• Albany Academy shortstop John Decker watches his hit soar during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) Photo: Jenn March / © Jenn March 2018 © Albany Times Union 2018
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy shortstop John Decker watches his hit soar during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy shortstop John Decker watches his hit soar during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy outfielder Isaiah Umoh looks on prior to the start of the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy outfielder Isaiah Umoh looks on prior to the start of the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy catcher Danny Moshier reaches for a strike to Ichabod Crane's Joshua Hall during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy catcher Danny Moshier reaches for a strike to Ichabod Crane's Joshua Hall during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy first baseman EJ Birch catches the ball from pitcher Ben Seiler (not seen) for an out against Ichabod Crane during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy first baseman EJ Birch catches the ball from pitcher Ben Seiler (not seen) for an out against Ichabod Crane during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy's John Decker slides to second an instant before Ichabod Crane second baseman Tylor Daley can tag him during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy's John Decker slides to second an instant before Ichabod Crane second baseman Tylor Daley can tag him during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy pitcher Ben Seiler (17) cries out after he, John Decker (2), and Brett Young (9) scored runs as a result of a hit by first baseman EJ Birch (not seen) during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy pitcher Ben Seiler (17) cries out after he, John Decker (2), and Brett Young (9) scored runs as a result of a hit by first baseman EJ Birch (not seen) during the Class B Section II final against ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Ichabod Crane's Joshua Hall steps onto second moments before Albany Academy shortstop John Decker can tag him during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Ichabod Crane's Joshua Hall steps onto second moments before Albany Academy shortstop John Decker can tag him during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Ichabod Crane second baseman Tylor Daley throws the ball to first for an out against Albany Academy during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Ichabod Crane second baseman Tylor Daley throws the ball to first for an out against Albany Academy during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy baseball team captains touch the Section II Champions plaque held by pitcher Ben Seiler (17) as their teammates flood in to do the same following their victory over Ichabod Crane in the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy baseball team captains touch the Section II Champions plaque held by pitcher Ben Seiler (17) as their teammates flood in to do the same following their victory over Ichabod Crane in the Class B ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy baseball players rally around the Section II Champions plaque following their victory over Ichabod Crane in the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy baseball players rally around the Section II Champions plaque following their victory over Ichabod Crane in the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy pitcher Ben Seiler makes a pitch against Ichabod Crane during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy pitcher Ben Seiler makes a pitch against Ichabod Crane during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy pitcher Ben Seiler (17) cries out after he, John Decker (2), and Brett Young (9) scored runs as a result of a hit by first baseman EJ Birch (not seen) during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy pitcher Ben Seiler (17) cries out after he, John Decker (2), and Brett Young (9) scored runs as a result of a hit by first baseman EJ Birch (not seen) during the Class B Section II final against ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy shortstop John Decker watches his hit soar during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy shortstop John Decker watches his hit soar during the Class B Section II final against Ichabod Crane on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy first baseman EJ Birch catches the ball from pitcher Ben Seiler (not seen) for an out against Ichabod Crane during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy first baseman EJ Birch catches the ball from pitcher Ben Seiler (not seen) for an out against Ichabod Crane during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Albany Academy's John Decker slides to second an instant before Ichabod Crane second baseman Tylor Daley can tag him during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union) less
Albany Academy's John Decker slides to second an instant before Ichabod Crane second baseman Tylor Daley can tag him during the Class B Section II final on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at Hudson Valley Community ... more
Photo: Jenn March
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Troy

In a season built on returning to the Class B state tournament and completing a championship mission, the Albany Academy baseball team was not surprised Ichabod Crane was the opponent that stood between it and fulfilling the Cadets' prime objective. Saturday night, the two Colonial Council rivals engaged in a Section II Class B title showdown with their aces on the mound.

It did not turn out to be an epic pitching duel between Albany Academy senior lefty Ben Seiler and Ichabod Crane senior right-hander Dave Yankowski. The contest still offered ample intrigue and, in the end, Albany Academy was a bit better in the big moments in earning an 8-4 victory over the Riders at Bruno Stadium.

"It is almost sweeter that it happened like this," said Seiler, who improved to 10-0 on the season with a complete-game victory.

"Something we prided ourselves on was going step by step," Seiler said. "The first step was winning the Colonial Council and qualifying for sectionals. Then, once we got here, it was take it game by game. To win this, it is always a tough game at 'The Joe' with the big lights and a lot of people."

Albany Academy (22-2) won its second straight Section II title. The 2017 squad advanced to the state final and lost in dramatic fashion. The Cadets knew a win Saturday over the Riders (17-4) would not be easy.

"We were happy for this opportunity to play here against them. You can't ask for more," Yankowski said. "They really are a great team and have a great bunch of guys. I feel we're the two best (Class B teams) in the state, if you ask me."

The Cadets and Riders split a pair of Colonial Council contests during the regular season. Seiler tossed a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts against the Riders April 9 vs. Yankowski in a 4-0 win and Chad Salazar pitched Ichabod Crane to an 8-2 win May 4.

Neither Seiler nor Yankowski were nearly as sharp as in their first mound encounter.

Ichabod Crane scratched out seven hits and four runs against Seiler, who entered the game with an 0.38 earned-run average and 107 strikeouts over 551/3 innings.

"I was grinding," Seiler said.

"I don't think he's (given up) that many hits against anyone," Ichabod Crane coach Brian McComb said. "We kept clawing back every inning. We wanted to see more baserunners."

"We were really fired up to play and looked to work some good counts against Ben," Yankowski said. "We were happy with some of our at-bats."

The teams were tied 1-1 in the third inning when the Cadets struck for four runs. They loaded the bases on an error, a walk and a hit batter. E.J. Birch singled to right to score John Decker and an error on the play allowed Danny Moshier and Brett Young to score to make it 4-1. Seiler grounded out for his 33rd RBI and a 5-1 advantage.

Seiler, who is headed to Siena College and will pitch again in college against Yankowski (Canisius), gave up an RBI grounder to his pitching counterpart in the fifth and watched the Riders score twice more in the sixth. Seiler struck out Yankowski looking to end the inning and retired the Riders in order in the seventh to clinch the title.

jallen@timesunion.com • 518-454-5062 • @TUSidelines