FROM THE PRESS BOX: A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2027 SOFTBALL SEASON (June 18, 2026)

The 2026 softball season saw some very positive results for three of the four Valley squads, and as we look ahead to 2027, all three of those teams should see similar results.

Athens made a return trip to the District 4 playoffs this spring, but an injury to standout pitcher Gretchan Hiley in the final week of the regular season doomed the Wildcats' chances of a title repeat.

Like Athens, Tioga returned to the postseason, but once again ran into powerhouse Deposit-Hancock, which won its first-ever Class C state title after seven Class D state titles in the last eight postseasons.

A young Waverly team won 10 straight games heading into the postseason, before losing at home in the Class A semifinals to Oneonta.

Sayre posted a 2-16 record, posting wins over Sullivan County, which posted a 10-8 record, and Millville (7-13). Makes you wonder how the Redskins might have fared in that league.

Let's take a look into the crystal ball and the 2027 season. The view is a little murky with the season still 9 1/2 months away:

Athens Wildcats: Coming off the program's first-ever District 4 title, the Wildcats had a plethora of talent returning in 2026, but were hit hard by the injury bug.

Athens posted a 15-4 regular-season record, but the final injury, ace pitcher Gretchan Hiley's broken arm in the final week of the regular season, was a death knell.

The Wildcats graduate a trio of four-year starters in Maddie Hiley, Danica May, and Savannah Finan, who missed the majority of the season with an injury, but return seniors-to-be Gretchan Hiley and McKenna Jarvis, and a host of young players looking to prove themselves.

Prediction: Softball is all about pitching, so Gretchan Hiley makes the Wildcats a threat to win not only an NTL title, but another District title. However, to win in the postseason, teams have to be able to hit top-notch pitching, and that's something this team will have to prove it can do. 2027 record: 16-4 and a trip to Districts.

Sayre Redskins: The Redskins will graduate three key starters from a team that really struggled this season. Of their 16 losses, only one was by less than 10 runs — a 17-10 setback against Sullivan County in the season finale.

Head coach Matt Senese and assistant Brian Miller have worked hard to change the culture in the program, but it's going to be a long process. One of the keys in the process is keeping girls in the program, and growing the numbers at every level.

The Redskins struggled to keep opponents from scoring, and their defense was a big drawback in that area.

Prediction: Unfortunately, three or four wins is the most I expect from the Redskins, but the true indicator of the program will be an improvement in the fundamentals, starting with its play in the field. 2027 record: 3-16.

Tioga Tigers: The Tigers graduate a pair of key seniors in RaeAnne Feeko, one of the best to ever don the blue-and-gold, and Lilly Mezzatesta, but return a wealth of talent.

Freshman Kate Kithcart is a strike-throwing machine in the pitcher's circle, and 8th-grader Olivia Shugars looks to be a very capable number-2 pitcher.

Replacing Feeko's power, her defense at shortstop and her team leadership won't be easy, but the Tigers have an abundance of young talent on the varsity team, led by 8th-grader Maddie Rogers and freshmen Bri Lounsbury and Irie Lynch, and more coming up behind them.

Prediction: It will likely take a little time for Tioga to find its footing in 2027, but good pitching remedies a lot of problems. I fully expect Tioga to win its division, and make a run at a Section IV title next year. 2027 record: 16-4 and a trip to Sectionals.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines graduate a pair of key seniors in Maddie Cron and Delanie Wheeler, but return a host of talented young players, and young is the key. Even with a year under their belts, next year's team will still be young.

Freshman Taylin Gonzalez and 8th-grader Paige Bubniak will be key cogs for the Wolverines for several years, and Hannah Carpenter and Lecksie Douglas are primed for big senior years in 2027.

The loss of Cron and Wheeler shortens the Waverly line-up a bit, so either Waverly's role players from this year will need to step up and replace their productivity, or someone from the JV squad will need to make an immediate impact.

Prediction: Gonzalez, already a force at the plate, is on the verge of becoming a dominant pitcher, and as I've said pitching is what softball is all about. ... If Waverly can fill in its line-up, with its drop back to Class B next year, a division title repeat, and a run at a Section IV title are not out of the question. ... 2027 record: 15-5 at a trip to Sectionals.

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