Which Southern Tier baseball player came in clutch this postseason?

Remaining one of New York’s more competitive baseball regions, Section 4 features several top athletes who have elevated their games. Specifically, players from Southern Tier teams Elmira, Horseheads, Waverly and Oneonta–four teams that stand out as this year’s sectional champions.

Everything from walk-offs to dominant pitching to elite in-game decision-making has allowed these four teams the opportunity to make the most of a state tournament bid, and having surpassed some of Section 4’s toughest teams this season, it’s worth noting which baseball players' skills have stood out–skills that have come in clutch in the postseason.

Here are a few of the sectional winners that boast top stats and clutch moments:

Aedan Palmer, Elmira: Pitched a 10-strikeout game against Corning, allowing only one hit to shut out the Hawks in a 10-0 victory in game one of the Section 4 Class AAA Championship.

Logan DeMember, Elmira: Overtook game two of the Section 4 Class AAA final against Corning, holding the team to two runs, pitching 11 strikeouts. At bat, recorded three RBIs, two hits and two runs in the dominant 12-2 victory to win the series 2-0.

Mason Markle, Horseheads : Pitched an error-free game with nine strikeouts to keep Vestal scoreless in a winner-takes-all game three to repeat as the Section 4 Class AA champions.

Cooper Ball, Horseheads: Pitched 13 strikeouts in the highly defensive matchup against Vestal, securing a close 1-0 victory in game one of the sectional final series.

Ronin Ault, Waverly: Shut down last year’s Class A regional champions, Maine-Endwell, in game one of the sectional final series, pitching an error-free game with 8 strikeouts and allowing only three hits.