Another softball title for Honors

Star pitcher Emily Zuchlewski moved on to the University at Buffalo, but coach Debra Matos’ City Honors team is still dominating Thompson Trophy softball.

The Centaurs captured their seventh straight title Wednesday, defeating McKinley, 3-0, for the the League I championship at Houghton Park.

Freshman catcher Yanava Hawkins homered in the first inning and added a double and a single as she scored all the runs. Honors has not lost to a Buffalo Public Schools opponent since 2003.

After backstopping Zuchlewski for two seasons, Hawkins now is the receiver for sophomore Annie Doyle, who shut out the Macks on a one-hitter Wednesday with six strikeouts.

“The only senior I had last year was Emily [Zuchlewski],” Matos said. “We have only one senior [center fielder Christina Riccio] and no juniors this year. We are a JV age team, and these same kids got to the [sectional] finals last year with Emily.”

The Centaurs were the No. 1 seed in this year’s Class B sectionals but lost in the prequarterfinals to East Aurora. That disappointment was all but forgotten Wednesday,

Grover survives rally

First baseman Amelys Roig’s throw to catcher Ashley Dixon completed a double play and cut down the potential tying run in the bottom of the seventh and preserved Grover Cleveland’s 11-10 victory over Middle College in the Thompson Trophy League II championship. It was the second league title in three years for coach Telly Forcucci’s team.

Winning pitcher Lena Bautista and Lieshmarie Carrion each hit home runs. Carrion also had a pair of triples.

Grover broke a 9-9 tie with two runs in the top of the seventh as Roig doubled home one run and Dixon’s single plated the other.

The teams split in the regular season, with each side winning once behind shutout pitching by its ace—Kelli Barrett of Middle College and Bautista of Grover. It was no pitching duel Wednesday, however. Grover built an 8-3 lead before Middle College rallied.

“When we won the championship two years ago, we were young. Our seniors [Bautista, Dixon and Carrion] have had a good run,” Forcucci said.