Downey eyes another title

Jenna Downey is a senior catcher for the Ichabod Crane softball team. A four-year varsity standout for the Riders, Downey celebrated her 18th birthday Sunday.

Tuesday, the veteran standout hopes to revel in another Section II Class B title when top-seeded Ichabod Crane (20-1) takes on sixth-seeded Schuylerville (13-7) in the final at Luther Forest Complex. The Riders won the state championship in 2018.

Q: Being your senior season and now being one win away from another sectional championship, how excited are you to play Tuesday?

A: I am extremely excited. It is always so much fun to play those games because they are so close and so much fun to be part of. Everyone just gets so excited to be there and everyone wants to win. It is probably the most intense game we will play.

Q: I think back to last year and you have the same opponent in the final again, a team you beat 6-2 last year. You went on to a state title, but again must beat Schuylerville in order to advance. This isn't going to be easy, is it?

A: We have played them three of the four years I have been in high school. It has been a good game every time we have played them, so we are excited to play them again.

Q: You know what it was like for the seniors to go out on top last spring. Now that you are a senior, are you having similar feelings?

A: Yeah, it is bittersweet coming to the end of the season. As we go on, I want to keep playing. As we win, I know I am one game closer to the end. That part is sad.

Q: I think people outside of your program felt with the graduation of pitcher Calista Phippen, the program might take a little step back this spring. What was your level of expectation entering this season?

A: I always hoped to get back to states. I thought if...