Groom's gem garners Chatham softball its second state title

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Chatham softball team had no shortage of motivating factors entering the 2025 season.

After losing 1-0 in the Class C state semifinals in 2023, and being upset as the one-seed in the sectional semifinals last season, the Panthers set out this year to expunge the foul taste of those discouraging finishes.

On top of that, Chatham was moved up to Class B ahead of the season, and had the lowest enrollment of any public school in the class.

But the smallest school in the class proved to be the mightiest; not just on a sectional level, but statewide.

Chatham's quest for state supremacy culminated Saturday in a 4-0 win over Section 5's Haverling in the NYSPHSAA Class B championship game, as the Panthers claimed the program's second-ever state title, and first since 2012.

"We knew we had the ability to be here, but it all came down to executing; staying with each other," said Chatham head coach J.B. Brantley. "This is a super tight-knit team."

It also helps that Chatham has one of the top young pitchers in the state.

Sophomore Skylar Groom tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits and striking out 11.

"My rise ball was perfect," said Groom. "It was my strikeout pitch today. Everything was great."

Groom carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Caydence Spears broke it up with one out in the inning on a single into center field.

A no-hitter in a state championship game would have been truly special, but it was not a concern for Groom, whose primary focus was on securing the victory.

"Everyone was on board, and everyone wanted to win," said Groom. "This has been the goal all season."

Not only did Groom hold it down defensively for Chatham, she was the catalyst of a hot offensive start for the Panthers. After singling with out in the home half of the first inning, Groom advanced to third base on a Haverling error that also allowed Anna Friedman to reach second. An ensuing Meta Mountain groundout to first allowed Groom to score the game's first run.

With Friedman taking Groom's place at third, the next batter, Jordin Radley, delivered with a single up the middle, plating Friedman to put Chatham up 2-0.

The Panthers were held in check for the next four innings by Haverling starting pitcher Kaili Witherell. But the Texas State University commit came unraveled in the sixth. After Aubrey Rowe reached base on a dropped third strike to lead off the inning, Witherell hit Addison Andrews and walked Rylie Barden to load the bases for leadoff hitter Addison Perry.

Perry made Witherell pay with a first-pitch single into center that pushed across two more runs, giving Chatham a comfortable, 4-0 lead.

With two gone in the top of the seventh, Groom recorded the final out of the game via her 11th punchout.

Chatham, which went seven straight weeks (April 29-June 10) ranked No. 1 in the state for Class B by the New York State Sportswriters Association, finishes the year as the only softball state champion from Section 2. The Panthers boast an impressive final record of 22-3.