Cohoes prepped for state play
Tigers rode small roster that commits few errors to Section II success
COHOES, N.Y. » There might only be 10 players on the Cohoes roster, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning the section II title.
Four players have been taken off the roster for disciplinary issues, including the leadoff hitter just before the start of the section semifinals.
Still, Cohoes found a way to defeat Ichabod Crane for the second time this season in dramatic fashion. The second was even more impressive.
They’ll be opening up the New York State playoffs on Thursday against Saranac in Plattsburgh, New York.
“If you get out of section II, you’ve accomplished something,” head coach Frank Ryan said. “There’s a lot of good teams in Section II.”
The last three seasons, Cohoes has had their season end in the semis and the finals. They’ve never won the state title, and think they’ll have a shot at this season. Isabelle DeChiaro is the stud pitcher for Cohoes, a player that Ryan likens to the LeBron
James of their program.
Saranac is 15-6 on the season entering the game, which is going to take place at 4 p.m.. They’ve been scouted by the Cohoes assistant staff. They’ve won their section six straight seasons.
Playing a team with a history of success is only another hurdle for the program that barely has enough players to field a team.
“I told my kids that I’ve got left, those kind of things are going to happen all through your life,” Ryan said. “Tough times, adversity. Just going to have to get over it. And they did.”
Cohoes had just enough in the 1-0 win against Ichabod Crane, pushing
across a run in the seventh on a single, a bunt from a player brand new to varsity and another single. They relied on DeChiaro, who pitched her second shutout of the playoffs.
Ryan has a zero tolerance policy for rule-breaking. It’s helped keep those committed accountable, and in his mind that’s an asset to his team. But it’s hurt in the hits to the impact players on the roster.
But Cohoes responds by continuing to win. The Class B state championship, their first, is still an attainable goal.
“There’s a lot of good (Class) B teams that are left now,” Ryan said. “The last three games, we’ve had zero errors. And that’s been the key. The pitching will be there, the hitting will be there. It’s a matter of those errors. If there are two good teams left, the error could be the game.”