SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Postseason encounters bring their share of joy and sorrow as teams give their all in body, mind and spirit in the playoffs. A loss means an untimely end to a title quest and, for seniors, a tearful finale to their years of playing the sport they hold so dear. Loss is hard to reckon with, especially in the vulnerability of one’s youth.

For Class C Sullivan West and Tri-Valley, as well as Class A Monticello, their semifinal clashes against John S. Burke Catholic, James I. O’Neill and Cornwall, respectively, provided that doleful end just one game shy of playing for a Section 9 title. The Sullivan West Bulldogs had worked assiduously prior to their October 28 playoff clash with the Eagles, hoping for a victory that would advance them toward their first title since 2006. They lost title games in ’07 and ’08 to Tri-Valley and Ellenville, respectively. But fumbles, ineffective tackling and a lack of a potent offense led instead to a 24-7 defeat that concluded their season at 5-4. Their lone score was a product of a 10-play, 72-yard second-quarter drive when E.J. Franskevicz took it in from the one-yard line. Trailing 14-7 at the half and slated to receive the second half kickoff, the Bulldogs felt that the game was theirs for the taking. But an 85-yard punt return by Burke’s Patrick Joyner proved to be the fatal dagger. This was the swan song for seniors E.J. Franskevicz, Andrew Parsons, Chris Lang, Todd Roeder, Kitt Borowski, Charles Ciccione, Ben Kline and Tom Mootz. Mootz finished his season with 827 yards on 126 carries. Franskevicz had 504 on 99 carries and completed 31of 89 passes for 456 yards.

Tri-Valley (3-6) came up short in the other “C” war as they fell to O’Neill 28-7. The Bears led early on a 20-yard pass from QB Greg Swarthout to Conor Walsh and were tied 7-7 at the half. But fatigue and a lack of depth led to 21 unanswered points by the Raiders. Tri-Valley’s noble run ended lamentably but with class. Kudos to the team and its seniors Greg Swarthout, Joe Mickelson, Conor Walsh, Anthony Beale, Shawn Markle, Troy Rossi, Rafael Ramirez, Jonathan Edwards, Jameshenry Osterhoudt and Fred Dumond.

Monticello (5-4) lost its three encounters prior encounters with Cornwall, losing by a combined score of 148-13 including this year’s 52-7 regular season debacle. The Monties, only in their second year of football since a 75-year hiatus, had turnover woes in this game, too. But its defense held Cornwall to just 16 points on its first five possessions in the red zone. The Dragons won 36-14. Senior Talon Watson returned an interception 85 yards and Shane Jackson threw a 73-yard TD pass to Anthony Gray in the 36-14 loss. Farewell to seniors Earl Allen, Connor Alvarez, Jermel Branch, Connor Birggs, Ian Campbell, José Cruz, Steve Demestrio, Anthony Gray, Adam Kaiser, Garrett Lapolt, Brendan Madsen, Joe Mulvey, Sean Resuu, Brandon Thomas and Talon Watson.

Cheers for speedsters at OCIAA Cross-Country League Championships

At the OCIAA Cross-Country league meet held at Bear Mountain on October 28, local harriers turned in outstanding performances. Teamwise, Tri-Valley’s girls finished fifth overall in the field of 23 schools large and small. Sullivan West was seventh, Monticello ninth and Eldred was 15th. T-V’s Autumn Bender (18:53) was fifth. Monticello’s Camryn Johnson (19:05) was 14th. Both are in the eighth grade! Eldred’s Christine Donnelly (19:21) was 20th and SW’s Dani Myers (19:30) was also a medalist in 24th place. Tri-Valley’s boys finished ninth overall. Eldred was 12th, Sullivan West was 16th, Liberty 17th and Livingston Manor/Roscoe was 18th. Eldred’s Alex Campanella (16:07) placed fourth, while Tri-Valley’s Jim Bernstein (16:11) took fifth. Eldred’s Hunter Proscia (16:11) was sixth and T-V’s Omar Lopez (16:33) was 14th. On November 4, the Section 9 championships will be held at Bear Mountain. The race also serves as the state qualifier. Bender, Myers, Proscia, Campanella, Bernstein and Lopez, as well as Sullivan West’s Kelsey Dutton, are all veterans of last year’s state meet. Campanella finished 16th and Myers was 20th, as both medaled in the state classic.

Soccer exit wounds

Tri-Valley lost 3-1 to 10-time defending champ S.S. Seward. Rachel Adriaans scored the lone goal for the Lady Bears. Eldred’s boys fell to Seward 7-0. Liberty girls and boys played against O’Neill. Livingston Manor/Roscoe girls defeated Tuxedo 3-1 and went on to play Millbrook in the semis.