The mountaintop community came together for a celebration last week following the Windham-Ashland-Jewett High School varsity softball team’s historic second-place finish in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D Championship in Binghamton.
At a ceremony in the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School cafeteria on June 18, the team was honored for what Coach Nate Hoyt called a “storybook season” and the mark team members have left on school history. It hadn’t lost a game this season until its 4-1 defeat to Genesee County school district Oakfield-Alabama.
From the first game, “it just kind of rolled,” said Hoyt, who is also a teacher in the district. Hoyt and Assistant Coach Eve Tuttle managed a team made up of seniors Piper Cohane and Hannah Tuttle, juniors Maida Dzaferovic, Gianna Garzone, Addison Hansen, Kylie Jordan and Alexis Weinberg, sophomores Mikenzie Schoonmaker, Hailey Dolan and Hailey Eilenberger, and freshman Sophia Garzone.
The Warriors entered the Delaware League Championship for only the fifth time in the district’s history, winning the tournament for the first time. Following the championship was sectionals, where the team won and became the first team from the Delaware League to win Section 4, beating Afton High School. The team then went on to the state championships, where the second-place finish was the highest in the history of Windham-Ashland-Jewett softball.
Students watched the regional game on a screen in the cafeteria.
“Most classes were in here watching it,” Hoyt said. “There were huge tears anytime we scored or did something good.”
At the ceremony, team members were honored with awards, plaques and commemorative balls. The team was also recognized by Republican Assemblymember Christopher Tague of Schoharie, who presented certificates marking the achievement.
Despite losing eight seniors in the previous season, The Warriors go on to place second in state championships. Photos by Roy Gumpel/The Overlook. 
Alexis Weinberg receives an award from assistant coach Eve Tuttle. 
From left, Gianna Garzone, Piper Cohane, Sophia Garzone, and Assemblymember Christopher Tague, R-Schoharie. 
The most decorated was pitcher Hannah Tuttle, who, in addition to receiving a bucket of softballs for each of the team’s 21 wins, was presented with the George W. Osborn Batting Title and the Most Outstanding Player Award. Tuttle is the daughter of the team’s assistant coach.
“The season didn’t end how we wanted, but we made a lot of history here,” said Tuttle, who will play softball next year at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.
Cohane, who plays third base and received a Coaches Award this year, will attend the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. She said she’s proud that softball shined in a district typically dominated by winter sports.
“Coming into this season we were all nervous because we had eight seniors that graduated,” Cohane said. “To do something like this, it’s just so special, especially with skiing being the only sport that’s really made it to a state competition.”
Hoyt attributed the team’s success to its internal chemistry.
“They play hard and practice in games, but they also play loose and have fun,” he said. “They support each other every play, every at-bat, day-in, day-out.”
The team’s achievements have resonated in Windham, he said.
“It brought the school together, but even beyond that, it brought the community together,” Hoyt said.
Connor Greco is a staff reporter for The Overlook covering Windham, Hunter and surrounding Greene County communities. Send correspondence to connor@theoverlooknews.com.
