Pine Bush Advances
Pine Bush Tops Clarkstown South 7-3 in Regional Softball Final, Advances to Championship Match
Pine Bush defeated Clarkstown South 7-3 in the New York State Class AAA softball regional final on June 4, 2026, at Monroe-Woodbury High School. The win sends Pine Bush to the state semifinals in Binghamton, where they are now considered one of the top favorites to win the first-ever Class AAA state title, according to NYSPHSAA.
The victory capped a remarkable run for Pine Bush, who entered the game riding a 13-game winning streak and carrying a 20-3 overall record, per MaxPreps. Clarkstown South, ranked as high as No. 23 in the state this season, ends its year after a strong sectional run.
Pine Bush's Dominant Run to the Regional Title
Pine Bush entered the regional final as the top seed from Section 9. They went 12-0 in the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association to claim the league title in May, according to Mid Hudson News. They then blew past Newburgh Free Academy 17-5 in the Section 9 Class AAA championship, using a 13-run fifth inning to seal the win.
Senior pitcher Avery Ogden has been the engine of the team all season. She recorded 17 strikeouts in a single game earlier this year and threw a five-inning shutout to clinch the league title, per Mid Hudson News. Senior catcher Payton Croce added firepower, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs in the sectional final.
Clarkstown South's Season Ends After Strong Section 1 Run
Clarkstown South came into the regional final with serious momentum. The Vikings put up a season-high 22 runs in a Section 1 playoff win over Arlington, per MaxPreps. That offensive burst showed how dangerous their lineup could be heading into the neutral-site matchup.
Despite the loss, Clarkstown South finishes a competitive season ranked inside the state's top 25. Head coach Brian Peterson built a team known for disciplined, tactical play. Junior standout Cara Luna was a key piece of the Vikings' offense and defense throughout the year, according to lohud.com.
Power Over Precision: How Pine Bush Won the Matchup
Pine Bush relies on a deep lineup where any of the nine batters can produce runs on a given night. Senior outfielder Emma Boffalo went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs in the sectional final. Silvana Zamonsky and Kylie Conley each went 3-for-3 in that same win, per Mid Hudson News. That kind of top-to-bottom threat made Pine Bush hard to contain.
Clarkstown South leaned on crisp timing and small-ball tactics to generate offense. But Pine Bush's raw power, anchored by Ogden in the circle and Croce behind the plate, proved too much. Mid Hudson News noted that Pine Bush does not panic when trailing — a trait that showed up all season long.
Pine Bush Now Eyes State Title in Binghamton
With the regional win, Pine Bush advances to the NYSPHSAA State Semifinals on June 12 at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton, per NYSPHSAA. The state finals follow on June 13 at the same venue. This is Pine Bush's second regional title in three years, cementing them as the top program in Section 9.
Pine Bush enters the Final Four as a top-three favorite for the inaugural Class AAA state championship, according to recordonline.com. For a program that went 12-0 in league play and has now won 14 of its last 15 games, the goal is clear: bring home the first Class AAA trophy in program history.
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