Sandy Creek softball dedicates Section III title to teammate who passed away

DEWITT, N.Y. — There's a buzz around the halls of Sandy Creek High School.

On Wednesday, the Comets' softball team rallied from down 2-0 to beat A-P-W 10-2 in the Section III Class C championship game. "No matter how many runs they scored, if they scored first, we were going to stay after it and keep scoring," coach Katie Soluri told CNY Central after the game.

"I just felt all the love and passion for softball in the dugout when we were cheering today," senior shortstop Scout Preston said. "It was just so exciting and loud and I love my team."

Preston is one of three seniors on the team. A tight-knit group that should've had one more person.

In the summer of 2021, following her freshman season, 15-year-old Natalie Bauer was tragically killed in a car accident in the town of Turin in Lewis County.

She's still with her team in spirit. Everywhere you look during a Sandy Creek game, the Comets sport Natalie's No. 3.

"She was my best friend, senior catcher Julia Hollister said. "Ever since our sophomore year we kept her in our dugout because we wanted her to be with us and she would want to be with us also."

"A lot of times when we're struggling in a game, we all gather around the medal "3" that we keep with us and cheer as loud as possible just to feel her with us," senior left fielder Skylar Clark added.

"She would be so proud of us and I wish she was here with us."

"We're playing for Natalie right now."

Sandy Creek advances to the state playoffs. The Comets face Section IV winner Union Springs on Saturday, June 1 at OCC at 1 p.m.