In Review

For the first time since 2010, the Yellowjackets baseball team won the regular season title. With a 16–5 record, Rochester hosted the league tournament, where the Yellowjackets were the No. 1 seed.

The team was one win away from advancing to the NCAA tournament, falling in the championship game to Union.

Also this spring, three-time NCAA champion Kylee Bartlett ’19 was named the 2018 Liberty League Field Athlete of the Year for women’s outdoor track and field. Jason Paek ’18 was the Liberty League Golfer of the Year. And in women’s rowing, the Varsity 4 took the state title.

Here’s a look at other highlights:

Baseball: The team won a nail-biting 13-inning game to advance to a winner-take-all final in the Liberty League championship, only to see visiting Union College take the league title. The Yellowjackets finished at 19–17. First baseman Aiden Finch ’19 and outfielder Steve Pickering ’21 earned all-region honors. A total of 10 players were named all-league and the coaching staff was honored as well.

Softball: A rugged schedule at the start (11 of the first 12 came against Top 25 teams) helped Rochester post an 8–4 Liberty League record and make the conference playoffs. Eight of nine starters will return plus both pitchers.

Golf: Jason Paek ’18 was the Liberty League Golfer of the Year, all–UAA, all-region, and was named an All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Jack Mulligan ’20 earned all- region honors as well. Rochester finished third at the Liberty League championships.

Women’s outdoor track and field: Three-time NCAA champion and All- American Kylee Bartlett ’19 was named Liberty League Field Athlete of the Year. She won the Division III individual national championship in the heptathlon in May, her second consecutive NCAA national title in the heptathlon and the third time she won a multi-event championship in the last 15 months. First-year teammate Eileen Bequette ’21 finished 14th overall at the national meet, while Michaela Burrell ’20 just missed the finals in the 100 meters in her first NCAA national meet appearance.

Men’s outdoor track and field: Hunter Phinney ’19 won a gold medal at the all-Atlantic regional championships in the 5,000 meters. The men finished fifth at the Liberty League championships.

Rowing: The Varsity 4 won the state title while the 8s captured a four-team meet in Worcester, Massachusetts. Elizabeth Sadrakula ’20 earned all–Liberty League honors.

Lacrosse: Rochester assembled a four-game winning streak in mid-season to get into the Liberty League playoff picture. A 10–5 win at Union was a milestone: it was the 200th all-time victory for women’s lacrosse over 38 years.

Men’s tennis: Sahaj Somani ’20 came from 4–1 down in the third set to win, 7–5, 5–7, 7–5 and give Rochester a 5–4 win in the seventh place match of the UAA championships.

Women’s tennis: Rochester went on a 6–2 roll after returning from the Florida part of the schedule.

—Dennis O’Donnell