As mid‑June approaches, the Blue Raiders of Horseheads are preparing for a pivotal Class AA state semifinal against West Genesee, a matchup that could cement the program’s place in New York high school baseball lore.
A Pitching Masterclass
The team’s recent postseason run has been defined by an unprecedented stretch of scoreless innings. Horseheads has not allowed a run in 22 consecutive playoff frames, a testament to a pitching staff that has consistently shut down opposing offenses.
At the helm of this effort is new head coach Andy Scott, who brings a fresh philosophy while relying on a core of veteran assistants, including Mike Bennett and Jerry Laney. The staff’s emphasis on disciplined pitch selection and defensive alignment has allowed only three returning starters to shoulder the bulk of the workload.
Key Arms and Rising Talent
Mason Markle and Cooper Ball anchor the rotation. Ball, a Binghamton University commit, boasts an earned‑run average under 0.70 and has become a cornerstone of the staff’s reliability. Alongside him, Lyncoln Bennett and Kegan Monahan provide depth, while the offense has surged with 15 hits across the last two games, highlighted by shutouts in each of the past three outings.
Facing a Formidable Opponent
West Genesee arrives in the semifinal after posting three straight shutouts in the Section 3 tournament, showcasing a pitching staff that mirrors Horseheads’ own strengths. The Raiders, the sole remaining Section 4 representative, will need to leverage their defensive consistency to counter the opposition’s recent dominance.
The championship game is slated for 4 p.m. Saturday at Mirabito Stadium, a venue that will witness the culmination of a challenging schedule that included a loss to Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller. Regardless of the outcome, the team’s journey reflects a blend of seasoned coaching, player dedication, and a pitching philosophy that has defined their postseason run.