Class BB

[UNCTarheels]

Right now it's looking like there's three legitimate contenders for the BB Sectional Championship. Right now the standings look like this

#1 Freddie-Thomas 8-1 with 43 seeding points
#2 Hornell 7-1 36 seeding points
#3 Bath 7-2 32 Seeding points

Bath beat Hornell last week and they meet again They play in Bath on October 15th. As if the game needed anymore storylines this game could be a huge factor in the Seeding points and what # seed each team gets.

Who wins BB Sectionals? and Why? Can upstart Freddie-Thomas play with two of Livingston County's best?

[Rams15]

Dr. Freddie Thomas

Speed kills.... Figueroa x 3. Not only do the Figueoa's have a monopoly on their name, but have 3 of the top 5 point scorers in Section V. They also have the benefit of playing a very competitive schedule to hone their skills. In addition, they might likely end up with the #1 seed which would mean that Hornell and Bath would have to face each other ( if they both get to the semi finals ) before facing FT. That could leave the winner of that game spent from the typical rivalry & intensity that accompanies a Hornell vs. Bath game. I am interested in the outcome of the McQuaid vs. FT game this evening. A close game could show the progress FT has made and could mean real trouble for Hornell, Bath, Livonia, and the rest of the BB's.

Hornell

Hornell has a very talented team; as always. Steve Smith and Kyle Murphy have shown that they can score goals in bunches. Dan O. (sp) a foreign exchange student, from Mexico, also has a great deal of offensive firepower. Kyle Binder is a huge athletic talent and does an outstanding job on defense. He can be counted on, also, to handle the majority of direct kicks which he hits with a booming foot. When Hornell plays with intensity and positive determination, they are a very difficult team to beat. This might prove to be the case throughout the play offs. ( sectionals ) October 15th will be the rematch with Bath and the result could be very telling about the progress of each team.

Bath

Bath has a stout defense and goalie that have yielded just four goals all season long. ( 9 games ) Corning doubled the total... goals scored against ratio... last Saturday when they rang up 2 goals against the Rams. This stellar defense will keep Bath in most games if the offense sputters for awhile. Justin Brown leads the Rams in goals scored and Jason Carpenter does a great job setting these scores up with his assists. Lucas Wales mans the midfield area and can control play in many situations. I am concerned a bit with Bath's inconsistent play, at times. 0 goals against HFL & Corning and except for two direct runs by Brown against Hornell, had limited scoring opportunities there. If their offensive output and consistency improves, they can beat anyone in their class.

[Rams15]

Hornell defeated Bath this evening ( in Bath ) returning the favor of a few weeks ago, 1-0. Steve Smith scored the game winning goal for Hornell with 53seconds remaining in the first half. A Bath defender mis-hit a goal kick that went directly to Smith who was waiting near the 18. Steve made a very nifty move around one defender, then scampered by another, placing the shot in the lower left hand corner of the goal. Great move and shot ! That was all it would take as Bath mustered very few scoring ( quality ) opportunities.

I think that Hornell's midfielders controlled most of the action. Bath has a very difficult time winning any balls in the air off throws or kicks from save opportunities. They relinquish control almost every time. Hornell seemed to control the action for most of the 2nd half putting extensive pressure on Bath's keeper. Shots on goal had to be 4:1 in favor of Hornell. ( before you Hornell fans start complaining, that is a ratio, not the number of shots attempted )

Hornell-Bath Part III will most likely take place in the semi finals of the sectionals in a week and a half. Hornell will most likely be a #2 seed and Bath a # 3. Freddie Thomas has all but locked up the #1 seed, I believe. Hornell has HFL Wednesday and Bath has Livonia. Bath has now dropped 2 in a row and had better get its players on the mend ( physically and mentally ) if they are to challenge for the BB crown this season. Not the right time to slip backwards, for sure.

[DrewVT6]

I got to watch part of Bath/Livonia this evening.

Rams15 it was a pleasure to meet you!

There wasn't too much good soccer played with the wet soggy field and two teams on their last legs at the end of their seasons. Bath has some great speed at the front, but most of their oppenings come off of very direct play. Their defensive shape held fine against a relatively lackluster Livonia offense, but who knows if they'll be able to deal with Freddie Thomas' speed and patience on the ball. Bath doesn't appear to have someone capable of slowing down the game when the team needs it, Freddie Thomas certainly does.

That said, FT only has a 13 or 14 man roster, and in the rainy conditions you often find in sectionals, it can really take a toll. Especially on the midfield players.

I don't really see any of the "B" teams taking out the winner of "BB". So....who's the best B team in Section VI?

[CARL]

Don't ignore the other teams in the BB's. Anything can happen in sectionals. If the past means anything, the top seeds usually have trouble making the finals. Also, don't count out the teams from the "B's" making some noise in the Qualifier.

[DrewVT6]

Don't ignore the other teams in the BB's. Anything can happen in sectionals. If the past means anything, the top seeds usually have trouble making the finals. Also, don't count out the teams from the "B's" making some noise in the Qualifier.

Maybe 1 or 2 of the top four seeds can get knocked off, but usually teams in a playoff format who have not played with consistancy all season can't suddenly turn on the switch and play consistantly for 4-5 games.

In Class B, there's Wellsville, but they lost to a Dansville team who had just completed a string of big losses to all the big teams in Livingston County. Granted Dansville improved near the end of the season.

There's Holley as well, but their only big win came early in the season against Eastridge.

Who do you think could compete for those titles?

[Rams15]

Drew, it was nice to finally put a face with a name, as well. You have your hands full with your little " bumble bee." I know you enjoy soccer, but you may want to put a helmet on that young man's head !! ( haha )

Too bad the game between Bath and Livonia wasn't played on Halloween. The fog that permeated the field made for an eery setting. I hope someone took some pictures of the game. They could be classics.

Bath just isn't firing on all cylinders at the moment. They came out flat in the first half. It is fortunate that we have a fairly solid defense to keep us in most games until something good happens on the offensive end. Livonia had some quality opportunities in the last 15 minutes and it felt like the end result was still in doubt until the final whistle. Bath's goalie had to lay out three times to make saves to help preserve the victory. Bath also missed ( twice ) on one on one scoring chances with the goalie when the shots sailed wide.

Livonia could make for a difficult " out " next Wednesday. Bath ( # 3 ) must play Livonia ( # 6 ) again, in Bath, in the first round of sectionals. It can prove tough to beat the same team three times in one year. You just never know with sectionals. Anything can happen. It can be one and out.

With HFL's 4-3 victory over Hornell last night, HFL ( 8-0-2 ) takes the LCAA crown with Hornell 2nd ( 7-3-0 ) and Bath 3rd.( 6-3-1) Bath finishes the regular season at: 13-4-1

[CARL]

Maybe 1 or 2 of the top four seeds can get knocked off, but usually teams in a playoff format who have not played with consistancy all season can't suddenly turn on the switch and play consistantly for 4-5 games.

In Class B, there's Wellsville, but they lost to a Dansville team who had just completed a string of big losses to all the big teams in Livingston County. Granted Dansville improved near the end of the season.

There's Holley as well, but their only big win came early in the season against Eastridge.

Who do you think could compete for those titles?

Coach Orbaker (Holley) always makes a run through sectionals. I also would not count out Byron-Bergen. Thye may be down but they also do very well when it comes to the playoffs. Lets not forget that both of those teams play in the very tough GR league (Three sectional winners last year).

[UNCTarheels]

Bend it like Brown: Senior's goal ousts second-seeded Raiders (http://www.eveningtribune.com/articles/2007/10/30/sports/sports01.txt)-Tribune

[DrewVT6]

I really think a team like Bath will be able to beat Freddie Thomas. The one thing they'll have to do is get FT to speed up their game, perhaps by applying high pressure? Once the Figueroa brothers get possession of the ball, that really slows the pace of the game and usually unlocks the opponents defense.

[CARL]

I really think a team like Bath will be able to beat Freddie Thomas. The one thing they'll have to do is get FT to speed up their game, perhaps by applying high pressure? Once the Figueroa brothers get possession of the ball, that really slows the pace of the game and usually unlocks the opponents defense.

I will predict that Bath beats Freddie Thomas by 4 goals. Bath played a much tougher schedule in both the regular season and the playoffs. The championship game was Bath vs. Hornell. Hopefully the Bath players show up and play hard.

[Footballfan65]

Bath's football team and soccer team will going for sectional championships saturday right? anyone have a time on the soccer game yet?

[CitySoccerFan]

I will predict that Bath beats Freddie Thomas by 4 goals. Bath played a much tougher schedule in both the regular season and the playoffs. The championship game was Bath vs. Hornell. Hopefully the Bath players show up and play hard.

Last year Freddie Thomas and Bath tied 3-3 in a regular season game. I predict that this game will be more competitive than you think. Soccer in the City is making a comeback.

[DrewVT6]

Last year Freddie Thomas and Bath tied 3-3 in a regular season game. I predict that this game will be more competitive than you think. Soccer in the City is making a comeback.

I think it will be close, too.

[Rams15]

Interestingly, you have some real fire power participating in the BB finals Saturday ( at Cohocton ) between Dr. Freddie Thomas and Bath. Freddie Thomas boasts the # 8, 11, & 19th leading scorers ( Figuerora brothers ) in all of Section V. That's 12, 23, & 29 goals or a total of 64 goals of FT's 80 goals on the season. Bath has Justin Brown who ranks 13th in scoring ( 25 goals ) in Section V along with Section V's 2nd ranked goalie, ( statistically @ .421 goals/game ) Mike Rossi.

This should be a hotly contested contest. Freddie Thomas, with its speed up front, can score in bursts. Bath has only given up more than one goal in one game, all season, against Corning, (2 goals) along with 13 shut outs. Their defense is very strong, but it will be a huge challenge to contain Freddie's speed. Bath will need to bring the intensity they have shown in their last three games of the season. Bath has strung together 270 consecutive minutes of inspired play and will need another 90 minutes of inspired play to pull out what I also believe will be a tight contest. They have proven that they can play with some of the elite teams in their class so far this season. Freddie Thomas will be a huge test for us and not one, single, player is over confident or looking past this fine team !!! It should be a great game....

[cbellfan15]

Congrats to a Bath-Haverling Sectional title

[ref11]

what was the score and how about the b game

[BathRamsFan]

3-1 RAMS!!!! Wasn't there, was up @ Paetec rooting for the football team, but CONGRATULATIONS RAMS & Coach Hill! Well done. Also congrtas to the Cross Counrty team for winning today too, 2 outta 3 ain't bad but a cleans sweep of sectionals would have been something!

[cbellfan15]

Was also at Paetec for the football game and honestly it should of been 3-3 for the Rams today...but once again Congrats!

[Rams15]

Bath came out firing on all cylinders last evening at Cohocton defeating Dr. Freddie Thomas. From the opening whistle, Bath dominated play and possessed the ball for most of the contest. If not for the spirited play of Thomas' goalie, Eddie DeJesus, the score could have easily been 7 or 8 to 1. Bath pressured every pass, won most 50/50 balls, and Nick Badeau shadowed Freddie's leading scorer all night holding him to 0 goals. This was the 2nd consecutive assignment for Badeau who drew the Steve Smith assignment, in the Hornell game, shutting him down, as well. His superior play earned him the game MVP award. Jason Carpenter finally broke through for Bath with 5 minutes to go in the 1st half with a phenominal, sliding, left-footed, kick that found the corner of the net. He got completely whiped out on the play but jumped up to celebrate with his teammates... having finally broken the ice. Shortly thereafter, with only 2 minutes before half time, Justin Sherwood took a pass in the box and slammed it into the goal giving Bath a 2-0 lead at half time. Bath came out of the gate, again, to start the 2nd half with intensity and constant pressure. Jason Carpenter scored a complete " hustle goal " heading in a bouncing ball over the keeper's head as he beat him to the ball. FT scored a mid range goal with 5 minutes to go on a bullet from one of the Figurora brothers ending all scoring at 3-1.

This was Bath's 1st outright sectional championship since 1998. Thye shared the championship with Bishop Kearney in 2004, but lost on penalty kicks for the right to advance. Bath will play Wellsville ( 2nd ranked Class B team in NYS who beat Holley 2-1 ) Wednesday at Paetec Park at 5 p.m. and... congratulations to Bath's Cross Country team that earned their first sectional title in the last 37 years. Also, to the football team that gave defending NYS champion, Geneva, all it could handle in a tough 28-21 loss. Not a bad day to be a Ram athlete.

[CARL]

Like I said before the game. The real championship game was between Hornell and Bath. Hornell and Bath should have been the 1 and 2 seeds with Dr. FT being the third seed. Dr. FT was good but they were not as good as Bath or Hornell. Maybe Dr.FT will come back next year with a stronger effort since they are returning all of their team.