SANDY CREEK Jasmyn Williams and Carley Stoker watched the Sandy Creek softball team play for a state championship four years ago but on Saturday, that veteran battery and the rest of the Comets are aiming to etch their own names in the annuls of the programs storied history.

Section 3 champion Sandy Creek (18-2 overall) will play Section 5s Bishop-Kearney (22-2) at 9 a.m. Saturday in the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinals at Moreau Park in South Glens Falls in pursuit of the programs third state crown.

If the Comets win, they would advance to the state championship game later that day at 1:30 p.m. in the same location against the winner of the other semifinal game between Section 2-Greenville (17-3) and Section 9-Pine Plains (17-3).

Williams, Sandy Creeks starting catcher and only senior, played for the 2013 team that reached the state final as a reserve call-up from junior varsity when she was in eighth grade. Williams said she has spoken frequently about that experience to her younger teammates throughout the season and wants to ensure they appreciate the opportunity in front of them.

We actually just had the talk about how, even though we talk about what we did in the past and what other teams did, this is our year, Williams said. This is us. Were making our mark on Sandy Creek softball and we need to understand and appreciate that.

Stoker, who was in seventh grade when the Comets reached the 2013 state final, attended to watch the event as a spectator. Her father, Jonn Stoker, was an assistant coach on that team and still holds that position.

I remember wanting to play in that and it became one of my first goals, Stoker said. I wanted to play in the state tournament just like that group was. Were all young and really just excited to go play. Every single person on this team wants it just as much as the next.

The Comets won state titles in 1997 and 2004, and coach Kate Soluri (maiden name, Hovey) played for the programs first state title team 20 years ago. Sandy Creek also reached the finals in 2007 and 2013.

This years squad is unique in that it is significantly younger than Sandy Creeks recent state final four teams. This years group has just one senior, compared to five in 2013, and six players are at the sophomore grade level or younger, compared to just one in 2013.

The 2017 Comets are also thriving without the programs usual wealth of depth, playing most of the season with 10 players compared to 15 on the 2013 roster.

The teams from previous years had girls who all played together since they were young, but thats not the case with us, Williams said. It could have been a disadvantage but we made it an advantage. These girls are young and theyre hungry for new information, theyre ready to learn and theyre eager to learn and me being a senior, Im still learning new things every day, too. That drive really carried us through this season.

Sandy Creek won its 16th sectional title in a 23-year span during this postseason, and came of age in the state quarterfinals last Friday by beating defending state champion and previously-unbeaten Elmira-Notre Dame, 6-3, in a 10-inning thriller.

Junior third baseman Savannah Brown delivered a pair of clutch hits tying the game with two outs in the seventh inning and driving in the go-ahead run in the 10th to send the Comets to the semifinals.

The mindset this weekend needs to be positive and we need to respect all and fear none, Brown said. Thats the mindset weve had all season and thats what we need to stick to.

Hannah Dasno, the sophomore starting shortstop, added: Were playing confident, but we have to know that these other teams made it there for a reason, so obviously its going to be good competition that were playing. We cant underestimate anyone by any means.

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High school softball: Comets begin drive for state title with Bishop-Kearney matchup Saturday - WatertownDailyTimes.com