Burnt Hills softball tops Troy, snapping 34-year section title drought

MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Burnt Hills softball's unique blend of veteran presences and precocious underclassmen has made the Spartans a mainstay in Section II, Class AA this season, and garnered them the top overall seed in the sectional tournament. It was their wide array of talent that led to a 5-1 victory over Troy Thursday in the AA championship game, earning the program's first section title since 1990.

Senior starting pitcher Katie Rhodes guided the team in the circle, while all five runs were driven in by underclassmen.

"Softball at Burnt Hills has always been good, but I think that...really this group has put us on the map; especially this group of seniors," said head coach Caitlyn Rana. "They make it easy for me as a coach. They make it fun. [This is] really a pivotal moment in our program."

Facing Troy's Lauren Matthews, who tossed a complete game shutout in the semifinals against second-seeded Columbia, hits were at a premium through the first four innings for Burnt Hills. From the fifth inning in on, though, the Spartans' bats came alive, and it started with a spark from the bottom of their lineup.

With the score knotted at one headed into the home half of the fifth, sophomore shortstop Addisyn Knapik, batting ninth, started the inning off with what appeared to be a routine single into center field. But Knapik was not content with one bag, and turned on the jets, sliding into second for what ended up being a leadoff double.

The lineup turned over for Carli Ewing, and two pitchers into her at-bat, Knapik swiped third. After pitch No. 4 of the at-bat, Knapik took off for home on a delayed steal, and slid safely underneath the tag of Troy catcher Gianna Barringer, putting Burnt Hills in front, 2-1, and sending the dugout into a frenzy.

"In the moment...my team was excited; I was excited. I saw the opportunity, and I took it," said Knapik. "I took my chances, and it worked out. My team was there for me, and it was just so exciting."

Burnt Hills added three more runs in the sixth frame; two courtesy off Knapik. She drove in Jada Leggieri and Emily Martin with a triple to center field after Martin plated Lilly Morse with an RBI double to start the inning.

That was more than enough run support for Rhodes, who, after allowing an RBI single to Troy's Kaylee Kussler in the first inning, gave up just four more hits the rest of the game. Her final stat line read zero earned runs with eight strikeouts.

Rhodes got Addison Harkin to fly out for the final out of the game, setting off a celebration on the pitcher's mound that was 34 years in the making.

"We're just such an interesting group of girls, but we bond together so great," said Knapik. "We're just so strong, and I think...what makes us strong on the field is what we do off the field together."

The journey is not complete yet for this group. It's on to the regional round of the state tournament, where the Spartans will await the champion out of Section III. That matchup will be held at Malta Saturday, June 1.

After an 8-11 regular season, Troy put on a brilliant tournament showing as the six-seed, knocking off No. 3 South Glens Falls before its semifinal victory over Columbia. But the Flying Horses' season comes to an end.