HONEOYE FALLS — It was going to be a tall order for the Waterloo softball team in the Section V Class B1 championship game. What resulted was a time to reflect on the gutsy season the Tigers had to earn a spot in the title game.
No. 3 Waterloo was defeated in five innings by the top-seeded Haverling Rams 18-0 on Thursday evening on the campus of Honeoye Falls-Lima Central.
The Tigers concluded their 2025 campaign with an overall record of 12-8, which includes two postseason wins.
“We are proud of what we accomplished to get here today,” Waterloo head coach Kierstyn DeCory said about her team. “We had our ups and downs but we really put it together at the end of the season.”
Haverling senior starting pitcher Kaili Witherell pitched a stellar five innings. The right-hander allowed only three base hits to earn Most Valuable Player for the championship game.
“We knew we were underdogs coming in,” DeCory said. “Kaili is a phenomenal pitcher.”
The momentum of reaching the title game started for the Tigers right away as senior Haylee Beesley smacked a single to left field to lead-off the ballgame.
But, Beesley was picked off on the base paths and that spoiled a first-inning chance for Waterloo. However, it mattered little, as the Rams’ bats came out scorching hot in the bottom of the first, hanging nine runs on the Tigers to take control of the game.
One through nine in the lineup, Haverling (17-3) feasted on the young Waterloo starting pitcher, eighth-grade right-hander Gweneviere DiIorio, who is quickly becoming the Tigers’ ace of the future.
Haverling didn’t allow a single run in the sectional tournament and will move on to battle Class B2-champion Wellsville in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B Play-In next on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Monroe Community College.
In reflection, Waterloo had a season to be proud of. Starting off uneasy with an 3-3 record and constant weather postponements, the Tigers managed to rattle off six wins in the final nine games coming into the championship, including a 12-5 blowout upset victory over No. 2 Aquinas Institute in the semifinals earlier this week.
The Tigers lose only three seniors going into next year in Beesley, Madison Westerberg and Mia Hartwell.
“They’ve been a key part to many successful seasons,” DeCory said about her senior group. “They’ve been a part of a lot of success and they hold this team accountable.”
This is a young Tigers program at the moment, which includes DiIorio, who soaked in a ton of experience during this ‘25 season.
“They showed them the ropes,” DeCory added about her seniors helping the younger players. “They’re going to have big shoes to fill.”
The other two singles for Waterloo in the contest came from young Tigers in sophomore Gwyneth Panek and eighth-grader Henley Guy. The loss certainly stings, but Waterloo seems to be built for a bright future.