Against All Odds: Saratoga Claims Class AAA Title with Statement Win Over Guilderland

Source: WRGB
Author: Aj Pankowski

Malta, N.Y. -- Thursday was championship night on the softball diamond as all of Section II's six classes crowned a winner. Playoffs bring out the best in every team and for the Saratoga Blue Streaks, they proved that no matter what happens in the regular season, the underdog shouldn't be taken lightly.

'Toga, the five seed in the Class AAA tournament, stunned Shenendehowa in the semis and they would now take on Guilderland.\

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The Blue Streaks wasted no time getting on the board, top one... Olivia Tetreault does her job, the fielder's choice brings in a run, 1-0.

We go to the third, 2-0, two on for Leila Smith and that one isn't coming back. Talk about a momentum shift, Smith with a three-run bomb, Guilderland in front 3-2.

Jackie Cutting gave up the lead, she gets it right back at the dish. Shot out to left, it's dropped, two runs come in to score and the Blue Streaks go right back in front. Saratoga would then blow this game wide open in the fifth.

All that was left was sealing the deal with the final out. Two outs in the seventh, popup caught. 'Toga is your Class AAA champs. The team no one expected to win, has done it, winning 11-4.

They were resilient all season long. When you come in as a five seed with six wins in the regular season, we took our licks in our wins throughout the season which was tough. These kids are great. They work together as a family and that's what we preach. -Geoffrey Loiacono (Head Coach, Saratoga Softball)

You look at us in the middle of the season and ask what's going on here then we get here, and you're like "alright this is what's going on". I knew my team had me. What better teammates could I ask for? Someone blasted a three-run shot off me and I had no doubt we were going to come back like that. -Jackie Cutting (Starting Pitcher, Saratoga Softball)

An underdog that proved anything can happen come playoff time. Saratoga's Cinderella story marches on to the state tournament.