The Section 1 dinner is tonight at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s dinner is in Hastings at the Westchester Manor. It’s on Saw Mill River Road.

Before I get into each of the three games; I just want to start off and say congratulations on amazing seasons for both Pearl River and North Rockland.

First to Pearl River and the loss in the finals.
With their win in the semifinals, the Pirates became the first team in Section 1 to make to the finals. No one ever made it out of the semifinals. What this game boiled down to was that you get the third time through the order; and if you don’t come at them with a different attack; the other team will figure you out. Katie O’Flynn was pitching a wail of ball game. She matched Floral Park freshman Sam Giovanniello strike for strike. When they were seeing O’Flynn that third time, they figured her out. But the Pirates couldn’t get around on Giovanniello’s fast ball. That girl pitched very well as well.
Krystina Poloni was the only one who was able to figure what Giovanniello was throwing.
There were a couple of calls that I disagreed with. But more specifically, Kaitlin Dinet during the 14 pitch at bat in the fourth inning, she hit a ball that went up the third base line that went foul over the third base. I thought it should’ve been a fair ball but I’m not the ump. I give the Pirates credit battling the whole entire game. They should be very proud of themselves.
I don’t remember off hand who asked about why coach Mike Carlacci started O’Flynn when they had Dinet. Here’s your answer…. the same reason why he started Katie Scrima last year in the state semifinal. You roll with the arm that got you to the point you are at. O’Flynn was the hot hand for the Pirates the entire post-season. It’s like a shooter in basketball, when you are hot, you always try to feed the hot hand to help you extend the lead.

Now onto their first game against Victor.
That team is something special. They were very good and so was their pitcher Kacie Strong. Bethany DeMarco got two hits off of a O’Flynn but the Blue Devils weren’t able to do much else. The Pirates were able to jump out early on a two-out single by Dinet and that was all they needed. Katie O’Flynn pitched very well. The fact that the defense behind her played solidly behind her and that O’Flynn danced out of three different jams is what won the Pirates that game.

Now if you’re looking for cander; it’s going to come on the North Rockland game. But before I nit pick and really vent my feelings; I want to again congratulate North Rockland on a tremendous year. I do also want to congratulate Brentwood senior Nicole Flint on throwing a perfect game.
But now to play the hindsight game, the home plate ump was really REALLY inconsistent. He really didn’t give Krystn Benson, and Samantha Welsh to an extent both sides of the plate and as Heather Hansen said to me, it was basically a choice of either walking them or let Brentwood hit the ball by pitching in the middle of the plate.
What made it even more inconsistent was in Hansen’s at bat in the second inning. You can’t call one pitch a ball then on the next pitch call strike in that same exact spot. That kind of baffled my mind. But the worst was on Sami’s lead off hit in the fourth inning. If you were there, you know exactly what I’m talking about. For those of you who weren’t; let me set the scene. On a one and one count, Welsh rockets the ball to left; Brentwood left fielder Vikki Castillo makes a good read on the ball and gets a glove on it. As she comes out of her sprint, the ball comes out. According to the umps, and this is what I was told by coach Michelle Shaw, the reason it was ruled a catch was because the ball came out on the transfer.
OK… so understand this; I’m sitting by the official scorer’s table which was back on the first base line by home plate. I had a clear view of the play and I don’t know how that could’ve been ruled a catch because of the transfer. There really wasn’t a transfer. To be perfectly honest; I really think she didn’t have control of the ball. My annoyance with the call wasn’t helped by a Brentwood employee who was churping back. But if anyone could seriously explain to me how that was a catch then you are a hell of a lot smarter then me cause to me, that wasn’t a catch.
This isn’t to take away what Nicole Flint did; pitching a perfect game is an amazing accomplishment, but to do it in the state final four, is amazing. However, I really have a lot of questions on some of the officiating.

But the bottom line, both the Pirates and the Red Raiders each had tremendous seasons and should be very proud of themselves, even if it may not feel that way right now.

Oh boy.. there was some interesting happenings in today’s games weren’t there.

Well you will get my post game analysis; after I finish both stories. And trust me folks… if you like my cander, then you will get it.

It was raining after Pearl River won their semifinal so the start time of this game has been pushed back. Now that the rain has started up again who knows.

Update 1: Pearl River is warming up right now through the drops. Katie O’Flynn again will be the starter for the Pirates.

Update 2: It’s about 5 to four and we’re about ready to start the game vs. Floral Park.

Update 3: Top 1: After a two-out double to Melissa Correa, O’Flynn gets out of it. No score as PR comes up to bat.

Update 4: Bottom 1: Krystina Poloni got a two-out hit to center but the Pirates got nothing else. After 1, no score.

Update 5: Top 2: Allison Bostrom got a two-out hit for Floral Park but they failed to score. No score.

Update 6: Bottom 2: The Pirates are retired in order. No score through 2.

Update 7: Pearl River survives a two-out triple by the pitcher. No score.

Update 8: After 3 full, still no score.

Update 9: O’Flynn got her first 1,2,3 inning. Still no score after 3 1/2 innings. PR comes up in the bottom of 4. In bottom 4, what a battle with Kaitlin Dinet. She had a 14 pitch ab and worked out a walk. But she’s left stranded. No score through 4 complete.

Update 10: After top 5, still no score.

Update 11: No score through five complete innings.

Update 12: Top 6: Back to back RBI singles by Sam Giovanniello and Melissa Correa. Followed by a single by Rachel Battle. Bostrom had an RBI single. Floral Park 4, PR 0.

Update 13: Bottom 6: Pirates retired in order. Dinet came in to relieve O’Flynn. Floral Park 4, Pearl River 0.

Update 14: Top 7: Side retired. PR needs a little bit of magic now. FP 4-0.

Victor is on thr field warming up and we will be starting shortly.

Update 1: Pearl River is the home team in the semifinal and their pitcher is Katie O’Flynn. The Pirates are being introduced to the crowd.

Update 2: In the top of the first, Victor fails to score. Pearl River coming up. The Red Raiders are to cheer on their fellow Section 1ers.

Update 3: In the bottom of the frame, RBI single by Kaitlin Dinet gives the Pirates a 1-0 lead through 1.

Update 4: Top 2: The Blue Devils stranded 2. PR 1, Victor 0.

Update 5: After 2 full, PR 1, Victor 0.

Update 6: Top 3: 1 run stranded by Victor. PR 1, Victor 0.

Update 7: In the bottom of the frame, The Pirates leave courtesy runner Kristyn Neroda stranded. 1-0 PR through 3.

Update 8: Top 4: The Pirates got out 2 jams of runner’s on 2nd and 3rd and no one scored. PR 1-0.

Update 9: Bottom 4: The Pirates are retired in order despite a long strike that was inches from a home run for Kelly Tarsnane. PR 1-0 through 4.

Update 10: Top 5: After a one-out single, walk to Alanna Shelley and Michelle Prong; O’Flynn gets out of the jam. PR 1-0.

Update 11: Through 5, the Pirates leave Gemma Mahoney stranded after a fielder’s choice. 1-0 PR.

Update 12: Jamie DeGennaro makes a outstanding in foul territory behind the plate. The Blue Devils are retired in order. PR 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Update 13: Dinet had a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth but was left stranded. PR 1-0 through 6.

As we get ready to begin just to set the scene; there are 4 fields and right behind me is where the other semifinal is taking place. I’ve Tony Toronto to my left so I will get the score from them. North Rockland is the visitor and Krystn Benson will be in the circle.

Update 1: In the top of the first inning, The Red Raiders were retired in order. Brentwood coming up.

Update 2: The Red Raiders survive a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first. No score through one full.

Update 3: In the top of the second, the Red Raiders are again retired in order on 3 straight fly outs. Still no score.

Update 4: In the bottom of the second Shaakira Samad had a two- run double to right center. Brentwood 2, North Rockland 0.

Update 5: Top 3, Brentwood 2, North Rockland 0.

Update 6: In the bottom of the third, Huge DP by Destiny Jones in right field to double off Kristen Flint. In the top of the 4th, After a judgement call that a catch by the Brentwood left fielder was ruled a catch, the Red Raiders go down in order. Still 2-0 Brentwood.

Update 7: Bottom 4, Benson’s 1st time retiring Brentwood in order. Still 2-0 Brentwood but trust me folks, the Red Raiders are pissed.

Update 8: Top 5, still 2-0 Brentwood.

Update 9: Pitching change for NRk; Welsh comes into pitch with a runner on first.

Update 10: After a hit batter, and runner’s on 2nd and third; Welsh gives up a two-out two-run single to Kristen Flint. Colleen Rivers got on via a sac bunt and on a throwing error by Heather Hansen allowed the run in. Erica Edwards followed with a 2-run double. 7-0 Brentwood through 5.

Update 11: In the top of sixth, the Red Raiders were rtired in order. In the bottom of the frame, Brentwood leaves 2 stranded. 7-0 Brentwood through 6.

Once again bloggers…

I will be at both games so if you can’t make the long journey up to Waterloo High School; make sure you keep it locked on the blog for live updates on both North Rockland at 9 a.m. and Pearl River at 11 a.m.

It seems that after Pearl River leading all week; it seems that the majority of you think that North Rockland will have the best shot at a state title.

Now if you all don’t mind…. there’s a new poll question to your right.

How many titles will Section 1 win?

I took the idea from Jake and Josh on the Baseball beat. (Good luck to the baseball teams still standing in the state tournament.)

Good luck to the girls tomorrow at Waterloo High School.

Class AA: If North Rockland wins their semifinal game tomorrow; they will get the winner of Section 2’s Columbia and Section 5’s Fairport at 1:30 p.m.

Class A: If Pearl River advances, they will face the winner of Section 8’s Floral Park and Section 10’s Franklin Academy at 3:30 p.m.

As I’m here in my hotel watching round one of the Subway Series; I’ve really had a chance to sit and think about how things may or may not play out tomorrow so as I promised… here’s my take on the state semifinals.

Class AA: North Rockland vs. Section 2’s Brentwood: From the story that I read about how Brentwood made the state semifinal, it seems like they are a very scrappy team. That hit the catcher had was incredibly clutch. And if you read the post made by Hank Greenberg under my post “My thoughts about yesterday; this team is really led by pitcher Nicole Flint and her twin sister Kristen.
If you missed it; here’s what he said. “If anyone is going to Waterloo, the big focus will be the coaching genius of Brian Lynch and Joseph Lacova of the Long Island Brentwood team, and the super talented duo of the Flint twin sisters. This AA game begins at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday. The key will be the play of these Flint twin sisters. Nicole Flint is the pitcher. Both are strong hitters. So hold your breathe when these Flint sisters are up to bat. And hold your breathe on every pitch from Nicole Flint. It all boils down to how well these two sisters perform.”
That’s all fine in good… but it seems to me that if North Rockland can continue scoring runs like they did in the regional tournament, then it seems to me that this team doesn’t have the same kind of thump that the Red Raiders have. However, it’s probably going to come down to pitching. And from what I’ve read, Nicole Flint is good. But to my knowledge, I don’t think they have a backup. We all know what Samantha Welsh and Krystn Benson can do. For North Rockland to come out and win the game, they need to continue doing what they’re doing. Get good hitting, and solid pitching.
Prediction: North Rockland 2, Brentwood 1.

Class A: Pearl River vs. Section 5’s Victor: Now this game is a whole other animal. If any of you guys who are up here get a chance to check this game out, you should; this is going to be a treat. Bethany DeMarco, after her performance in the regional final, is a bat you don’t want to mess with. Folks, this team isn’t ranked number 1 in the state because they slacked off. This team is no joke. Someone once mentioned on the blog that the Blue Devils had a real tough schedule this season and that will help factor into the win. I think that at this point in the season, that’s hogwash. Remember this, Harrison was given the top seed over Pearl River because they played and beat more double A teams then the Pirates did. But Pearl River won that game. At this point in the season, it really comes down to who wants it more. Let me begin with the pitching, I really believe that Katie O’Flynn will benefit tremendously for having a game like Wednesday under her belt. No, it wasn’t her best stuff by a country mile, but what she did (and I’m quoting Ron Darling on this) but she went out and pitched. She still gave the Pirates every opportunity to win that game. Offensively, the Pirates need to wake the bats up earlier then the sixth inning. They can’t shut down early and expect to try and comeback like they did on Wednesday. Victor is way too good for that. If the Blue Devils do their homework, they probably won’t give Krystina Poloni anything to hit. So the rest of that line up needs to step it up and get a clutch hit.
Prediction: Shrugs the shoulders: This is probably the first time all post-season that I can’t even make a general prediction. This game is a complete and total toss-up in my opinion. If the Pirates can some how get a lead early in the game, then they could possibly have a chance to pull off the upset. If I went down to Vegas and found out that there were betting lines on this game, I would think that it would be fair to say that Pearl River is the underdog in this game.