ROCHESTER – Four teams from Section V were included in the most recent New York state softball rankings.
Avon was not among them.
The Riverhawks might not boast a record as pristine as some of their local peers. They possess a weapon, however, which few – if any – high school teams can match.
Senior pitcher Jessie Crye was at her best in the Section V Class B2 final. In a battle between two Division I pitchers, Crye struck out 16 batters and allowed just one hit, leading No. 5 Avon (14-5) over No. 2 Wellsville (16-3), 2-1, at Gates Chili High School.
Wellsville, a five-time defending Section V champion, hadn’t lost a sectional playoff game since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Crye and company, in a rematch of last year’s Class B final, changed that on Friday, May 29.
Here’s how the game unfolded.
Avon, Wellsville scoreless through 2 innings
Avon senior Jessie Crye and Wellsville junior Kennedy Perry, two of the area’s top pitchers, battled in a rematch of last year’s Class B final.
Crye will play next season at Florida Gulf Coast University. Perry is committed to Boston University.
Avon left the bases loaded in the top of the second inning. Perry logged back-to-back strikeouts to erase the threat.
The Class B2 final was scoreless after two innings.
Avon strikes first
Avon plated the game’s first run in the top of the third inning when Payton Rice scored on a groundout by Rylie Miller. Rice reached on a bunt single before moving to second on a Jessie Crye single, and then to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kyleigh DeRider.
Avon leads, 1-0, after 2.5 innings.
Crye strands 2 in Wellsville fourth
Avon pitcher Jessie Crye struck out the first 10 batters she faced before two runners reached on a dropped third strike and fielder’s choice. Crye struck out Wellsville’s next two hitters, however, to end the threat.
Avon leads, 1-0, after four innings. Crye owns 13 strikeouts.
Boor doubles Avon’s lead
Avery Boor hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, extending Avon’s lead to 2-0. Riverhawks pitcher Jessie Crye has struck out 13 batters through five innings.
Wellsville on the board, leaves tying run at third
Two walks and an RBI single by Brynn Hallock provided Wellsville’s first run.
Avon avoided further damage by cutting the potential tying run down at home plate. That left a runner at third base with two outs, and Avon pitcher Jessie Crye forced a groundout.
Avon held a 2-1 lead through six innings.
Crye strikes out the side, seals Avon championship
Jessie Crye struck out all three batters she faced in the seventh inning. Avon defeats Wellsville, 2-1, for the Section V Class B2 championship.
Wellsville graduates seniors Brynn Hallock, Ayla Faulkner, Teagan Burke and Peyton Cawley from this year’s roster.
Section V softball: The latest
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: Wellsville’s Section V reign stopped by Avon in Class B2 finals
Reporting by Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
