Five Key Points about the Section 2 Baseball Championship

Here are five key points to ‍keep in mind⁢ as we​ head into the playoffs.

THE SERIES FORMAT

Two years ago, Section ​2 introduced a best-of-three playoff series to crown its Class AA‍ champion.‌ This year, with the addition of a sixth classification by NYSPHSAA, Section 2 has expanded this best-of-three format.

In Class AAA, the largest school division, both the semifinal and ⁤championship⁣ rounds will be⁤ a‍ best-of-three series. In⁤ Class AA, only the championship round will ​follow this format. All other classifications, from A to D, will stick to a ⁤single ⁢game format.

The Class AAA bracket includes five teams. Colonie will host CBA in a play-in game on Wednesday. The victor will then face No. 1 Shenendehowa, the defending⁣ champion, in a semifinal series.

On the‍ other side of the‍ bracket, No. 2 Saratoga Springs will compete against No. 3 ⁢Shaker in a best-of-three series.

For the semifinal rounds, teams will alternate home games. ⁣The higher seed will host ⁣Game 1 and, if necessary, ⁣Game 3, while the lower seed will host Game 2.

All championship series games will be held at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

NISKY LEADS AA

Over the past‍ few years, ​Niskayuna has⁣ been on the brink of ⁣making ⁣a significant run in the Section 2 tournament.

This ⁤year, the Silver Warriors‍ have secured the top seed‌ in Class AA after‍ an impressive 15-4 overall record. Niskayuna will wait​ for the winner of a first-round game between Averill Park and Troy, as it has a bye to the quarterfinals.

Bethlehem secured ‍the No. 2 seed in Class AA, while Ballston Spa took ⁢No. 3‌ and South Glens Falls earned‍ No.​ 4, in⁣ the 12-team field.

The Class AA semifinals ​and championship series are all‌ set ​to be played at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

IMPENDING ⁤SHOWDOWN

Chatham has​ secured the top ‌seed in Class C, which may have ignited a competitive spark in Saratoga Catholic.

Chatham, the defending ⁣NYSPHSAA Class‍ C champions, posted‍ a 16-4 overall record and went undefeated in the Patroon Conference. However, one of their four losses was against Saratoga ⁢Catholic, which had an 18-2 overall record​ and 12-2 in the Wasaren League.

The Saints defeated the Panthers 11-8 in ‌a non-league matchup on May 2,‍ and it’s highly likely we’ll see these two‍ teams face off ⁤again at ‘The ⁣Joe’, for the ⁢right to advance to ⁣states.

UNDEFEATED NO. 2

It’s quite unusual for a team to go ⁢undefeated during the ‍regular season and not secure the top seed in the section tournament.

However, ⁢that’s exactly what happened to Mechanicville this ⁣season. Despite a ⁢16-0​ overall record and 14-0 in the Wasaren League, they received the No. 2 ‌seed in Section 2’s Class B bracket.

Schuylerville, ‍with a ​16-4 overall record and⁤ 10-3 in the Foothills ⁢Council, clinched the top seed.

Throughout the season, Mechanicville scored a whopping 202 runs, while allowing just 70.

A potential showdown between Mechanicville ‍and⁤ Schuylerville is brewing as we approach‍ the games at ‘The Joe.’

PATRIOTS ON THE PROWL

Most of Broadalbin-Perth’s current players were ​too young to be ‌a part‍ of the⁤ Patriots’ ‍dramatic run to​ the Section 2 title in 2021. However, they’ve been chasing that feeling ever since.

Broadalbin-Perth is in a strong position to reclaim the top spot, ​as it secured the No. 2 ⁣seed in the Class A bracket, after ​posting a 10-7 overall record⁤ and 10-3 ⁣in the Foothills ‌Council.

The‍ Patriots⁤ were only bested⁣ by La ⁣Salle, which posted​ a 14-3 overall⁣ record and 12-1 ⁢in the‍ Colonial ⁣Council, to secure⁣ the top seed.

Cohoes took the ⁤No. 3 seed⁢ in ⁢the⁤ bracket, while Ichabod ⁣Crane was No. 4, out of the 12-team field.

SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY

PLAY-IN

CLASS C — Berlin/New ⁣Lebanon at Hoosic Valley, 4.

FIRST ROUND

CLASS AAA — ‌CBA ⁢at Colonie, ‍4:15.

CLASS AA ‍— Troy at Averill Park, 4; Mohonasen at Queensbury, 4; Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake ‍at Amsterdam, 4; Guilderland at Columbia, 4.

THURSDAY

FIRST ROUND

CLASS A — Glens Falls at ‌Schalmont, 4; Hudson Falls at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, 4; Gloversville at‍ Scotia-Glenville, 4; Lansingburgh at Albany Academy, 4.

CLASS B — Notre Dame-Bishop‍ Gibbons at Schuylerville,‍ 4; Hudson at Catskill, ⁣4; Corinth at Coxsackie-Athens, 4; Voorheesville at ⁢Mechanicville, 4; Cairo-Durham at Granville, 4; Cobleskill-Richmondville at Taconic Hills, 4; Salem-Cambridge at Johnstown, 4; Stillwater at Fonda-Fultonville,‌ 5.

CLASS C — Berlin or Hoosic Valley at Chatham, ‍4; Waterford-Halfmoon at Middleburgh, 4; Mayfield at ‌Duanesburg,‌ 4; Greenwich at Galway, 4; Lake George at Canajoharie,‍ 4; Schoharie at Hoosick Falls, 4; Berne-Knox-Westerlo at​ Maple Hill, 5; Whitehall at Saratoga Catholic, 7.

CLASS ‌D — Doane/Loudonville at Loudonville, ⁣4.

FRIDAY

SEMIFINALS ⁢GAME 1

CLASS AAA — CBA/Colonie at Shenendehowa, 4; Shaker at Saratoga Springs,‌ 4.

SATURDAY

SEMIFINALS GAME 2

CLASS AAA — Shenendehowa ⁢at ⁢CBA/Colonie, 1; Saratoga Springs⁣ at Shaker, 1.

QUARTERFINALS

CLASS A — ​Schalmont/Glens Falls winner at La Salle, 1; Ravena/Hudson Falls winner at Ichabod Crane, 1; Scotia-Glenville/Gloversville winner at ​Broadalbin-Perth, 1; Albany Academy/Lansingburgh winner at Cohoes,⁢ 1.

CLASS​ B — at higher seeds, 1

CLASS C — at higher seeds, 1

SEMIFINALS

CLASS D — Germantown/Doane winner at Warrensburg, ⁣1; Mekeel Christian Academy at ‍North Warren, 1; Argyke at Hadley Luzerne, 1; Fort⁢ Ann ​at Hartford/Fort Edward, 1.

MONDAY

SEMIFINALS GAME 3

(if‌ necessary)

CLASS AAA — CBA/Colonie at⁤ Shenendehowa, 4; Shaker at Saratoga Springs, 4.

SEMIFINALS

CLASS A — at⁣ Dutchman Park, 4 and 7.

CLASS B — at⁤ Shuttleworth⁢ Park, 4 and 7.

CLASS C — at Gloversville Husky Field, 4 and 7.

CLASS D ⁣— at Lansingburgh, 4 and 7.

MAY 23, 24, 26

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

(Best-of-three)

at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium

CLASS AAA — Game 1, 7; Game 2, 7; Game 3 (if necessary), 7.

CLASS AA — Game 1, 4;⁤ Game⁣ 2, ‍4; Game 3 (if necessary), 4.

MAY 25

CLASS‍ C⁣ — at Joseph L. Bruno ⁣Stadium, 7.

CLASS D — at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, 7.