Varsity Archive
Subscribe to our Newsletter2016 Varsity Roster
Congratulations to our new and returning players for the 2016 season!
Returning Players:
Seniors
Zoe Busacco, Alyssa Gentile, (Captain), Jessica Koneski, Sarah Larmann, Emma Lutzke, Jennifer Maysuch (Captain)
Juniors
Sydney Bolan (Captain)
Sophomores
Victoria Catalano, Megan Palmer
Congratulations to new players:
Clare Aroune (10th), Laura Bowman (11th), Eva Fitzsimmons (11th), Sydney Rugaber (11th), Madeline Sehnert (10th)
2016 Varsity
2016 Award Winners
Impact Player: Jess Koneski
Ideal Player: Sarah Larmann
Pam Hawk Award: Alyssa Gentile
Don Santini Spark Plug Award: Sarah Larmann
Red Raider Award: Jess Koneski
Most Improved: Victoria Catalano
Golden Glove Award: Laura Bowman
Klutch: Jess Koneski
Hardest Worker: Sydney Bolan
Scholar Athlete Team: all 14 >90% average
Division 1: 1st team All County- Sydney Bolan& Jess Koneski ; 2nd team-Alyssa Gentile
New captains for 2017 season: Sydney Bolan and Laura Bowman
2016 Award Winners
Mod B- Martha Brown
Impact Player: Sarah Koehler
Ideal Player: Grace Lafay
Mod B Johanna Perrin
Impact Player: Meredith Davio
Ideal Player: Holly Buchholz
Mod A
Impact Player: Bryn Holmes
Ideal Plater: Lauren Dragoone
Team award: Victoria Byrne
Junior Varsity
Impact Player: Julia Eagan
Ideal Player: Julia Mallow
Varsity
Impact Player: Jess Koneski
Ideal Player: Sarah Larmann
Pam Hawk Award: Alyssa Gentile
Don Santini Spark Plug Award: Sarah Larmann
Red Raider Award: Jess Koneski
Most Improved: Victoria Catalano
Golden Glove Award: Laura Bowman
Klutch: Jess Koneski
Hardest Worker: Sydney Bolan
Scholar Athlete Team: all 14 >90% average
Division 1: 1st team All County- Sydney Bolan& Jess Koneski ; 2nd team-Alyssa Gentile
New captains for 2017 season: Sydney Bolan and Laura Bowman
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GAME 1 March 29 Fairport 0 vs. Middle Creek NC 11
The 2016 season started at 7:56am, with a temperature of 72 in Orlando, at the ESPN sports fields. That sure beat the 34 degrees it was in Fairport, at that time. Sydney Bolan was in the circle for the "home" team. Middle Creek scored once in the top of the 1st, on a sacrifice fly to LF. Emma Lutzke’s, throw just missed getting the runner out at home. In the bottom of the inning, Alyssa Gentile ripped a 2 out double to center, but she was left stranded. In the 2nd after MC had scored 8 times, Jess Koneski made a diving catch of a scorched line drive to end the inning. Laura Bowman had a 2 out single to right in the 3rd and Clare Aroune singled up the middle in the 5th, for the other Red Raider hits. Game 2 of the trip is Tuesday at high noon vs a team from Illinois.
2018 FAIRPORT RAIDERS VARSITY SOFTBALL
Bottom: Bryce Mazurkewicz (Jr.) Lexi Wheeler (Jr.)
2nd row: Bryn Holmes (Fr.) Zoe White (Jr.) Caolinn Murphy (Sr.) Lauren Dragoone (Jr.)
Reilly Murphy (Sr.) Carina Catalano (Soph.)
3rd row. Megan Palmer (Sr. co-capt.) Victoria Catalano (Sr. co-capt.) Kaitlyn Koneski (Jr.)
4th row: Julia Egan (Jr.) Clare Aroune (Sr. co-capt) Maddie Sehnert (Sr. co-captain) Haley Sax (Jr.) Julia Mallow (Jr.) Chloe Humphrey (Soph.) Lauren Foster (Jr.) Charlotte Klimasewski (Sr.)
2013 VARSITY
Fairport loses to Brockport in State Qualifier
On Saturday, the Fairport Red Raiders and the Brockport Blue Devils squared off to see who would represent Section V in the State Tournament. On Friday, Fairport had defeated Penfield 5-2 in the AA1 final and Brockport beat Greece Athena 3-0 in the AA2 bracket.
The game promised to be quite a battle as the both teams looked sharp in their sectional play. Fairport led by Mackenzie Cleary’s arm and bat, would go against Brockport’s star pitcher Julia DiMartino who always keeps the blue Devils in games by allowing few runs. As a side note, this would be the 12th meeting of Fairport head Coach Amie Carr against her brother Chris Carr’s Brockport squad.
With Fairport as the visiting team and batting first, thing looked very promising as Ally Williams reached first on an error, and Cleary then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. With Sam Price running for Cleary, Sam Broking then hit a fielder’s choice that retired Price at second, but now had runners on the corners. Karen Jablonski then recorded an infield hit, scoring Williams, but unfortunately for the Raiders, this would be the only time that they would cross the plate this afternoon.
The only runner allowed by Cleary through the sixth inning was a base hit in the fourth that was quickly erased when catcher Courtney Leverett gunned down the runner trying to steal second. DeMartino however, was just as effective through six, striking out ten batters, and only allowing singles by Broking and Katie Skolnick who were both left on base.
In an incredible seventh inning, with Fairport hanging onto the precarious 1-0 lead, and with one out recorded, the Blue Devils put together a rally that tied the game. After a hit and walk put runners on first and second, a second base hit up the middle scored the tying run and still leaving runners on first and second. The next batter hit a line shot to left field that appeared to seal the game for Brockport, but Loryn Bucci snagged the drive and quickly fired the ball to second to catch the runner and the inning ending double play.
The Raiders, however, could not seem to build on that exciting play as they went down in order in the extra inning. Brockport however, was able to score the winning run after a hit batter and a sacrifice put the runner in scoring position, and Taylor Zinkiewich’s single up the middle won the game for Brockport 2-1.
After the game, tears and hugs were exchanged with the departing seniors, the underclassmen knowing that they will have to work very hard next year to get them back to yet another Sectional title and admission to the State Tournament
Fairport defeats Schroeder and Penfield for Section V Title
The victory over Gates-Chili in the sectional softball quarterfinals, gave the Red Raiders the opportunity to advance to a semi-final matchup with Webster Schroeder last Wednesday, who in two meetings earlier in the regular season, beat Fairport handily, 7-0 and 9-1.
The Raiders, whose regular season play was inconsistent at times, appeared to turn up their level of focus and intensity as the Sectional Tournament began, and were looking for redemption against the number two seed Warriors in the game at Brockport High School.
Batting first, and after centerfielder Ally Williams was retired, Jill Gueli and Mackenzie Cleary were both hit by pitches, which drew a warning from the umpire to the Schroeder pitcher. Sam Broking then followed with a ground ball to second that was misplayed, allowing Gueli to score and the 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, the second Warrior batter walked and advanced to second. She tried to score as the next batter singled to right field. Gueli fielded the ball, then threw a dart to catcher Courtney Leverett to get the runner for the third out to preserve the lead.
In the third, Fairport tagged on another run, as Karen Jablonski singled, and was driven in when Leverett unleashed a bomb to right center that went for a triple. Meanwhile the tension mounted as the Warriors were able to put a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, but Fairport hurler Cleary and the rest of the Raider defense clamped down stranding all three runners on base.
The Fairport sixth started off with a booming Jablonski double, who scored two batters later on a Katie Skolnick double, making the score 3-0. Schroeder finally got on the board with a run in the bottom of the frame with an infield hit and a two out triple that made the score 3-1. The top of the seventh saw Cleary help herself with a little insurance as she hit a solo home run over the centerfield fence that appeared to take the wind out of the Warrior sails.
They did not give up however, as in their last at bat, and two out, quickly hit a single and a double to bring them to within two, but a tapper back to the mound sealed the 4-2 victory over their rivals.
Cleary went the distance on the mound, sprinkling eight hits and striking out four in the win.
The victory over Schroeder gave the Red Raiders the chance to go for their fifth Sectional title in the last six years last Friday against another rival, the always tough Patriots of Penfield, and their ace pitcher Leah Crockett. The teams split their regular season games, each winning on the others turf.
Penfield got on the board in the top of the first, when leadoff Alicia Flanagan walked, was sacrificed to second, and came home on a Crockett single putting the Raiders in the early 1-0 deficit. Fairport pitcher Cleary, and Crockett brought their ‘A’ game, with each striking out the side in the third. It was in the fourth, however when the Fairport offense and defense rose to the occasion.
In the Penfield fourth, a sure leadoff double was thwarted when Loryn Bucci made a great play on a ball hit off the left field fence, and threw a laser beam to Sarah Bursynski on second for the tag and the first out. After a pop up to Cleary on the mound, Jablonski made a beautiful running grab of a fly ball hit to short center over second base.
Gueli got the Raider half of the fourth started with a single to right, and went to second on a bobbled ball and worked her way to third. Cleary drew a walk, and with Sam Price running, stole second. Batter Sam Broking then dropped in a single to right that scored Gueli and Price. Jablonski then sacrificed Broking to third, and Jaime Hoskins then hit her own single to right, scoring Broking, and giving Fairport the 3-1 advantage.
The Patriots however, plated a run in the fifth with a double and an infield hit that put runners at the corners with one out. After a strikeout, another single brought in a run, then Cleary retired the last batter on a pop up to short to end the threat. The Fairport fifth started off very promising with a Bucci double and Williams infield hit for a first and third base with no out, but the Pats then showed some of their resolve as they erased both runners with some fine defense of their own. Gueli then hit her third single of the day, and was followed by Cleary’s blast that cleared the centerfield fence for a two run home run.
Cleary proceeded to shut the door on Penfield, as she retired the next six batters in order, four by strikeout, to earn the Section V AA1 trophy, with the 5-2 victory.
Congratulations to the Fairport players who were selected to the All Tournament team, Sam Broking, Jaime Hoskins, Courtney Leverett, Katie Skolnick, and Mackenzie Cleary, who was voted MVP of the tournament.
Fairport Seniors shine in win vs. R-H
In yet another up and down week in Fairport Softball, the Raiders went 1-2 in league play heading into the Sectional tournament next week.
Fairport had hoped that the second time facing Webster Schroeder this season would be a better outcome than their first meeting, a loss early in the season. It was not to be, however, as once again, the Raider lineup simply could not get going on offense, the lone bright spot being Mackenzie Cleary’s single, double, and home run in the 9-1 loss
In the game Wednesday, against the R-H Royal Comets, it was the Senior class players who were recognized for their accomplishments during the time they have been in the softball program at Fairport. Sam Broking (UAlbany), Mackenzie Cleary (St. John’s), Jill Gueli (Geneseo), Karen Jablonski (St. Bonaventure), and Ally Williams (Fredonia) were escorted on the field by parents and family members, where Head Coach Amie Carr shared her thoughts and reflections of their time with the team.
The first two and a half innings was tightly played, the only run coming for Fairport in the first when Jaime Hoskins walked, worked her way around to third, and scored on a wild pitch. It was in the third through the fifth innings when the Raider offense came on strong in plating 13 runs in those three innings. In the third, after Williams and Gueli both singled, they were advanced to second and third by a Cleary groundout. Broking then hit a single that scored both, and went to second on the throw, Jablonski then singled and scored Broking. Courtney Leverett then drove in Jablonski with another single. After Hoskins was hit by a pitch, Loryn Bucci ripped a double that scored Lauren DiVito and Katie Skolnick, who were running for Leverett and Hoskins.
In the fourth, after another Williams infield hit and Cleary walk, Broking and Jablonski each picked up a ribbie with back to back doubles, and in the fifth, after Jeanette Petti, Sam Price, and Gueli were issued walks, Cleary was hit by a pitch, scoring Petti, and then Broking cleared the bases with her second double of the day. In the meantime, Hoskins cruised through the innings on the mound, allowing only three hits and not letting R-H get a runner past second while striking out seven. The game was stopped by the mercy rule after Skolnick reached on an error, and was driven in by a Jess Mallow single that closed out the scoring for Fairport.
The regular season finale was Friday, visiting the Victor Blue Devils, who have been coming on strong in the second half of the season with their pitcher Nicolette Kulalowski.
Victor got on the board in the first, with a leadoff double, a walk, and an RBI single made the score 1-0. Fairport was held hitless until the fourth when Cleary and Broking singled, but could not score. In the fifth, the Raiders finally manufactured two runs when Leverett singled, and with DeVito running, stole second, and was driven in with a Bucci single. Bucci got to second, was sacrificed to third by Price, and scored on a wild pitch. The bottom of the fifth started with a nice catch of a fly ball by second baseman Sarah Burzynski’s running towards centerfield, but the Blue Devils were able to tie the score on two consecutive singles and an error.
As the game went on neither Victor’s pitcher nor Fairport’s Hoskins would give in to what was an outstanding game. However with one out in the seventh, a line shot that was misjudged in right field went for a triple, and after loading the bases, a hard grounder up the middle scored the winning run for Victor in the hard fought 3-2 victory.
Sectional play gets underway for Fairport with the first game vs. Gates-Chili on Thursday.
Fairport Defeats Penfield and Thomas
In what is becoming quite the softball rivalry, the Red Raiders visited Penfield last Wednesday after the Patriots had earlier defeated Fairport at their home opener. Under threatening skies, they hoped to jump out early against Penfield hurler Leah Crockett.
In the first, Mackenzie Cleary walked and Sam Broking doubled, but they were not able to score, and with the Patriots putting two on with one out in the bottom of the first, Fairport starting pitcher Jaime Hoskins struck out the next two batters to keep the game scoreless. In the second, the Raiders got on the board when Hoskins walked and with Lauren DeVito running, was sacrificed to second by Sarah Burzynski. However, DeVito did not stop running and headed for third, and scored when the subsequent throw to third was misplayed. Penfield then came right back with two runs of their own, using a single, infield hit and a double, to make the score 2-1.
The Raiders struck again in the third, when speedy Sam Price beat out an infield hit, and took second on the overthrow to first. Then, in a move that is rarely seen, batter Jill Gueli flied out to left field, and Price tagged up and took off for third, easily beating the throw, and scored on a Cleary single.
Hoskins cruised through the next two innings, but gave up a solo home run in the fifth that tied the score at 2. It was then Fairport’s turn to explode on offense, as they put up six runs in the sixth, Karen Jablonski doubled to left, and Courtney Leverett got an infield hit. Jablonski was then sacrificed to third by a Hoskins sac fly, and scored when Burzynski’s bunt was misplayed. Loryn Bucci then knocked in a pair with a single, and Price walked. Both were driven in by a Gueli double.
The intermittent showers that plagued the game turned into a 30 minute thunder delay after Fairport batted in the sixth, and when play resumed, the Pats went right to work, plating three runs in closing the Fairport lead to 8-6
The Raiders then tacked on another run in the seventh when Bucci drove in Katie Skolnick, running for Leverett who had reached on an error. This run was good insurance as Penfield started their last at bat with two doubles that scored a run. Gueli then came in to relieve, and induced a fly to center and two groundouts to end the game and the 9-7 victory.
Fairport's game against Webster Thomas on Friday showed how deep the talent goes. The first inning ended with the score 2-0 after a Courtney Leverett walked, Sam Broking doubled to drive in Leverettafter a walk, and Karen Jablonski singled to score Broking. Webster took advantage of a strong double to the right field wall that scored one.
They returned the next inning with a home run to tie the score at 2-2 at the bottom of the third. The looming clouds were more a sign of Fairport’s bats than it was of impending rain. Jamie Hoskins, Lauren DeVito and Sam Price were all standing on all bases when Leverettanswered with a double to drive in all three. Broking then drove in Leverett with a single.
Jamie Hoskins on the mound coupled with the Fairport defense maintained a 7-2 lead through the bottom of the 3rd. The scored remained unchanged until the top of the 5th when singles from Hoskins and Sara Burzynskiwere aided by an RBI double from Jess Mallow. With the score at 8-2, a strong performance on the mound by Hoskins continued through the 5th giving up just one run. On the next at bat, Faiport's Leverettled off with a single and Broking was hit by a pitch. Another wild pitch sent the runners to 2nd and 3rd. It was good timing for Jablonski’s fly to deep center that enable Leverett to tag up and score. Sam Vermulen made it to first base on balls, and Burzynskihit another single that led to some errant throws which Vermuelen took advantage of and touched home
The exclamation point of the game came in the bottom of the sixth, when the Titans put a runner on first and third with no out. In another rarely seen successfully executed play, the Raiders recorded both outs on a Thomas double steal attempt, as Leverett fired to Jablonski to get the runner at second, and then back to Leverett to get the runner out at the plate.
The rain could not wait any longer, and began to fall steadily through the final inning, and the game was called in the bottom of the 7th due to thunder. Hoskins went the distance in the win and Fairport walks away with a win, 10-2. Fairport starts the last week of league play before Sectional play, including their senior day on Wednesday vs. R-H.
Fairport goes 2-1 for the week.
The Fairport Girls Softball team hoped to improve their record after splitting 6 games last week, showing their power and sharp defense at times, and frustratingly inconsistent at others. On Monday, it was off to visit Pittsford Mendon for a non-league matchup.
After a Viking leadoff triple and single in the bottom of the first put the Raiders behind 1-0, Sam Broking started off the second with a single, Courtney Leverett was hit by a pitch, and Jaime Hoskins was walked, but a strikeout and pop up left the bases loaded with no runs scored. Mendon had a two run home run in the third and tacked on two more in the fifth, taking advantage of Raider miscues to take
a 5-0 lead.
Fairport finally started to make some noise in their last at bat in the seventh as Loryn Bucci reached on an error, and Sam Price and Jill Guelli followed with infield hits that loaded the bases. Bucci then scored on a wild pitch, and batter Mackenzie Cleary was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. Broking then blooped in a hit that scored Price, but the next two batters flied out to end the game in which the Raiders left an amazing 10 runners on base. Cleary gave up six hits and struck out seven in the effort.
Next up was a home matchup with the Victor Blue Devils, who were coming off a victory over Webster Schroeder earlier in the week. Victor pounced on the Raiders in the top of the first with two singles and two doubles to grab the early 2-0 lead. With the exception of a Gueli double in the first, and a Price infield hit in the third, Blue Devil pitching kept the Fairport bats quiet through the fourth inning.
In the fifth, however, the Raider lineup finally came to life. After a Bucci triple to lead off, Price drove her in with an infield hit. Cleary then followed with another infield hit, and then Broking drove in both with a double down the left field line. She was then driven in by a long double from Leverett, and Fairport took the lead 4-2. They would tack on another run in the sixth when Broking walked with the bases loaded.
The Raider defense shone again when in the fourth, a potential rally was put out when third baseman Katie Skolnick snagged a short pop up in the infield and fired to first to catch the runner in a double play, and Karen Jablonski fielded a grounder to short, stepped on second and got the runner at first for the game ending double play. Cleary went six innings and Gueli relieved for one in the victory.
Saturday brought a matchup at Rush-Henrietta in the annual Coaches for Cancer contest that was moved from SUNY-Brockport to R-H’s beautiful new softball diamond, on a fantastic day to play ball.
Jaime Hoskins got the start for the Raiders and threw a one hitter, allowing only a double in the third and collecting six strikeouts, in a win that was shortened by the mercy rule after the fifth. The lineup pounded out 15 hits with nine players scoring runs. Jablonski had a big day, going 3 for 4 with a single, triple and HR, and six RBI. Jess Mallow and Sam Vermuelen had hits, and Jeanette Petti had two hits and three runs scored. Sarah Burzynski was on three times and scored as well. Price, Broking, and Skolnick also had two hits apiece, and each scored twice in the win.
The second half of the league season gets underway this week with games at Penfield and Thomas.
Fairport Softball goes 3-3 for the week.
It was a bit of Jekyll and Hyde for the Fairport Girls Softball team this past week as they went 1-2 in league play and 2-1 at the Depew Tournament this past weekend.
Last Monday the Raiders finished up their home opener against Penfield, which had started the previous Friday in horrendous weather conditions that saw play finally stopped after four innings and a 5-4 Penfield lead. The offensive highlights were a run scoring double by Courtney Leverett, and a three RBI bases clearing triple from Jaime Hoskins. The resumption of play saw both teams go scoreless for the final three frames and Penfield holding on for the victory.
Against Webster Thomas, the Raiders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on hits by Jill Gueli, Mackenzie Cleary, Sam Broking, and Leverett, and the inning ended on a fine defensive play on Sam Vermuelen’s hard shot to second. Fairport added another run in the third when Gueli walked and was driven in by a Cleary double. Thomas chipped away at the lead though, scoring in the second, third and fifth innings, but pitcher Gueli and the Raider defense hung on for the 4-3 final.
Playing Webster Schroeder Friday, the Raider bats went virtually silent. Despite many hard hit balls, Fairport could only muster a triple by Karen Jablonski with two outs in the sixth, where she was stranded, and Fairport took the 7-0 loss.
In the Depew Tournament over the weekend, Fairport looked flat in their opener against Williamsville South, down 1-0 through four innings. In the fifth though, the Raiders put up 6 runs that seemed to set the tone for the rest of the day. After a Loryn Bucci double, an infield hit by Lauren DeVito and a Gueli single, they loaded the bases, with Bucci coming home on a wild pitch. Cleary then singled and Broking brought in two more with a double. Pinch runner Jess Mallow scored from third after South failed to get the runner attempting to steal second and Jablonski scored in the same fashion two batters later. The inning closed out when Sarah Burzynski reached first on a bobbled ball and was driven home after Katie Skolnick blasted a triple to the gap. Gueli went the distance in scattering 7 hits that resulted in the 6-1 win.
In the second game vs. Nichols, the Raider offensive explosion continued using 11 hits and 10 walks in scoring every inning through the fifth when the game was called due to time, resulting in the 14-7 final score. Raider highlights included Sam Price’s 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs scored, and Leverett’s 3 for 3 with a walk and 3 runs scored. Broking had a stellar game with a single, two doubles, 3 runs scored and 6 RBI. Hoskins and Gueli shared the pitching duties in the win that put them in the final contest of the afternoon.
The final game of the day pitted the Red Raiders against Clarence, who beat Fairport in the State Quarterfinals last year. The game was quite the pitcher’s duel and defensive battle between two very evenly matched teams. Fairport got singles from Cleary, Jablonski, and Skolnick, but could do no more. Defensively, with Price, Bucci, and Jeanette Petti patrolling the outfield, pitcher Gueli induced 13 fly outs while scattering six hits. The last two however, a double and single in the bottom of the seventh, resulted in Clarence’s hard fought 1-0 win.
Congratulations to both Sam Broking and Jill Gueli for earning All Tournament honors for their play Saturday. Fairport next travels to Mendon, Victor, and R-H this week.
Fairport wins the “Battle of the Ports”
Last Saturday evening, Brockport Head Softball Coach Chris Carr brought his Blue Devils to Kreag Road Park in Perinton for a game under the lights against Fairport Head Coach Amie Carr’s Fairport Red Raiders in a game dubbed “The Battle of the Ports.” The regular season contest was planned as a fundraiser to benefit the Heather Boyum Memorial Children’s Education Fund in Fairport, as well as Brockport High School student Taylor Mateo, who is fighting cancer. Both schools were well represented and the boisterous fans in attendance made for an exciting game on a very chilly evening.
Brockport struck first when the leadoff batter in the first inning reached on an error and then took advantage of two more Fairport miscues to score without recording a hit, and the 1-0 lead.
Fairport was able to strike right back in the bottom of the frame when Jill Gueli and Mackenzie Cleary roped back to back triples out to right center field that scored Gueli, and the game was tied at one.
Veteran hurler Cleary and the Raider defense then settled down and were able to snuff out two Blue Devil scoring chances when in the third catcher Courtney Leverett fired a strike to nab a base runner attempting to steal second with one out, and in the fourth after a Brockport double and sacrifice left a runner on third with one out, Fairport was able to get out of the inning unscathed when the next two batters flied out.
Fairport’s chances to score were also hard to come by though as Jaime Hoskins became stranded after a single in the second, and in the third inning were able to put two on with an error and a hit batter, but was not able to get them around to score.
As the pitching and defensive battle continued, the score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth, when Brockport ace Julia DeMartino issued her first walk of the evening to leadoff batter Cleary. Fairport then showed that their big hitting lineup could also play small ball when they needed to. With speedster Sam Price running for Cleary, batter Sam Broking laid down a terrific bunt that was almost beat out, and advanced Price to second. Next batter Karen Jablonski followed up with another great bunt of her own that put Price on third with two outs. Leverett then hit a grounder to third that was misplayed, allowing Price to score what proved to be the winning run.
Brockport went down in order in the top of the seventh, and resulted in the 2-1 final score. An exciting game that ended a fine evening for all and for very worthy causes in the Fairport and Brockport communities.
Varsity kicks off season going 3 out of 4 in South Carolina
Though the weather may not suggest it, the Fairport girls Varsity Softball team has been hard at work the past few weeks, and just returned from their annual spring trip to Charleston, S.C. The girls worked very hard in practice and bonded together as last year’s Section V champions look to defend their title and have another very successful season in 2013.
Even in losing a game to the rain, the Red Raiders went 3-1 against some very good competition whose teams are already far into their season, and hope to continue to build on this as the regular season gets under way in the next few weeks.
It has been said that Fairport Softball never rebuilds, that they just reload, and after graduating five seniors last year, head Softball Coach Amie Carr has put together a formidable lineup that should provide a lot of firepower as well as a solid defense that could propel them to the top of the standings this year. “Our offense was unstoppable this trip. We did everything right, getting leadoff runners on base, moving them into scoring position and then coming through with the base hits to score them,” Carr said.
Fairport returns five starting seniors this year: first baseman Sam Broking; pitcher/infielder Mackenzie Cleary; shortstop Karen Jablonski; pitcher/outfielder Jill Gueli; and centerfielder Ali Williams. All have a wealth of experience playing in the toughest division in Monroe County, and have the desire to take the team deep into the post season this year. Also returning this year are junior infielder Jamie Hoskins, sophomore outfielder Loryn Bucci, and sophomore catcher/infielder Katie Skolnick.
New to the team this year, are juniors Sarah Burzynski, Courtney Leverett, Jessica Mallow, Jeanette Petti, Samantha Price, Samantha Vermeulen, and freshman Lauren DeVito, all who came from the JV team that lost only one game last season.
In S.C., the Raiders were able to showcase all of the tools in their arsenal as they averaged 11 hits per game, using many hard hits, speedy running, solid pitching, as well as flashing some fine leatherwork on defense during the four games. “We know we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but this week was a great start to our season.”
Offensively, Cleary led the way with 13 RBI for the week, Broking had 7 hits, Jablonski had 4 hits with a HR, Gueli had 5 hits and 7 runs scored, and Williams had 6 runs scored. Hoskins drove in the only run for Fairport against Bluffton with a long double, Skolnick had two hits and a run scored, and Bucci had a single and a double against Goose Creek.
Price, who may be one of the speediest players in Section V, had 3 hits, and saw action as a pinch runner. Leverett and Mallow each had 2 hits against Goose Creek. Burzynski, Petti, and Vermeulen each performed very well when called upon during the week. All but two players scored at least one run during the week showing off the lineup’s versatility.
Defensively, Fairport looked very confident in each other’s ability to handle any given situation. Highlights included a Williams diving catch of a liner, Burzynski’s throwing out a runner from a sitting position at second against Bluffton, and Cleary catching a liner and firing to Broking to get the base runner to end the game with the Wando Warriors, in addition to several just-missed double plays hit to the infield.
Cleary and Gueli shared the pitching duties and were very good in not letting any of their opponents establish any kind of momentum during the games. Each showed good command of their pitches in not allowing many base runners.
After this successful week, the Raiders are looking forward to a fun and exciting season.
2012 Varsity Roster
Congratulations to our New and Returning Players for the 2012 Season
Seniors
Lindsey Cafarell, Carina Chirinko, Amanda Horowitz, Alexandra McKay and Katie Murphy
Juniors
Sam Broking, Mackenzie Cleary, Jill Gueli, Karen Jablonski, Kiley Phillips and Ally Williams
Sophomores
Jaime Hoskins
Freshman
Loryn Bucci ,Katie Skolnick
Far West Regional, June 5 2012, Clarence 18, Fairport 2
After Fairport’s exciting Section V Championship win over Webster Schroeder, the Red Raiders travelled to Niagara Falls High School for the State Quarterfinal Far West Regional matchup with eventual State Champion Section VI winner Clarence Red Devils. The game got off to a rocky start for the Raiders when Clarence put up three unearned runs in the first, taking advantage of three Fairport wild throws, and tacked on two more in the second for the 5-0 lead. The Raider lineup was kept in check by Clarence hurler Katie Bull, who did not allow a hit until Loryn Bucci’s lone single in the third. By the fourth, it was plain to see that this was not to be Fairport’s day as the Red Devils poured it on against the pitching duo of Mackenzie Cleary and Jill Gueli lashing out 10 extra base hits, including four home runs in defeating the Raiders for the second time in three years in the State tournament.
Other hits for the Raiders offense came from Alex McKay, Karen Jablonski, Sam Broking, and Cleary, who drove in both Fairport runs with a solo home run and a sac fly that drove home Ally Williams. Though the 18-2 final score was not what Fairport had hoped for, the players strode off the field with the memories of a fine season, along with an emotional farewell to graduating seniors Lindsay Cafarell, Carina Chirinko, Amanda Horowitz, Alex McKay, and Katie Murphy, and the thoughts of new season next school year.
Section V Final, June 2, 2012, Fairport 6, Webster Schroeder 3
Section V Semifinal, May 30, 2012, Fairport 7, Canandaigua 5
After the Fairport Softball team avenged last year’s loss to Greece Athena in the sectional quarterfinals, the next round of the tournament featured a semifinal matchup with the resilient Canandaigua Braves who were enjoying their own bit of underdog magic winning three straight games in their bracket this year.
The Raiders seemed to come out a little flat, but came out swinging. They scored two runs in each of the first three innings and the last, which proved to be the game winner, came with an Amanda Horowitz triple, then scoring on Katie Skolnick’s second single of the day. The Braves, using three of their pitchers, kept it close and battled back with four runs of their own, and Fairport led 6-4 after three. Another Fairport run in the fifth, and a Braves score in the sixth resulted in the 7-5 final score, and a Fairport Section V final berth against rival Webster Schroeder.
Under changeable skies last Saturday at SUNY Brockport, the Red Raiders would face a tough challenge against the Warriors and their pitcher, senior Alyssa Dixon, who has made many of the past Fairport – Schroeder games memorable ones. Both teams split their regular season games, with each winning on the other’s home turf. Fairport knew that they had to put forth a superb effort all around to be able to have a fighting chance, and fight they did.
Leadoff hitter Ally Williams battled Dixon and drew a walk, and Jill Gueli bunted her way on base, with Williams taking third on the play. After Gueli stole second, Mackenzie Cleary drove in both runners with a single up the middle. After Sam Broking and Karen Jablonski both added singles loading the bases, and still with none out, Alex McKay grounded out, but drove in Sam Price, who was running for Cleary, and the early 3-0 lead. Dixon helped herself by scoring in the bottom of the first, then settled down, retiring the next 11 of 14 batters she faced,
During a post game interview, Fairport Head Coach Aime Carr commented on how the Raider defense, while not always consistent, always seem to come up with a really big defensive play when they need one. This came to be in the second inning, when Webster threatened with a runner on second and one out. Jablonski fielded a grounder at short, looked back the runner and threw to first to get the batter. As the runner broke for third, Broking then fired a strike to third baseman Katie Murphy who made the tag for the double play. The Warriors were able to tack on another run in the fourth when a batter reached on an error, stole second and was driven in with a single, but were prevented from scoring more when Dixon hit a shot that was grabbed by right fielder Lindsay Cafarell. With the Raiders clinging to a one run lead in the fifth, Cleary led off with a towering solo shot to left center and the 4-2 lead. Fairport then added another run in the top of the sixth when Loryn Bucci tripled and Williams singled and taking second. The Warriors then made a fine defensive play of their own by getting the runner out at third on Gueli’s infield hit, but Cleary then drove Williams in with a double. Fairport then scored their final run with a Jablonski walk and with Horowitz running for her, was sacrificed into scoring position and came home on a wild throw to third. Cleary, on the mound through six, worked the plate carefully, walking five and scattering seven hits, as Schroeder left an amazing 12 runners on base. This included a bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh after scoring to make it 6-3, as Gueli finished the last inning and concluded an outstanding softball game. Next up for Fairport is a trip to the State Quarterfinals in Niagara Falls.
Fairport Advances to Sectional Semis
May 22, 2012, Fairport 10, Edison Tech 0
May 24, 2012, Fairport 6, Greece Athena 3
In starting sectional play last week, the 6th seed Red Raiders were visited by the 11 seed Inventors of Edison Tech. The Raiders scored early and often as each Fairport starter had a hit, RBI, and run scored in a game that was shortened by the mercy rule, winning 10-0.
The next test in the quarterfinals pitted Fairport against the Trojans of Greece Athena, who had surprised the Raiders in last year’s semifinal in eventually winning the Sectional V title.
Call ups for the Sectional run include Lauren DeVito, Courtney Leverett, Emily McGrath, Sam Price, Ann Ritchie and Sarah Utz, who will provide support and speed when called upon.
Against Athena, Fairport threatened in the first when Mackenzie Cleary walked and Sam Broking reached on an error, but the Raiders were not able to move them around. In proving how walks can hurt, Athena drew a walk in the bottom of the second, and two Fairport throwing errors later, scored the first run and the early 1-0 lead. In the third, Fairport was able to take advantage of some wild throws and get through to Athena starter Sierra Valentine as leadoff hitter Ally Williams bunted her way to first and took second on an overthrow. Jill Gueli also hit, scoring Williams, and advanced to second. Cleary singled next, driving in Gueli, and Broking singled, both moving to second and third on a Karen Jablonski sac bunt. After a line shot from Alex McKay that was caught by the first baseman, the subsequent throw to third to catch the runner went out of bounds, allowing two more runs to score and the 4-1 lead.
The bottom of the third brought the defensive play of the day, when Athena threatened, leading off the inning with a single and a double. After a pop up to the pitcher, the next batter hit a hot line drive which was snagged by third baseman Katie Murphy who then spun around and dove her outstretched glove hand back to tag the bag before the runner could get back in time, for the inning ending double play. The Trojans did put another run up in the fourth using a walk and two hits, but Cleary added a solo HR in the fifth, and Murphy singled in the sixth and scored on two throwing errors by the Trojans that wrapped up the scoring for Fairport. On the mound, Cleary went six innings and scattered seven hits and struck out five before making way in the seventh for Gueli who finished up in the 6-3 Fairport win.
Next up for the Raiders is the Sectional Semifinals against The Canandaigua Braves on Wednesday at SUNY Brockport.
Monday, 5/14/12. Penfield 7, Fairport 2
Wednesday, 5/16/12, Webster Schroeder 6, Fairport 0
Thursday, 5/17/12, Fairport 4, Canandaigua 2
Friday, 5/18/12, Webster Thomas 5, Fairport 1
The Fairport Girls Softball team, coming off a successful week, going 4-0, had hopes to build on that success entering the last week of the season before sectional play begins. This was not to be as the team that continues to mystify many observers with their lack of consistent production went 1-3 for the week, ending in a resounding thud with a loss at Webster Thomas for the first time in recent memory.
Against rival Penfield on Monday, the Raiders started off with a bang by putting up a run in the 1st with an Ally Williams walk, a Jill Gueli sacrifice and a Mackenzie Cleary single that scored Williams. But in the bottom of the 2nd, with two outs and nobody on, the Patriots strung together five hits and a hit batsman to score five runs, and then tacked on two more in the bottom of the third for the 7-1 score and eventual win as Penfield hurler Leah Crockett cruised to victory.
Senior Day was celebrated on Wednesday with a visit from the Warriors of Webster Schroeder. Senior players Lindsay Cafarell, Carina Chirinko, Amanda Horowitz, Alex McKay, and Katie Murphy were all recognized for their achievement during their years within the Fairport Softball program. Warrior nemesis pitcher Alyssa Dixon held the Raiders to a pair of singles by Sam Broking and one by Chirinko and striking out 10 in the 6-0 win.
Fairport next visited the braves of Canandaigua on Thursday, and hoping to put one in the win column, started off on the right note with a Williams walk, a Gueli base hit, and a run scoring single for Broking and the 1-0 lead. The Braves answered with a run of their own in the 2nd, and then in the 3rd the Raiders pushed another run across with a Williams hit and stolen base and an RBI single from Cleary. Canandaigua again tied the score at two in the 4th, but in the Fairport 6th two more runs were plated with Cleary and Broking singles, a Karen Jablonski sacrifice, and a Katie Murphy single that broke the tie, scoring Cleary. Amanda Horowitz then uncorked a long sac fly to left that scored Broking and was the final run in the 4-2 win. Hurler Chirinko, getting her first start this season, scattered eight hits for the victory.
The season finale saw Fairport visiting Webster Thomas, and the Red Raiders could not muster any sort of offense in falling to Thomas pitcher Courtney Clark 5-1. The lone bright spot occurred in the last inning, when leadoff hitter Katie Scolnick singled and Jaime Hoskins doubled, scoring Scolnick, but the next three batters went down in order to end the game.
The Raiders will see if they can find their way down the road to the Sectionals, as the first two rounds are played this week.
Monday 5/7/12, Fairport 11, Victor 1
Wednesday 5/9/12, Fairport 8, Canandaigua 4
Friday 5/11/12, Fairport 8, Irondequoit 5
Saturday 5/12/12, Fairport11, Rush-Henrietta 3
This past week proved to be a solid test for the Red Raider Softball team as they went 4-0 in the second to last week of the season before sectional play starts. The matchup on Monday, at Victor, was played in a steady light rain and was not the nail biting 1-0 win in their first meeting, as Fairport jumped on three Victor pitchers during the game to score six runs in the first two innings in cruising to an 11-1 victory. Offensive highlights included Karen Jablonski’s single, triple, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored, Sam Broking’s single, double, triple, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored, Ally William’s hit and run scored, and Jill Gueli’s hit and 3 runs scored. Mackenzie Cleary, Katie Murphy, Alex McKay, and Carina Chirinko all had a hit and an RBI apiece as every Red Raider starter had a hit. The leather highlight of the day was centerfield Loryn Bucci’s running away fully extended catch of a liner to right center that ended the Victor 5th inning. Cleary scattered three hits and striking out six for the win.
Canandaigua visited Fairport last Wednesday for their first meeting of the year and the game was scoreless until the second, when McKay singled, moved to second on a Chirinko walk, and scored on a Bucci single. In the top of the third, using five hits and an error, the Braves were able to put four runs up on the board that was ended as right fielder Lindsay Cafarell made a perfect throw to catch a Canandaigua runner trying to advance third after a single. The lead would not last, however, as Fairport put up four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Gueli and Cleary singled, and Broking was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for a Jablonski single that scored one, and a Murphy single that scored two. Chirinko drove in another with a groundout. The game remained this way until the bottom of the 6th, when the Raiders tacked on three more runs with a Chirinko single, and with Cafarell pinch running scored later on a wild pitch. Williams walked and was driven in with a Cleary single, and a Broking double brought in Cleary to close the scoring in the 8-4 final. Gueli struck out three and scattered 6 hits in the victory.
The West Irondequoit Eagles were up next, visiting Fairport on Friday, and again, the Raiders used their offensive weaponry to score seven times in the first three innings, the biggest hit coming from a McKay two run blast in the second that cleared the leftfield fence. In addition to McKay’s three hits and three RBI, Cleary, Broking, and Jablonski each had two hits and drove in runs. Jamie Hoskins also had two hits and Chirinko had a hit and RBI. Though the Eagles fought back in by scoring a run in the 3rd, and three in the 4th, (using three Fairport miscues) the Raider pitching duo of starting pitcher Cleary and Gueli in relief kept the Eagles at bay in ensuring the 8-5 final score.
The Red Raiders closed out the week with a visit by the R-H Royal Comets, and once again, using the formula that has worked well of late, Fairport scored four runs in the first inning and two in the third enroute to the 11-3 win on a beautiful Saturday morning. Williams (1-3, 2 RS), Cleary (1-2, 2 RBI, 3 RS), Jablonski (1-4, 3 RBI), Broking (3-4, 3 RBI, 3 RS), and Amanda Horowitz, who had a hit and scored the last Raider run provided the catalyst for the Raider offense. The defense was sparked with McKay behind the dish, firing a strike to Cleary at third to pick off an R-H runner when the Comets were threatening in the 3rd. Gueli, who pitched the complete game with six strikeouts, helped herself with three hits, and three runs scored on the day.
Fairport finishes out the regular season this week with four games including rivals Penfield on Monday and Webster Schroeder on Wednesday.
Monday, 4/30/12, Fairport 3, Webster Schroeder 1
Wednesday, 5/2/12, Fairport 16, Webster Thomas 3
Friday 5/4/12, Mercy 5, Fairport 1
Last week, the Red Raider Softball team went 2-1, with the loss coming in a non-league matchup with Mercy. The week started off with a hard fought victory over rival Webster Schroeder and pitcher Alyssa Dixon. The Raiders threatened on their first at bat when Karen Jablonski doubled and Mackenzie Cleary was hit by a pitch, but could not convert as the Warriors recorded the next two outs to end the inning. Schroeder then scored in the bottom of the frame when Dixon led off with a double and was driven home with a two out single to center, and the 1-0 lead. Fairport dodged a bullet in the Webster 4th, when right fielder Lindsay Cafarell cut down a runner trying to tag up on a fly ball for the double play. The game remained tied until the Fairport 5th inning when Alex McKay led off with a double and scored on a Loryn Bucci single that tied the game at one. Fairport was then able to add to their lead in the 6th, when Cleary reached on an error, and Sam Broking drove a 3-2 pitch deep down the left field line that cleared the fence for a two run home run and the 3-1 lead. Cleary who scattered four hits and struck out five and went the distance, then shut down the Warriors in the last two innings to preserve the win.
On Wednesday, with Webster Thomas visiting the friendly confines, Fairport unleashed 11 hits in their largest run output this season with a 16-3 win. Offensive leaders included Ally Williams with 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 RBI, Mackenzie Cleary with 3 hits and 2 RBI, and Carina Chirinko and Jill Gueli each with three runs scored. In fact, each of the Fairport starting nine each scored at least one run in the win. Pitcher Jamie Hoskins, seeing her first action of the season in relief of Gueli pitched two innings giving up a hit and striking out four in the process.
On a beautiful Friday afternoon, Fairport visited the Monarchs of Mercy, and has often been the case this season, had trouble generating offense as they were limited by Mercy pitcher Nicole Rivera to just three hits. Fairport scored a run in the 3rdwhen Katie Murphy singled, moved to second on a fielder’s choice, and scored on a single by Loryn Bucci, but this was all of the offense that Fairport could muster this afternoon. Pitcher Mackenzie Cleary scattered six hits, but three of them were home runs, all by Mercy first baseman Aiden Falk, who accounted for all five runs in the 5-1 loss for Fairport.Fairport will try and catch up their schedule by attempting to play five games in the upcoming week.
Wednesday, 4/25/12, Fairport 3, West Irondequoit 1.
Friday, 4/27/12, Penfield 5, Fairport 4.
The Fairport Softball team split their two games last week, winning away at West Irondequoit, and losing at home to Penfield. Visiting West Irondequoit, the Red Raiders who were out hit by the Eagles, made their hits count in coming away with the 3-1 victory. Fairport had loaded the bases in the first, but were unable to score, but in the second, plated a run with a Carina Chirinko walk, who then scored on a double drilled to deep left from Loryn Bucci.
Neither team seemed to be able to break through and score any runs until the top of the 6th, when the Raiders scored two runs with only one hit. After a Karen Jablonski single, a Mackenzie Cleary walk, and a Sam Broking sac bunt, Jablonski scored on a wild pitch, and Jill Gueli, running for Cleary, scored on a sac bunt by Alex McKay. The Eagles put together a run in the bottom of the frame using two singles, but that was all, as Cleary went the distance (7 IN, 5K, 3BB, 6H) for the win.
Penfield visited Fairport Friday in what promised to be a hard fought game and it did not disappoint. The Patriots jumped right on starter Jill Gueli in the top of the first with 5 hits and a sac fly for a 3-0 lead, and Penfield hurler Leah Crockett limited the Red Raiders to just one hit through three innings. After Penfield used four more hits in the top of the 4th to score another run, the Fairport bats finally started to come alive in the bottom of the frame as Gueli and Sam Broking singled. Mackenzie Cleary reached first on an error, loading the bases. Gueli then scored on a wild pitch and Katie Murphy singled home Broking. Cleary then scored by jarring the ball out of Crockett’s glove when she stole home, and Katie Skolnick then singled home Murphy to tie the score at four.
Penfield then struck in the top of the sixth using two hits and an error to score what would prove to be the winning run in the 5-4 final score. Fairport had a chance to even the score in the bottom of the inning, but wasted a leadoff double from Cleary who was sacrificed to third by Murphy. Cleary was then caught at home in a failed hit and run. Fairport did get a runner on in the 7th, but was unable to move the runner around to score. The Raiders will be busy the upcoming week with four games in 5 days as they look to improve their 5-4 record.
4/20/12 – Fairport 1, Victor 0 (9 Innings)
It has probably been some time since the Red Raiders have seen a scoreless tie go as far as it did last Friday afternoon as the highly suspenseful game featured quality pitching and outstanding defense at Fairport’s home opener versus Victor.
Lindsay Cafarell started off the defensive show by scooping up a hard single to right, and making a laser throw to first to get the runner by a step, and also started another relay to get a runner trying to advance from second to third for the third out of the inning.
Pitcher Jill Gueli showed good command of her pitches throughout the afternoon (7-1/3, 1K, 8H, 0 walks) and never let Victor put together any sort of rally that would let them score any runs.
In the 3rd, another defensive gem was recorded when Mackenzie Cleary fielded a hot shot deep at third. After checking the runner on second, she fired the ball to first to get the runner, then Sam Broking threw a bullet back to Cleary for the tag and the 5-3-5 double play. Catcher Alex McKay also snuffed out a threat in the 6th, when she caught an unaware runner off second base on a strikeout.
Despite good pitching and defense, the Fairport bats remained silent as Victor pitcher Nicolette Kulakowski kept hitters at bay in giving up only one hit, a Guellei bunt in the 6th. In the 7th, Fairport started off with a Broking single, and a McKay sac bunt that was beat out for a single, and a sac bunt from Katie Murphy that moved the runners to second and third with one out. They became stranded after a ground out and pop up ended the inning.
The Blue Devils managed two walks with one out in the bottom of the 8th, but after Gueli gave way to Cleary (1-2/3, 1H, 1K) on the mound in relief, got a fly ball and a grounder to end the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Ally Williams led off with a successful bunt, and moved to second on a Carina Chirinko sac bunt, but was thrown out at third trying to tag on a fly to right by Karen Jablonski.
A Victor single in the top of the 9th was followed by three putouts, and in the bottom of the inning, Fairport put together the winning rally with a hard smash by Broking that gave the shortstop some trouble, and a McKay sac bunt that moved the runner to second. Walk machine Murphy worked the free pass, and then Katie Skolnick beat out a dribbler that the third baseman couldn’t come up with. Centerfielder Loryn Bucci then came to the plate, and with the bases loaded, hit a hard line drive to center that drove in Broking for the winning run, and ending the suspense that was felt by everyone in attendance
4/18/12 - Fairport 6, Rush - Henrietta 1
The Red Raiders started league play this week with a win against the Royal Comets of Rush – Henrietta. The game started off well for Fairport in the first, as leadoff hitter Ally Williams took advantage of a wild throw on a bunt to first to make it to second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jill Gueli then grounded out, scoring Williams and the 1-0 lead. Fairport tacked on another run in the third when Williams bunted her way to first, advanced on an error when Gueli’s fly to right was misplayed, then scored on Karen Jablonski’s groundout to third. R-H got a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to make the score 2-1 after three.
In the top of the fifth, Fairport was finally able to breathe a little easier as they plated 4 runs in the inning. Williams (3-4, 3 runs scored) again bunted her way to first, and made it to third on a Gueli sacrifice. Jablonski (2 RBI) then drove in Williams, and then Mackenzie Cleary singled.
Sam Broking (2-4, 3 RBI) then unloaded on a 0-2 pitch to drive the ball over the left center field fence for a three run home run, and 6-1 Fairport lead.
Cleary went the distance for Fairport, never letting the R-H lineup get any momentum going. She walked two, gave up 2 hits and scattered 11 strikeouts as the Red Raiders evened their record to 3-3.
As submitted to the Fairport-ER Post on April 16, 2012.
With the 2012 softball season getting under way with league play starting this week, Fairport’s Head Softball Coach Amie Carr will have a solid core of returning players and some new faces in their quest for another Sectional title after a very uncharacteristic and early exit in last year’s semifinals.
The squad just returned from Charleston S.C. where the team bonded, worked together, and played very good competition in going 2 – 3 for the week. “We had a really successful trip on and off the field. The teams we played were well into their seasons and we were challenged but I’m very proud of the way we performed, even in our losses. Our experienced players were key in anchoring us defensively and offensively and really set a positive tone for our season” said Carr.
Pitching duties this season will fall primarily to juniors Mackenzie Cleary and Jill Gueli.
Behind the dish this year will be senior Alex McKay who will be sure to wreak havoc with opposing base stealers. “Alex was absolutely outstanding in shutting down the running game against some very aggressive South Carolina teams.” Freshman Katie Skolnick will provide backup for catching and infield as well.
Anchoring the infield will be juniors Sam Broking on first base and Karen Jablonski at short, with seniors Katie Murphy and Carina Chirinko providing a solid infield that looked very sharp in S.C.
This year’s outfield has a lot of depth with seniors Lindsay Cafarell and Amanda Horowitz, junior Ally Williams, joining freshman Loryn Bucci in providing great defensive coverage.
Also new to the team are junior Kiley Phillips and sophomore Jaime Hoskins who will contribute as utility players.
The table setters in this year’s line up will be the speedy slapper Williams and with Chirinko and Guelli as good with the bunt as well as hitting away. Clearing the table will be Broking, Cleary, Jablonski, McKay, and Murphy as the middle of the order is expected to provide plenty of big hits and RBI’s. Bucci also drives the ball well, and Cafarell, Hoskins, Phillips, Horowitz, and Skolnick can also provide timely hits when called upon. Carr added “offensively we are going to be tough because we have the great mixture of speed and power yet again this year. We know we can score runs as we proved during our spring trip.”
This week’s league season kicks off with games against R-H and Victor. Carr stated “we are ready for the season to begin, and hungry to be back on top.”
Congratulations To Our New and Returning Players for the 2011 Season
Brittane Fetterman, Emily Hamilton, Morgan Lindauer and Rachel Malone
Lindsey Cafarell, Emily Carpenter, Carina Chirinko, Amanda Horowitz, Ashton Hughes, Alexandra McKay and Katie Murphy
Sam Broking, Mackenzie Cleary, Jill Gueli, Karen Jablonski and Ally Williams
As Head Coach Amie Carr prepares for her 11th year at the helm of the Fairport squad, she is very excited about the prospects for the upcoming 2011 season. She added,” We are returning most of our starters from last year’s Section V Class AA Championship team, and we have a very well balanced squad that features a lot of speed, power, solid pitching and defense and most of all, experience.”
Sharing the majority of the pitching duties this season will be Mackenzie Cleary (So.) and Rachel Malone (Sr.) along with newcomers Carina Chirinko (Jr.) and Jill Gueli (So.). Strong armed Alex McKay (Jr.) will assume the starting catcher duties and keep the opposing running game in check. The Fairport batting order this year will be sure to frustrate the opposition as there will be no easy outs coming to the plate. The lineup features slap hitting speedsters Malone, Ashton Hughes (Jr.), Brittane Fetterman (Sr.), and Ally Williams (So.), and the heavy hitting foursome of Cleary, Sam Broking (So.), McKay, and Morgan Lindauer (Sr.) who are expected to provide plenty of firepower in the middle of the order. Middle infielders Karen Jablonski (So.), Emily Hamilton (Sr.), and Katie Murphy (Jr.) also wield strong bats and provide solid defense in key positions.
Also new to the team this year are Juniors Lindsay Cafarell, Emily Carpenter, and Amanda Horowitz, who will provide some nice depth in the outfield positions. Coach Carr added, “Having so many key returners who have the experience of winning a championship is very beneficial for us as we seek our fourth straight title this year. But we know every year is different, and we’re going to have to work harder than ever to stay on top. I think that this year’s team is ready for the challenge.”
5/13 - Fairport Beats Canandaigua, Irondequoit and Penfield
The weather has kept the Fairport Softball team mighty busy, trying to make up the games lost earlier in the season, as time is running out in trying to get games completed before Sectionals start the week of May 23rd. After traveling to Canandaigua and beating the Braves 17-3 last Monday, The Raiders then swept a doubleheader on Wednesday from the Eagles of West Irondequoit, 11-3 and 2-0.
5/6 - Red Raider Softball Goes 5-1 for the Week
As reported this spring, the wet month of April has left schools scrambling to reschedule and make up postponements in most spring sports. This had the Red Raider Softball Team playing six games last week, going 5-1 in the process. The week started with a pounding of Webster Thomas 23-0 as Mackenzie Cleary threw a 1 hitter and collected 5 hits, and Sam Broking, Morgan Lindauer, and Alex McKay all belted home runs accounting for 17 RBI between them. Emily Hamilton scored three times and Brittane Fetterman scored four times in the effort.
Fairport then travelled to Rush Henrietta for a twin bill against the Royal Comets. In the first game after a slow start, and spotting R-H four runs, the Raider offense got going with big hits from Ashton Hughes (3-4), and Rachel Malone (2-4) with 2 ribbies apiece in the 7-4 win. In the nightcap, every Fairport batter in the lineup got at least one hit, with Karen Jablonski (2-4, 2 RBI),
Broking (3-4, 2 RBI), and Katie Murphy, who singled in a run of her own in support of Malone, who went the distance in pitching a no hitter.
Next up was a “home” game at Victor as the Fairport field was still unplayable, and though the game was not the slugfest that their first meeting had been, there was still plenty of offense as Fairport built up a 7 run lead with 7 different girls scoring. Big swingers were Jablonski with two singles, a double, and an RBI and Fetterman with 2 hits and an RBI. Hughes was 3 for 4 with an RBI as well, as Cleary kept control on the mound despite a late comeback bid by the Blue Devils, scoring 4 runs in their last at bat, and Fairport emerged with the 7-4 victory.
Back to back games against Pittsford’s Sutherland and Mendon teams on Saturday finished off the week for the Raiders. Fairport came out swinging against the Knights in a 17 hit attack that featured a two run homer from Lindauer, two hits and 2 RBI from McKay, and a hit and RBI from Carina Chirinko in what turned into a 12-0 win. In the second game against the Vikings, Fairport seemed to lose a little steam, as pitcher Brittany Grange and the Mendon defense kept the Raider bats from heating up. Though Malone, Cleary, Jablonski, and Broking all had hits to score 2 runs, Mendon hit 2 home runs of their own in beating Fairport 5-2.
Fairport Beats Victor, Loses to Schroeder
Though very windy, it was dry last Thursday as Fairport visited Victor in Girl's Varsity softball, and came away with an 18-8 victory. Fairport got the win in a slugfest that started after two scoreless innings when Mackenzie Cleary belted a three run home run for Fairport. Victor then struck back with 5 runs in the bottom of the third highlighted by Bethany DeMarco's three run blast of her own. Fairport then stretched their lead with 6 runs in the 5th, and 7 runs in the 6th, as each girl in the Fairport lineup had at least one hit and scored a run to contribute to the final score.
The Fairport Girls Softball Team traveled to Charleston S.C. for their annual spring trip last week, playing in only three games this year due to a rainout, and the Good Friday holiday.
In the first game against the Wando Warriors, Fairport came out flat as Wando built up a 6-0 lead, but heated up with a run in the 4th, and five runs in the 6th to tie the score, but then faltered in the bottom of the 7th losing 7-6. Offensive highlights included Mackenzie Cleary with three hits, Sam Broking with 2 hits and 2 RBI, Alex McKay with a hit and 2 RBI, and Karen Jablonski with 2 hits and a ribbie.
The next night Coach Amie Carr’s squad really got the bats going against the Wolves of Timberland High, lashing out 14 hits with 10 different players scoring in the 13-2 victory, which featured Katie Murphy, Lindsay Cafarell, and Brittane Fetterman anchoring the Raider defense and Morgan Lindauer and Emily Hamilton rapping out three hits apiece in support of pitcher Rachel Malone who kept the Wolves lineup in check and went the distance in the win.
The Red Raiders closed out their trip on Wednesday night with a resounding win over Bishop England, as the offensive barrage continued en route to a 15-0 win. Ashton Hughes had three hits and 4 runs scored and Carina Chirinko, Ally Williams, Amanda Horowitz, and Emily Carpenter all chipping in with hits. On the mound, Jill Guelli made her debut in relief of Cleary and shut down the Battling Bishops the rest of the way.
The team hopes that the weather and field conditions will permit league games to begin in earnest as they have only played one league game with three postponements so far this season. Games against rivals Penfield and Webster Schroeder are scheduled this week.
4/11/11 - Fairport v. Canandaigua - Win, 3-2
4/18/11 – Fairport v. Wando – Loss, 7-6
4/19/11 – Fairport v. Timberland - Win, 13-2
4/20/11 – Fairport v. Bishop England - Win, 15-0
4/28/11 – Fairport v. Victor - Win, 18-8
5/24/11 - Fairport v. Gates Chili - Win, 16-0
Thanks to all of you (and your friends and families) who stopped by the Applebee’s pancake breakfast yesterday, for your continued support of the Fairport Softball program. We also want to thank those players and parents who helped throughout the morning to make the whole event run smoothly. We couldn’t have done it without you.
We send a very special thank you to the Jablonski, Lindauer, Williams, and Ritchie families, and, Wegmans and Applebees, for their generous donations of the raffle items and to those behind-the-scenes parents that did the organizing, gift baskets, raffle ticket boxes, etc. We also want to thank Applebees for allowing us to hold our event at their facility.
The raffle winners are:
Jon Bradley
Jacquie Breese
Samantha Broking
Coach Tracy Brown (Gubiotti)
Nancy Loughran
4/11/10 - Fairport vs Webster Thomas - Win, 6-2
4/19/10 - Fairport vs Daniel Boone - Loss, 8-7 (8)
4/20/10 - Fairport vs Ashley Ridge - Loss, 5-3
4/21/10 - Fairport vs Manning - Win, 10-7
4/22/10 - Fairport vs Waccamau - Loss 11-0
4/23/10 - Fairport vs Bishop England - Win, 14-0
4/28/10 - Fairport vs Canandaigua - Win,12-2
4/30/10 - Fairport vs Penfield - Win, 8-2
5/01/10 - Fairport vs Frontier - Loss, 1-0
5/01/10 - Fairport vs Immaculatta - Loss, 3-0
5/05/10 - Fairport vs Webster Schroeder - Loss, 8-4
5/08/10 - Fairport vs Rush Henrietta - Win - 7-2
5/13/10 - Fairport vs Webster Thomas - Win, 2-0
5/14/10 - Fairport vs Canandaigua - Win, 4-3 (9)
5/17/10 - Fairport vs Penfield - Win, 7-2
5/19/10 - Fairport vs Rush Henrietta - Win, 6-0
Congratulations to our 2010
Section V Class AA Champions!
(middle row) Ashton Hughes, Jen Plotzker, Jessica Steubing, Nicole Stumpf, Courtney Curtin, Rachel Malone
2009 Varsity Team
(2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport loses to Brentwood in Class AA softball title game
WATERLOO — They already had secured their spot in school history, winning a second straight Section V title and going farther than any softball team ever has for Fairport
But these Red Raiders wanted more. They wanted their own spot in state tournament history, not to be a footnote like so many teams that come so close but go home without the big trophy.
But after rallying for a 2-1 win Saturday morning in the Class AA semifinals against Columbia (Section II), uncharacteristic errors derailed the Red Raiders in a 4-1 title game loss to Brentwood (XI).
And when it was over, the faces of these Fairport players were wet from tears, along with the hard rain that had started to fall again at the Waterloo Softball Complex.
"I told them how proud I was of the way they represented Fairport but (also) how far they've brought this program," coach Amie Carr, a former Fairport player, said of her message in the last huddle of the season.
"I told our seniors that they led us here. We had the motto all year, 'Those that work the hardest are the last to surrender.' We at least know we went out working our hardest."
But they didn't play anywhere near their best.
Brentwood (24-4) went ahead 1-0 in the second inning when Fairport pitcher Stacy Kuwik walked the first two batters, then after a strikeout, fielded a hard grounder and threw low to first base, as the ball got by Jenny Plotzker allowing the run to score. Kuwik, an All-State pick headed for Syracuse University, walked five batters, struck out six and scattered four hits. Though it wasn't nearly enough to bring her team back, the last at-bat of her career was memorable.
Kuwik slammed a two-out, solo home run in the sixth inning to spoil Nicole Flint's shutout. It traveled approximately 230 feet, and Waterloo school officials said it's the first over-the-fence homer since that field opened in 2000.
"I was so pumped, so angry, so happy, so sad — all at the same time," she said of the only hit Flint allowed in an efficient but not overpowering game. Kuwik was mad because things got away from Fairport (25-3) in the fifth inning. With one out, a single, infield error and walk loaded the bases.
After an RBI bloop single, two more infield errors let runs score.
"Normally, we get those plays," Kuwik said.
They did in the semis. Jess Steubing's sixth-inning double scored Kuwik, who had singled, from first base with the go-ahead run. Columbia had gone up 1-0 on Shannon Dougherty's third-inning double, one of only two hits Kuwik allowed. She struck out eight and walked three. Kuwik also scored the tying run in the fourth inning, hustling home from second base and making a good slide after an overthrow to first base.
"No matter what," she said later, "the whole season was great and this was just one game. I'm very proud of my team."
2009 Birds Eye Foods - Section V Softball Players of the Year
a senior pitcher, repeats for the third time as a player of the year. She was 24-3 this year with eight no hitters and one perfect game. She had 309 strikeouts in 171 innings with a 0.20 ERA. At bat she had a .561 average with 29 extra base hits including eight home runs with 46 RBI’s and six stolen bases. She will attend Syracuse University to study computer engineering on a softball scholarship.
... (go read it all)
Democrat & Chronicle - Four softball players earn first-team all-state honors
...
Class AA
First team: Stacy Kuwik, Fairport. Second team: Rosie Roessel, Fairport. Fifth: Alissa Dixon, Webster Schroeder; Vicki Switzer, Schroeder. Sixth: Erika Hoppner, Webster Thomas; Whitney Rodak, Spencerport.
Fairport Beats Thomas in Opener – Monday, April 12, 2010
Freshman hurler Mackenzie Cleary kept the Thomas offense off balance all afternoon with a good mix of pitches for 7 strikeouts out of the first 10 batters she faced. Cleary (1-0) cruised along striking out 12 and scattering 4 hits over 6 innings. Rachel Malone pitched a scoreless last inning to seal the game for Fairport (1-0).
Fairport Completes Spring Trip to South Carolina – April 19 – 23, 2010
Against Daniel Boone High out of Tennessee, the Red Raiders started off strong offensively, jumping out to 4-1 lead, with Ashton Hughes, Rachel Malone, Mackenzie Cleary, and Alex McKay chipping in with two hits apiece, and Morgan Lindauer, Danielle Lorenzo, and Jenny Plotzker getting a hit as well. Despite two web gems in left field by Hughes and 7 strikeouts by Cleary on the mound, DB kept fighting back, tying the game in the 7th, forcing an extra frame, and winning in the bottom of the 8th.
After another tightly played close game that Fairport dropped to Ashley Ridge, 5-3 on Tuesday, the Raiders came out determined to get a win against Manning High on Wednesday. McKay and Sam Broking led the way with three hits apiece with Hughes, Malone, Cleary, Lorenzo, and Karen Jablonski contributing with hits a well. Malone worked 5 solid innings, and got a lot of help on defense, including Broking snagging a short pop up on first and tagging the bag for a double play. Cleary then finished up for the 10-7 victory.
Fairport beats Canandaigua – April 28, 2010
Fairport beats Penfield – April 30, 2010
The Raiders tacked on another run in the sixth, producing a total of 13 hits enroute to a final score of 8-2. Pitcher Mackenzie Cleary went the distance in striking out 8 batters while scattering 7 hits in the win.
Fairport loses to Webster Schroeder – May 5, 2010
The Fairport Red Raiders Softball Team (7-6, 5-1) completed last week with two wins after dropping a tough 8-4 loss to Webster Schroeder which featured Mackenzie Cleary with a double and a home run, as well as pitching all seven innings, scattering eight hits and nine strikeouts.
Fairport beats West Irondequoit – May 7, 2010
Fairport next traveled to West Irondequoit for a game with the Eagles in which the Raider offense started early and often with Rachel Malone getting 3 hits with 3 runs scored, Cleary with 3 hits and 3 RBI, Alex McKay with 2 hits and 2 RBI, and Kelsie Anderson, who went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Emily Hamilton, Sam Broking, Jenny Plotzker, and Karen Jablonski also chipped in with hits enroute to a 13-2 victory. Cleary was also the winning pitcher, giving up only two hits and striking out 14 batters.
Fairport beats Rush-Henrietta – May 8, 2010
On Saturday, the Raiders played in what hopes to become an annual event, the Coaches against Cancer Day at SUNY Brockport as part of a double header to raise money for Cancer research. Though the rough weather of the weekend affected the turnout, it didn’t dampen the team’s spirit, as Fairport took on the Royal Comets of Rush-Henrietta in the nightcap. The game was a close one, with R-H taking a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning, when Fairport broke out with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth and one in the seventh, as Malone had 3 hits and an RBI, Morgan Lindauer had 2 hits and a RBI, Broking had 2 doubles and 2 RBI, and Anderson had a hit and a ribbie, and Ashton Hughes scored twice in the 7-2 win. Cleary battled the very windy conditions allowing 2 hits while striking out 13.
Fairport beats Penfield – May 17, 2010
Seniors Power Raiders Past Penfield
On a day in which the senior players of both Penfield and Fairport were recognized for their play this season, it was the Fairport senior trio of Kelsie Anderson, Danielle Lorenzo, and Jennie Plotzker who provided plenty of defense and firepower to defeat the visiting Patriots 7-2 on Monday. In the first, after Penfield put a runner on, Anderson made a diving catch of a short infield fly, wheeled and threw to first for the double play, and in the second, Lorenzo made a fine catch of a long drive to right center. In the bottom of the second, Morgan Lindauer started the offense with the first of her three hits, and was followed by an Anderson single. Plotzker then smacked a double to center scoring both runners. After Lorenzo ripped a single to right, both runners scored on a hard single by Rachel Malone for a 4-0 lead. Penfield was able to put together a two out rally in the fifth by scoring two runs, cutting the lead to 4-2, however, the Red Raiders put together a rally of their own in the bottom of the sixth with singles by Plotzker and Malone. A Mackenzie Cleary walk with two outs loaded the bases for Sam Broking, whose double to deep left field drove in all three runs to finish the scoring for Fairport.
Cleary once again was on the mound for the Raiders, and did a fine job of keeping the Patriot hitters off balance throughout the game, striking out three and surrendering five walks in the win.
Fairport tops Rush-Henrietta - May 19, 2010
Fairport beats West Irondequoit - May 20, 2010
Fairport beats Edison in First Round of Sectional play - May 25, 2010
The Fairport Red Raiders started off their AA Section V tournament Tuesday, by defeating the visiting Edison Tech Inventors in five innings by the mercy rule. Fairport struck early and often in building an insurmountable lead with each player contributing at least one hit and one run scored in the victory. The offense was led by Jenny Plotzker (4 for 5), Kelsie Anderson (5 for 5), and Morgan Lindauer (7 RBI)
Mackenzie Cleary was on the mound for the Raiders in a game where she allowed no hits and walked three while striking out 12.
Fairport Advances in Sectionals - May 27, 2010
On Thursday, the Fairport Red Raiders hosted the Braves of Canandaigua in the Section V quarterfinals, and came away with an impressive 16-1 victory. Nicole Zimmerman was on the hill for the Braves, but could not contain the Raiders on this day. After Canandaigua stranded two runners in the first, Fairport went to work with Ashton Hughes getting the first of her two hits, advancing to third on an error, and coming home on a sac fly by Mackenzie Cleary. In the second, after a hit batsman, a walk, and a Rachel Malone single, Cleary cleared the bases with a mammoth grand slam, and a 5-0 lead. Fairport scored again in the third with a double by Morgan Lindauer, advanced on a wild pitch, and came home on a sacrifice by Alex McKay. In the fourth, after Fairport once again loaded the bases on two walks and an error, Sam Broking brought in two runs with a single. The Braves tried to rally in the fifth with a walk and two hits scoring a run, but the Raiders poured it on in the bottom of the frame with a combination of walks and hits by Kelsie Anderson Karen Jablonski, and Katie Murphy to score 8 more runs.
Fairport Topples Thomas, Move on to Section V Finals
At the SUNY Brockport Softball complex on Thursday night, the Section V Softball Semi Finals got off to an ominous start as the skies darkened and the start of the contest was delayed due to passing rain showers. But as the conditions improved, so did the fortunes of the Red Raider Softball team, who put together one of their most complete efforts yet in defeating the Titans of Webster Thomas, 12-1. The game started off in the first with two defensive gems as Ashton Hughes made a long run in left to snare a dying line drive, and Morgan Lindauer who tracked down a fly in short right field. In the bottom of the frame the offense got right to work when Hughes legged out a hit, and Rachel Malone bunted her way to first. Mackenzie Cleary then singled home Hughes, and Lindauer’s sac fly scored Malone for the early 2-0 lead. With Stephanie Clark on the hill for the Titans trying her best to keep Fairport in check, the Raiders tacked on three more in the second as Alex McKay singled and Emily Hamilton bunted to first and both advanced on an error. Karen Jablonski hit into a fielder’s choice that scored McKay, and after another Malone single, Cleary brought in both runners with a double. In the third, Sam Broking led off with a triple, was driven home by a Kelsie Anderson single, who later scored on a Jablonski sac fly.
Section V Champs Complete Season!
Fairport Wins Section V 'AA' Versus Athena But Loses to Clarence in State Quarterfinals
Last Saturday evening, the Red Raider Softball team beat the Trojans of Greece Athena for the Section V AA Championship 7-3, in a game where they jumped out to an early lead doing what they do best; banging out hits and moving players around, taking advantage of what was given to them, and playing a solid defense. After the game ended, and the celebration died down, Coach Amie Carr’s troops knew they still had a ways to go to get to the State Finals. After graduating six seniors last year, and having a younger roster to start the season, there were those who thought this may be a down year for the Raiders Softball program. But as the regular season progressed towards its conclusion, Fairport found their stride and everyone was contributing to their success on the field, culminating with their third Section V title in a row.
This past Tuesday, The Raiders travelled to Niagara Falls High School for a showdown with Section VI champ Clarence High School, led by pitcher Jen Sansano to a 21-2 record this year. After playing a scoreless first inning, the Red Devils came up with the only scoring of the game with 4 runs in the second inning as they recorded five hits, and took advantage of two errors, and used aggressive base running to score all the runs they would need for the victory, a 4-0 final. The Raider offense, so productive during the sectional run, was inconsistent today and could only muster hits by Mackenzie Cleary, Morgan Lindauer, and Rachel Malone as they could not take advantage of their opportunities, stranding seven runners on base, five in scoring position during the game.
Cleary was on the mound for Fairport and was solid as usual striking out three and walking two and surrendering only three hits after the second inning. Afterwards, heads were held high for a job well done, hugs and tears were exchanged for the departing seniors, and memories made of what they had accomplished together this year.
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport softball team advances to championship
The Red Raiders (25-3), who were making their first trip this deep into the state tournament, committed four errors that led to runs. They fell behind 1-0 in the second inning and then made three miscues in the fifth that helped Brentwood (24-4) score three times. A two-out, solo home run by standout senior Stacy Kuwik in the sixth was all Fairport could manage against pitcher Nicole Flint, who tossed a one-hitter with eight strikeouts and just two walks. Kuwik gave up only four hits, struck out six but walked five batters.
In the morning semifinals, Jess Steubing’s double in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Kuwik all the way from first base and gave Fairport a 2-1 comeback win over Section II’s Columbia (20-7). The Raiders fell behind in the third inning after an error and Shannon Dougherty’s RBI double, one of only two hits allowed by Kuwik. The star pitcher headed to Syracuse University struck out eight and walked three.
She used her speed to score both Raiders runs.
A good athlete, Kuwik hustled home from second base to tie, 1-1, in the fourth inning. Infield hits by Rachel Malone and Kuwik, along with a throwing error, started the rally with runners on second and third.
Steubing then struck out, but reached first when Dougherty, the catcher, dropped the third strike and threw to third base. With the bases loaded and no outs, Jenny Plotzker hit into a force out at home, but an errant throw by Dougherty to first base as she tried for the double play allowed Kuwik to score, as she made a good slide around the tag.
Kuwik opened the sixth inning with a single, Fairport’s fifth hit but only the first out of the infield off pitcher Jena Servidone. Steubing then lined a double to the right-center field gap to score Kuwik.
Times Union - Late rally sinks Columbia in semis
The Red Raiders finally put two balls into the outfield in the bottom of the sixth and that proved to be the difference.
Jess Steubing doubled home Syracuse-bound pitcher Stacy Kuwik in the sixth and Kuwik recorded the final three outs to propel Fairport to a 2-1 victory, ending Columbia's season.
Steubing, Fairport's No. 4 hitter, was 0-for-2 against Servidone before delivering in the sixth. Kuwik, who singled to center with one out, flew around the bases after Steubing ripped a pitch on the outside corner to center.
Kuwik ended the game by striking out Kacey Ochs and then was mobbed by her teammates. Columbia, making its first appearance in the state playoffs since 2001, ended at 20-7.
"It has been a heck of a ride and I can't give (seniors) Sam Chevalier, Shannon Dougherty and Meg Bailey enough credit for the careers they have had," Columbia coach Gary Holtz said. "The (Section II) quarterfinals had always been tough for us, so for us to make it this far is awesome," Chevalier said.
"It was a terrific year. I'm proud of everything we've done. We were in this game the whole way," said Servidone, who tossed a six-hitter and matched Kuwik with eight strikeouts.
The Blue Devils broke through with a run in the third when Chevalier reached on an error and scored on Dougherty's sharp double to left. Fairport, with lefty spray hitters in the No. 1, 2 and 9 positions in the lineup, tied the game in the fourth on two infield hits and two Columbia errors. "I got on from an error. That helped us, but unfortunately, it went both ways. You can't expect everything to be given to you," Chevalier said.
Kuwik, a hard-throwing righty, allowed only one other hit, a single in the seventh by Jess Freemantle. "Obviously, their pitcher is going to Syracuse I believe for a reason. She's really, really good," Holtz said. "They rattled us with some stuff we don't see a whole lot."
After accepting its semifinal plaque and Class AA Sportsmanship Award, Columbia gathered behind the field along the third base line. Holtz thanked his seniors and commended his players on a tremendous playoff run before one final huddle for 2009. "I'm really proud of them," Holtz said.
Fairport dropped the final, 4-1 to Brentwood.
2009 State Championship - Class AA Section / Bracket
2009 NYSSWA rankings (through June 6) Class AA
===== ==================== ===== =====
1. North Rockland-1 22-1 2.
2. Tottenville-PSAL 27-0 3.
3. Fairport-5 23-2 4.
4. St. John the Baptist-CHSAA 27-2 8.
5. Liverpool-3 24-3 9.
6. Brentwood-11 21-4 11.
7. Horseheads-4 19-7 12.
8. Columbia-2 19-6 NR
9. Long Beach-8 20-5 14.
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport prevails in state quarterfinals
They held a 1-0 lead before Section VI's Williamsville North scratched out an unearned run against Fairport ace Stacy Kuwik. Rather than lament losing the lead late, the Red Raiders showed resiliency.
Courtney Curtin coaxed a one-out walk and moved to second on sister Caitlin Curtin's sacrifice bunt. With two outs and the winning run on second and down to her last strike, junior Danielle Lorenzo battled back to force a full count, then hit a slow dribbler back to the pitcher.
Hustling down the first-base line, Lorenzo forced Williamsville's Robin Kennery into a rushed throw that sailed wide of the bag, allowing pinch-runner Emily Hamilton to score. Hamilton was mobbed by her teammates as the Red Raiders celebrated a thrilling, 2-1 win at State University College at Brockport that sent Fairport (24-2) into the state semifinals.
The Red Raiders will face the winner of Section III's Liverpool vs. Section II's Columbia at 9 a.m. Saturday at Waterloo.
"I just knew I had to put the ball in play. I was so pumped getting to hit because I knew I was going to hit the ball and get that run home," said Lorenzo, a junior in her first year on varsity. "I love being under pressure like that, and I don't know why. But I love conquering the pitcher. We're so ecstatic and pumped and I think we can go all the way and win (states)."
The Red Raiders struck first in the fourth. Rosie Roessel drew a walk, advanced to third on Rachel Malone's single and scored on a fielder's choice by Kuwik. A year after a disappointing loss to Clarence in the quarters, Fairport relied on Kuwik, the Syracuse University-bound senior, to shut down Williamsville North (21-6).
Kuwik hit a batter in the first and allowed a single in the second, but both runners were erased when Courtney Curtin threw each out trying to steal second. From there Kuwik settled down, retiring 10 consecutive hitters until allowing a pair of sixth-inning singles. She allowed only three hits and struck out six in the win.
"I was pretty dialed in. I felt a little wild early, but in the end I buckled down and kept making pitches," said Kuwik, who added her screwball was working really well. "It feels great getting over this hurdle. Every moment could be my last so that was an awesome way to end the game and move on in states."
Williamsville North's only run was unearned, as an errant throw from first to third allowed Kennery to score in the seventh before Fairport's late-game dramatics. The Red Raiders won despite getting only one hit, Malone's fourth-inning single, but made the most of Kennery's wildness, as the Williamsville North starting pitcher issued three walks and hit a batter.
"We never get rattled and never hang our heads," said Courtney Curtin, a senior and three-year varsity player. "Losing in last year's quarterfinals made us more determined this year that we're going all the way. This is where we want to be and now we have a chance to win states."
News 8 - Fairport 9, Webster Thomas 0
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport softball advances to Class AA states
Fairport (23-2), whose only losses have been to squads from South Carolina during its spring trip, will play the Section VI champion — Clarence or Williamsville North — in Tuesday’s 2 p.m. state quarterfinals back in Brockport.
Fairport has never advanced past the quarterfinals.
Thomas finished 21-3.
Red Raiders right-hander Stacy Kuwik continued her stellar senior season. The future Syracuse University player allowed just one hit — Betsey Burns’ infield dribbler single in the fifth inning – struck out 14 and walked two.
Kuwik also went 3-for-4 and capped the fourth-inning by lining a two-run home run to center field. It hit the top of the fence, deflected straight up and then a foot over.
Thomas pitcher Erika Hoppner had limited Fairport to just one hit in the first three innings, but Kuwik started the fourth with a single. After a groundout and strikeout, Courtney Curtin singled up the middle for a 1-0 lead. Kuwik had moved up on a fielder’s choice and scored from second.
Caitlin Curtin, Courtney’s twin sister, followed with an infield single and they moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Danielle Lorenzo came through with a two-run double to make it 3-0.
After Ashton Hughes walked, lead-off hitter Rosie Roessel slapped a ground ball to third base and when the throw went wide of first two more runs scored to make it 5-0.
Rachel Malone, who went 3-for-4, hit a run-scoring double and then Kuwik smashed her homer. Pinch-hitter Alex McKay added an RBI single in the fifth inning.
News 8 - Fairport 4, Schroeder 3
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport edges rival Webster Schroeder for Class AAA softball title
And for the second year in a row, the Red Raiders were the ones celebrating at the State University of Brockport after squeaking past their Monroe County Division I rival.
Top-seeded Fairport pushed across the winning run when Jenny Plotzker's ground ball with one out and the bases loaded was bobbled, and speedy Rosie Roessel raced home to give the Raiders a 4-3 win Thursday night and their third title in four years.
I wanted to get a hit and I wasn't scared at all because I could hear the team behind me," said Plotzker, a junior who reached on an error, grounded out and struck out looking earlier against freshman Alissa Dixon.
...
"You've got to make the plays and we didn't — bottom line," Warriors coach Meaghan Keil said.
...
"With (Roessel) on third, we knew any hit she could score," Kuwik said.
...
We just try to keep them loose, keep them relaxed and tell them we believe in their abilities," coach Amie Carr said.
All-tournament team: Sandy Cao (Jefferson/Franklin), Megan O'Connell (Hilton), Steph Armbruster (Schroeder), Rachel Malone (Fairport), Vicki Switzer (Schroeder), Jess Steubing (Fairport), Alissa Dixon (Schroeder), Kelly Carolan (Schroeder), Courtney Curtin (Fairport). MVP: Stacy Kuwik (Fairport). (Go read it all - click link).
Democrat & Chronicle - Webster Schroeder, Fairport to meet in scectional final once again
2009 Section V Softball Tournament - Class AAA Final Seeding / Bracket
Week 8 - Birds Eye Player of the Week (Section V)
Dixon, a freshman pitcher, pitched a two hitter with 13 strikeouts in a loss to Fairport and than a no hitter
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport 15, Hilton 0
Nicole Stumpf went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Fairport (19-2).
Democrat & Chronicle - Home run lifts Fairport past Schroeder
MPNow (Fairport ER Post) - Fairport edges Schroeder to win softball division title
RNews at Fairport - Schroeder Game
Week 7 - Birds Eye Player of the Week (Section V)
Senior pitcher Kuwick earned three wins last week, allowing only three hits and striking out 33 batters in 16 innings. She also was six-for-11 at bat with four extra base hits and six RBI’s.
Tackling, a senior third baseman, was seven-for11 with three doubles, six RBI’s, two runs scored and two stolen bases.
2009 Senior Day Game - Thursday May 21 (vs Hilton)
Please come out support our seniors this week on Thursday May 21st for the Senior Day game against Hilton.
This year's group are outstanding girls who have been a part of Fairport softball from Fairport Little League teams and all star teams, various local travel teams as well as the Modified and JV programs. Their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm for softball is unmatched!
Please come out and support Stacy Kuwik, Jessica Steubing, Rosie Roessel, Caitlin Curtin, Courtney Curtin and Nicole Stumpf this Thursday at 4:30pm.
Thank you for your support,
Paula Anderson
Fairport Little League Honors Red Raider Seniors
Week 6 - Birds Eye Player of the Week (Section V)
MONROE I: Alissa Dixon of Webster Schroeder and Jessica Steubing of Fairport. Freshman pitcher Dixon won four games last week. She had a no-hitter with 18 K’s and had 17 K’s in another game for a total of 45 K’s for the week. At bat she went six-for-nine with three RBI’s, a home run, two triples, a double and seven runs scored. Steubing, a senior shortstop, was five-for-seven last week with a double and four RBI’s including a big RBI single in the fourth inning vs. Pittsford-Sutherland to put Fairport up 2-0.
Sports Radio 1280 WHTK - Fairport Interview (Audio)
Coach Mike Adams and SS/P Kevin Johnson of Webster Thomas baseball; NYS Sportswriters president John Moriello on newspapers redefining high school sports coverage for online; Aquinas boys lacrosse coach Jerry Dawes; Fairport softball coach Amie Carr with catcher Courtney Curtin and pitcher Stacy Kuwik.
Democrat & Chronicle - Experienced Fairport is softball team to beat
"I like to think we're the team to beat," coach Amie Carr said Wednesday from Charleston, S.C., where her squad is on its spring trip. "But we know we still have to come and perform."
(Go read it all - click on link)
Democrat & Chronicle - Fairport 15, Spencerport 0
Fairport's Jessica Steubing tags out Spencerport's Katlyn Watson as she tries to steal second base (see link for picture).
Senior Stacy Kuwik pitched her second consecutive no-hitter for Fairport (2-0) as she struck out 12.
Democrat & Chronicle - Kuwik helps Fairport shut down Gates Chili
Signed, Sealed, Delivered!
Look'n Good in Charleston (4/16/2008)
Bishop England Barbeque (4/16/2008)
2008 Section V Class AAA Champions
