Local teams begin sectionals

Previews for VVS, Oneida, Camden, Canastota, Cazenovia and Hamilton

VVS, Oneida, Camden, Cazenovia, Canastota and Hamilton move into postseason.

In 2018, the Section III Class B playoffs featured a field of 25 teams after weather wreaked havoc on scheduling andthe tournament was opened to all teams.

This season, the Class B field has been narrowed to 18 teams, but there are several familiar programs heading into postseason play.

Tri-Valley Pioneer champion VVS drewtheNo. 3 seed in Class B, trailing only No. 1 Holland Patent and No. 2 Port Byron in seeding. Coach Chad Hodkinson and the Red Devils setting up a game against will host No. 14 Utica Notre Dame on Friday. The Red Devils, who closed the regular season with a 12-4 overall record, won both regular season meetings with the Jugglers (78), posting 5-2 and 9-0 wins during a twin bill on May 8.

Class B’s No. 5 vs. No. 12 matchup pits another pair of TVL Pioneer foes against one another for an opening round tilt. Jake Bates’ CamdenBlueDevils (10-6), who finished second in the Pioneer behind VVS, will welcome Ryan Kramer’s Oneida side (8-7) for a game under the lights on Friday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m. In their only previous meeting this season, Camden scored a 6-3 win over Oneida.

Elsewhere in Class B, Eric VanSlyke’s Canastota Raiders (11-5) enter the postseason as the No. 9 seed after finishing third in the CSC-I. Canastota will travel to No. 8 Solvay (12-7) to take on Bearcats Friday, who closed the regular season in second place in the OHSL Liberty National.

No. 17 Cazenovia, sporting a 7-8-1 record, will play in one of B’s two play-in games. Jay Steinhorst’s Lakers will hit the road Thursday to take on No. 16 Clinton (8-7) after closing the season in the middle of the OHSL Liberty National pack.

In Class D, CSC-IV champion Hamilton earned the No. 5 seed after closing the season with a 9- 6 mark. Coach Joe LePage and the Emerald Knights will head east to take on No. 4 Brookfield on Tuesday, May 28. In their only meeting this season, Brookfield got the better of Hamilton to the tune of a 9-1 victory.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Camden senior Josh Ott is tagged out on a steal attempt at second base by Vernon-Verona-Sherrill second baseman Alex Kipp on Thursday, May 16.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Vernon-Verona-Sherrill senior Blake VanDreason delivers a pitch during Friday’s matchup against New Hartford.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH With coach Ryan Kramer looking on, Oneida leadoff man Lukas Albro swings at an Andrew Wuest offering during TVL play on Tuesday, April 30.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Camden junior Justin Cox winds and deals during a 6-2win over Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on Thursday, May 16.

JOHN BREWER - ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Kenny Coe (22) and Sam DiGeorge celebrate following a 4-2win over Adirondack on Monday, April 29.