In a dramatic turn of events, the Liberty Varsity Softball team officially clinched second place in the OCIAA Division 3 Wednesday afternoon. The division victory was awarded to the Redhawks via forfeit by the Beacon Bulldogs, who were forced to withdraw due to a depleted roster after losing their starting pitcher to an injury. While it wasn’t the traditional battle on the diamond, the win solidifies a milestone achievement for the Liberty program—one that has catapulted them into the postseason.

With the victory officially in the books, the Redhawks have secured their best finish since New York State implemented its new divisional format during the 2023-2024 school year. More importantly, this second-place Class A Division 3 finish has earned Liberty the No. 6 seed in the upcoming Sectional tournament. This marks the program’s first trip to the Sectionals since 2019, a monumental climax to a season defined by perseverance against all imaginable odds. They will play at Port Jervis at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26.

To truly appreciate the magnitude of this achievement, one has to look back to the first week of tryouts, when low turnout left the athletic department uncertain if Liberty could even field a Varsity squad this spring. When the program stood on the brink of cancellation, a group of resilient student-athletes stepped up to save the season. Despite having little to no prior softball experience, Danielia Ponce Flores, Analeah Ocasio, Katterin Reyes Guardado, Aimee Sherwood, and Tianna Wilson dove headfirst into the sport. More than half of the entire roster took the field this year completely new to the game, learning on the fly with enthusiasm. As their skills grew, these newcomers became the essential pieces of the team’s success within the division.

Behind this transformation was a dedicated core of returning players and varsity mainstays who refused to let their season slide away. Wanting a season so desperately, these veterans stepped into vital leadership roles to guide, mentor, and inspire their new teammates. This milestone is, above all, an accomplishment earned by their heart and leadership.

These newcomers helped complete a team anchored by a trio of standout seniors: star starting pitcher Angie Wheeler, Brooke Porter at third base, and Arianna Wilson, who selflessly took on the grueling role of catcher for her first year behind the plate. Juniors Maddy Stewart in center field, Amy Szuba at first base, and utility threat Giuliana Wagner at shortstop and on the rubber filled out the core of returning starters. Not to be outdone, sophomores Lilli Black and Charlotte Horton De Morla stepped up to the varsity level without any prior JV experience, locking down starting roles in the outfield and at second base, respectively. Together, this collective unit held the squad together, making this milestone all the more rewarding.