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Troy pitcher Olivia DeCitise struck out 309 hitters in 161 innings this season on her way to Athlete of the Year honors.

Troy’s Olivia DeCitise hit .435 this season with 26 RBIs.

Two painful losses against Suburban Council Class A rivals in early April left the Troy High softball team with a league mark of 1-2. The season's first setback came in an epic 2-1 encounter against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in which junior pitcher Olivia DeCitise struck out a school record 27 batters in a contest that lasted 12 innings.

Fast forward to the Section II Class A championship game between Troy and BH-BL. In the rematch, DeCitise shut down the Spartans' offense once again and senior first baseman Emma Thompson's solo home run proved to be the difference in a 1-0 title triumph at Luther Forest Athletic Complex.

Following the setbacks against BH-BL and Averill Park, the Flying Horses proceeded to reel off 18 consecutive victories. Troy defeated every Class AA league foe and avenged its losses during the Class A sectionals. Ultimately, the team fell against Vestal 4-2 in the state semifinals.

“I never expected to get this far,” said DeCitise, who earned Suburban Council Pitcher of the Year honors. “We put a lot of work in and the results definitely showed.”

No player on Troy's roster made a bigger jump from the 2021 season than DeCitise, who produced a 20-3 record, a 1.26 earned-run average with 303 strikeouts over 161 innings.

“I don’t ever want to make it about myself. I put a lot of work into this season and everyone could see the improvements,” said DeCitise, who also batted .435 with 26 RBIs.

In capturing the program's first sectional title since 2016, Troy rebounded from its slow start in league play to produce a string of impressive wins. Throughout that run of success, DeCitise's work inside the circle proved to be a model of consistent dominance as the junior lefty reached double digits in strikeouts in every game she pitched.

DeCitise, who was also named the Times Union's girls' bowling Athlete of the Year, said beating all the top Class AA squads in the Suburban Council made the team realize winning the Section II Class A title could be a reality.

“My travel team is made up of the best girls on those teams,” DeCitise said. “Just being able to push through and show them that we were able to play with them meant a lot.”

Maisie Dawson, Jr., Averill Park: In earning her second straight Times Union first-team nod, Dawson once again displayed her tremendous all-around skills as a top-flight catcher and offensive threat. The junior, who is committed to play for Belmont, was named to the Suburban Council first team and the Class A state third team after hitting .451 with six doubles, one triple, four home runs and 27 RBIs.

Abbey Nagel, Sr., Averill Park: The senior, who earned Times Union second team honors in 2021, provided the Warriors another superlative season as she batted .456 with 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 28 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Headed to play at the University at Buffalo, Nagel earned Suburban Council first team and Class A state third team honors.

Olivia Ashline, Fr., Troy: One of the top players on the Section II Class A championship team, Ashline produced both on offense and defense. The Suburban Council first-team all-star, who also was named as a Class A fifth-team selection, batted .369 with four home runs, 12 RBIs, 25 runs scored and 16 stolen bases while committing only one error.

Cianna Benamati, So., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake: The Spartans proved to be one of the most powerful teams in the area, featuring a trio of sluggers in Benamati, Lily Haluska and Danielle DeBonis. The sophomore finished with six doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs in helping BH-BL advance to the Class A final.

Cassidy Ray, Sr., Queensbury: Produced a superlative senior season that landed Ray a Section II all-star nod and first-team Foothills Council honors. She batted .507 with nine doubles, three home runs, 18 RBIs and 25 runs scored. The Spartans captured the league title and earned the No. 1 seed for the Section II Class A Tournament.

Kelsey Higgins, Jr., Shenendehowa: The junior, one of the state’s premier players, earned Suburban Council and Section II Player of the Year honors this spring. Named as the Times Union’s first team as a sophomore, Higgins hit .422 with five doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs. She was named as a Class AA state first-team all-star.

Meghan Paul, So., Guilderland: Selected to the Suburban Council’s first team, Paul also landed Class AA state seventh-team honors after batting .387 with an on-base percentage of .474, nine runs scored and four stolen bases for the Lady Dutch.

Taylor Quinn, Jr., Colonie: Selected to the Suburban Council's first team, Quinn hit .345 with 20 runs scored, three home runs, seven RBIs and 15 stolen bases hitting leadoff for the Garnet Raiders. Named to the Class AA state first team, the junior did not strike out once all season. She has committed to play her college softball at Caldwell University.

Lily Haluska, So., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake: Named to the Suburban Council first team, Haluska batted .333 with six doubles, six home runs and 13 RBIs in helping the Spartans advance to the Section II Class A final. Haluska, who played shortstop as a freshman, switched to catcher in 2022 and earned Class A second-team all-state honors.

Hannah Smith, Sr., Shenendehowa: Set to continue her playing career at the College of Saint Rose, Smith played third and first for the Plainsmen and earned Suburban Council first-team honors. The senior, who was named the Class AA state’s sixth team, batted .368 with 15 RBIs in helping lead the Plainsmen to the Class AA sectional final.

Anna Cleary, Sr., Bethlehem: Also named to the Times Union’s first team in 2021, Cleary delivered another standout season for the Eagles. The senior, who earned Class AA second-team all-state honors, finished 9-5 with a 1.56 earned-run average and 150 strikeouts over 94 innings of work. Cleary also hit .357 for the Eagles.

Jackie Cutting, Fr., Saratoga Springs: The Blue Streaks entered the Section II Class AA Tournament seeded seventh in a 10-team field and proceeded to win four games with the final three coming against the event’s top three seeds. Cutting produced superlative playoff outings to cap a season in which she went 8-6 with a 2.21 ERA to go along with a .340 batting average and nine RBIs.

Olivia DeCitise, Jr., Troy: The Suburban Council Pitcher of the Year was the driving force behind the Flying Horses winning the Section II Class A championship. She went 20-3 with a 1.26 ERA and 309 strikeouts over 161 innings. The junior, named the Times Union’s Bowler of the Year as well, also hit third and batted .435 with nine doubles, four doubles, one home run and 26 RBIs.

Alexis Rogers, Sr., Queensbury: The Foothills Council's Most Valuable Player landed Class A fourth-team all-state honors for her work in helping the Spartans capture their first outright league title since 2000 and the No. 1 seed for sectionals. She went 13-2 with 1.41 ERA and 138 strikeouts to go along with .432 batting average, six doubles, four triples, three home runs, 18 RBIs and 22 runs scored.

Becca Zawistowski, Sr., Shenendehowa: Named to the Times Union’s first team in 2021, Zawistowski once again excelled both inside the circle (9-4 record with a 1.82 ERA and 94 strikeouts) and at the plate (.400 average with five doubles, three home runs and 13 RBIs). The Suburban Council first-team selection, who will compete next at Rhode Island, earned Class AA fourth-team all-state honors.

Sean Geisel, Troy: Geisel, who was selected as the Suburban Council’s Coach of the Year, guided the Flying Horses to the Section II Class A title and a berth in the state semifinals. In winning the program’s first sectional championship since 2016, the Flying Horses did so with just two senior starters.

Catcher: Lindsey Pepe, So., Queensbury

First base: Miranda King, Sr., Columbia

Second base: Madi Rose, Sr., Averill Park

Third base: Allie Silliman, Sr., Columbia

Shortstop: Mackenzie Kawcazk, Jr., Bethlehem

Outfield: Teagan Kreshik, So., Columbia; Dyllan Ray, So., Queensbury; Emma Sponzo, Sr., Queensbury

Designated hitter: Gianna Lenartz, So., Columbia

Utility: Karley Austin, Jr., Saratoga Springs

Pitcher: Katie Rhodes, So., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake; Sydney Speanburg, Sr., Albany; Lillie Teague, Jr., Guilderland; Livia Wiltsie, Fr., Ballston Spa; Tori Young, Sr., South Glens Falls

James Allen has covered Section II athletics since 1989. He also works as a broadcaster for local radio and television outlets. He joined the Times Union in 2006. He covers high school sports. Contact him at jallen@timesunion.com or 518-454-5062.