BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Southern Tier’s best softball teams, that of Vestal and Horseheads, Maine-Endwell and Oneonta, competed at Greenlight Grand Slam Park in Binghamton for the Class AA and A sectional title, respectively.
Maine-Endwell’s Tessa L’Amoreaux laid out the blueprint for her teammates, so to speak, serving as a model and key factor in the team’s 3-1 title victory over Oneonta. The junior pitcher managed 12 strikeouts in seven innings, while allowing the Yellowjackets only three hits in the game.
Vestal’s Natalie Frobel had three hits in the nine-inning performance against Horseheads, including a game-winning single line drive out to right field to bring teammate Tilly MacNamee her second run of the game and the Golden Bears’ close 5-4 victory over the former sectional and regional title holders.
Vestal will likely meet Section 6’s at-large team at 1:00 PM at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park on June 2, while Maine-Endwell will likely face Section 8’s at large team at 4:00 PM at the same venue for the continuation of the 2026 NYSPHSAA state softball tournament.
Maine-Endwell’s pitching proves to be second to none
Bottom line: L’Amoreaux’s dominance on the mound left Oneonta scoreless until the fifth inning, with the Yellowjackets then seeing some light at the end of the tunnel before L’Amoreaux ended the game the way she began, shutting out the last two innings to put the score at 3-1 and a shot at becoming back-to-back state regional champions.
Key plays & sequences:
- Bottom of 1st: L’Amoreaux singled to Oneonta’s Kylie Carr (centerfield) while Isabel Hunter hit a hard ground ball to left infield, occupying first and second base. L’Amoreaux advanced to third on a passed ball, then went for it on a ground ball by Harper Eagan, giving M-E its first run of the game. 1-0
- Bottom of 3rd: Harper Eagan singled on a ground ball to left field, but advanced to second on a slow throw. Maine-Endwell’s Kaylee Hurba scored. 2-0
- Top of 5th: Desiree Wheeler singled to right field, then made it to third base on two passed balls. A sacrifice fly from Julie Ferriera-Reyes brought Wheeler home and put Oneonta on the board. 2-1
- Bottom of 5th: Emma Rondeau narrowly steals second base after hitting to right field in the previous play. T. L’Amoreaux took a heavy swing to put the ball deep into left field, bringing Rondeau home. 3-1
Other key stats:
Tessa L’Amoreaux (P), M-E: at bat – 1 run, 2 hits, 1 RBI; Harper Eagan (1B), M-E: 1 hit, 2 RBIs
Carey Mistler (P), Oneonta: 4 strikeouts, 8 hits allowed; Desiree Wheeler (2B), Oneonta: 1 run, 1 hit
Vestal’s decisiveness comes in clutch
Bottom line: A walk-off home run by Vestal’s Maggie Costello and Horseheads’ Caitlyn Yearick brought the two powerhouses to a late standstill at 4-4 before pivotal decisions made by Vestal’s Tilly MacNamee named Vestal the 2026 sectional champions with a 5-4 victory over last year’s champs.
Key plays & sequences:
- Bottom of the 4th: Horseheads’ Raegan Burge managed to strike out three and allow only one run (Katelin Gowe, Vestal) after a tough pitching adjustment with the bases loaded. 1-0
- Top of the 6th: Caitlin Yearick hits a home run to center field to put Horseheads on the board. 1-1
- Top of 7th: Yearick hits another home run to center field to bring home Kolby Chaffee and Grace Cornin. 4-1
- Bottom of 7th:
- KayLynn Tanton gets tagged at home after trying her luck on Rachel Ouimette’s ground ball.
- MacNamee singled on a hard ground ball to right field to bring Ouimette to score. 4-2
- Maggie Costello hit a home run out to center field to bring MacNamee home to score. 4-4
- Bottom of 9th: MacNamee advanced to third base after stealing second and capitalizing on a groundout by Costello. A single line drive by Frobel brought MacNamee home. 5-4
Other key stats:
Erin Gowe (P), Vestal: 14 strikeouts, 8 hits allowed; Maggie Costello (SS): 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 hit
Raegan Burge (P), Horseheads: 6 strikeouts, 11 hits allowed; Caitlin Yearick (3B), Horseheads: 2 runs, 4 RBIs, 3 hits
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Vestal and M-E outlast two softball powerhouses at sectionals