Area teams poised to begin play in regionals
Kingston, Marlboro, Pine Plains in baseball; Rondout Valley, Pine Plains in softball play today
KINGSTON, N.Y. » A trio of area baseball teams and a pair of softball squads take the field to play Section 1 opponents in state tournament action today.
There is a baseball doubleheader at Pace University with Pine Plains facing Tuckahoe in a Class C game at 4 p.m., followed by Kingston against Clarkstown South at 4.
Marlboro’s baseball team faces Pleasantville in a Class B regional semifinal 1 p.m. at Saugerties’ Cantine Field.
Pine Plains’ softball team travels over to Rhinebeck to play Pawling in a Class C clash at 5 p.m. Rondout Valley heads to North Rockland for a 4 p.m. Class B game versus Westlake.
The winners advance to the regional finals on Saturday. BASEBALL Kingston vs. Clarkstown South
The (16-5) Tigers have won 13 in a row and find themselves back at Pace — where last year they thumped Arlington to clinch a spot in the state final four. Joe Ferrer no-hit Monoe Woodbury in last week’s Section 9 semifinal. That was his third straight shutout and extended his scoreless streak to 27 innings.
Kingston knocked off Warwick 10-5 in the finals, rallying for six runs in the fifth. Fritz
Genther tied it with a solo homer that took out a window in the pavilion beyond the fence in left center and Jon Kivlan followed with a homer to take the lead for good.
Clarkstown (18-5) won its first-ever Section 1 title behind Kieran Finnegan (10-1, 1.24 ERA), a lefty who shut out Mamaroneck on one hit.
With a win the Tigers play Section 4’s Horseheads 4 p.m. Saturday at Cantine. Pine Plains vs. Tuckahoe
Pine Plains (13-6) shut out Sullivan West and TriValley — with Matt Funk getting both wins — to capture its third consecutive section title. The Bombers will be tested by a (154) Tuckahoe squad that has averaged 10 runs a game and hit .398 as a team this
season.
The winner plays either East Rockaway of Section 8 or Pierson/Bridgehampton of Section 11 in Saturday’s region finals 10 a.m. Saturday at Cantine. Marlboro vs. Pleasantville
The (19-1) Dukes have been on a roll all season. Their only loss was to Pine Bush back on April 21 and they have won 13 straight since. Marlboro won its second section title in three years and are looking to return to states where the Dukes won it all in 2016.
Pleasantville upset topseeded Briarcliff for the Section 1 crown.
The winner plays either Section 11’s Center Moriches or Wheatley of Section 8. If Center Moriches wins, the game is noon Saturday at St. Joseph’s College. If Wheatley prevails, the game is 4 p.m. at SUNY Old Westbury. SOFTBALL Pine Plains vs. Pawling
The (13-5) Bombers three-peated as Section 9 champs and now face perennial Section 1 power Pawling (15-5) in their quest to return to the state final four. Pine Plains reached the state finals last year.
Pawling, upset by Haldane in the 2017 section finals, outscored its foes 36-0 in two games to win their title. Pine Plains banged out six extra-base hits in their 9-4 win over S.S. Seward in its section final. Pawling beat Pine Plains 3-2 in a non-league game this season.
The Tigers have two ace pitchers on their staff in Olivia Zoeller and Kayla Chavarri.
Pawling is ranked fifth in the New York State Sportswriters Association (NYSSWA) poll. Pine Plains is sixth.
The winner plays either McGann-Mercy of Section 8 or Section 11’s East
Rockaway (ranked 2nd) in a regional final Saturday. If Mercy win, the game is noon at Hofstra. An East Rockaway victory and the game is 3 p.m. at St. Joseph’s College. Rondout vs. Westlake
Rondout’s first venture into state play in 13 years has it taking the (13-5) Ganders into a regional semifinal against a (16-5) Westlake which just won its first-ever section title.
It could be a pitcher’s duel with Rondout ace Tori Decker, who shut out topseeded Chester in the Section 9 finals, versus Ali Brunetto, who recorded four consecutive shutouts in Westlake’s postseason run.
Westlake is ranked sixth in the state and Rondout 14th.
With a victory, the Ganders would play either Babylon of Section 11 or Oyster Bay of Section 8 in a 1 p.m. final Saturday at Middletown.