Binghamton hockey fans were on the edge of their seats during the Southern Division final series, as they experienced both excitement and heartbreak. The Binghamton Rangers took a commanding 2-1 lead in the series after defeating Rochester 3-1 in Game 1. Goals from Rob Zamuner and Mike Stevens, as well as an empty-netter from Jody Hull, helped the Rangers secure their victory. Goaltender Mark Laforest made an impressive 23 saves to win his sixth playoff start.
However, Rochester refused to give up and came back with a vengeance in Game 7. They managed to eliminate Binghamton with a final score of 4-2, marking the first time in nearly two decades that a Binghamton team had lost a decisive Game 5 or Game 7. Despite the loss, fans were still impressed by the quality of play on display throughout the series.
On a softball afternoon in Johnson City, defending state champions continued their winning streak with a convincing 6-1 victory over Vestal. The Wildcats, who were ranked as Class B No. 1, extended their win streak to an impressive 16 games. Charlene Cook’s three-hit pitching and Chris Dyman’s strong hitting led the team to victory and a perfect record of 7-0. In another game that day, Union-Endicott’s Jennifer Fitzgerald pitched her second consecutive shutout, coming close to achieving a perfect game in a dominating 15-0 win against Susquehanna Valley.
