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Clarence softball team moves closer to historic repeat

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Clarence will look to continue its softball state championship reign on Saturday, taking on Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in Brookhaven, N.Y. in the NYSPHSAA Class AA final.

The defending champion Red Devils advanced to the state title game with a 2-0 semifinal victory Friday over Bellmore JFK, improving their season record to 19-4. Ella Harrison struck out 18 batters in pitching a two-hit shutout, and the Rutgers freshman homered in Clarence’s two runs in the first inning.

Positioned to win a third state title since 2012 under coach Todd Banaszak, Clarence now has the opportunity to become the first team to repeat as a Class AA champion and the first team in Section VI to win back-to-back NYSPHSAA titles.

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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB team in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press , The Buffalo News and Niagara Gazette. Learn more about his work here.