By Jordan J. Michael

CASTLETON ON HUDSON –– Blackbird pitcher Landon Church went toe-to-toe with Maple Hill pitcher Jaime Schultz on Saturday in the first round of the Class CC sectionals.

Schultz ended up throwing a no-hitter against Voorheesville with 18 strikeouts. The Wildcat offense strung some hits together in the bottom of the sixth, leading to the 6-to-0 win.

“We ran into one of the best pitchers in the section and the wheels ended up falling off in the sixth inning,” said Blackbird Head Coach Kyle Turski on Tuesday. “Church was matching zeros with Schultz all the way to the sixth. However, the outcome wasn’t what we wanted.”

Church got the first out in the sixth to keep the game scoreless, but then Maple Hill hit a single and a double. The first run was brought in with a sacrifice fly to left field. The Wildcats scored five more runs in the inning.

“We had never seen a pitcher like Schultz before. It was something too new,” Turski said. “He was getting clocked at 91 miles per hour and he had a great curve ball. He threw strikes and got us behind.”

Voorheesville ends its season with a 12-12 record, 8-8 in the Colonial Council. Seniors Church and Joe Berschwinger earned first team honors and senior Nick Blow made second team for outfield.

“The seniors are leaving the team in good hands,” said Turski.

“The high point of the season was going 9-3 in the last 12 games to make the post-season,” said Turski. “We gelled as a team down the stretch and it was a tremendous season. We kept things exciting.”