Saturday Roundup: In midst of incredible season, GV/Belfast’s Preston wins Class D Individual Sectional Championship, Team Sectionals start next week; C-R softball rebounds at C-G with big 6-3 win

[PHOTO PROVIDED]

CHURCHVILLE — Genesee Valley/Belfast sophomore Grant Preston has quickly emerged as one of Allegany County’s strongest competitors on the golf course. The season that he has put together has served as direct evidence of that. In each and every single match that he and the rest of the Genesee Valley/Belfast golfers have been a part of, he has navigated his way to the top of the scorecard.

12 regular season matches. 12 medalist rounds.

Win or lose.

Now, his magnificence has led him straight to the Mill Creek Country Club in Churchville on Saturday for this year’s Class D Individual Sectional Championship match, where he was joined alongside Cuba-Rushford’s Zach Deck and Fillmore’s Aiden Freeman and Anderson Wiltsey on the trip up north to continue his historic season.

The weather was not ideal upon their arrival to the golf course, with the action having to be delayed due to thunder in the surrounding area. But when it was go time, it was go time.

“I am a proud coach today, and it’s an amazing day for Grant and his parents,” said GV/Belfast coach Lisa Scott-Schneider. “We were in a thunder delay when we got to Mill Creek, so we didn’t even get teed off at the correct time. Grant’s first three holes were a struggle, but he pulled his game together and he had an amazing finish. His performance was a first for our program, and he nearly made the Super Sectional cut just outside the Top 20, but we now know what the goal will be for next season.”

Preston finished at the top of Class D at the end of all 18 holes on the golf course, being crowned Class D champion behind his match-low round of 87 to lead the field. The Genesee Valley/Belfast sophomore struggled at first through his first nine holes of the battle, finishing with a 46, but then turned right around and assembled a finish for the ages with a phenomenal back-nine round of 41 to capture the Section’s top prize.

Preston will now join his Genesee Valley/Belfast teammates when they now begin preparations for Team Sectionals, which are set to begin next week.

BASEBALL

Campbell-Savona 7, Fillmore 6

FILLMORE — It was an even battle out of the gate early, as Campbell-Savona and Fillmore delivered back-and-forth first inning jabs during their Saturday afternoon at the Town Park. But the record was set straight by the visiting Panthers immediately after, as they rolled straight out of Fillmore’s grasp to claim an advantage they proceeded to never lose, scoring the narrow 7-6 edge.

The Panthers of Campbell-Savona capitalized on all offensive fronts to provide an explosion, despite the Eagles (8-7) returning a two-run frame in the bottom half of the first inning to tie the game out of the gate, as they strung together five straight runs in the top half of the second to claim the game’s largest lead.

It would remain there in the time going forward, as the Eagles took the next six innings to chip away at their deficit. The hosts in white and green inched closer and closer in the rearview mirror, closing the gap to as little as a single run in the bottom of the fifth.

But in the end, Fillmore could not navigate their way over the hump despite applying a great deal of pressure on the Panthers in the driver’s seat, as the visitors in blue and red kept their advantage glued together.

The Eagles pieced together their six runs on seven total hits at the dish, with Liam McCumiskey going 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored. Jared Boon and Brayden Hennard each had a double to add into the mix. On the mound, Malcolm Nusbickle was strong in his six innings of relief, fanning five and walking one.

Fillmore will look to close out their road slate of contests on Monday, visiting the Hinsdale Bobcats for a 5 p.m. contest.

Campbell-Savona 250 000 0 — 7 4 4

Fillmore 201 210 0 — 6 7 1

C-S – Ethan Loveless (WP) (2K, BB), Chace Priset (4) (K, 2BB), Lucas Corey (7) and Folkemer.

FIL – Connor McCumiskey (2K, 3BB), Malcolm Nusbickle (LP, 2) (5K, BB) and Isaac Wilcox.

Alfred-Almond 16, Hinsdale 5 (F-5)

ALMOND — With the visiting Bobcats in Hinsdale in town for a visit Saturday morning, the Alfred-Almond Eagles made all sorts of connections on offense to set up shop with a dominant performance on their home diamond, as they rolled straight towards a 16-5 victory.

Stats and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.

The Bobcats (2-14) will conclude their regular season back home Monday, hosting the Fillmore Eagles at 5 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Cuba-Rushford 6, Canisteo-Greenwood 2

CANISTEO — The Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford were locked into the tightest of battles over the road on Saturday. After a first inning breakthrough from both teams in the Canisteo Valley, the bats were kept silent at the plate, as the defenses assumed total command of the action on all fronts.

With time beginning to run out down the stretch, the game-long stalemate continued to keep one another at bay. But when the top of the fifth inning came, however, the Lady Rebels found their way around the temporary bulwark in front of them to provide the strongest of finishes to their game, edging their way towards the finish line against the host Lady Chargers of Canisteo-Greenwood with a 6-2 win.

The Lady Rebels (9-8) were the first to strike in the opening frame with two base-runners threatening the Canisteo-Greenwood defense right away. Both runners were cashed in to double their advantage instantly — one of them off the team’s first RBI smack from Lizzie Kocsis, who recorded a single. The Lady Chargers responded immediately in their first three at-bats, with one of their two game-tying runs coming in off an RBI triple from Charlee Ross.

The two defenses took control of the action beginning in the second inning, as pitchers Jordyn Radomski and Harper Byrd each tossed three straight shutout innings of rapid fire quality to keep the playing surface level. But in the top of the fifth, the Lady Rebels provided a big deadlock-smashing two-run frame powered up by Aubrey Williams and her RBI double. The visitors closed out the battle with two more runs in the sixth, both coming in on special teams.

To go with their six runs, they posted five hits at the plate — two from Claire Moyer, to lead the way. On the mound, Radomski was credited with the complete game victory, holding Canisteo-Greenwood to three hits while handing out seven strikeouts and a walk.

For the Lady Chargers, Byrd fanned two and walked three in her tossed complete game in the circle. At the plate, Ross, Cynthia Ross, Brystol Butler and Cassidy Forshee all had a hit to pace the offense.

Cuba-Rushford will head back home to welcome in Friendship/Scio on Monday at 5 p.m.

Cuba-Rushford 200 022 0 — 6 5 3

Canisteo-Greenwood 200 000 0 — 2 4 2

C-R – Jordyn Radomski (WP) (CG, 7K, BB) and Allie Kocsis.

C-G – Harper Burd (LP) (CG, 2K, 3BB) and Charlee Ross.

Alfred-Almond 14, Hinsdale 1

ALMOND — Through the entire morning in Almond, the Alfred-Almond Lady Eagles were at the top of their game. Between both games they showcased Saturday morning, the Lady Eagles froze both of their opponents, including Hinsdale, to just a single run on offense, as they swept both games in style with a 14-1 win over the Lady Bobcats in the day-cap.

Stats and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.

The regular season has concluded for Hinsdale, as they now await Sectional play with a record of 1-17 overall.

TRACK

Wellsville Elks Spring Day (will be posted separately on Sunday)