The Cortland baseball team is ranked No. 7 in the state in the most recent Class A poll after a big start to the year. The Purple Tigers have been cruising this season, currently owning an 11-2 record with four games left.
Cortland’s offense has shined. Caden Albright has led the charge with a .575 batting average, 23 hits and a 1.433 OPS. Cal Albright is batting .476 with 20 hits, a home run and a 1.250 OPS, Owen Johnson is hitting .455 with 20 hits, Zach Muir is slashing .386, C.J. Urtz sits at .385 and Jaheim Robinson is batting .357.
The pitching staff has also been on top of its game. At the top of the rotation has been Muir and Cal Albright. Muir is 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA and 59 over 32.1 innings pitched. Cal Albright is 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 29.1 innings.
“We've been getting some great outings from our pitchers,” Cortland head coach Ben Albright said. “Zach and Cal as our starters have been locked in and doing really good things.”
Cortland hopes to finish its season strong, with consecutive games against Bishop Ludden, and matchups with Homer and Westhill remaining.
“Going down the stretch, this is the toughest part of our schedule by far,” Ben Albright said. “No one is running away with it in the standings. Baseball's a game, you know, you’ve got to be on. It's going to come down to next week, when we have three pod games left to play out to see who wins that part of the league.”
SOFTBALL
The Cortland softball team is struggling in its season so far, currently sitting at 1-10.
Cortland’s lone win came in a slug fest on April 30 that ended with the Purple Tigers prevailing 30-21. Cortland had 16 hits that night, with Natalie Burns going 3-for-7 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBI to lead the way.
Leading Cortland’s offense is Madalyn Thompson with a .308 average on four hits and three RBI. Burns is batting .278 with five hits, including a home run, and has five RBI. Abby Clay is hitting .273 with four hits, Madelyn Kim sits at .250 and Sophie Mayer is batting .231.
Pitching has been an issue for Cortland, as its staff has surrendered 124 runs over 11 games.
Cortland has two games left in its season. The Purple Tigers will look to knock off Mexico again on the road May 20, then host Homer on May 21.
BOYS LACROSSE
The Cortland boys lacrosse team is 5-9 on its season and has lost two straight.
Cortland began its season 2-0 with a 13-12 win over Owego Apalachin and a 16-1 win over Utica Proctor. The Purple Tigers then lost three straight games, falling to Marcellus, Penn Yan and Skaneateles.
The Purple Tigers' other three wins came in a 15-5 victory over Central Square, a 14-13 triumph over Union-Endicott and a 10-8 decision over Chittenango.
Cortland has been led by junior Nathan Harrington with 21 goals and 15 assists. Koda Hubbard has 21 goals, Asher Armstrong has 17 goals and 17 assists, Finn Thomas has 17 goals and 14 assists and Bodey McGrath has 17 goals and 12 assists.
The Purple Tigers final two games are at 7 p.m. on May 19 at Syracuse and at 6 p.m. at home on May 21 against CBA.
GIRLS LACROSSE
The Cortland girls lacrosse team has struggled on its season, currently with a 1-13 record with one game left.
The final matchup for the Purple Tigers is at 7 p.m. May 19 at CBA.
Cortland’s lone win came on April 30 with a 12-6 win over Bishop Ludden/Bishop Grimes.
Lily Yang leads the Purple Tigers with 21 goals. Sophia Souzas has eight goals, Francesca Smith and Juliana Zarcone have seven apiece and Emma Marks has six. Danica Barron has 54 saves.
