Baseball, softball, & lacrosse sectionals will begin around this time next week in New York's Section II. Troy High's baseball & lacrosse teams have improved from last year, making an adjustment to playing in the tough Suburban Council. Softball has always been one of THS' premier sports, even when I was a student there back in the day. As the regular seasons for all three teams wind down (the tennis team ended a winless season earlier this week), I'd like to think that, depending on seeding, any or all three could make a decent, deep run to the sectional title games.
The lacrosse team is 6-9 with one game left after closing the home portion of their schedule Thursday night with a 10-5 win over Schenectady on Senior Night. Coach Brian Benner's squad closes at Christian Brothers Academy on Tuesday. Like the Flying Horses, CBA struggled in their first season in the Suburban Council, but they're always a tough team to beat in any sport.
How far can Troy go in the lacrosse sectionals? Again, it depends on where Troy will be seeded, but I suspect that if they get a low seed, bottom half of the bracket, they're likely one-&-done.
After a horrid 2016 campaign, baseball coach Will Whitty has turned his team around as well. Troy sits at 10-8 after beating Schenectady on Wednesday, and travels to CBA today. Weather permitting, Senior Day is Monday as Troy closes with a non-league tilt vs. city rival LaSalle. Last year, 10 wins would've been a pipe dream for Troy, but again, it's their 2nd season in the Suburban Council, and the style of play has improved. They've won six of their last seven, the only loss being at Shenendehowa on Tuesday.
Troy will likely end up on the road in the sectionals, but we'll know for sure by this time next week. I think the selection committee meets either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The softball team saw their four game win streak snapped by---who else?----Shen, 12-1, on Thursday. The girls close today with a non-league game vs. South Glens Falls on the road. Troy celebrated Senior Day on Wednesday by crushing Schenectady, 29-1 (OUCH!), scoring 24 runs in the second inning, and, as was the case vs. Albany on Monday, the game ended after 5 due to the mercy rule.
Troy is likely to gain a favorable seeding in the sectionals, and a return trip to the championship round, this time in Class AA. As I wrote earlier this week, I think they will get at least one more home game in the post-season. At 14-5, Troy conceivably could end up with a top 5 seeding.
I'd think this would be a longshot, but a dream I have is seeing Troy vs. LaSalle in the AA title game at Joe Bruno Stadium in 2 weeks. As a Class AA team playing in a league with mostly class A or B schools (Colonial Council), LaSalle is a big fish in a small pond, but there are natural rivalries to be had (Albany Academy, Lansingburgh, Catholic Central) to justify being in the league instead of dueling with Class AA rivals in the Suburban. I think I have a better chance of seeing LaSalle reach the AA title game, regardless of opponent.
Of course, we'll all know for sure next week.
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