Red Raiders roll past Eagles, 6-0

The bats came alive for Mechanicville in its victory over Duanesburg in the Section II, Class CC/C playoff game Friday at Clifton Common.

Mechanicville rolled past Daunesburg, 6-0, to advance to the regional level of the state tournament. This is not a new position for the Red Raiders, who won the state championship three years ago, the third title in a five-year stretch.

“We were very relaxed today, hitting as well as any team can hit the ball,” said Mechanicville coach Don Arceneaux. “Everything is rolling. Knock on wood, we’ll be able to keep right on going.”

The game started off a little rocky for Mechanicville when pitcher Anna Arceneaux let up a single by Duanesburg’s leadoff hitter, Beth Smith.

“At that point, I thought there would be plenty more hits to come,” she said.

However, after that first hiccup, Arceneaux was nearly untouchable. She threw 14 strikeouts, and allowed only two hits.

“I threw a no-hitter earlier in the season,” said Arceneaux. “But this has to be one of my top games this year.”

The strong performance by the freshman pitcher was backed up with an offense that started early and never stopped. In the first inning, shortstop Lindsey McKeever scored from second on a passed ball that gave Mechanicville a quick lead.

“We scored early and just kept scoring,” said catcher Nina Cervini. “That made it easier for Anna on the mound.”

Mechanicville scored two more runs in the third, then put the game away in the fourth when Cervini batted in its final two runs.

In the field, Mechanicville was lead by McKeever, who was able to turn a double play in the fourth inning, negating Duanesburg’s only hit since its first at-bat.

“Lindsey is my smartest player,” said Arceneaux. “She loves the game and when the ball comes to her she knows what to do with it.”

McKeever is left-handed, making it harder for her to play the position because of the extra time it takes her to turn to throw. She says that she often will get in arguments defending herself and fellow southpaws.

“I shut everyone up with that double play,” said McKeever. “It just goes to show left-handed players can play anywhere they want to play.”

Duanesburg got solid performances from pitchers Erika Hillenbrand and Colby Hochmuth, who struck out four batters each. However, Duanesburg could not overcome some key errors which allowed Mechanicville to take a commanding lead.

“Mechanicville is a solid team,” said Duanesburg coach John Conway. “You just can’t make any mistakes against them.”

This was an emotional win for seniors like Cervini and McKeever. They lost in the Class CC finals last season, but still remember winning states their freshman year.

“Being a state champion as a freshman, all you want is to keep going back to that state championship game,” said Cervini.

The road back to states continues Wednesday, when the Red Raiders play on the road against either Section VII champ Ticonderoga or the Section X winner, either St. Lawrence or Norwood-Norfolk.

“There are a lot of teams out there just as good as us,” said Arceneaux. “If they keep playing the way they’ve been playing, though, it’ll be tough to beat ’em.”

Duanesburg 000 000 0 — 0 2 3

Mechanicville 102 300 x — 6 7 1

Hillenbrand, Hochmuth (4) and Fields; Arnceaux and Cervini.