Top-ranked Chatham softball gashes Guilderland ahead of sectionals

GUILDERLAND CENTER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Only one team in Section 2 currently has the number "1" next to its name in the state rankings. That's the Chatham softball team.

The Panthers, who currently occupy the top spot in the Class B rankings, have tested themselves all season long against elite competition. Sunday morning, head coach JB Brantley brought his squad to Guilderland for their fifth matchup against a Suburban Council opponent.

Chatham proved they're not just one of the best teams in Class B, but perhaps the entire state, taking down the Lady Dutch, 9-0, to close out the regular season with a 16-3 record.

"I think it was our most complete game of the year," said Brantley, "I told these girls that we were we gonna get a challenge. We booked these games to put us in adversity, and to try to get us battle-tested, so we can be prepared going into [sectionals]."

Offensively, eight of Chatham's nine starters recorded hits and the top five batters in the lineup all drove in at least one run. Defensively, the Panthers were spotless, not committing a single error.

But the star of the day was sophomore pitcher Skylar Groom - one of the top young pitchers in the area. Groom, who has already thrown three no-hitters this season, took one into the fifth inning. She wasn't able to finish it off, but did secure a complete-game shutout, only allowing two hits and striking out five.

"Everything was working," said Groom. "And my teammates, they all came through and made great plays to save me when I missed my spots. But everything was working. When it works, [something] clicks."

Groom was responsible for getting the Panthers going on the scoreboard. With the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, she worked a walk that forced in Samantha Silver for the game's first run.

That gave way to Anna Friedman, who singled through the left side of the Guilderland infield, plating two more runs. Groom would later come around to score on an RBI groundout from Meta Mountain to cap a four-run inning.

The Chatham bats went right back to work in the fourth frame. After back-to-back singles to start the inning from Aubrey Rowe and Silver, both runners would score on a Guilderland error, pushing the margin to six runs.

The Panthers added one more in the fifth on an RBI single from Jordin Radley and two more in the sixth with knocks from Addison Perry and Groom.

Guilderland managed to get just its second runner in scoring position in the home half of the ninth, but Groom took a comebacker and fired it to first in time to complete the shutout.

"A win like this definitely helps our confidence and performance once we go into sectionals this week," said Groom. "It's great for everyone to just have the confidence and team comradery."

Chatham (16-3) and Guilderland (6-10) will now await their sectional tournament draws. The seeding meeting is Monday. Games will begin as soon as Monday night.