BINGHAMTON, NY – The top softball teams in the Southern Tier, Vestal and Horseheads, Maine-Endwell and Oneonta, competed at Greenlight Grand Slam Park in Binghamton for the Class AA and Class A titles, respectively.
Maine-Endwell’s Tessa L’Amoreaux made a blueprint for her teammates, as it were, serving as a model and a key factor in the team’s 3-1 victory over Oneonta. The junior pitcher managed 12 strikeouts in seven innings, while allowing the Yellowjackets just three hits in the game.
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Vestal’s Natalie Frobel had three hits in a nine-inning game against the Horseheads, including a game-winning single to right field to bring in teammate Tilly MacNamee’s second run of the game and the Golden Bears’ 5-4 shutout victory over the former division and district leaders.
Vestal will likely face a Section 6 at-large team at 1:00 PM at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park on June 2, while Maine-Endwell will likely face a Section 8 at-large team at 4:00 PM at the same venue to advance to the 2026 NYSPHSAA state softball tournament.
Maine-Endwell’s pitching proves to be second to none
Bottom line: L’Amoreaux’s dominance on the mound left Oneonta scoreless until the fifth inning, with the Yellowjackets then seeing the light at the end of the tunnel before L’Amoreaux finished the game the way it started, shutting out the final two innings to make it 3-1 and a shot at back-to-back district championships.
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Main games and their order:
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Bottom 1: L’Amoreaux singled off Oneonta’s Kylie Carr (center) while Isabel Hunter hit a hard ball into left field, taking first and second base. L’Amoreaux advanced to third on a passed ball, then took it on Harper Eagan’s ground ball, giving ME its first run of the game. 1-0
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Bottom of the 3rd: Harper Eagan singled on a ground ball to left field, but advanced to second on a slow throw. Maine-Endwell’s Kaylee Hurba scored. 2-0
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Top of the 5th: Desiree Wheeler singled to right field, then reached third base on two passed balls. A sacrifice fly from Julie Ferriera-Reyes brought home Wheeler and put Oneonta on the board. 2-1
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Bottom of the 5th: Emma Rondeau narrowly stole second base after hitting a single to right field in the previous game. T. L’Amoreaux took a hard swing to put the ball deep in left field, bringing Rondeau home. 3-1
Some important statistics:
Tessa L’Amoreaux (P), ME: at bat – 1 run, 2 hits, 1 RBI; Harper Eagan (1B), ME: 1 hit, 2 RBIs
Carey Mistler (P), Oneonta: 4 hits, 8 hits allowed; Desiree Wheeler (2B), Oneonta: 1 run, 1 hit
Vestal’s determination comes in conjunction
Bottom line: Home runs by Vestal’s Maggie Costello and the Horseheads’ Caitlyn Yearick tied the two late at 4-4 before Vestal’s Tilly MacNamee’s key decision crowned Vestal the 2026 sectional champions with a 5-4 victory over last year’s champion.
Main games and their order:
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Bottom of the 4th: The Horseheads’ Raegan Burge was able to strike out three and allow just one run (Katelin Gowe, Vestal) after a tough layup with the bases loaded. 1-0
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Top of the 6th: Caitlin Yearick hits a home run to put the Horseheads on the board. 1-1
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Top of 7th: Yearick hits another home run to bring home Kolby Chaffee and Grace Cornin. 4-1
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Under 7:
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KayLynn Tanton tagged home after trying her luck on Rachel Ouimette’s ground ball.
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MacNamee singled on a fastball to right field to bring in Ouimette. 4-2
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Maggie Costello hit a bunt to bring MacNamee home to score. 4-4
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Bottom of the 9th: MacNamee advanced to third base after stealing second and capitalizing on Costello’s groundout. A line drive by Frobel brought MacNamee home. 5-4
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Some important statistics:
Erin Gowe (P), Vestal: 14 hits, 8 hits allowed; Maggie Costello (SS): 1 run, 2 RBIs, 1 hit
Raegan Burge (P), Horseheads: 6 hits, 11 hits allowed; Caitlin Yearick (3B), Horseheads: 2 runs, 4 RBIs, 3 hits
This article first appeared in the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Vestal and ME pass two softball powerhouses in regionals
