Thursday Roundup: GV/Belfast’s Preston earns medalist in 7th straight match, but Ark-Can swipes 3-stroke win away at WCC; Red hot GV/Belfast softball rolls, Wellsville tennis falls to Addison

WELLSVILLE — Grant Preston has put the pieces to the puzzle together on a tremendous start to his campaign on the links. Entering Thursday night’s home clash at the Wellsville Country Club against the Wolves of Arkport-Canaseraga, the Genesee Valley/Belfast junior has embraced the beaming limelight as the match’s medalist in their first six trips out onto the links this Spring.

It was going to be another tough challenge ahead for the red hot Genesee Valley/Belfast golfers. Preston would ultimately take flight right back up to the top of the overall scorecard after the final scores were tallied, earning his seventh straight medalist round. But as for the match’s end result, it went the other way, as the Wolves finished three strokes ahead of the hosts to claim the victory by a narrow 187-190 final tally.

By the end of the night, Preston navigated through another tough field of competition to emerge as the top golfer for Genesee Valley/Belfast (5-2), firing the match’s lowest round of 41 to lead the field. Behind him was Will Guilford, who recorded a round of 43. Afton Hamer pitched in a 52, while Jackson Barney rounded off the scoring with his round of 54.

Arkport-Canaseraga was paced by a team-low round of 43 from Aydan Button. Kevin Shinebarger carded a round of 45. Bryant Reynolds provided a 49, while Eli Flint finished the scoring with a 50.

Coming up next on the docket for Genesee Valley/Belfast is a 4 p.m. visit to the Bolivar Golf Club to take on the host Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg on Wednesday.

SOFTBALL

Genesee Valley/Belfast 13, Hammondsport 1 (F-6)

HAMMONDSPORT — Immediately following a tremendous doubleheader sweep of Arkport-Canaseraga, the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies hit the road just 24 hours later for a road trip that featured plenty of success once again. In their visit to Hammondsport, the team battled tough with the Lady Lakers in the opening stages, but then peeled out and sped away down the stretch towards a 13-1 six-inning victory on Thursday.

The two teams registered a run during their opening term at the plate to break the ice with the game’s first deadlock, but soon after, Genesee Valley/Belfast (9-2) assumed control right away in the top of the third inning, beginning a strand of 12 consecutive runs with Hannah Powers driving in the first of her three RBI on an infield hit, as she scored Keanna Sands from third to garner the upper-hand.

The damage would soon be done in the top of the fourth, as Genesee Valley/Belfast assembled a big five-run stand at the plate that was generated by Powers once again, blasting her last two RBI on a deep double to continue bridging their gap in front of Hammondsport.

Out of the last six runs in the remaining two frames of play, two of them were scratched across off a pair of RBI bunts turned in by Lily Green and Whitney Young to help finish off their fifth straight win, and their seventh of the last eight games.

Genesee Valley/Belfast recorded seven hits at the plate, as Young, Kayla Wedge, Addison Bradt, Madison Yackeren and Keanna Sands all had a hit each.

In the circle to go with her two gigantic hits, Powers held the Lady Lakers frozen, allowing just two hits across 12 strikeouts and seven walks.

Up next for Genesee Valley/Belfast is a quick return to action once again tonight, if the weather cooperates, visiting the Hinsdale Lady Bobcats at 5 p.m.

Genesee Valley/Belfast 101 533 — 13 7 2

Hammondsport 100 000 — 1 2 1

GVB – Hannah Powers (WP) (CG, 12K, 7BB) and Jenna Hill.

HAM – Aimee Hurd (LP) (CG, 8K, 5BB) and Hannah Dresser.

BOYS TENNIS

Addison 4, Wellsville 1

WELLSVILLE — The pair of doubles matches between Addison and Wellsville saw plenty of excitement across the board, with both contests going straight down to the wire. When the final conclusion was met, the Knights went on to claim both victories in thrilling fashion to aid in the illustration of a four-win night on the tennis court in the Lion’s Den, as they silenced their host opposition with a 4-1 victory on Thursday.

Wellsville (5-4) was taken the distance in the midst of pro-set action with the visiting Knights, with the second doubles team of Brayden Ketchner and Benjamin Germain-Tardieu fighting tooth and nail against Addison’s Jason Zheng and Jax Donley, exchanging back-and-forth sets one after another until a tiebreak was needed to settle the score once and for all.

In the end, it was Zheng and Donley that prevailed, as they scored the 9-7 win off a 10-9 match in regulation play.

The momentum continued on with the first doubles team of John Clark and Alex Dubois, as they survived a pendulum-shifting battle of their own against Wellsville’s Jonah MacCartney and Caydon Grimes, as they scored a razor-thin 10-8 victory to finish off the sweep of both doubles matches.

In the singles matches, the Lions only scored one from their third singles competitor in Liam Smith, who rolled past Fin Jacobson with a 10-5 edge. Michael Bidzerkowny and Jeremiah Pensyl each fell in 10-6 decisions of their own at first and second singles, respectively.

Wellsville will hit the road Saturday morning, weather permitting, for a 10 a.m. first serve at Wayland-Cohocton.

Singles

1. Nick Wright (ADD) def. Michael Bidzerkowny (WLSV), 10-6.

2. Zach Wright (ADD) def. Jeremiah Pensyl (WLSV), 10-6.

3. Liam Smith (WLSV) def. Fin Jacobson (ADD), 10-5.

Doubles

1. John Clark/Alex Dubois (ADD) def. Jonah MacCartney/Caydon Grimes (WLSV), 10-8.

2. Jason Zheng/Jax Donley (ADD) def. Brayden Ketchner/Benjamin Germain-Tardieu (WLSV), 10-9 (9-7).

Cuba-Rushford at Andover/Whitesville — No report.