It just wasn't meant to be for Fredonia softball.
The third straight loss in a state championship game is especially painful for T'ana Abt and her senior classmates. Many of them won regional and district Little League titles together. They had hoped to go out together as high school state champions by winning the one trophy that had slipped through their grasps. Instead, they were denied by a Mechanicville team devoid of seniors.
"It feels like a family breaking up," said senior Mary Kate Bongiovanni. "When we look back at this when we're older, we're going to realize we had so much fun -- and that not too many teams can say they've been to the state finals three years in a row."
"[The loss] hurts the girls but they're a great bunch," Hillbillies coach Dave Polechetti said. "I've been very fortunate to coach a great group of girls. I thanked them during the awards ceremony for taking me on a great ride the past few years."
This marks the third straight year Section VI has failed to win a state softball title.
Frewsburg baseball coach Jay Grann loved the way his pitchers got the Bears to a 3-0 victory over Seton Catholic in the Class C semifinals.
"They were phenomenal," Grann said of his pitchers. "They were able to make plays, and they trust their defense to do that for them."
---Miguel Rodriguez and Dan Scotchmer
tagged
Baseball | Fredonia | Frewsburg | Softball
