Rondout, Marlboro earn berths in Class B final

Branch Cranfield tossed a threehit shutout Wednesday as Rondout Valley High will be returning to the Section 9 baseball finals for the first time in a dozen years.

Rondout blanked Highland 4-0 to earn a spot in Saturday’s 10 a.m. Class B title game against Marlboro at Saugerties’ Cantine Field.

The last time the Ganders played in a sectional final was in 2005 and the last title was in 2004, both in Class A.

“I was a senior on that ‘04 team,” Rondout coach Paul Bogart noted.

Cranfield struck out six and walked two in his complete-game effort.

“He settled in nicely and threw only 95 pitches,” Bogart said, “and our defense has been tremendous.”

The (13-7) Ganders managed just four hits themselves, but capitalized on Highland errors.

AJ Parete had two singles and two RBI for Rondout, driving in runs in the third and fourth innings. Andrew Huffman hit a sacrifice fly in the third. Gavin Costello scored twice for the Ganders. Marlboro 5, Chester 2

At Marlboro, the defending state-champion Dukes earned a berth in the final with their win over Chester.

Sam Mongelli drove in two runs with a double and single and Austin Casey had two hits, a RBI and scored twice for the (12-7) Dukes.

Brendan Mahusky held Chester to two runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings to get the win. Mongelli struck out five in 2 1/3 innings of no-hit relief for the save. Pine Plains 9, Millbrook 5

At Pine Plains, the Bombers secured a spot in the Class C finals.

Matt Funk had two singles, a double, two RBI and two stolen bases, freshman Calab McCaul doubled, tripled, drove in one run and scored three times, Evan Proper had a two-run double and Ethan Generelli a run-scoring single to lead Pine Plains.

Funk struck out eight over five innings to get the win.

The Bombers play TriValley for the title 2 p.m. Saturday at Saugerties’ Lorenz Field.