The American Hockey League’s Southern Division final series was a rollercoaster for Binghamton hockey fans. The Binghamton Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the series with a 3-1 victory over Rochester. Goals from Rob Zamuner, Mike Stevens, and an empty-netter from Jody Hull helped secure the win, while goaltender Mark Laforest made 23 saves to win his sixth playoff start.
However, Rochester rallied from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate Binghamton in Game 7 with a score of 4-2. This was the first time in 19 seasons of professional hockey that a Binghamton team lost a decisive Game 5 or Game 7.
On the softball front, Johnson City’s defending state champions continued their winning streak with a 6-1 victory over Vestal. Charlene Cook’s three-hit pitching and Chris Dyman’s strong hitting led the team to victory and a perfect record. In another game that day, Union-Endicott’s Jennifer Fitzgerald pitched her second consecutive shutout, nearly achieving a perfect game in a 15-0 win against Susquehanna Valley.
