Thursday Sectionals: No. 3 Lady Lions give Burke 100th victory, earn date with State-ranked No. 2 Williamson in B2 Semis; B-R, Friendship also clinch Semi berths with home wins

Wellsville baserunner Brazen Beckwith (7) comes in to score a run during Thursday night’s Class B2 Quarterfinal matchup against Mynderse at Tullar Field in Wellsville. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Wellsville pitcher Makenzie Cowburn prepares to deal to the plate during Thursday night’s Class B2 Quarterfinal matchup against Mynderse at Tullar Field in Wellsville. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Wellsville first baseman Lauren Cicirello, right, stretches out to help record a double play in the infield during Thursday night’s Class B2 Quarterfinal matchup against Mynderse at Tullar Field in Wellsville. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Wellsville shortstop Mallory Sibble fires across a throw to first to record an out during Thursday night’s Class B2 Quarterfinal matchup against Mynderse at Tullar Field in Wellsville. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

WELLSVILLE — Ever since his tenure began, Wellsville head coach Matt Burke has adorned the same exact hat — a weathered orange Wellsville cap with a black ‘W‘ directly in the center. Since that cap made its debut back in 2015, it has bared witness to multiple winning seasons, multiple deep runs through the Class B2 Playoffs, even road trips to Virginia where the Lady Lions would spend Spring Break playing a handful of games.

Countless games have passed over the course of six years in Burke’s career with the Lady Lions, and it all led to Thursday night — one win shy of 100 in his career. To reach that century mark, it would have to be against their day one opponent to begin their postseason trek through the Class B2 field — No. 6 Mynderse.

It gave Wellsville a chance to provide a sweep to both Blue Devils squads, after the baseball team just 24 hours prior performed a miracle with a four-run seventh inning to steal away the walk-off victory to move into the Semifinal round. At Tullar Field on Thursday, it was the Lady Lions turn. And all the team would need is a quick hop to their step to do so.

Right away, the Lady Lions came out bats a blazing, scoring seven of their eight runs right in the first two innings of play, with Brazen Beckwith’s big hit right from the start leading the charge for the third-seeds at the plate, as the team helped Burke eclipse the 100-win mark with a Class B2 Semifinals berth in an 8-3 victory in sweeping fashion over the sixth-seeded Lady Blue Devils.

“100 wins is not about me, it’s about all the players and the parents that have been supportive over the years,” said Burke. “My assistant coach, Jason Sibble and my wife Elissa, it’s all those factors combined together that allows me to coach softball this long to get to that mark. Make no mistake, it’s not about me, it’s all the support I’ve had in Wellsville softball that helped me get there.”

To give the sixth-year head coach his 100th career win, the Lady Lions (19-1) went straight to work by busting the game open almost immediately in their first at-bats, compiling four runs off five hits to take a four-run lead on the Lady Blue Devils, led by Beckwith and her two-run double to deep center field. Beckwith would wind up having Wellsville’s hottest bat, recording three RBI in all to go with her two hits.

“We’ve done a good job of jumping out to an early lead and holding on, and tonight was no different,” Burke said. “Defensively, we weren’t as sharp as we have been, but when it comes to the playoffs, as long as you get a win and move on, that’s all that matters. Brazen’s done a really nice job hitting the ball hard all season long. She’s come up with big hits when we’ve needed them.”

Emma Dunaway would add more to help the cause in the first with an RBI single of her own to finish off the scoring in the first.

A short time later, after a quick spurt of defense in the second, Wellsville added more fuel to the fire in their second term of offense with Maddie Spicer’s RBI single helping charge up a three-run frame that saw their lead branch out to seven, ultimately extending it out of reach from Mynderse, who chipped away at the team’s lead in the seventh with a pair of runs before stalling out, seeing the Lady Lions toward victory and a date in the Class B2 Semifinals.

Eight runs on 12 hits were gathered altogether by the Lady Lions, with four hitters, including Beckwith, scoring at least a pair of hits, as Makenzie Cowburn, Marley Adams and Mallory Sibble all contributed two hits each to power up the bats. In the circle, Cowburn collected the victory, holding the Lady Blue Devils to just five hits across eight strikeouts and seven walks to keep them at bay.

Wellsville will now hit the road for their Class B2 Semifinal matchup, which will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, as they get set to square off with the undefeated and State-ranked Lady Marauders of Williamson for a chance at Tuesday’s Finals.

“Williamson is number four in New York State, and I’m excited and confident in our team. I’m looking forward to what Saturday will bring for us.” said Burke.

Mynderse 001 000 2 – 3 5 1

Wellsville 430 001 X – 8 12 0

MYN – Riley Reinhart (LP) (2K, 2BB), Morgan O'Brien (5) (K, 2BB), and Skylar Parish.
WLSV – Makenzie Cowburn (WP) (CG, 8K, 7BB), and Matti Burke.

Class C2 Quarterfinals

No. 3 Bolivar-Richburg 13, No. 6 Caledonia-Mumford 1

RICHBURG — After building a fast start to their game to open up their Sectional journey back on Tuesday, the third-seeded Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg had to fight their way through what was deemed as a defensive battle with No. 6 Caledonia-Mumford through the first three innings of play.

Bolivar-Richburg would have the lead in the midst of it all. At the same time, it was one that they never lost, scoring all 13 of their runs right in a row while the defense stood their ground in the dirt, as they rolled their way toward clinching a berth in the Class C2 Semifinal round this weekend with a massive 13-1 victory over the Lady Raiders.

The common denominator for the Lady Wolverines (14-3) to their offensive success — a brilliant day from their senior, Kelsey Pacer, who provided three solid at-bats which led to RBIs being driven in, beginning in the first when she belted a two-run double to the outfield to give the team the early 2-0 lead.

From there, another two-run hit was scavenged in her second at-bat, blasting a two-run single within the team’s three-run fourth inning to grow their lead to five. Then perhaps the early dagger came in the bottom of the team’s five-run fifth inning, when Pacer drove in her last two runs of the game on a sacrifice. In all, the Lady Wolverines senior collected six RBI in her outing at the plate to deliver the goods.

Pacer was one of four Lady Wolverines that recorded at least a pair of hits on offense, as Jessica Majot added in a two-run double in the fourth inning to jumpstart her outing, scoring two runs along the way. Gracie Zilker and Madigan Harris each chipped in with a pair of hits, with Harris driving in an RBI to further the cause.

In the circle, Malayna Ayers provided a solid showing of pitching, holding Cal-Mum to just three hits while striking out three and walking two.

Bolivar-Richburg has now earned the right to battle for a spot in the Class C2 Finals on Monday, as they prepare to take on No. 2 Dundee/Bradford in the Semifinal round, Saturday morning.

First pitch is set for an 11 a.m. start in Bradford.

Caledonia-Mumford 000 000 1 – 1 3 0

Bolivar-Richburg 200 353 X – 13 11 2

C-M – Maddy DeVore (LP) (CG, 10BB), and Montgomery Kessler.

B-R – Malayna Ayers (WP) (CG, 3K, 2BB), and Madigan Harris.

The Lady Golden Eagles of Friendship come together for a team photo after they finished the regular season with an 18-2 win in Andover, last weekend. Friendship was awarded the top seed in the Class D2 Tournament, as well as the Allegany County Division II crown for the first time in recent memory. On Thursday, they defeated No. 8 Andover to advance into Saturday’s Semifinals, where they will face No. 5 Avoca/Prattsburgh for the right to play in next week’s Class D2 Finals. [PHOTO PROVIDED]

Class D2 Quarterfinals

No. 1 Friendship 9, No. 8 Andover 0

FRIENDSHIP — The Lady Golden Eagles of Friendship were awarded the top seed in Class D2, garnering home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Their second season officially got underway when they took on No. 8 Andover for the third and final time this season in the Class D2 Quarterfinal round.

As the old saying goes, it can be difficult to defeat the same team three times in one season. Having done that twice already, the Lady Golden Eagles, after a quick start on the offensive, made it three, as they propelled forward to the Class D2 Semifinals behind another dominant performance from the bats and Nevaeh Ross in the circle in their 9-0 shutout of the eighth-seeded Lady Panthers on Wednesday.

“It’s definitely a challenge to beat a team three times in a season, but we came out a little flat to start tonight,” Lady Golden Eagles coach Deb Kane said. “Overall, we put together a good game with no errors on the field. I think the ladies were a little nervous to start the game, but they settled right in to give us the win.”

Ross was dominant once again for the Lady Golden Eagles (11-2), only allowing three Andover baserunners to reach all game — two hits and one walk, as she struck out 14 to keep the opposition on their feet.

While the Friendship phenom took control of the defense, the bats came alive on the counterattack with five straight runs being scored behind their baserunning in the second and third innings to take a 5-0 lead of Andover. The lead grew insurmountably in the bottom of the fourth with another three-run frame, led by a two-run home run by Ross to finish off their shutout victory once and for all.

Ross recorded three RBI in all to go with her home run to lead the bats for the Lady Golden Eagles. Morghyn Ross chipped in with two hits of her own, while Claire Calhoun scored two runs. On the other side, the Lady Panthers (4-11) were led by Gabby Terhune and Emily Schweigart, who were responsible for the team’s two hits. In the circle, Makaila Brewster fanned five and walked seven in her complete game for Andover, whose season comes to an end with a record of 4-11.

As for the Lady Golden Eagles, they will now host their Class D2 Semifinal game Saturday morning, as they prepare to take on No. 5 Avoca/Prattsburgh for a spot in Tuesday’s Finals.

First pitch is tentatively set for 11 a.m. in Friendship.

Andover 000 000 0 – 0 2 3

Friendship 032 310 X – 9 7 0

AND – Makaila Brewster (LP) (CG, 5K, 7BB), and Katie Calladine.
FRI – Nevaeh Ross (WP) (CG, 14K, BB), and Morghyn Ross.

BOYS TENNIS

Wellsville advances to C1 Finals, Fillmore falls against Honeoye

WELLSVILLE/HOUGHTON — The Sectional ride for the last two tennis teams in Allegany County would continue for one, but for the other, it would come to an end Thursday night in the Class C1 and Class D2 Tournament, respectively.

For the Lions of Wellsville, they would survive a tough test provided by North Rose-Wolcott at home, as they provided a sweep of the singles events to record the match victory over the visiting Cougars. In the singles matches, Dahlton Mattison, Walker Waldon and Matt Bittel all formed first set victories to power their straight-set wins across the board.

In the doubles department, the Lions (12-1) would fall in both matches, with Ian Iantorno and Jake Schrlau falling by a 6-3, 6-3 count at first doubles, while Ryan Carlton and Ryan Haggerty were defeated by a 6-3, 6-1 count at second doubles.

Down the road at Houghton College, the season came to a close for the Eagles of Fillmore, who saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end to the hands of Honeoye, as they were defeated by a narrow 3-2 count in the Class D2 Quarterfinal round.

Fillmore tallied just two wins in the singles department, with Eben Schilke and Carter Sisson providing them both after falling behind quickly in the first set. Both would rebound in a big way to force a decisive third set, which was ultimately won to secure the victory at first and second singles. Honeoye would go on to provide a sweep of both doubles matches as well as a third singles victory to finish off the victory to force elimination.

The Eagles finish their shortened 2021 season on the tennis court with a 9-4 record.

As for Wellsville, they now move into the Class C1 Finals round, which begins today with a road trip to LeRoy to visit the host Oatkan Knights for a chance to win their first title in program history.

First serve is slated for a 4 p.m. start.

Wellsville 3, North Rose-Wolcott 2

Singles

1. Dahlton Mattison (WLSV) def. Quintin Norris (NR-W), 6-3, 6-3.

2. Walker Waldon (WLSV) def. Matt Cole (NR-W), 6-4, 6-3.

3. Matt Bittel (WLSV) def. Colby Balcom (NR-W), 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles

1. Schuyler Cole/Sebastian Pusch-Lockwood (NR-W) def. Ian Iantorno/Jake Schrlau (WLSV), 6-3, 6-3.

2. Lucas Crane/Jeffrey Wanek (NR-W) def. Ryan Carlton/Ryan Haggerty (WLSV), 6-3, 6-1.

Honeoye 3, Fillmore 2

Singles

1. Eben Schilke (FIL) def. Alex Jarosinski (HON), 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

2. Carter Sisson (FIL) def. Ajay Merrick (HON), 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

3. Jack Reynolds (HON) def. Henry Decker (FIL), 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles

1. Ethan Le/Jacob Schaffer (HON) def. Zach Herring/Colby Wolfer (FIL), 6-0, 6-4.

2. Keaton Cooper/Jarrett Klink (HON) def. Ryan Ballard/Joe Derck (FIL), 6-0, 6-0.