Cayzlee Johnson was once again outstanding in the championship game on Friday, but this time she received the run support and a different result against top-seed Barker.

Jill Miller hammered an RBI double in the third inning and Johnson helped her own cause, driving Alice Scarpine home in the top of the seventh and the Eagles won their first sectional title since 2018 in a 2-0 shutout.

“I am so proud of this group of girls,” Chautauqua Lake head coach Katie Yudin said. “They’re a lot of fun, they work hard, they’re dedicated, they show up every single day looking to get better and I could not ask more from this group of girls.”

Johnson was lights-out a year ago against Westfield, but had a shutout go against her and the Eagles when the Wolverines plated three runs in the top of the seventh to win 3-0.

The Chautauqua Lake softball team poses for a photo after winning the Section VI Class C title on Friday at Olean Middle School. P-J photo by Christian Storms

While Johnson clearly had a handle on the Barker offense, Chautauqua Lake struggled to score against the Bulldogs with freshman Madyson Flint throwing a gem of her own.

“Their pitcher did a phenomenal job tonight,” Yudin said.

“We struggled early on and it was nice seeing the girls make adjustments along the way. We knew if we put the ball in play we would make things happen and that’s kind of what we did.”

Flint struck out 10, walked one, gave up eight hits and one earned run.

Even with the eight hits, Chautauqua Lake struggled to get them with runners in scoring position.

The exception to that was in the third when eighth-grader Lucy Ulsh led off with a single and stole second. After a strikeout and lineout, Miller was able to drive a double to the gap for the run.

In the following two innings Chautauqua Lake put runners in scoring position, loading the bases in the fourth and then putting runners on second and third in the fifth.

Both times the Bulldogs were able to get out of the jam, keeping the deficit at just one run.

Johnson only allowed only two hits and walk the entire game, but when leading by one the game could change with a single swing of the bat.

“It was definitely tough,” Johnson said. “But all the girls had my back and when I start getting nervous they come up to me. My coaches are amazing, the girls are amazing. I’m the only senior so they’re definitely behind me every step of the way, and they said that this is the year we’re going to do it and they’re going to give me the best last ride I could ask for.”

Johnson got her insurance in the seventh inning when Alice Scarpine reached base with a hard-hit infield single and then she stole second. Johnson then hit a fly ball to left which was dropped to score Scarpine.

“Definitely earning that insurance run was big going into the seventh inning,” Yudin stated. “It kind of relieved some stress off Cayzlee.”

The Eagles did not need to cash in on their insurance and won their fourth title in a quick 1-2-3 seventh inning.

“We’re super young, but we still have a lot of leadership,” Yudin added. “Starting with our eighth-graders all the way up to our one senior, Cayzlee. They really do a nice job. It just feels like a giant family. They all get along, they love each other (and) it’s really a lot of fun.”