2026 STAC Softball Playoffs
Varsity
Semi-finals and Championship on Saturday, May 16 at Greenlight Park
Semi-finals at 11:00 am (home team listed 2nd):
(Central: 10-3, 14-4) Waverly vs. (West: 8-0, 14-0) Corning
(Metro: 10-1, 12-2) Vestal vs. (East: 10-1, 15-2) Susquehanna Valley
In one Semi-final matchup, defending STAC and Section IV Class AAA Champions Corning will face off with Central champion Waverly. Corning has been flawless this season at 14-0, using a combination of stellar pitching and big bats throughout the lineup. They’ve swept every New York opponent and went 4-0 in games vs. other states in Myrtle Beach over Spring Break. Needless to say, there’s not much they haven’t done right this season. In a recent 6-0 win over M-E on Monday, the lone senior on the team, Matti Johnston, tossed a one-hit gem with 11 strikeouts, and drove in a pair of runs from the leadoff spot. Cleanup hitter Emilia Smith launched a 3-run homer to build the lead in the 6th. In a 9-2 victory over Vestal on April 22, Lauren DeRosa had three hits and scored three runs, while Hannah Kauffman drove in three. Beating this squad is quite a tall order, but that’s exactly the type of challenge Waverly will welcome. Not too long ago, they found themselves a game behind Owego in the Central and in need of a strong run to overtake them. Strong run they received, indeed. On May 4, the Wolverines went into Owego and shocked the home team 20-2. Taylin Gonzalez allowed only six hits and homered at the plate. Hannah Carpenter, hitting in the #4 spot, had an amazing game: 4-for-5, 2 home runs, a double, and 8 RBIs. Eight! Maddie Cron was a perfect 5-for-5 with 2 triples and 5 RBIs. That set up a Central division tiebreaker game, which again was dominated by the Wolverines 13-3. This time, it was an 8-run 1st inning that put the game away quickly, as five hitters recorded two or more hits apiece. They are currently on a 10-game winning streak after defeating Horseheads 5-1 on Thursday. The competition will crank up a few notches on Saturday, as they will need to be at their very best to meet the challenge of Corning and dethrone the reigning champs. After joining STAC in the 2023-2024 school year, this is the first time Waverly will be competing in the STAC Playoffs. Corning will seek their 3rd STAC title.
The other Semi-final matchup will be a rematch from last season. East champion Susquehanna Valley will look to get some revenge after dropping a tight 3-2 decision to Metro champion Vestal. The difference in that game was an RBI double by Aubrey Rogers in the 6th to plate the eventual winning run. This year, both teams are coming in strong, as Vestal has won six straight and SV eight straight. Vestal swept their Metro division rivals Maine-Endwell to edge the Spartans for the division title. On May 6, the Golden Bears put it all together in a dominant 11-0 romp. Erin Gowe was terrific in tossing a two-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts. The top in the order of Maggie Costello and Natalie Frobel took advantage of some M-E wildness in the circle, each drawing three walks to score five times. Their only two losses have come against Corning, the team they could potentially meet up with later on Saturday in the Championship. Susquehanna Valley held off a tough Oneonta squad to capture another East division title, and are coming off one of their best games of the season. In a 15-0 shutout of Chenango Forks, LilliOnna D’Introno fired a 5-inning no-hitter on 10 strikeouts, with only one walk separating her from a perfect game. Leadoff hitter Rianne Moelder smashed two home runs and drove in four. Four other hitters collected multiple hits, including Amelia Frisbie with three. While the pitching of D’Introno has been sensational for years, the Sabers have proven they can also win on days where she’s not at her very best. On April 29, they visited Oneonta at a time when the Yellowjackets were making a serious push to win the division. The SV offense carried the load that day, led by a double, triple, and three RBIs from Kylee Richardson. Danica LaBarre drove in three from the cleanup spot, and Frisbie three more in an 11-5 win. Just like last year, this game will feature two pitchers at the top of their craft, and offenses that can break out big innings at any point. SV will look to claim their 8th league title, and Vestal their 7th.
Championship at 1:00 with larger enrollment as home team!
JV
Semi-finals at the higher seeds
Semi-final #1 on Friday, May 15 - (Metro: 4-2, 5-3) Vestal at (East: 10-0, 10-0) Susquehanna Valley, 5:30
Semi-final #2 on Monday, May 18 - (Central: 7-1, 10-3) Waverly at (West: 7-0, 10-0) Corning, 5:00
Championship at the larger enrollment (Date TBD)!
Varsity Previous Champions:
2025: Corning d. Vestal 7-5
2024: Vestal d. Corning 7-3
2023: Maine-Endwell d. Chenango Valley 11-0
2022: Corning d. Maine-Endwell 6-2
2021: No playoffs due to Covid-19
2020: No playoffs due to Covid-19
2019: Maine-Endwell d. Corning 6-5 (12 inn.)
2018: Horseheads d. Susquehanna Valley 3-1 (10 inn.)
2017: Maine-Endwell d. Horseheads 2-1
2016: Binghamton d. Horseheads 5-2
2015: Horseheads d. Binghamton 5-2
2014: Windsor d. Maine-Endwell 2-1
2013: Horseheads d. Windsor 12-4
2012: Horseheads d. Susquehanna Valley 5-2
2011: Chenango Valley d. Corning 1-0
2010: Elmira Free Academy d. Windsor 1-0
2009: Chenango Valley d. Horseheads 4-3
2008: Chenango Valley d. Windsor 2-0
2007: Union-Endicott d. Horseheads 12-1
2006: Susquehanna Valley d. Horseheads 3-0
2005: Horseheads d. Susquehanna Valley 4-3
2004: Susquehanna Valley d. Windsor 1-0 (9 inn.)
2003: Horseheads d. Susquehanna Valley 2-0
2002: Susquehanna Valley d. Union-Endicott 1-0
2001: Union-Endicott d. Chenango Valley 3-2 (8 inn.)
2000: Union-Endicott d. Horseheads 1-0
1999: Susquehanna Valley d. Chenango Forks 6-0
1998: Susquehanna Valley d. Owego 3-0
1997: Susquehanna Valley d. Owego 4-3
1996: Susquehanna Valley d. Vestal 5-0
1995: Seton d. Susquehanna Valley 3-2 (10 inn.)
1994: Union-Endicott d. Chenango Forks 1-0
1993: (No playoffs)
1992: Union-Endicott d. Chenango Forks 3-0
1991: Johnson City d. Chenango Valley 7-1
1990: Chenango Valley d. Johnson City 2-0
1989: Chenango Forks d. Chenango Valley 8-7
1988: Union-Endicott d. Chenango Forks 5-0
1987: Vestal d. Union-Endicott 5-3
1986: Union-Endicott d. Johnson City 4-3
1985: Chenango Valley d. Union-Endicott 6-2
1984: Binghamton d. Chenango Valley 9-5 (12 inn.)
1983: Union-Endicott d. Susquehanna Valley 9-3
1982: Vestal d. Chenango Valley 5-4
1981: Union-Endicott d. Johnson City 12-1
1980: Vestal d. Susquehanna Valley 6-4 (8 inn.)
1979: Johnson City d. Union-Endicott 7-3
1978: Vestal d. Chenango Valley 13-9
1977: Johnson City d. Vestal 5-4
1976: Johnson City d. Owego 11-1
1975: Vestal d. Johnson City 4-1
1974: Ithaca d. Seton 10-8
1973: (No playoffs)
1972: Johnson City d. Ithaca 8-5
Championships by School:
Union-Endicott: 9
Susquehanna Valley: 7
Horseheads: 6
Vestal: 6
Johnson City: 5
Chenango Valley: 5
Maine-Endwell: 3
Binghamton: 2
Corning: 2
Windsor: 1
Chenango Forks: 1
Seton: 1
Ithaca: 1
Elmira Free Academy: 1