Story updated June 14 with time changes for the state championship games.
A trio of big-time pitching performances helped Section 4 champions Maine-Endwell, Horseheads, and Deposit-Hancock secure victories in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association baseball semifinals on Friday, June 13.
Maine-Endwell earned a shot at back-to-back Class A state titles behind a two-hitter from Sam DeLorenzo in a 2-0 victory over Sayville at Mirabito Stadium in Binghamton.
Horseheads' Mason Holloway capped his historic season with a six-hitter in a 2-0 triumph against Webster Thomas at Union-Endicott High School.
Elsewhere on Friday, Deposit-Hancock continued its unbeaten season with a 2-1 victory over Gowanda in a Class C semifinal as Lucas Barnes threw a three-hitter.
In Class B, Oneonta fell to Putnam Valley, 2-1.
Class A: Maine-Endwell 2, Sayville 0
The Spartans scored twice in the third inning for all the runs DeLorenzo and the defense needed in a victory over the champions from Section 11.
Cooper Klinger's two-out infield single drove in Joey Chesna with the game's first run.
Brady Palmer scored the second run when a pickoff attempt by the catcher at third base went into left field.
DeLorenzo struck out four and walked two. Of the 84 pitches he threw, 57 were strikes.
That followed a six-inning, one-run effort in the Spartans' 7-4 triumph against Peru in the state quarterfinals.
Up next Maine-Endwell (14-9) will face Section 5 champion Pittsford Mendon in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Binghamton University. Mendon beat Section 1's Rye, 7-2, in their semifinal Friday.
The time was changed Saturday morning because of rain.
Class AA: Horseheads 2, Webster Thomas 0
The final season for retiring Horseheads head coach Jeff Limoncelli will end in a state final. The Blue Raiders won their only state championship in 1999, his second season.
"It's a lot of fun. I'm proud of our kids," Limoncelli said. "This is the recipe. Pitch and play defense, and we were really good today. Wish we'd score more runs, make it comfortable. But these kids have done great for us and they're confident and playing well."
Holloway, who struck out six and walked none, worked out of jams in the final two innings to get the shutout.
He said his approach in those tight situations was to take a deep breath and continue to do what he has done all season.
"They were a good team," Holloway said. "They put the ball in play, they didn't make anything easy. But when you're up there and your team gives you a lead, you've got to win for them."
Said Limoncelli: "Typical of him. When the going gets tougher, that's when he bears down and just pushes through. That's who he is."
Holloway had a no-decision in a 1-0 state quarterfinal win against Wallkill after pitching nine shutout innings on June 7.
"It wasn't his best stuff today," Limoncelli said. "That last game last week, it took a little out of him. He wasn't 100% I don't think, but it was good enough."
Webster Thomas put runners at first and third with nobody out in the sixth. A comebacker to Holloway was followed by a strikeout and fly ball to keep Horseheads' lead at 2-0.
In the seventh, a single and a Holloway throwing error put runners at first and second with one out. He came back with a strikeout before ending the game with a fly ball to right fielder Cooper Ball, whose acrobatic catch in the fourth inning likely saved a run.
"It was a great play," Holloway said. "He's an unbelievable player. He's been working hard in the outfield. He's originally a first baseman. We're all proud of him."
Keagan Monahan singled and scored the first run in the opening inning when Holloway got into a rundown after he was picked off.
"It was huge. It really settles you down out there," Holloway said of the early run.
Micah Hays drove in Ball with a single in the fourth. Hays went 2-for-2 with a double.
The 104-pitch outing gave Holloway an 8-0 record this season, with two solo perfect games and five innings of a combined perfect game.
He allowed one earned run and 33 hits over 64 innings against a schedule filled with large-school competition. He struck out 111 and didn't walk anyone, a streak that was tested when he went to a 3-0 count on Friday. His final ERA was 0.11.
"It's never going to happen again," Limoncelli said of Holloway's season. "It's amazing how consistent he is, but then again he slows the game down, he understands that mental performance training. It's easy for him, he has fun, it's never stress."
Up next Horseheads (20-2) will face Section 1 champion Fox Lane in the championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Binghamton University. Fox Lane beat Section 3's West Genesee, 3-0, in their semifinal.
The time was changed from an original 10 a.m. start.
"We're going to have to swing it," Holloway said. "Cooper's going to go out there, he's going to play great, we all know it. We've just got to score a couple of runs for him and we'll be all right."
Class C: Deposit-Hancock 2, Gowanda 1
Lucas Barnes threw a three-hitter, striking out five and walking three, as the Eagles secured a semifinal victory at Union-Endicott.
Section 6 champion Gowanda scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth to break a scoreless tie. Deposit-Hancock responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
Up next : Deposit-Hancock (23-0) will play Section 2's Saratoga Central Catholic in the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Binghamton University. Saratoga was a 5-2 semifinal winner over Section 9's Burke Catholic.
The initial time was 1 p.m.
Class B: Putnam Valley 2, Oneonta 1
Putnam Valley scored the tying and go-ahead runs on back-to-back Oneonta errors in the bottom of the seventh as Section 1 champion Putnam Valley beat Oneonta in a Class B semifinal.
Nolan Stark went the distance for Oneonta, allowing four hits.
Oneonta's run came in the fifth inning on an error.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: HS baseball: Maine-Endwell, Horseheads, Deposit-Hancock advance to state finals
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