Local schools earn postseason bids

In 2018, Camden garnered the No. 1 seed in the Section III Class C field hockey tournament, and the Blue Devils translated that into a section championship.

Following the release of the Section III brackets on Sunday, the Blue Devils will look to work the same formula for another title.

Class C

Camden (12-3) continued its reign over the Tri-Valley League, going 6-0 against league foes to conclude regular season play en route to a league banner and No. 1 seed. For their efforts, the Blue Devils and head coach Shannon McPheron receive a first-round bye and will face the winner of quarterfinal matchup between No. 4 Cazenovia and No. 5 Mount Markham on Sunday, Oct. 27.

No. 4 Cazenovia (8- 6-2) and head coach Lorraine Sheftic finished second in the Onondaga High School League, trailing only league champion Weed

sport, a team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Class D bracket. Cazenovia lost to Camden 1-0 during the regular season, but the Lakers need to get past a No. 5 Mount Markham (10-5-1) team that hung tough with heavyweights Holland Patent and Clinton in a loaded Center State Conference league. The two teams-meet Wednesday in VVS at 7:30 p.m.

Vernon-Verona- Sherrill (7-8-1) enters postseason play as the No. 3 seed after finishing third in the TriValley League behind Camden and Rome Free Academy. Head coach Kevin Zito and the Red Devils will host No. 6 Canastota (8-61), the Center State Conference West champion, in the quarterfinals at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at VVS.

In their only regular season meeting, VVS and Canastota, helmed by head coach Danielle Birckhead, played to a 1-1 final in Verona. The winner of Tuesday’s contest will advance to a semifinal meeting with No. 2 Clinton (14-1-1) on

Sunday, Oct. 27 at VVS.

Class D

Little Falls at Morrisville-Eaton ( 7- 4-1) and head coach Bonnie Barlow earned a first-round bye after finishing third in the Center State Conference West Division. The Warriors travel to No. 3 seed Little Falls at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27.