Results from the last two opening round playoff games:

Carmel 2, Lincoln 0: In a Class AA first-round game at Carmel, Jessica Dorazio doubled home Dana Motta, who also doubled, and later scored on an error in the sixth inning. Laura Smith surrendered just one earned run for No. 6 Lincoln. No. 11 Carmel visits No. 3 Ursuline in a quarterfinal Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Beacon 4, Hen Hud 3: In a Class A first-round game at Beacon, Catherine Niebuhr had an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game for the eighth-seeded Bulldogs. Rachel Buckner hit a two-run home run in top of the fifth inning to give the ninth-seeded Sailors a 3-2 lead. Beacon will play top-seeded Harrison Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Guys,

Make sure you check out the first ever poll question to your right.

Which reigning champion will have the hardest time repeating?

The poll will stay open through Thursday’s semi-final games.

First round
Class AA: Carmel 2, Lincoln 0
Class A: Beacon 4, Hen Hud 3

Quarterfinal matchups
Times are 4:30 p.m. unless noted
Class AA
No. 9 Scarsdale at No. 1 North Rockland
No. 5 New Rochelle at No. 4 White Plains
No. 11 Carmel at No. 3 Ursuline
No. 10 Yorktown at No. 2 Arlington
Class A
No. 8 Beacon at No. 1 Harrison
No. 5 Brewster at No. 4 Pelham
No. 6 Tappan Zee at No. 3 Lakeland
No. 7 Eastchester at No. 2 Pearl River
Class B
No. 8 Pleasantville at No. 1 Putnam Valley
No. 5 Kennedy at No. 4 Albertus Magnus
No. 11 Irvington at No. 3 Rye Neck
No. 10 Westlake at No. 2 Dobbs Ferry

Semifinals
Game at 4:30 p.m. unless noted
Class C
No. 3 North Salem at No. 2 Valhalla

If you are going to email the playoff results in; please make sure you fill it out correctly. That means include ERRORS and HITS in the score line.

Make sure you also include the walks in the notes section and…INCLUDE THE NEXT ROUND INFORMATION.

Expanded results from around the section in the opening round:

White Pains 5, Horace Greeley 0: In a Class AA first-round game at No. 4 White Plains, Lauren Sputo struck out 11 in the win and also knocked in a run. Emily Frawley went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Emily Taylor, Katye Gallardo and Meredith Bilski each had a hit for the No. 13 Quakers. The Tigers host No. 5 New Rochelle in a quarterfinal on Tuesday.

North Rockland 8, John Jay-East Fishkill 3: In a Class AA first-round game at No. 1 North Rockland, Amanda Babcock went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, and an RBI for the Red Raiders. Heather Hansen went 3 for 4 with a double and had two RBI. North Rockland hosts No. 6 Scarsdale Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Scarsdale was the only team to beat North Rockland this season.

Brewster 10, Ardsley 1: In a Class A first-round game at No. 5 Brewster, Kristen Silman had a double, a home run, and four RBI. Kelly Bentson went 3 for 4 and had three RBI. Michelle Roemer had a triple to right-center field in the top of the seventh and scored the only run for the No. 12 Panthers. Brewster visits No. 4 Pelham Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Yorktown 10, Fox Lane 3: In a Class AA first-round game at Fox Lane, Tori Matzura had two RBI for the No. 10 ‘Huskers. Carolyn Farmer allowed two earned runs, two walks on seven hits and struck out seven. Jessica Van Galen had a two-run triple for the No. 7 Foxes. Yorktown plays in a quarterfinal at No. 2 Arlington Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s final.

Lakeland 11, Rye 0: In a Class A first-round game at No. 3 Lakeland, winning pitcher Brittany Lischinsky struck out 12 and went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Taylor Bell went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Amy Shanks was 2 for 3 for the No. 14 Garnets. The Hornets host No. 6 Tappan Zee on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

New Rochelle 5, Ketcham 2: In a Class AA first-round game at No. 5 New Rochelle, Rachel Galluzzo hit a two-run home run for the Huguenots. New Rochelle also had a triple play in the game. New Rochelle visits No. 4 White Plains in a quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Eastchester 3, Yonkers 0: In a Class A first-round game at No. 7 Eastchester, Noelle McDonough scattered three hits and struck out 14 to earn the win. Christiana Galella and Briana Baraca hit home runs. Stephanie Tsao went 2 for 3 for No. 7 Yonkers. The Eagles travel to No. 2 Pearl River for a quarterfinal on Tuesday.

Tappan Zee 1, Lourdes 0: In at Class A first-round game at No. 6 Tappan Zee, Tayla Gardner fired a no-hitter, struck out 12, had two hits and drove in the only run. The Dutchies visit No. 3 Lakeland on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

Irvington 2, Dover 1: In a Class B first-round game at No. 6 Dover, Laura Schenkel had a hit and two RBI for the Bulldogs. Teammate Brittany Myers had two hits and a double. Irvington visits No. 3 Rye Neck for a quarterfinal on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Ursuline 2, Clarkstown South 0: In a Class AA first-round game at No. 3 Ursuline, Nina Curto went 2 for 3 with two RBI. Lauren Iorio added a hit. Dana Kurtti, Alison Tobias, and Nikki Vandeputte each had a hit for the No. 14 Vikings. Ursuline will host the winner of No. 11 Carmel/No. 6 Lincoln Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Westlake 2, Hastings 1, 8: In a Class B first-round game at No. 7 Hastings, Amanda Pichiarallo’s third single drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning. Jessica Malise scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Yellow Jackets. Westlake, the No. 10 seed, visits No. 2 Dobbs Ferry Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

Pleasantville 8, Pawling 3: In a Class B first-round game at No. 8 Pleasantville, Mellisa Fanelli went 2 for 3 with two RBI for the Panthers. Teammate Ally Manley had a hit with two RBI. Pleasantville visits No. 1 Putnam Valley in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Pelham 14, Sleepy Hollow 2: In a Class A first-round game at No. 4 Pelham, Jules Carfora had two hits with a double and four RBI for the Pelicans. Teammate Kerry Davis went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI. Jamie Bucci went 2 for 2 with a triple and sister Jessica had an RBI for the No. 13 Headless Horsemen. Pelham hosts No. 5 Brewster in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Arlington 7, East Ramapo 1: In a Class AA first-round game at Arlington, Samantha Foskew had a double for the No. 15 Titans. Kristina Sanchez had two hits. The Admirals were the second seed and they will host No. 10 Yorktown Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals setting up a rematch of last year’s finals.

This edition comes from Lakeland senior Brittany Lischinsky:

Flash back to one year ago. The rest of the Lakeland team and I walk off of the field at Pearl River High School. We just played the Section semi- final game, and we are all disheartened by the final result. We know that we gave it our all, but the loss still hurts.

Flash forward to the beginning of our season this year. That loss is still fresh in our minds, and the whole team, especially the seniors, is ready to break out of the gates running. This is a special season for us, not just because we want to come back and avenge our semi-final loss last year, but also because many of us have been playing together since before high school and we want to end our career together with a bang. Cassie Kardias, Alex Oakes, Taylor Bell, Amy Layefsky, and I have grown up together on a softball field. By now, we know each other’s habits and personalities on and off the field, which makes for some amazing team chemistry. This is our last chance to make our mark on Lakeland High School and Section I history and this year we’re hoping “our all” is enough to make that happen.

After being stuck in the gym for more than a month before we started the season, we were ecstatic to play our first game. There was some speculation about what adjustments we would need to make as a team as a result of the coaching change, but there was really nothing major. Coach Chiara and Coach
Fallo share the same coaching philosophy that has made them successful through their career together at Lakeland.

This season multiple players stepped up to become a huge part of the success we have had as a team. Alex O’Malley has been rock solid on both sides of the plate every single game. The team always feels very confident in her because she blocks pretty much anything that comes her way- even if she has to take a few bruises to do it. From the offensive end Albe has done a great job getting some clutch hits to keep us in many important games.

Cassie Kardias has also done an outstanding job this year. She is a four year Varsity player and the best center fielder on any diamond. To this day the catches she makes still amaze everyone. Cassie is leading the team with five homeruns this year and consistently makes solid contact.

Taylor Bell has also continued as a strong hitter for the team with many clutch RBIs, and has held down the short stop position securely.

Alex Oakes has pitched some great games this season when she wasn’t holding down the fort at second base, and has also come through with some solid contact in key situations.

Amy Layefsky has been a solid right fielder through the season, and has shown that she is a true team player by stepping into the first base position whenever needed.

All of our underclassmen have chipped in along the way in key situations, to keep us on the path to success.

On to the seeding, most of the teams are exactly where I thought they would be. Pearl River has a great squad so I knew they were going to have the one seed. Other than Pearl River, I can only speak of the teams that we’ve played this season. All of the teams gave us a run for our money when we played them. Brewster and Hen Hud particularly were tough games for us, because both of these teams fought hard until the last pitch and have some really skilled players covering a majority of their lineups. All of the teams are very competitive, so at the end of the day it is going to come down to who wants it more, because within Class A it is very true that anyone can beat anyone else on any given day.

I think I speak for the whole Lakeland team when I say that today’s game was huge for us. We got ahead early in the game, which is something we have struggled with through the season. As one of the captains, I was very proud of the intense attitude all of the girls brought to the field today. We always come into any game looking to win, but its only natural that when the playoffs start, a new tone of competitiveness sets in among all of the players. I must tip my hat though to the Rye team first off
because they came and played hard, even though their prom was tonight and secondly because they are the most enthusiastic, and spirited team that we’ve played all season; they never stopped cheering until the very last pitch.

The win today started us off with some great momentum, and I am very optimistic about the future outlook for the team and I through the section tournament. This year more than ever it feels as though the section playoffs are already extremely competitive. Every out seems more important and I can see that extra burning in all the players’ eyes both on Lakeland and our opponents’. It’s almost as if the Section playoffs have evolved into our own version of the “College World Series”.

Here’s the opening round scoreboard

Class AA
North Rockland 8, John Jay-East Fishkill 3
Scarsdale 6, Clarkstown North 2
New Rochelle 5, Ketcham 2
White Plains 5, Horace Greeley 0
Ursuline 2, Clarkstown South 0
Yorktown 10, Fox Lane 3
Arlington 7, East Ramapo 1
Class A
Brewster 10, Ardsley 1
Pelham 14, Sleepy Hollow 2
Lakeland 11, Rye 0
Tappan Zee 1, Lourdes 0
Eastchester 3, Yonkers 0
Class B
Pleasantville 8, Pawling 3
Irvington 2, Dover 1
Westlake 2, Hastings 1, 8

OK… I’m going to take a page from my baseball counterparts and break this tournament down a little bit more than I did in the paper as well as on VC Chat.

But instead of the sports metaphors; I’m going to take music lyrics. So ladies, listen to Troy Bolton… It’s time to turn it up GAME ON!

It seems the weather has started to hamper the opening round games.

Class A
No. 9 Hen Hud at No. 8 Beacon has been postponed and will now be played tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Class AA
No. 11 Carmel at No. 6 Lincoln has been postponed and will now be played tomorrow at 2 p.m.
The location has also been changed. Carmel will now be hosting the game, due to the field at Lincoln being unplayable and there is now field available on Saturday. This coming from Carmel AD James Sangirardi.

Basically, the Section one reps are about where I thought they might be as we start the tournament. Nice to see Ursuline join the rankings as well:

2009 NYSSWA rankings (through May 24)
Rank Class AA Record Prev
= ================ = =
1. Bay Shore-11 22-3 8.
2. North Rockland-1 18-1 4.
3. Tottenville-PSAL 24-0 3.

16. Arlington-1 17-2 17.
25. Ursuline-1 15-5 NR

Class A Record
= ================ = =
1. Victor-5 22-2 2.
2. Pearl River-1 19-1 3.
3. Maine-Endwell-4 19-3 1.

5. Lakeland-1 17-2 5.
14. Harrison-1 18-2 17.

Class B Record
= ================ = =
1. Chenango Valley-4 21-3 1.
2. Hampton Bays-11 18-3 2.
3. Windsor-4 18-5 3.

6. Putnam Valley-1 19-1 8.
14. Dobbs Ferry-1 18-2 18.
18. Rye Neck-1 17-3 14.

Class C Record
= ================ = =
1. Chapel Field-9 16-2 2.
2. Pulaski-3 19-4 3.
3. Elmira Notre Dame-4 19-6 7.

16. Haldane-1 10-3 16.