Maine-Endwell and Susquehanna Valley Bow Out in State Softball Semifinals

BINGHAMTON – In the 2026 New York Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) softball tournament, both Susquehanna Valley (20-4) and Maine-Endwell (18-6) faced tough exits during the state semifinals. After impressive wins against Alden and Depew, the teams fell short in their semifinal matches against Chatham (23-2) and Averill Park (21-4), with heartbreaking final scores of 8-7 and 5-2, respectively.

The Spartans of Maine-Endwell concluded their season in the Class A state semifinal after trailing early with a 5-2 deficit, unable to score in the last four innings despite outhitting Averill Park six to four. Key players for the Spartans included junior pitcher Tessa L’Amoreaux and freshman Harper Eagan, who both contributed two hits each, while sophomore Emma Rondeau and freshman Isadora Moreira added one hit apiece.

Meanwhile, Susquehanna Valley was in a strong position against last year's state champions, Chatham, leading 7-2 in the fifth inning. However, the Panthers rallied back, scoring five runs and clinching victory with a game-winning single from Rylie Barden in the bottom of the ninth. Head coach Karen Bidwell emphasized the team’s resilience, stating, “Our motto is: ‘pick me up’; make a mistake, but we can’t carry it to the next thing.”

In their defeat, the Sabers outperformed Chatham in hits, tallying 12 compared to 11 from their opponents. Central/East all-conference selections Lili Onna D’Introno, Danica LaBarre, and Kylee Richardson, along with sophomore Kiana Cipolla, combined for eight of the team’s runs in the narrow 8-7 loss. With this, Deposit-Hancock and Windham-Ashland-Jewett will advance to the Class C and Class D state finals after their respective victories.