Leading off today: Even after lefty-hander John Rooney capped his unblemished high school career with a beaut of a 10-inning performance, there was one more bit of work to be done.
And Hoosic Valley did get it done, beating Geneseo 5-2 for the NYSPHSAA Class C baseball championship at Binghamton University to defend their state title.
Earlier in the day, Rooney threw a 10-inning shutout to beat Southold 2-0 in the semifinals and improve his career record to 35-0 on his way out the door to Hofstra University in the fall.
"John elevates his game whenever the game is on the line, I've been saying it for three years," Hoosic Valley coach George Brooks said. "Every inning, from one all the way to 10, he was getting better and better."
In the final, Indians senior right-hander Jared Morello threw a four-hitter against Geneseo.
"There was a bunch of pressure, I was feeling it right after the (first) game," Morello told The Saratogian. "Having to come out here and throw an absolute gem for these guys, luckily they gave me run support with five runs and made it easy from there."
Hoosic Valley scored twice in the bottom of the first as Rooney's double scored Dan Espey and Morello.
More small-school baseball: Class D Smithtown Christian was the only other baseball or softball team to repeat as a NYSPHSAA champion, beating Westfield 8-4 in the final.
The Knights graduated five starters, including their top two pitchers, from last year's title team and struggled to an 11-10 record entering this weekend. They'll likely return enough talent next spring to battle for the top spot again.
"They're going to stay here," senior shortstop Vinny Ciaravino, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI, told Newsday. "They're going to be in this for a while. I'm very proud."
Glen Middendorf, Zach DiBlanda and Carlos Pagan each went 3-for-4 in the win, and Austin Sala and Jimmy Seviour banged out two hits apiece. Pagan's two-run double gave Smithtown Christian a 3-0 lead after one inning.
Mattituck also brought a title back to Suffolk County, beating Livonia 4-1 in Class B for its first championship in the sport.
With two down in the third, Marcos Perivolaris reached on an error, Chris Dwyer walked and Ian Nish drove a double over the left fielder for a 2-0 lead. The Tuckers added two more in the fourth and rode Perivolaris' pitching the rest of the way. He scattered eight hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings to improve to 10-0 for the season.
Section 1 takes two: Mamaroneck won its third Class AA championship in eight years behind two solid pitching performances. Senior lefty Kumar Nambiar three a three-hitter to down Connetquot 4-2 in the semifinals, then junior Bill Flatow went the distance to beat Saratoga Springs 9-2.
All nine starters had at least one hit on the day, and senior catcher Andy Karlan reached base safely in six of eight plate appearances, scored four runs and drove in six -- including five in the final.
"It's insane," Karlan told The Journal News. "You go one through nine and every kid today put up a run, or at least did something to contribute. No one singlehandedly won it, and no one singlehandedly won any game. One through nine, I'm proud of everyone."
In Class A, Byram Hills won its first title by beating Levittown Division 4-3 in a 10-inning semifinal and then edging Queensbury 3-2.
After pitching eight innings in the first game, Frankie Vesuvio was clutch in the final. He opened the scoring with a double to left field in the third inning, and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, he made an acrobatic catch in center field to end the game.
"It was our goal from the start; this group of guys, we've been working hard for all of our lives," Vesuvio said. "It's great to finally get something."
Two from Section 2 break through: Averill Park (Class A) and Ichabod Crane (B) earned their first NYSPHSAA softball championships Saturday by winning two games apiece.
Caraline Wood pitched both games for Averill Park and ripped a two-run double in the eighth inning of the 9-7 win
