The Guilderland softball team won its first Section II, Class AA playoff game in several years with a 5-2 victory over Bethlehem Wednesday.
Sara Heller and Michelle Giwerc each drove in two runs for the 12th-seeded Lady Dutch, who finished the Suburban Council season with a 6-8 record. The fifth-seeded Lady Eagles had nine hits, but only managed two runs.
Guilderland advances to Friday’s quarterfinal round against Queensbury. The fourth-seeded Spartans edged No. 13 Shaker 3-2 Wednesday on Ally Pett’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
In other first-round games Wednesday, Saratoga shut out Schenectady 6-0, and Columbia defeated Amsterdam 7-1.
Alyson Onyon pitched a four-hitter and struck out 18 to lead No. 9 Saratoga into Friday’s quarterfinal against top-seeded Shenendehowa at Colonie’s Veeder Park. Alexandrian Parisi drove in four of the Blue Streaks six runs against Schenectady.
In Class B, Saratoga Central Catholic won a wild 13-12 game against Hudson. The Saints scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game at 12 before pulling out the victory with a run in the bottom of the ninth.
Kate Jasper had a pair of doubles and singled three times to lead Saratoga Catholic’s 21-hit attack. Jen Diggins tripled, doubled and singled twice.
The Saints face No. 4 Schuylerville Friday at the Adirondack Sports Complex.`