerily similar to the Section 1 finals on June 1 when they put up a four-spot in the third inning after being down a run.
“We always seem to get our bats going in the third inning,” Addis said. “The second time around the order.”
Eighth-grade pitcher Victoria Baron took it from there and played beyond her years. She was able to keep the Spartans off the scoreboard.
Even in the bottom of the seventh inning, Spackenkill was able to push a run across to cut the Eagles lead to one but Baron stayed in control to limit the damage.
“Mentally in the last inning it was a little tough, Baron said. “But I decided that I needed to stick up and stand up. I needed to trust my infield, trust what I needed to do and believe in myself.”
What it means?
Dobbs Ferry advances to the NYSPHSAA Class B semifinals for the first time since 2010. They will play at 4 p.m. Friday. June 12 at Grand Slam Park in Binghamton. They await the winner of June 6’s Long Island championship between Section 8’s Carle Place and Section 11’s Babylon. Spackenkill ends its season with a record of 12-7.
Player of the game
Victoria Baron, Dobbs Ferry: The eighth-grade ace doesn’t blow you away in the circle. But the biggest x-factor about her is the poise. When her team was down 1-0, her performance, along with some great defense helped keep the Spartans at bay until the Dobbs Ferry bats got going. When Spackenkill had traffic in the bottom of the seventh, Baron kept her cool and let the pitching do the talking.
By the numbers
Dobbs Ferry (19-3): Emily Marron 3-4, RBI; Lucy Logan 2-3; Emma DeFilippis 2-4, RBI; Kamryn Addis 1-4, RS, 2 RBI; Olivia Hochleutner 1-3, RS; Victoria Baron WP, 7 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 4 K.
Spackenkill (12-7): Cadie Hanaburgh 1-3, RS, RBI, LP, 7 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 11 H, BB, 2 K; Lilly Lindell 1-3, RS, RBI; Adrianna Alessandro 3-3, 2B; Ava Brandenberg 2-3, RS.
They said it
“A bird pooped on me in the pregame meeting and the ump told me it was good luck. We’ve been joking the whole game. I said ‘I’m waiting for that good luck cause it doesn’t seem that anything is going my way.'” Eagles coach Kim Reznicek said of the first couple of innings.
“I want to make history, baby, with my team. I feel like we all deserve it,” said Baron on what it means to get back Dobbs Ferry back to the state semifinals.
“I told her that it was all her out here. She’s the one demanding the field. If she wants this, she’s going to show us how she wants it, like she always does.” Nicolette Giorgio said of her talk with Baron before the final out of the game.
Pearl River tops Marlboro, heads to final four for first time since 2010
CENTRAL VALLEY ― In 2024, Pearl River met Marlboro in the NYSPHSAA Class A subregional round. The Pirates got upended that year.
Friday at Monroe-Woodbury High School with the regional championship on the line, these two teams faced off and for the Pirates, the result was different.
This year’s iteration defeated the Section 9 champion Dukes, 3-0, in a state regional final to advance to the state final four for the first time since 2015.
“I feel ecstatic,” Pearl River catcher Brooke Donnelly said. “I believe in this team so much. We are all so confident. It’s just a family every time we’re together. I’m glad we get to experience (the state final four) together.”
The Pirates were able to get on the board in the top of the second inning. With one out, after Donnelly singled up the middle, Catie Donahue advanced her with a sac bunt The next batter, designated player Brielle Brusca, reached via error and Donnelly scored from second.
That was all pitcher Ashlyn Ryan needed. She was able to keep Marlboro off balance all game long.
“Everything was pretty loose,” Ryan said of her stuff. “I just felt good going into the game. My fielders were able to back me up.”
Pearl River coach Chris Woolgar was impressed with his young ace.
“Ashlyn Ryan is something else,” Woolgar said. “She started as an eighth-grader. This year, the biggest difference between her and everyone else is her composure in the circle – never gets rattled. She trusts her defense. She talks about that all the time. Defense makes plays for her and she throws strikes.”
In the fourth inning, the Pirates tacked on two more runs on RBI from Donnelly and Cait Murphy.
What it means?
Pearl River advances to the NYSPHSAA Class A semifinals for the first time since 2015. They will play at 10 a.m. Friday June 12 at Grand Slam Park in Binghamton. They await the winner of the Long Island championship between Section 8’s Wantagh and Section 11’s Miller Place. Marlboro ends their season with a record of 16-5.
Player of the game
Ashlyn Ryan, Pearl River: The freshman pitcher tossed a gem for the Pirates. She had everything working and tossed a one-hitter allowing a walk and struck out nine. The lone hit she allowed came in the fifth inning.
By the numbers
Pearl River (22-3): Ella McHugh 2-3, RS, BB, SB; Bella Caparrelli 0-3, SF; Brooke Donnelly 2-4, 2 RS, RBI; Catie Donohue 1-3, sac bunt; Brielle Brusca 0-2, sac bunt; Cait Murphy 1-3, RBI, Ashlyn Ryan WP, 7 IP, H, BB, 9 K.
Marlboro (16-5): Theresa O’Dell 1-3; Katie Mohl BB; Sam Maleck LP, 7 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 H, BB, 13 K.
They said it
“She’s a phenomenal pitcher. She’s so young. She has so much time to get better. I’m really glad I get to be here for the beginning of it,” said Brooke Donnelly on her pitcher, Ashlyn Ryan.
“It feels great. It feels like all of the work paid off through out all the hard practices, hard games.” Pearl River first baseman Cait Murphy said of winning.
Eastchester bested by Minisink Valley in regional final
CENTRAL VALLEY ― It just wasn’t Eastchester’s day in the state Class AA regional final on Friday.
The Section 1 champs just couldn’t muster up a lot of offense and they fell to Section 9’s Minisink Valley 4-2 at Monroe Woodbury High School.
“I think as a team we played really hard and gave it our all,” Eagles junior center fielder Angelina Recine said. “It wasn’t our day. We had so much great teamwork.”
The Eagles did get off to the early lead. Ellianna Baez led off the game with a leadoff triple. In the next at-bat, Recine grounded out to first, but the speed of Baez got her in.
“I was definitely looking to boost Elli up and bring her in,” Recine said. “That definitely was in my head. I was locked in. It wasn’t the greatest at-bat but it still got the RBI in.”
Minisink Valley took the lead in the bottom of the second after the Spartans got a two-out, two run double scoring two to put them up 2-1
It was all Spartans starter Emily Smith needed.
“I give a lot of credit to their pitcher,” Eastchester coach Pat Gallo said. “She did a great job. She kept us off balance. She has some really nice stuff. We started to adjust a little later in the game. I thought we were going to put something together again in the seventh there. A lot of credit to them. I thought Sabrina did a nice job. We played pretty good defense. We just didn’t get the big hits in the big spots.
The Eagles had a chance in the top of the seventh. With runners on first and second and one out, senior Taylor Naclerio singled to right field to cut the lead to two.
What it means?
Section 9’s Minisink Valley advances to the NYSPHSAA Class AA final four. It plays at 2:30 p.m. Friday June 12 at Grand Slam Park in Binghamton. They await the Long Island champion between Section 8’s Calhoun and Section 11’s East Islip. Eastchester ends their season with a record of 21-3.
Player of the game
Emily Smith, Minisink Valley: The Warriors pitcher kept Eastchester off balance all game long. She allowed two runs, five, hits, two walks and eight strike outs.
By the numbers
Minisink Valley (19-4): Keira Flip 1-3, Lyla Labarbara 1-3; Hannah Ringus 1-3, 2B, RBI; Tyler Hannigan 2-2, 2 RS, BB; Juliet Lynch 2-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Emily Smith 1-3, RS, 2B, WP, 7 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K.
Eastchester (21-3): Ellianna Baez 2-4, 3B, RS; Angelina Recine 0-3, RBI; Kylie Reardon 1-3, 2B; Victoria Gutierrez, RS, BB; Sabrina Cosgrove 0-2, BB, LP, 6 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 8 H, BB, 4 K; Taylor Naclerio 1-3, RBI; Olivia Le 1-3.
They said it
“This is probably one of her best years as a pitcher. That really helped us. She’s probably our MVP of the season. That helped us stay in every game. I think that’s what got us here too – just Sabrina helping us. It really boosted us.” Recine said of Sabrina Cosgrove’s performance all season.
“One game doesn’t define your season. At the end of the day, we had a tremendous season – so many ups. The one time we came up short of a late game rally. All the credit to them (Minisink Valley). That’s a real good softball team. I’m happy with the way my girls played.” Eastchester coach Pat Gallo said o the end of the season.
Clarkstown South loses to Pine Bush in Class AAA regional final
CENTRAL VALLEY – When Carley Voce smashed that double to right, a screaming liner that crashed into the wall, there was more than a glimmer of hope. Among the Clarkstown South fans, and within their dugout, there was excitement. There was belief that it could be the start of another epic comeback, another memorable moment that would live in their softball lore.
That four-run deficit and the probability percentages be damned.
“We never stop believing, never stop fighting,” senior Kayla Dwyer said. “It’s because we never drop our heads or think a game is over until the last out that we’ve been able to come back in so many games.”
That became a signature of this group, the resilience and guile under pressure, and what sometimes seemed like a degree of comfort with their collective backs against the ropes. Clarkstown South shook off a four-run deficit before surging in the Section 1 semifinals, then rallied for an extra-inning win in the final to capture a second consecutive championship.
But, Voce said, “every story has to have its ending.”
The Vikings this time weren’t able to add another riveting chapter or craft the fairytale finale as Section 9’s Pine Bush recorded the final two outs of 7-3 win, toppling South in the Class AAA regional final.
Clarkstown’s Eama Rosario drilled a homer to left in the fourth that tied it at 3, but Pine Bush answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Avery Ogden then worked around Voce’s double, eventually inducing a fly ball to right that ended it.
The Bushmen to face the Long Island champion (Massapequa or Sachem North) in a state semifinal on June 12 at 1 p.m. at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.
“I told them how incredible these last two years have been,” said Vikings coach Brian Peterson, whose team reached the Class AA state semifinals last season. “We lost today, unfortunately, but these girls have set a standard for this program, and set an example for the people coming behind them, and I’m grateful to them.”
Turning point
Clarkstown scored twice with the bases loaded in the third on successive sacrifice flies from Cara Luna and Giordana Vasi. But the Bushmen took a 3-2 lead on Ava Boffalo’s three-run homer to left in the bottom of the inning.
Rosario’s homer tied and the Vikings loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, threatening at least a go-ahead run. Ogden wiggled out of that jam unscathed, though, getting a strikeout and a fly out to deep center.
The Bushmen capitalized on their bases-loaded opportunity in the next frame. Emma Boffalo lined a two-run single to left and an error allowed them to clear the bases, taking a 6-3 lead. Alexyss Conley followed with a sacrifice fly.
“They’re a great team and they’ve got some talented hitters,” Dwyer said of Pine Bush, which won its second Section 9 title since 2024. “There weren’t any weak spots in their lineup.”
Box score
Pine Bush (19-3) — Ogden allowed three earned runs, eight hits and three walks and struck out six in a complete game. Ava Boffalo was 1 for 3 with the three-run homer, Emma Boffalo went 2 for 3 with two RBI, and Payton Croce was 2 for 3.
Clarkstown South (17-7) — Dwyer gave up five earned runs and seven hits and struck out seven in a complete game. The senior set the program record earlier this season with 67 wins. Voce was 2 for 3 with a walk. The centerfielder eclipsed 100 hits and 100 RBIs in her career. Emily Franchi went 2 for 3 with a run.
They said it
“Most of us grew up together and have been and have played together since little league, so it’s tough that it ends like this,” Voce said. “We would’ve loved to get a state title, but accomplished a lot and made great memories. We’re disappointed now, but we can’t forget about that.”
Voce is a basketball star headed to Lafayette where she’ll be joined by Dwyer, who is committed to the university as a swimmer.
“It shows the kind of human beings they are, the kind of people who have faith in each other and don’t get rattled,” Peterson said of the knack his team had for rallying. She coach became choked up while speaking. “Those are the kind of qualities that transcend the field and make me so proud of them.”
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
Tuckahoe falls to rival Pine Plains in Class C regional final
CENTRAL VALLEY – The scene as atypical of a team that had just lost to its nemesis in a playoff showdown. But, as the players huddled together and spoke briefly in their dugout, a few smiles were cracked. Then others followed. And cupcakes were distributed.
“It’s definitely frustrating, knowing that we came up short,” Tuckahoe pitcher Katie Attwood said, “but we’re still proud of the season we had. And we know this will be added motivation for us next year.”
For most of them, “next year” is their solace. The silver lining for this softball team comes in the form of the 9s, 10s and 11s that litter the roster, indicating school years. The Tigers are expected to return 10 players next season, a talented core that already has experienced both dominance and heartbreak on its deep postseason runs.
There was, of course, reason to be proud of what was accomplished this spring, but Tuckahoe had a sterling season derailed in a 4-1 loss to Section 9’s Pine Plains in the Class C regional final at Monroe-Woodbury High School.
The rivals squared off this round three straight years and Pine Plains has twice gotten the better of the Tigers. Tuckahoe won the matchup last season en route to the state final, raising expectations. So there was disappointment on June 4, particularly because the Tigers were done in by defensive gaffes in what was expected to be a pitchers’ duel.
Pine Plains advances to the state semifinals for the second time since 2024 and will face Galway or Ticonderoga on June 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.
“We made a couple costly errors and that came around to bite us,” said coach John D’Arco, whose team has won five consecutive Section 1 championships. “Pine Plains is a great team, as we know, and games with them come down to who can avoid the mistake. Today, it was them.”
Turning point
Cayleigh Handel put Tuckahoe on the board in the second inning with a booming home run that carried over the fence in center field. Unfortunately for them, it was one of only two hits that Bombers ace Talia Durant allowed.
The left-hander kept the Tigers off-balance with an array of off-speed pitches and a fastball she spotted well on the corners. Durant struck out 10 and walked one in a complete game.
Pine Plains tied it in the fourth when Abby Mayes reached on an infield error, took second on a wild pitch, and eventually scored on Anna Essery’s single – a pop fly that fell between defenders. They took a 3-1 lead in the fourth when Mayes hit a two-out infield single that scored Emma Alford and Harper Shea following another fielding miscue.
Addy Farinaccio led off the sixth with an infield single and later scored on Peyton Burton’s single to create the margin.
“We have a lot of respect for Pine Plains, and they were the better team today,” said Attwood, a junior. “They were sharp, and took advantage of our mistakes. But it’s something to learn from, and I know we’re going to work hard to get better from this.”
Box score
Pine Plains (19-2) — Attwood allowed five hits and struck out 11 in a complete game. Mayes was 1 for 3 with two RBI and a run, and Alford and Burton each went 1 for 3.
Tuckahoe (17-5) — Handel went 1 for 2 with a homer and a walk, and Attwood was 1 for 3.
They said it
“This is a great group of kids and they don’t get down on themselves too much,” D’Arco said. “But we’ll look at this as a learning experience and use it to propel us. Last time we lost to them, it drove us the following year and we got to the state final. We’ll have a chance to get back here again and change the outcome.”
“Most of us have been playing together for a long time and we’re close friends,” Handel, a sophomore said, of the group’s tenor afterwards. “We’re disappointed, but not mad. We’re losing two (seniors), but most of us are going to still be together next year. We’re going to come back more focused and be better.”
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie; @LoHudSoftball
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Dobbs Ferry, Pearl River win, advance to NYS softball final four
Reporting by Debbie Schechter and Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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By Debbie Schechter and Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
