52 of the hottest softball hitters heading into sectionals in Section V

Defense wins championship, but it helps to score more runs.

That's how School of the Arts captured its fourth straight Rochester City Athletic Conference tournament championship. In the second iteration of the league hosting its final on a college diamond, the Silver Hawks used timely at-bats to push eight across in the fourth and cruise to an 18-8 win Tuesday at the University of Rochester.

Maryn DeRock — who was surprised with a postgame "promposal" — and Hope Reddington each collected four hits in SOTA's win. Amarah Robinson's four hits came with a double and a triple. Aimei Hall collected a double and a triple. East's Keileen Montero led coach Cassandra Vann's Eagles with two hits. SOTA coach Ray Diaz spoke to the hit parade his players displayed as they prepare for the upcoming Section V tournament.

"Softball ... is a game of luck," Diaz said. "If you put the hits together timely, and make the right decisions and choices, running the bases, picking each other up, putting good bunts down and knowing what to do, you're going to have a really good chance to win."

Section V has no shortage of players who can put the ball into play. Here's a list of a few:

Section V's top hitters

This list is compiled of nominations from area coaches.

Johelys Alicea, East

• Senior, singled in the RCAC final.

Natalie Adams, Wellsville

• .492 BA, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 18 RBIs.

Nicole Allen, Fairport

• Junior, .515 BA, .560 OBP, 1.501 OPS, .941 SLG, 3 triples, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, 23 runs.

Bizzie Baglieri, Webster Schroeder

• Junior, .352 BA, 18 RBIs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 4 sacrifice flies.

Aly Ball, Byron-Bergen

• Clean-up hitter, .512 BA.

Brazen Beckwith, Wellsville

• .377 BA, 3 doubles, triple, 10 RBIs.

Morgan Brace, Letchworth

• Senior, .492 BA, .551 OBP, 30 hits, 5 doubles, 5 triples, 8 HRs, currently tied for career HRs hit over homefield fence at 7.

Emerson Broomfield, Canandaigua

• .360 BA, .418 OBP, .620 SLG, 18 hits, 4 doubles, 3 HRs, 20 RBIs.

Ariana Buchiere, Canandaigua

• .432 BA, .537 OBP, .750 SLG, 19 hits, 3 HRs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 12 RBIs, 19 runs, 10 BBs, 1 strikeout.

Kelly Burnett, Canandaigua

• .418 BA, .475 OBP, .727 SLG, 23 hits, 8 doubles, 3 HRs, 16 RBIs, 14 runs, 6 BBs.

Marlayna Cartagena, Irondequoit

• Senior, .475 BA, .515 OBP, .786 SLG, 7 doubles, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, 2 strikeouts.

Hannah Carney, Batavia

• .306 BA, 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 26 runs.

Ellie Casler, Honeoye Falls-Lima

• Senior, .438 BA, .476 OBP, 19 hits, 5 doubles, 2 triples, HR, 8 RBIs.

Juliana Catalano, Fairport

• Junior, .338 BA, .377 OBP, .869 OPS, .492 SLG, 2 HRs, 9 RBIs.

Julia Clark, Batavia

• .529 BA, .500, 2 triples, 17 RBIs, 22 runs.

Ella Cooley, Irondequoit

• Sophomore, .418 BA, .458 OBP, 10 RBIs at leadoff, 23 runs.

Madison Coots, Haverling

• .488 BA, .569 OBP, .926 SLG, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 3 HRs, 15 RBIs.

Makenzie Cowburn, Wellsville

• .453 BA, 6 doubles, triple, 4 HRs, 20 RBIs.

Jessie Crye, Avon

• .529 BA, .613 OBP, 27 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 16 RBIs at leadoff, 28 runs, 0 strikeouts.

Kathryn Cywinski, Canandaigua

• .377 BA, .411 OBP, .566 SLG, 20 hits, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 13 RBI.

Maryn DeRock, School of the Arts

• Senior, collected 4 hits in RCAC final.

Liana DeValder, Webster Schroeder

• Sophomore, .564 BA, 1.036 SLG, .615 OBP, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HRs, 24 RBIs, 25 runs.

Emma Dormann, Byron-Bergen

• Leadoff hitter, .428 BA.

Emma Dunaway, Wellsville

• .425 BA, 9 doubles, 15 RBIs.

Makenna Dunbar, Wellsville

• .491 BA, 7 doubles, triple, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs.

Libby Grazioplene, Batavia

• .365 BA, .500 OBP, 3 doubles, 15 RBIs.

Aimei Hall, School of the Arts

• Senior, doubled and tripled in the RCAC final.

Tia Hoffarth, Holley

• Senior, .524 BA, .619 OBP, 22 hits, 15 RBIs, 2 doubles.

Kinsley Keil, Webster Schroeder

• Eighth grader, .377 BA, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs, 11 sac bunts.

Genesis Lopez, East

• Eighth-grader, had an RBI-single in the RCAC final.

Keileen Montero, East

• Senior, registered 2 hits in RCAC final.

Giana Mruzcek, Batavia

• .277 BA, 3 doubles, HR, 13 RBIs.

Lucy Murphy, Hilton

• .500 BA, .609 OBP, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 25 runs.

Maddie Murphy, Hilton

• .460 BA, .485 OBP, 21 RBIs.

Leah Murray, Webster Schroeder

• Junior, .408 BA, 3 doubles, 1 HR, 13 RBIs, 20 runs.

Averee Palmitier, Wellsville

• .500 BA, 7 doubles, triple, 2 HRs, 21 runs.

Kendall Phillips, Byron-Bergen

• Three-hole, .567 BA, 8 doubles, triple.

Olivia Pusloskie, Avon

• .490 BA, .534 OBP, 25 hits, 4 doubles, 22 RBIs.

Abby Ras, Irondequoit

• Sophomore, .518 BA, .577 OBP, .642 SLG, 29 hits, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 19 RBIs, 21 runs, three strikeouts.

Hope Reddigton, School of the Arts

• Freshman, collected 4 hits in RCAC final.

Amarah Robinson, School of the Arts

• Junior, collected 4 hits in RCAC final.

Currin Rosato, Canandaigua

• .391 BA, .509 OBP, .542 SLG, 18 hits, 5 doubles, 10 RBIs, 21 runs.

Nevaeh Ross, Friendship/Scio

• .527 BA, .666 OBP, 31 hits, 4 triples, 3 doubles, 4 HRs, 29 runs.

Caitlin Ryan, Oakfield-Alabama

• .575 BA, 23 hits, 6 doubles, 5 triples, 1 HR, intentionally walked six times in 2022.

Paige Siciliano, Hilton

• .440 BA, .475 OBP, 20 RBIs.

Olivia Sheffer, Rush-Henrietta

• Senior, .614 BA, .623 OBP, .957 SLG, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HRs, 37 RBIs, 2 strikeouts.

Lauryn Smith, Fairport

• Junior, .339 BA, .413 OBP, .841 OPS, .429 SLG, HR, 8 RBIs.

Caydence Spears, Haverling

• ,581 BA, .654 OBP, .953 SLG, 13 doubles, 1 HR, 24 RBIs.

Gwenyth Strom, Livonia

• Eighth-grader, .469 BA, .469 OBP, .813 SLG, 20 hits, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HRs, 6 RBIs.

Lindsay Stuck, Wellsville

• .451 BA, 7 doubles, 2 HRs, 16 RBIs.

Leigha Walker, Holley

• Junior, .353 BA, .688 OBP, 12 hits, 6 RBIs.

Kaili Witherell, Haverling

• .545 BA, .615 OBP, .954 SLG, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 1 strikeout.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Softball: 52 of Section V's hottest hitters heading into sectionals