Shen opens sectional play with walk off in pitcher’s duel over Shaker

Thursday’s Section II, Class AA quarterfinal between Shaker and Shen softball could only end one possible way.

Which team would make the very first mistake.

“We were talking about putting the ball in play and that things were going to happen if we keep putting the ball in play,” said Shen Softball Head Coach Chris Farquharson. “They will find holes or put the ball in play and force them to make the plays.”

Both Shen and Shaker were putting the ball in play. Both Shen and Shaker were making the plays. A Natalia Colone was the last ball that needed to get in play to score Sara Isaacs and help the Plainsmen claim the 1-0 win over Shaker on Thursday.

“It’s so exciting,” said Colone. “Having another win on the board makes us even more excited to keep going in sectionals. I was in a little bit of a slump but coming back and putting one on the bat for my team makes me feel even better.”

Isaacs led the inning off with a soft shot to center field and was moved to second thanks to a perfectly executed sac bunt by Morgan Smith. Isaacs moved to third on the first wild pitch of the game which made Colone’s next swing a chance to score the winning run.

Colone connected. Isaacs scored.

“When I am in there I am very confident, everything is a positive thought for me,” said Colone. “I look ahead and look for gaps where I can put the ball and help the runner score and then I was thankful for the passed ball so Isaacs could get to third. Coach thought they were going to look for a squeeze but he knew I was confident enough to hit the ball in play and I did.”

Shaker’s pitcher, Hannah Hipwell, had a dominating performance on the mound for the entirety of the game and left little for the Shen offense to work with down the stretch. Hipwell finished with 6.1 innings pitched, just five hits, 1 run, no walks, and four strikeouts.

“Hannah is a really good pitcher. We played travel together, she has come so far since then,” said Bre Hayes. “She is such a good pitcher and she made the offense’s job hard today.”

Hayes, Shen’s starter in the

circle, was lights out from the drop on Thursday. Hayes finished with seven innings of work, just one hit allowed, a walk, and 11 strikeouts in the win leading the way for Shen’s walkoff win.

“I loved her outing,” said Farquharson. “You saw the results of day of practice, hitting certain spots, she challenged their hitters, hit her spots, through strikes, and she had a good amount of strikeouts and the balls put in play weren’t really driven. She had them off balance and we were making them plays.”

Of the two teams, Shen leadoff hitter Emily Baumes was the only hitter with a multi-hit game going 2-for-3.

Shaker and Shen met earlier in the year on April 26 where Shaker beat the Plainsmen 3-2. Despite that loss, Shen finished the season 12-6 and earned the three seed and Shaker was the sixth seed with a 10-10 record. But as we know, records go out the door when Suburban Council teams meet.

“I was really excited to get a chance at them again,” said Hayes. “I knew we could come back. When we lost to them we were in a little bit of a hitting slump so I truly believed we could do it today.”

That belief will need to continue as the three seeded Shen continues on through sectional play with Guilderland next up on May 23 at Schalmont High School.

“Last year we made it so far and I want to make it that far and win,” said Colone. “We got this. We are on a win streak, we’re not stopping, we know we can do it. We are that team.”

SHEN 1, SHAKER 0

Shenendehowa High School

Clifton Park, New York Shaker 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 — 0-1-1

Shen 0-0-0-0-0-0-1 — 1-5-1

Shaker

Hannah Hipwell 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K; Tatum Passonno 1-for-3 Shen

Breanna Hayes 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K; Emily Baumes 2-for-3; Natalia Colone 1-for-3, 1 RBI; Sara Isaacs 1-for-3, 1 R

SOFTBALL SECTIONAL SCORES

Saratoga 1, Ballston Spa 0 Guilderland 10, Niskayuna 3

Colonie 13, Albany 1 Averill Park 6, Hudson 5 Troy 12, Scotia 0 Burnt Hills 6, Queensbury 3

South Glens Falls 6, Columbia 1

Ichabod Crane 8, Holy Trinity 5

Mechanicville 7, Schuylerville 4

Glens Falls 12, Fonda 0 Tamarac 25, CoxsackieAthens 14 Stillwater 3, Whitehall 1 Fort Ann 8, Fort Edward 3

Chatham 3, Hoosick Falls 2

BKW 7, Hoosic Valley 6 Greenwich 9, Warrensburg 2

Stillwater 3, Whitehall 1