These Section V softball teams are headed to title game: See who won semifinal matchups

A third straight Section V final is nice.

How about clinching the program's first-ever championship game?

From game-changing home runs to diving catches and shutouts, Thursday night's clutch performances lifted Section V's best softball teams into Saturday's championship games.

Webster Thomas' second-seeded Titans used a pair of seventh-inning runs to squeak past No. 3 Bishop Kearney 5-3 in Thursday's Class A1 semifinal at Linda McCoy Field. Thomas (15-7) created a tough regular season slate for games like this. Anna Bello drove in the go-ahead run as the Titans clinched their third straight finals berth. Webster Thomas, seeking it's first title since 2009, fell to Brighton and Webster Schroeder in its previous two appearances.

"We set a goal that we wanted to be prepared for anything," coach Emily Castro said. "That's what we did this season. The girls never give up. They have the mentality that if things don't go their way, it's going to go their way the next time. That's the big game changer. We really focused on that mindset this year. They're just great kids.

Bishop Kearney is a great team. I know they're upset but I'll tell ya, they should be very proud of themselves. Especially (pitcher Carmella Phelan) and how she played."

Rush-Henrietta (18-4) will play in what is believed to be the program's first-ever Section V final. The Royal Comets are having a breakout season, earning Class AA's top-seed and scoring an impressive 15-0 win over fifth-seed Brighton — the Bruins beat reigning AA champ Fairport. Playing with "underdog" mentality, according to Olivia Sheffer, Rush finally overcame past semifinal losses thanks to pitcher Kadyn Hartel's shutout.

"All of my pitches were working really well," Hartel said. "I felt great coming into the game. I trusted my defense a lot today. I knew they could get anything that came to them."

Section V championship schedule

Each Section V championship game is scheduled for Saturday. The rain date is Sunday.

Webster Schroeder will host the Class AA final at 11 a.m., the A1 final at 1:30 p.m. and A2 at 4 p.m. Webster Thomas will host Class B1 at 11 a.m. and B2 at 1:30 p.m. Eastridge will have the Class C1 final at 1 p.m. and C2 at 3:30 p.m. Fillmore hosts Class D1 at 1 p.m. and D2 at 3:30 p.m.

Class AA

No. 1 Rush-Henrietta vs. No. 3 Victor

• Royal Comets pitcher Kadyn Hartel shutout an upstart Brighton squad.

• Victor pitcher Olivia Steinorth shutout reigning Class A state champion Webster Schroeder.

Class A1

No. 1 Irondequoit vs. No. 2 Webster Thomas

• Abby Ras' bases-loaded walk-off RBI-single advanced the Eagles past Canandaigua.

• Anna Bello drove in Thomas' go-ahead run on a seventh-inning sacrifice fly, overcoming Alaina Ruffino's game-tying, two-run homer in the sixth.

Class A2

No. 6 Honeoye Falls-Lima vs. No. 8 Mercy

• Kate Dailor's three-run homer over the left centerfield fence in the seventh gifted HFL an upset over reigning champ Pittsford Sutherland.

• Rowan Hennessy and Madeline Oleksyn each had two hits and three RBIs to help the Monarchs beat Wayne by 11 runs.

Class B1

No. 1 Waterloo vs. No. 2 Batavia

• Libby Grazioplene hit the game-winning two-run single against Midlakes.

• Haylee Beesley had a hit and an RBI in Waterloo's come-from-behind victory over Hornell.

Class B2

No. 1 Wellsville vs. No. 2 Haverling

• Kaili Witherell struck out 17 Wayland-Cohocton batters to clinch the Rams' second straight final; Wellsville defeated Penn Yan 15-0.

Class C1

No. 6 Letchworth vs. No. 8 Addison

• Abbie DeRock struck out 10 Avon batters and collected two hits of her own to drop reigning champion Avon; Addison defeated Oakfield-Alabama/Elba 5-2.

Class C2

No. 1 Bolivar-Richburg vs. No. 3 Dundee-Bradford

• Bolivar-Richburg defeated Byron-Bergen 10-5, Dundee-Bradford edged Caledonia-Mumford 2-1.

Class D1

No. 2 Lyndonville vs. No. 4 Batavia Notre Dame

• Lorelei Dillenbeck tripled and her Tigers strung together seven runs in the third inning; Batavia Notre Dame defeated Keshequa 7-4.

Class D2

No. 1 Friendship/Scio vs. No. 3 Finney

• Friendship/Scio shutout Andover/Whitesville 8-0, Finney defeated Northstar Christian 19-4.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V softball semifinal scores: See who plays for championship