Section 2 2026 softball & baseball sectional pairings released

 Welp, the silly season is officially here with baseball & softball sectionals. For softball, the road leads not to Luther Forest in Malta, but somewhere closer to home for most teams this year. For baseball, it's, of course, Joe Bruno Stadium.

Softball first:

Class AAA:

Wednesday:

Shaker @ Guilderland. Winner to play Shenendehowa at Queensbury May 28.

Also May 28 @ Queensbury:

Saratoga vs. Colonie.

The finals are----surprise!!---at Lansingburgh 2 weeks from today.

Class AA:

Tuesday (weather permitting):

Amsterdam @ Niskayuna. Winner to play @ Columbia on Thursday.

Also Thursday:

Troy @ Queensbury. The Lady Spartans finished the regular season 16-3, opposite Troy's 15-4 ledger, and Section II drops Troy into the #6 seed.

South Glens Falls @ Burnt Hills. The defending champions are a #4 seed, but have played one fewer game than the Bulldogs, who are at 16-4. See a pattern here, pilgrims?

Ballston Spa @ Bethlehem. I don't think all of Bethlehem's games have been reported. If they have, they have the fewest wins of a #2 seed in the field.

Let's stop for a moment. The seeds are mostly wrong, just like in volleyball. Strength of schedule, again, is the excuse, but it's not valid. Here's how the seeds should be:

1. Queensbury.

2. South Glens Falls.

3. Troy. 

4. Columbia.

5. Burnt Hills.

6. Ballston Spa.

7. Bethlehem.

8. Niskayuna.

9. Amsterdam.

It's clear someone in Section II doesn't want Troy hosting a 1st round game. With these adjusted seedings, Queensbury would host either Nisky or Amsterdam. South High would be home for Bethlehem, and Troy hosts Ballston Spa. 

Section II, stop insulting the fans' intelligence! Yesterday!

The semi-finals are at Lansingburgh May 28. The Knights will also host the final June 1.

Class A:

Tuesday (weather permitting):

Scotia @ Cobleskill-Richmondville. Winner to play Ichabod Crane on Thursday.

Broadalbin-Perth @ Cohoes. The winner plays Averill Park on Thursday.

Also Thursday:

Hudson Falls @ Glens Falls.

Ravena @ Schalmont.

Semi-finals are at Troy High (!) May 27, with Lansingburgh hosting the finals May 30.

Class B:

Tuesday (weather permitting):

Holy Names @ Chatham.

Schuylerville @ Taconic Hills.

Voorheesville @ LaSalle.

Holy Trinity @ Mechanicville.

Johnstown @ Hoosick Falls.

Coxsackie-Athens @ Fonda-Fultonville.

Catskill @ Tamarac.

Quarterfinals are set for Thursday at the higher seeds. Lansingburgh hosts the semi-finals on  May 27, and the finals on May 30.

Class C:

Tuesday (weather permitting):

Maple Hill @ Lake George. Winner plays @ Galway on Thursday.

Berlin-New Lebanon @ Berne-Knox-Westerlo.

Stillwater @ Whitehall.

Mayfield @ Schoharie. Winner travels to play Hoosic Valley on Thursday.

Warrensburg @ Saratoga Catholic. Winner will be at Greenwich on Thursday.

Quarterfinals will be at the higher seeds on Thursday. Semi-finals are at OESJ May 27, with the finals at Lansingburgh May 30.

Class D:

Thursday:

Northville @ Salem. Winner plays Argyle May 27.

Fort Edward @ Fort Ann.

Germantown @ Duanesburg.

The semi-finals are at Queensbury May 27. Lansingburgh has the finals May 30.

Baseball:

Class AAA:

Tuesday (weather permitting):

Guilderland @ Shaker. Winner will play Saratoga in a best of 3 at Amsterdam starting Friday.

Albany @ CBA.

Shenendehowa @ Colonie. The winners of these two games also will meet in Amsterdam starting Friday.

The finals will be a best of 3 at Bruno Stadium starting May 29.

Class AA:

Wednesday:

Amsterdam @ Bethlehem. Winner to play South Glens Falls on Friday.

Burnt Hills @ Columbia. Winner plays Mohonasen on Friday.

Also Friday:

Troy @ Queensbury.

Ballston Spa @ Niskayuna.

Semi-finals will be next Monday, Memorial Day, at Bruno Stadium, which also hosts the finals, a best of 3 series, starting May 29.

Class A:

Wednesday:

Schalmont @ Lansingburgh. Winner plays at Averill Park on Friday.

Ichabod Crane @ Hudson Falls. Winner to play Ravena on Friday.

Also Friday:

Glens Falls @ Broadalbin-Perth.

Cohoes @ Scotia.

Semi-finals will be in Guilderland on Memorial Day, with the finals at Bruno Stadium May 28.

Class B:

Tuesday (weather permitting):

Catskill @ Watervliet. Winner to play Taconic Hills on Wednesday.

Rensselaer @ Fonda-Fultonville. Winner to play Cobleskill-Richmondville on Wednesday.

Hoosick Falls @ Voorheesville. Winner goes to Johnstown on Wednesday.

Also Wednesday:

Granville @ Mechanicville.

Chatham @ Salem-Cambridge.

Tamarac @ Coxsackie-Athens.

Canajoharie-Ft. Plain @ Schuylerville.

Hudson @ Cairo-Durham.

The quarterfinals are at higher seeds on Friday, with the semifinals at Saratoga (East Side Rec.) May 26, and the finals at Bruno Stadium May 28.

Class C:

Wednesday:

Stillwater @ Berne-Knox-Westerlo. Winner to play Maple Hill on Friday.

Waterford @ Hoosic Valley.

Schoharie @ OESJ.

Whitehall @ Hadley-Luzerne. Winner to play Saratoga Catholic on Friday.

Galway @ Greenwich.

Mayfield @ Lake George.

Semi-finals @ Lansingburgh on Memorial Day, and the finals at Bruno Stadium May 27.

Class D:

Wednesday:

Northville @ Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons. Winner to play Hartford on Friday.

Also Friday:

Germantown @ Duanesburg.

Middleburgh @ Fort Ann.

Argyle @ North Warren.

The semi-finals are at Adirondack Community College on Memorial Day, with the finals at Bruno Stadium on May 27.

Good luck to all the teams.

News & notes

 The Albany Firebirds are still undefeated in AF1, but this was the closest call of the season. Albany escaped with a 60-57 win over Michigan on Saturday, surviving a last second replay challenge over what the hosts thought was an illegal defense, but wasn't. The 'Birds return home May 30 at MVP Arena, as they have this week off.

Troy High's unified basketball team has reached the semi-finals of a tournament, with the game to be played at MVP Arena on Wednesday. Start time not yet announced. As previously noted, the unified teams are working with Special Olympics. MVP Arena's website has no information at press time on teams, times, or dates.

Another night, another loss for the Tri-City ValleyCats as they were swept by Quebec, 4-1, on Sunday. The losing streak has reached 5 in a row, and with Three Rivers coming in on Tuesday, the 'Cats will need some help, fast.

A couple of quick notes. As we've seen, Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem/Siena) is working out of the bullpen as a relief pitcher so far this season, as he recovers from a late season injury from last year. Jake Reinisch (Shenendehowa/Wake Forest) is on the IL, but could be back for either Three Rivers or Brockton this week. Despite a standout performance on Friday, Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna) sat out Saturday's game, when the 'Cats could have used him late, as they did with Amani Larry. Those type of in-game decisions have Carlos Mendoza on the hot seat with the Mets, and the same fate could await Tri-City manager Greg Tagert if things do not improve.

Weekend high school roundup:

Softball:

Coxsackie-Athens 11, Maple Hill 6.

Troy 13, Lansingburgh 0 (5 innings).

Cobleskill-Richmondville 8, Mayfield 2.

Taconic Hills 8, Red Hook 6.

Scotia 16, Gloversville 4 (5 innings).

Men's lacrosse:

Saturday:

Voorheesville 11, Schenectady-Mohonasen-Schalmont 7.

Sunday:

Shenendehowa 8, Liverpool 7.

Baseball:

Sunday:

LaSalle 9, Lansingburgh 6.

Contrary to what had been assumed, there was no consolation game in the Uncle Sam tournament reported. LaSalle wins the tournament, completing a season sweep of the Knights.

Flag football sectionals:

Class A:

Shaker def. Schenectady.

Albany def. Bethlehem.

Shenendehowa def. Guilderland.

Colonie def. Niskayuna.

Tuesday:

Albany @ Shaker.

Shen @ Colonie.

Class B:

Ballston Spa def. Burnt Hills. The Scotties travel to Troy tomorrow night, weather permitting.

Also Tuesday:

Mohonasen @ Columbia.

Class C:

Holy Trinity def. Albany Leadership.

Ravena def. Ichabod Crane.

Broadalbin-Perth 26, KIPP Capital 7.

Catskill 41, Lansingburgh 0.

Tuesday:

Broadalbin-Perth @ Catskill.

Ravena @ Holy Trinity.

With six, you take a loss (Quebec @ Tri-City, 5/16/26)

 Former Major League Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti wrote, nearly 40 years ago, that "the game is designed to break your heart". Over the last two nights, the Tri-City ValleyCats, and their fans, have had their hearts broken.

After losing, 4-3, on Friday, the 'Cats were back at it against the defending Frontier League champion Quebec Capitales on Saturday night. The crowd was smaller than it was on Friday, and Adam Cohen was back in the PA/broadcast booth after Brian Cady filled in on Friday.

Speaking of being filled in, team president Rick Murphy explained the absence of a foam replica head of Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs. The head is "in production" and pending approval from the Mayor's office, hence the use of former Mayor Jerry Jennings this weekend, and, likely, Applyrs' direct predecessor, Kathy Sheehan, until the new head is ready. That solves that mystery.

And it seemed as though, over the first six innings, that the 'Cats had finally figured out how to beat Quebec, which came in having beaten Tri-City in three straight games, dating back to last season's playoffs. Starter Brayden Barreto went the first five innings, and, well, MLB fans can sympathize with this, left with a no-hitter. Reliever Nate Nabholz extended the potential no-no to six innings. Meanwhile, the ValleyCat offense came to life.

In the 5th, with Tri-City already up, 1-0, Dylan Broderick slammed a solo homer to right field that appeared to clear the shrubbery, to make it 2-0. David Glancy was hit by a pitch by Quebec starter Emile Boies, the 2nd time Glancy had been hit in the game, and fans were calling for Boies to be ejected. Didn't happen. Glancy was left stranded.

To the 7th. Nabholz got in trouble right away, as Torin Montgomery singled to end the no-hit bid. He would score on a single by Antonio Valdez. Nabholz committed an error trying to throw out Chavez Young, allowing two runs to score. Kyle Crowl cranked a 3 run homer to put Quebec up, 6-2, heading into the 7th inning stretch.

In the home 7th, with one out, Glancy took Quebec reliever Yukto Nakata deep, getting Tri-City back to within three at 6-3. Ben Smith was shaky in the final two innings, but slammed the door on the Capitales to give Tri-City a chance, again, to win it in the bottom of the 9th.

In that final frame, with one out, Broderick doubled. Glancy brought him home with a single to make it 6-4. Instead of calling on Cooper Morgan, who closed Friday's win, Quebec opted to use Conner Floyd, and at that point, it looked like this move would backfire on the Capitales. Amani Larry came on to pinch hit with 2 outs, and it looked like that it was an instant replay of Friday's finish, as Larry popped to 2nd. However, the ump ruled that Quebec catcher Yuta Hamada had interfered with Larry, and the bases were loaded. But, Brayden Jobert struck out to end the game.

Tri-City has lost four in a row overall, and four in a row to Quebec dating back to last September. They'll try to break both strings today at 5 pm.

Troy High sports review, through May 16

 Sectionals begin this coming week, weather permitting. The women's teams have the momentum. The guys? Well...........!

Softball:

Final regular season record: 15-4 (12-1 Colonial Council).

Sean Geisel's club sent a very strong message to the rest of Section 2 over the last 48 hours. Three games, three mercy rule wins, all shutouts. Mohonasen, Holy Names, & Lansingburgh fell by a combined total of 46-0 over the last 48 hours. Ouch, babe! And Troy started the week by clipping 'Burgh, 3-2.

Next: Sectional pairings will be announced Monday. Troy will scrimmage Averill Park, weather permitting, on Tuesday, before their first sectional game.

Flag football:

Final regular season record: 10-2.

Albany Leadership was roadkill on Monday, to the tune of 64-12. Even the Times-Union's Kyra Santicola has jumped on the Troy bandwagon.

Next: The Lady Horses would love to send coach Frank Rogers off to Union College with a sectional title. The first step comes Tuesday against the winner of tonight's game between Burnt Hills & Ballston Spa.

Women's lacrosse:

Final regular season record: 10-6.

In a word, history. 43 seasons of lacrosse at Troy High, and the women are the 1st ones to finish with a winning record, punctuating the feat with a 15-3 thumping of Albany in Wednesday's season finale.

Next: It's off to the North Country, with a 5 game winning streak on the line, vs. Queensbury, which has lost 7 in a row, and 8 of their last 9, Tuesday afternoon.

Men's lacrosse:

Final regular season record: 4-10.

Zach Gill's club defeated Mohonasen-Schalmont-Schenectady, but dropped their Senior Night finale in a tight one to Voorheesville.

Next: Sectional pairings will be announced on Tuesday.

Baseball:

Current record: 7-12.

Trevor McCarthy's club defeated Lansingburgh & Mohonasen, but were mercy ruled by LaSalle on Friday in the first round of the Uncle Sam tournament.

Next: The season ends tomorrow vs. Tamarac in the Uncle Sam consolation game. Sectional pairings will be announced on Monday.

News & notes

 If it sounded like you were at the wrestling matches instead of Bruno Stadium for the Tri-City ValleyCats' home opener vs. Quebec, there's a good reason for that.

Brian Cady is back.

Cady was MIA during the Section II basketball sectionals at HVCC, but there was no mistaking his voice issuing from the PA booth at The Joe. The "Round Mound of Sound" has been the PA voice of the 'Cats for a bit, but last night was more pronounced than usual to get the fans fired up.

On to the game.

1st pitch was delayed to 6:42 pm due to the opening night intros of both teams. It's an annual thing that you get used to. Quebec drew first blood in the 3rd with 2 outs. Arturo DeFreitas drew a walk, and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch by Tri-City starter Austin Dill. David "Bend it like" Mendham then deposited a 2 run homer over the left field fence to give the Capitales a 2-0 lead. Quebec added a run in the 3rd on a sacrifice fly by Eddie Halopian.

Quebec starter Francis Ferguson held the 'Cats scoreless through 5 innings. In the 6th, reliever Halley Gollert gave up a solo homer to "Well dressed" Amani Larry to get Tri-City on the board. In the 7th, with Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna) on board, David Glancy launched a 2 run homer, after the Capitales had scored in the top half, to get within a run at 4-3.

Tri-City had a chance to win it in the 9th after Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem) held the Capitales scoreless in the top half of the frame. But, with 2 outs, Cooper Morgan got Larry to fly out to center to seal the win for Quebec, sending the 'Cats to their 3rd straight loss.

Game two will start on time tonight at 6:30.

The Uncle Sam baseball tournament has indeed returned as well, with day 1 taking place Friday at Lansingburgh. The hosts blew away Tamarac, 14-2, in 5 innings, and LaSalle did the same to Troy High, 11-1, also in 5. The Knights & Cadets meet again tomorrow at 12:30 pm., with the Bengals & Flying Horses playing the consolation game, presumably at 10 am.

Back to the ValleyCats for a moment. Apparently, they couldn't find any black or brown foam to create a replica head for Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs, so they instead went to the vaults for a Jerry Jennings head for the Mayor's Race in the middle of the 6th inning. Had a feeling something like this would happen. We'll look further into it.

The rest of Friday's high school scores:

Men's lacrosse:

Voorheesville 10, Troy 9. The Blackbirds sweep the season series.

Softball:

Warrensburg 8, Fort Edward 7.

Albany Academy 14, Convent of The Sacred Heart 4 (5 innings).

Voorheesville 10, Fonda-Fultonville 2.

Troy 22, Holy Names 0 (5 innings). 

Niskayuna 8, Albany 2.

Columbia 11, Saratoga 9.

South Glens Falls 9, Amsterdam 0.

Ichabod Crane 2, LaSalle 0.

Taconic Hills 3, Catskill 0.

Hudson Falls 13, Gloversville 1 (5 innings).

Mohonasen 3, Lansingburgh 1. Mohon recovers after getting blown out by Troy on Thursday.

Coxsackie-Athens 7, Cairo-Durham 6.

Hoosic Valley 15, Stillwater 4.

North Warren 8, Hartford 5.

Greenwich 10, Tamarac 4.

Whitehall 12, Granville 3.

Argyle 2, Fort Ann 0.

Hadley-Luzerne 8, North Warren 2.

Ballston Spa 2, Shenendehowa 1. The game was played at Luther Forest in Malta, where one or both teams could return in the sectionals later this month.

News & notes

 Saratoga took the unusual step of forfeiting their 1st round flag football playoff to Schenectady on Thursday due to scheduling conflicts surrounding their annual senior prom, which is, I guess, coming up on Saturday, when the Lady Streaks would've had a quarterfinal round game to play had they played & won on Thursday.

So now, the Lady Patriots advance to play top seeded Shaker in the Class A quarters tomorrow night at 6:30 pm.

The Tri-City ValleyCats lost their 2nd straight series, and were blown out for the 2nd day in a row by Sussex County, 15-7, on Thursday afternoon. Thus, the 'Cats come home with a 2-4 record as they host Quebec beginning tonight. First pitch is set for 6:30, though player introductions might delay the start of the game.

You'll need either a radio or your computer to listen to or watch game 1 of the 2026 Subway Series between the Mets & Yankees tonight. The game will stream nationally on Apple TV, with first pitch at 7:10 pm, and can be heard on WTMM (104.5 FM) with Dave Sims & Suzyn Waldman. The other option is to pick up the Mets radio broadcast from NYC on Audacy. Just punch up Mets radio online on your computer, and you'll find the link to what used to be WCBS AM in NY, with Howie Rose & Pat McCarthy.

Thursday's high school results:

Tennis:

The Class AA final (Shaker vs. Bethlehem @ Columbia) was postponed for the 2nd straight day, and will be played next Thursday, likely due to scheduling issues for both schools.

The Class A final (Queensbury vs. Columbia) was also postponed, and will be played today at Shaker with a 4:15 start.

Class B final:

Glens Falls 4, Scotia 3.

Class C/D final:

Cairo-Durham 5, Maple Hill 2.

Softball:

Averill Park 4, Guilderland 3.

Ichabod Crane 1, Schalmont 0 (9 innings).

Fonda-Fultonville 8, Canajoharie-Ft. Plain 5.

Holy Trinity 20, Holy Names 2 (5 innings).

Troy 14, Mohonasen 0 (5 innings). The Lady Horses sweep Mohon, both in mercy rule fashion.

South Glens Falls 8, Broadalbin-Perth 0.

Ravena 8, Voorheesville 1.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 2, Cobleskill-Richmondville 1.

OESJ 7, Mayfield 6.

Schoharie 10, Johnstown 2.

Bethlehem 11, Galway 5.

Queensbury 8, Schuylerville 0.

Cohoes 7, Lansingburgh 6.

Men's lacrosse:

Ballston Spa 14, CBA 13.

Bethlehem 14, Colonie 9.

Shaker 11, Saratoga 8.

Guilderland 14, Schuylerville 7.

Averill Park 12, Queensbury 8.

South Glens Falls 17, Broadalbin-Perth 0.

Shenendehowa 18, Columbia 5.

Women's lacrosse: 

Holy Names @ Albany was cancelled. No reason given. The game won't be made-up.

Baseball:

Troy 4, Mohonasen 3.

Cohoes 14, Lansingburgh 4.

Shaker 8, Burnt Hills 0.

2026 Section 2 women's lacrosse sectional pairings released

 The women's lacrosse sectionals have just been released. Siena University will host the finals in all 4 classes on May 31.

Class A:

Tuesday:

Guilderland @ Saratoga. The winner will play Shaker May 27.

May 27:

Colonie @ Shenendehowa.

Class B:

Wednesday:

South Glens Falls @ Niskayuna. Winner to play Bethlehem May 28.

Ballston Spa @ Columbia.

Troy @ Queensbury.

Semi-finals are on May 28.

Class C:

Wednesday:

Scotia @ Averill Park. Winner to play Burnt Hills May 28.

May 28:

Glens Falls @ Cohoes.

Class D:

Tuesday:

Johnstown @ LaSalle. Winner to play Schuylerville May 27.

Greenwich-Cambridge @ Voorheesville.

Holy Names @ Hoosick Falls-Tamarac.

Both semi-finals will be played May 27.

Good luck to all the teams.