Championship weekend got underway Friday night across Section V, and three Wayne-Finger Lakes teams came away with sectional titles. Waterloo softball rallied to win the Class B1 championship, Gananda baseball captured the Class C1 crown behind another dominant pitching performance, and Canandaigua baseball staged a dramatic seventh-inning comeback to claim the Class AA2 title.
Check out all the scores, stats, and recaps below.
SOFTBALL (5/29)
Class B1 Final
No. 2 Waterloo (20-2) 10
No. 1 Wayland-Cohocton (20-1) 7
The Tigers claimed the Class B1 championship after rallying from a four-run deficit in the middle innings. Waterloo erupted for eight runs in the fifth, sending 12 batters to the plate to take control. Gwyn Panek highlighted the rally with a two-run homer, while Alexis Godley, Olivia James, and Tangel Williams added key RBI. Tournament MVP Gwen DiIorio bounced back from a difficult fourth inning and retired 10 of the final 14 batters she faced. The title was Waterloo’s third sectional crown since 2019. Next, the Tigers will face Class B2 champ, Avon, in the New York State Class B Far West Regional Qualifier next week.
NEXT UP (5/30)
Class C1 Final
No. 3 Letchworth
No. 1 Dundee/Bradford
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Livonia High School
BASEBALL (5/29)
Class AA2 Final
No. 5 Irondequoit (12-8) 6
No. 3 Canandaigua (18-5) 7
The Gray Wolves erased a three-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the Class AA2 championship. Trailing entering its final at-bat, the Canandaigua loaded the bases and strung together timely hits, a walk and an error to complete the comeback. Griffin Kierst drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly after Tyler Christopher, Payton Holtby, and Richie Baskin helped ignite the rally. Cormick Schaeffer paced Canandaigua with three hits while also pitching the first 6.2 innings. The victory ended a seven-year sectional title drought and improved the Gray Wolves to 18-5. Next, Canandaigua will square off with Webster Schroeder in the New York State Class AA Regional Qualifier Monday at 7 p.m. at Frontier Field.
Class C1 Final
No. 2 Notre Dame Batavia (20-2) 0
No. 1 Gananda (19-2) 1
The Blue Panthers secured the Class C1 championship behind a dominant outing from tournament MVP Will Schneemann, who fired a complete-game two-hitter with 11 strikeouts. The junior left-hander allowed just four baserunners and escaped a late seventh-inning threat by recording a game-ending strikeout. Gananda scored its lone run in the first inning after Brady Wadsworth reached base and later came home on a pair of walks. The Blue Panthers improved to 19-2 and claimed their third sectional title in program history, their first since 2019. Gananda did not allow a run during sectional play and extended its shutout streak to six consecutive games. Next, the Blue Panthers will face Class C2 champ, Kendall, in the New York State Class C Far West Regional Qualifier next week.
NEXT UP (5/30)
Class B2 Final
No. 4 East Rochester
No. 2 Wellsville
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Livonia High School
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.
