×

North Collins to face Heuvelton Central in state semis Saturday

Two wins away

OBSERVER File Photo: Pictured is North Collins’ shortstop Emily Winter making a play during last week’s Far West Regional victory over Elba.

If the North Collins Lady Eagles are to advance to the finals of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Final Four, they will have to do something no other team has been able to accomplish all season: beat the Heuvelton Central Lady Bulldogs.

Nineteen times the Lady Bulldogs have taken the field and nineteen times they have come away the victory en route to being ranked the No. 2 Class D team in the state. On Saturday, at the Town of Moreau Recreation Park, the state semifinals will begin at 11:30 a.m. for a chance to play in the 4 p.m championship game.

“(Heuvelton) seems to have a good pitcher and they can hit,” North Collins coach Jan Warren said. “I believe their pitcher is going to UMass on a basketball scholarship. Their basketball team was very good and with small schools that usually means their other sports programs will be good as well.”

North Collins enters Saturday as the underdog, but that’s a role the team has learned to embrace. The Lady Eagles weren’t supposed to beat Franklinville’s superstar pitcher Ally Haskell, and they did, 2-1. North Collins was a heavy dog to Elba in the Far West Regional and won that game, 4-1.

The Lady Eagles are the lowest-ranked team left in the Class D softball playoffs, but that seems to be just the way they’d like it to be.

“They’re the No. 2 ranked team in the state and we weren’t even supposed to win Sectionals,” Warren said. “I don’t know what to make of this because we heard this about Elba and Franklinville, too. I think we just have to do what got us there. Pitching, defense and timely hitting. I don’t think we should worry about what Heuvelton can or can’t do. We will do what we do and right now we are doing it well.”

Taking the mound for the Lady Eagles will be Rebecca Cyrek, who has been the team’s unquestioned leader from within the circle all season. While Cyrek has been dominant all season, the playoffs are where she has really shined.

Cyrek has pitched 28 innings in the 2017 Class D playoffs and has allowed just three runs and 16 hits while striking out 30. Her regular season earned run average was 1.96 while in the playoffs her ERA is down to 0.25. Opposing batters had a .210 batting average against her in the regular season, but are batting a paltry .146 in the postseason.

Cyrek got hot at the right time and that is a winning recipe that the Lady Eagles hope to serve twice more.

“She has had a fantastic season,” Warren said. “She has been doing this all year long. Every game is no walks to one walk. She just throws strikes and strikes out five to 10 per game. The position players do their part, too. They simply throw it and catch it. Rebecca Holmes does a good job catching her.”

At first base is Morgan Lawton, who has led the team with her bat all season. Second base is where Angela Filkov calls home as one of the team’s two senior leaders. Morgan Mathis is at third and shortstop Emily Winter leads the infield with her sure glove. Winter went the entire regular season without making an error, according to Warren.

In the outfield, Brianna Krawczyk is in left, Alexa English is in center and Bella Williams is in right. The outfield group is a strength of the Lady Eagles and Warren knows any ball hit in the air to the outfield is almost a sure out. Defense has been a pillar of success for North Collins all season and one Warren expects to lean on this weekend.

“We practice hard and field a lot of balls. They start from practice No. 1,” Warren said. “We try to get better every day. When they make mistakes, they pick each other up and they know its okay; they have their back and will make up for it. Our outfielders as good as any in any class.”

The Lady Eagles are arguably a year ahead of schedule in making a deep run in the playoffs. North Collins only has two seniors and while the team has a bright future, they are focused on the opportunity they have in front of them.

“Keeping them focused is my worry,” said Warren, who is making his first trip to States, as is North Collins. “I want them to have fun and enjoy the moment, but we are there to win a state title. We are going to have fun, but we have to stay focused. We have great athletes and they all play other sports, but what’s most important is they are even better people than athletes. They are good at life and I’m proud of them.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today