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Apr. 14—SACKETS HARBOR — The Sackets Harbor softball team truly experienced a banner season last year.
The Patriots perhaps exceeded their own expectations by making a run to win the Class D sectional championship.
They won 15 games and generated a six-game winning streak when it counted most to ultimately reach the state playoffs.
"It was amazing," Patriots senior outfielder Taylor Mower said. "In previous years we've always thought we were good enough to win a section title and we've never really gone that far, so like it just felt euphoric almost to like know that we're that good and we proved ourselves to be that good."
Now with a core group of players returning to the team, they're confident they can forge another successful season.
"I think that if we can get our pitching and defense squared away, then we can be successful," Sackets Harbor coach Dan Green said.
Sackets Harbor is anchored this season by a trio of senior captains — Mower, Peyton Britton and Myah Matice.
"I'm very confident in our abilities," Sackets Harbor third baseman Taylor Britton said. "I think we just have to build up our confidence more and just get comfortable with each other again, especially at the start of the season."
Last season, the Patriots kicked off their postseason surge as after winning the Frontier League's "D" Division regular-season title, defeated Lyme in the division's playoff final.
"Last year we were fortunate, because Natalie (Gibbons) was hurt the first part of the season and Myah pitched very well until Natalie got back," Green said, "And I think that was a huge reason why we won the league. Last year we caught all the right breaks, the girls bought in to what we wanted to do."
Then after it was seeded sixth in the Class D sectional tournament, Sackets Harbor defeated Copenhagen in the first round before taking its show on the road by topping third-seeded Bishop Ludden, 12-6, and then edged second-seeded Stockbridge Valley, 2-1, in a semifinal at Carrier Park Field in East Syracuse.
The Patriots reached the height of their season when they knocked off top-seeded Cincinnatus, 7-3, in the final at the same venue to claim the program's first outright Section 3 championship since 1995.
"Honestly, it was just an amazing feeling because our team is really a family," Mower said, "We've all been playing together our whole lives and it was just amazing to be with the girls I've known my whole life and played with my whole life and prove how good we were."
"We were the No. 6 seed, but we knew we belonged because we were in the semis the year before," Green said. "And we were just complete team last year, we could field, we could pitch, we could hit, we could play small ball. So hopefully we can build off some of that for this year."
"I think we came out with two or three big hits to put us up a couple runs," Britton said. "But they, Cincinnatus rebounded and came back with a couple more runs, but our defense stayed strong as well as our pitching and hitting and we added a couple runs at the end just to seal the deal for us."
Sackets Harbor's season came to an end in a 3-2 loss to Section 10 champion Chateaugay in a state quarterfinal played at St. Lawrence University.
"Last year I don't think anybody was expecting us to go that far," Britton said. "But the fact that we were believing in ourselves and pushing each other, that's what really got us to win sectionals."
"I think that we've all just like played together for so long and we just knew that it was our time and where we needed to be," Mower said. "It was fun."
The Patriots lost several key contributors from last year, most notably Gibbons, who as the team's ace on the mound led the postseason charge.
"We lost two really key people last year, three really, but I think we're just finding the people that can fill their spots," said Britton, "and just work hard and play the best defense that we can."
"I feel like we're pretty much a senior and junior team, so we have some experience behind us," Mower said. "And I think we're just getting into the hang of things with a new pitcher and testing out where we're going to be in the field and our batting lineup. But I think once we get the hang of things, we'll really concentrate and do well."
But Britton returns to play at third base and junior Emily Young is back to play at first base, providing Sackets Harbor with strength on the corners.
Mower returns to anchor the outfield from her left field position, while junior Lily Green is back as well after a strong season as catcher.
Seniors Brooke McCargar, Katelynn McKeever and Kaelynd Brouillett also started for the team at times last season.
"I'd say we're definitely working through some struggles, but we're a pretty veteran team," Britton said. "We've got 10 seniors, which makes up the majority of our team. So I think we just have to push hard and like kind of build off what we did last year."
The team hopes to rely on Matice on the mound when she returns from a lingering injury. Last year, Matice won five games last year while striking out 79 in 62 innings of work.
"We're kind of battling the injury bug a bit," Green said. "Our starting pitcher and our two-time Section 3 All-Star at shortstop, her hip's bothering her again, so she's been out for the last month."
While the team is working out its pitching staff, it appears to have plenty of its offense returning.
"I'm very confident in our offense," Britton said. "We've got a lot of people that can hit in clutch situations, we've got a lot of people that can bunt in clutch situations, which is really crucial. I think we're pretty deep, solid offensively."
Matice hit .348 last year and totaled three doubles, two triples, three home runs and drove in 13 runs, while displaying plenty of speed with 11 stolen bases, as well as scoring a team-best 30 runs.
Meanwhile, Mower batted .286 last year and knocked in 16 runs, Young hit .284, including six extra base hits and drove in a team-high 17 runs, while Britton hit .267, including seven extra base hits, and drove in seven.
Behind the plate, Green also hit .277, including a triple, drove in 11 and scored 10 runs while Katelynn McKeever batted .325 in a part-time role, tallying a double, four triples and knocked in nine runs.
"I think our hitting is our greatest strength," Mower said. "We have really been the strongest hitting team in the past, sometimes we struggled a little bit, but this year I think we're doing pretty good."
"We have a good offense," Green said. "So we might have to out hit teams this year, if that's possible."
With Young and Britton playing on the corners, the Patriots hope to continue to field the ball well defensively.
"We just have to build up our confidence, especially with the new girls that are playing in positions that they're not used to, so we just have to build up our confidence in each other," Britton said.
Britton is in her fourth varsity season and has played primarily at third base over the years.
"I like, there's a lot of different movements," Britton said of playing the position. "You can get the line drives, you can get the bunt and I like everything about it."
Overall, the Frontier League was well represented last season as "C" Division champion Sandy Creek won Section 3's Class C title, claiming its second sectional crown in three years, and "A-B" Division winner South Jefferson was edged by one run in a road loss in the Class A quarterfinal round.
This season, the Frontier League will include a "C-D" Division along with once again an "A-B" Division.
But the circuit's "D" Division will once again feature playoffs in softball and baseball, so the Patriots will get a chance to defend their title.
"The Frontier League has always been the most difficult to play in, there's so many great teams out there," Britton said. "And just competing with each other, that's what makes it fun."
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The Patriots perhaps exceeded their own expectations by making a run to win the Class D sectional championship.
They won 15 games and generated a six-game winning streak when it counted most to ultimately reach the state playoffs.
"It was amazing," Patriots senior outfielder Taylor Mower said. "In previous years we've always thought we were good enough to win a section title and we've never really gone that far, so like it just felt euphoric almost to like know that we're that good and we proved ourselves to be that good."
Now with a core group of players returning to the team, they're confident they can forge another successful season.
"I think that if we can get our pitching and defense squared away, then we can be successful," Sackets Harbor coach Dan Green said.
Sackets Harbor is anchored this season by a trio of senior captains — Mower, Peyton Britton and Myah Matice.
"I'm very confident in our abilities," Sackets Harbor third baseman Taylor Britton said. "I think we just have to build up our confidence more and just get comfortable with each other again, especially at the start of the season."
Last season, the Patriots kicked off their postseason surge as after winning the Frontier League's "D" Division regular-season title, defeated Lyme in the division's playoff final.
"Last year we were fortunate, because Natalie (Gibbons) was hurt the first part of the season and Myah pitched very well until Natalie got back," Green said, "And I think that was a huge reason why we won the league. Last year we caught all the right breaks, the girls bought in to what we wanted to do."
Then after it was seeded sixth in the Class D sectional tournament, Sackets Harbor defeated Copenhagen in the first round before taking its show on the road by topping third-seeded Bishop Ludden, 12-6, and then edged second-seeded Stockbridge Valley, 2-1, in a semifinal at Carrier Park Field in East Syracuse.
The Patriots reached the height of their season when they knocked off top-seeded Cincinnatus, 7-3, in the final at the same venue to claim the program's first outright Section 3 championship since 1995.
"Honestly, it was just an amazing feeling because our team is really a family," Mower said, "We've all been playing together our whole lives and it was just amazing to be with the girls I've known my whole life and played with my whole life and prove how good we were."
"We were the No. 6 seed, but we knew we belonged because we were in the semis the year before," Green said. "And we were just complete team last year, we could field, we could pitch, we could hit, we could play small ball. So hopefully we can build off some of that for this year."
"I think we came out with two or three big hits to put us up a couple runs," Britton said. "But they, Cincinnatus rebounded and came back with a couple more runs, but our defense stayed strong as well as our pitching and hitting and we added a couple runs at the end just to seal the deal for us."
Sackets Harbor's season came to an end in a 3-2 loss to Section 10 champion Chateaugay in a state quarterfinal played at St. Lawrence University.
"Last year I don't think anybody was expecting us to go that far," Britton said. "But the fact that we were believing in ourselves and pushing each other, that's what really got us to win sectionals."
"I think that we've all just like played together for so long and we just knew that it was our time and where we needed to be," Mower said. "It was fun."
The Patriots lost several key contributors from last year, most notably Gibbons, who as the team's ace on the mound led the postseason charge.
"We lost two really key people last year, three really, but I think we're just finding the people that can fill their spots," said Britton, "and just work hard and play the best defense that we can."
"I feel like we're pretty much a senior and junior team, so we have some experience behind us," Mower said. "And I think we're just getting into the hang of things with a new pitcher and testing out where we're going to be in the field and our batting lineup. But I think once we get the hang of things, we'll really concentrate and do well."
But Britton returns to play at third base and junior Emily Young is back to play at first base, providing Sackets Harbor with strength on the corners.
Mower returns to anchor the outfield from her left field position, while junior Lily Green is back as well after a strong season as catcher.
Seniors Brooke McCargar, Katelynn McKeever and Kaelynd Brouillett also started for the team at times last season.
"I'd say we're definitely working through some struggles, but we're a pretty veteran team," Britton said. "We've got 10 seniors, which makes up the majority of our team. So I think we just have to push hard and like kind of build off what we did last year."
The team hopes to rely on Matice on the mound when she returns from a lingering injury. Last year, Matice won five games last year while striking out 79 in 62 innings of work.
"We're kind of battling the injury bug a bit," Green said. "Our starting pitcher and our two-time Section 3 All-Star at shortstop, her hip's bothering her again, so she's been out for the last month."
While the team is working out its pitching staff, it appears to have plenty of its offense returning.
"I'm very confident in our offense," Britton said. "We've got a lot of people that can hit in clutch situations, we've got a lot of people that can bunt in clutch situations, which is really crucial. I think we're pretty deep, solid offensively."
Matice hit .348 last year and totaled three doubles, two triples, three home runs and drove in 13 runs, while displaying plenty of speed with 11 stolen bases, as well as scoring a team-best 30 runs.
Meanwhile, Mower batted .286 last year and knocked in 16 runs, Young hit .284, including six extra base hits and drove in a team-high 17 runs, while Britton hit .267, including seven extra base hits, and drove in seven.
Behind the plate, Green also hit .277, including a triple, drove in 11 and scored 10 runs while Katelynn McKeever batted .325 in a part-time role, tallying a double, four triples and knocked in nine runs.
"I think our hitting is our greatest strength," Mower said. "We have really been the strongest hitting team in the past, sometimes we struggled a little bit, but this year I think we're doing pretty good."
"We have a good offense," Green said. "So we might have to out hit teams this year, if that's possible."
With Young and Britton playing on the corners, the Patriots hope to continue to field the ball well defensively.
"We just have to build up our confidence, especially with the new girls that are playing in positions that they're not used to, so we just have to build up our confidence in each other," Britton said.
Britton is in her fourth varsity season and has played primarily at third base over the years.
"I like, there's a lot of different movements," Britton said of playing the position. "You can get the line drives, you can get the bunt and I like everything about it."
Overall, the Frontier League was well represented last season as "C" Division champion Sandy Creek won Section 3's Class C title, claiming its second sectional crown in three years, and "A-B" Division winner South Jefferson was edged by one run in a road loss in the Class A quarterfinal round.
This season, the Frontier League will include a "C-D" Division along with once again an "A-B" Division.
But the circuit's "D" Division will once again feature playoffs in softball and baseball, so the Patriots will get a chance to defend their title.
"The Frontier League has always been the most difficult to play in, there's so many great teams out there," Britton said. "And just competing with each other, that's what makes it fun."
Continue reading...
