Averill Park relies on youth in 3-peat quest

Averill Park

The Averill Park softball program captured Section II Class A titles in 2018 and 2017, and also reached the pinnacle by winning a state championship in 2015. During all three of those playoff runs, coach Ken Bailey was able to rely on an ample amount of experienced veteran leadership. The Warriors' latest playoff pursuit, however, is punctuated by a youth movement.

Maisie Dawson, the team's starting catcher all season, is an eighth-grader. First baseman Abbey Nagel, center fielder Ava Faragon and second baseman Maddie Rose are all freshmen. Leadoff hitter McKenzie Swinson, a sophomore, is the squad's left fielder. The other three positional players starting are two seniors, shortstop Marissa Nagel and right fielder Morgan Vandervoort, and junior third baseman Ainsley Rogers.

Bailey further increased his roster of young players by summoning three players from the JV team as the third-seeded Warriors (15-5) meet sixth-seeded Troy (9-10) for the third time this season Tuesday in the quarterfinals. Game time is 4:30 p.m.

"You would think there would be a learning curve for the younger kids we brought from JV. They are impact players," Bailey said. "They have dropped right in. Ava Faragon, in her first game, hit one out.

"If we continue to hit the ball and score runs, that is the key for us, we have to score runs."

The Warriors enter sectional play averaging 7.5 runs scored per game.

"We've got talent on offense," said Marissa Nagel, who is the team's top hitter with a .412 average, 19 runs scored and 16 RBIs.

In search of a third straight sectional title, Averill Park most navigate through an extremely dangerous field that includes 2018 Section II Class AA champion Ballston Spa (17-3) and perennial Foothills Council power South Glens Falls (14-0).

"It really...