Generals win Region IIIB Championship as Coach PJ Anadio wins 400th game

Herkimer, NY - It was a great day for Herkimer Softball. And it has been an extraordinary career up to this point for Head Coach PJ Anadio.

In Friday's 12-4 win against Jefferson CC in Game 1 of the 2021 Region IIIB Championship Series, Coach Anadio won his 400th game as Herkimer College Head Softball Coach in just his 11th season as Head Coach. He got number 401 just a couple of hours later as the Generals defeated the Cannoneers in Game 2 by a score of 11-3 to win the best of 3 series 2 games to none and advance to the 2021 Division III Softball National Championships held at Carrier Park in Syracuse, NY and hosted by Herkimer College from May 27-29. It will be the ninth straight trip to the National Tourney for the Generals under Coach Anadio.

The opener of the series saw Jefferson jump out to a 3-0 first inning lead before the Generals answered with 4 of their own in the bottom half of the first to take a 4-3 lead. The Generals added 6 more in the bottom of the 4th to pull away from the Cannoneers and earn the five inning win. Tournament Most Valuable Player Kayla Young (Baldwinsville, NY) went 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI's. All Tourney selection Melissa Daigneault (North Greenbush, NY) added a home run of her own while going 3-4 and driving in 4. Alexis Garrison (Clifton Park, NY) went 2-3 with a home run as well. Madison Ihnat (Boca Raton, FL) gave up only 2 hits and 1 earned run in her 5 innings in the circle to get the win, while striking out 6.

The Generals wasted no time in Friday's second game, jumping on Jefferson by scoring 6 runs in the top half of the first and cruising to the 11-3 win in 5 innings. Maiya Reinhart (Batavia, NY) went 2-2 with a home run and 3 RBI's while Victoria Borowski (Harriman, NY) went 2-2 with a double. Hannah DeRock (Hunt, NY) went 5 solid innings, scattering 7 hits and allowing 3 runs while striking out 4.

The Generals, now with a record of 22-4 and a#4 ranking in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll, will await their seed and first round opponent for the National Tournament. That matchup will take place on Thursday, May 27th in Syracuse, NY.

Congratulations once again to the Herkimer Softball Team and Head Coach PJ Anadio for win # 400!!!!