Raiders ride momentum into state tourney
Mechanicville in quest of first state title since 2009
MECHANICVILLE » Mechanicville High School softball coach Don Arceneaux prefers that his team stays out of the public spotlight, but the manner in which his squad has rolled through the postseason undoubtedly warrants the attention of Section II media outlets.
Mechanicville (18-5) defeated four regular-season champions of their respective leagues in its four playoff games, including a thrilling 3-2 victory over Colonial Council champion Cohoes in the Section II Class BB-B Playoff on Saturday to clinch its first New York State tournament appearance since 2011.
The No. 4-state ranked Red Raiders will aim to carry its momentum into its first-round playoff matchup Thursday against Section VII’s Saranac High School, slated for 4:30 p.m. at Malta Recreation Park.
“I try to keep the reporters away because reporters are always putting a bullseye on us expecting us to win and I knew these kids were new,” Arce-
neaux said. “This year they earned it. Nobody expected them to win, nobody put pressure on them to win.”
Mechanicville cruised to a win over Adirondack League champion Corinth in the Class B quarterfinals, edged Wasaren League champ Tamarac 4-2 in the semifinals and routed Patroon League champion Chatham 7-0 in the Class B final before holding off the Tigers — which beat the Red Raiders twice in the Colonial Council regular season — this past weekend.
The Red Raiders, propelled by SUNY Cortland-bound senior pitcher Kirstyn Alonzo as well as a deep and balanced lineup, are clicking on all cylinders and are eager for the challenge of becoming the first Mechanicville team since 2009 to win a state championship.
“We’re definitely ready, if we come to play like we played against Cohoes we’re going to be a tough team to beat,” Alonzo said. “Everybody’s stepped it up and everyone’s excited. I think the girls have what it takes.”
Junior Erin Maloney’s two-RBI double in the third inning proved to be the difference in the victory against Cohoes. The second baseman stole third base and came around to score on a throwing error as the Red Raiders held off the Tigers’ rally in the seventh.
“After beating Cohoes we definitely had momentum and we feel upbeat, we feel like we can do anything and it gave us confidence that we need entering this tournament,” Maloney said. “We’re going to play a lot of really good teams and we need to play our best game (Thursday) to keep moving forward.”
Mechanicville has five players with varsity state tournament experience as Alonzo, Maloney, Kim Thompson, Kali DeMarco and Jamie Frosell all competed on the 2011 state semifinalist squad.
Arceneaux said the past couple of years have been a maturation process for his team.
“This group has seen it all growing up. it’s been a lot of growing pains... it’s a different team,” he said. “These guys are gelling, they’ve gained confidence every single game.”
Alonzo, too, matured the past two years and the experience has transformed her into one of the best pitchers in the section.
“I think I learned a lot starting the past two years on varsity,” she said. “I went into sectionals kind of a little bit shaky because I was young and I was nervous but now from learning from that I go out and don’t get nervous anymore.”
Right fielder Jamie Frosell was a freshman on the 2011 semifinal team and likes the team’s chances of making a deep tournament run these next couple of weeks.
“It’s just about staying focused, I definitely think we have a good chance, we’ve been doing great this postseason,” Frosell said. “It would be great to bring home a state tournament for Mechanicville.”