Saturday Sectionals: No. 2 Lady Lions complete chase for 4-peat, rally behind Cowburn, Dunbar to knock off No. 1 B-H again in B Finals; Ross conquers Keshequa to aid Fri/Scio’s 4th straight title

[PHOTOS PROVIDED]

CANANDAIGUA — While the baseball team was further north contending for their piece of glory at Innovative Field, a bit further off to the southeast of Rochester at Finger Lakes Community College, were the Lady Lions of Wellsville. Across the entire Class B bracket as the No. 2 seeds, the defending three-peat champions showed no signs of slowing down.

With wins against Marcus Whitman, Wayland-Cohocton and Midlakes now in the wagon, they wanted more. They wanted all of it, even if it took another battle with No. 1 Bath-Haverling to do it again. They would get their wish come Saturday morning, as the Lady Lions and Lady Rams came together for yet another fight to the finish.

But there was a missing link the first time around that the Lady Lions didn’t have when they walked off against the top seeds last year — Makenna Dunbar, who missed the game due to illness. Now, the Wellsville junior was back in full force, in the midst of playing some of her best softball of the season.

That, coupled alongside another remarkably dominant performance from Makenzie Cowburn in the circle, do you think Wellsville would be denied?

The answer, quite simply, is no.

After three straight shutout innings between the two juggernauts, the Lady Lions found an opening to exploit against Bath-Haverling. Not one, but two in the middle frames, with Dunbar’s fiery bat helping guide the offense’s path forward, while Cowburn kept the Lady Rams absolutely frozen at the plate with a powerful one-hit shutout. Two ingredients that provided a fourth straight Section V championship for the program, as they weaved their way past the top seeds with a 4-0 shutout.

“Four straight championships for all four of our seniors. With the baseball team winning today too, this is an exciting time,” said Lady Lions co-coach Shelley Chaffee. “They were concerned about not being at the game to cheer the boys on, but at the same time, they were cheering for them here. Makenzie was amazing today, she gave up her lone hit right in the beginning, but she shut Bath down right after that. She has really brought this team on her back against quality opponents. Those have been some of the toughest games this year, and we had some amazing defensive plays behind her too. Rod Perry really helps get the girls ready and he called a great game for Makenzie, so my kudos go to him.”

Chaffee added, “Makenna didn’t play in the last game against Bath, but she really came through for us today. She’s played some of the best softball of her season. We weren’t really timing her (Witherell) at first, because she had some great movement on the ball. But we started to do some small ball and then the doors started to open up. We really were hitting enough to get around the bases and score runs, but the defense was stellar. The girls were really pumped.”

It was another tough battle right from the start for the Lady Lions (20-1), as they had to overcome a dominant start from the Lady Rams on defense behind three straight 1-2-3 innings. In the bottom half, the top seeds were faced with a similar situation with Cowburn, as they were also kept at bay with three quick innings — the first frame seeing four hitters reach the plate, and the lead-off, Makayla Smith, garnering what would be the team’s only hit in the game.

From that point on, it was Cowburn’s game to control, as she went 1-2-3 the rest of the game, compiling eight strikeouts and a walk to complete a masterful performance from within the circle.

As far as the offense, that’s where Makenna Dunbar came into play starting in the top of the fourth, when the Lady Lions finally managed to break through with the help of a slap bunt into the outfield from Sawyer Burke, who scored later on a pulverized double to the outfield by Dunbar to break the ice. A second run would come in later on in the midst of one of three errors by the Lady Rams defense.

The momentum continued into the fifth where two more massive pieces of insurance were collected — both by Dunbar’s one swing of the bat, as she drove in both runs on a second double back to the outfield after the Lady Lions loaded the bases for her with three consecutive bunts.

The Lady Lions would then cease all offense after that after Bath-Haverling recorded eight straight defensive outs to work their way off following each frame. But with Cowburn maintaining her dominance and composure on the mound, the four-run lead would suffice in the end, as the celebration of the program’s fourth consecutive title was officially on at the home of the Lakers.

Wellsville finished the game with four runs off their seven hits, with Dunbar leading the charge behind her 2-for-3 outing with her two doubles and three RBI. Sawyer Burke and Teegan Burke each finished with two hits, while Marissa Ordway had one.

Up next is the Class B Far West Regional at the place they won it all last year — Webster Schroeder, as they now prepare to face either Section VI rep Fredonia, who they were scheduled to play early on this year, but never did due to weather, or Wilson in a 10 a.m. first pitch next Saturday morning.

Wellsville 000 220 0 – 4 7 0

Bath-Haverling 000 000 0 – 0 1 3

WLSV – Makenzie Cowburn (WP) (CG, 8K, BB) and Brazen Beckwith.

B-H – Kaili Witherell (LP) (CG, 7K) and Caydence Spears.

[PHOTOS BY TRICIA DAVENPORT]

Class D Finals

No. 3 Friendship/Scio 3, No. 1 Keshequa 0

FILLMORE — We have witnessed greatness all season long in what is Nevaeh Ross’ final act of her illustrious career in Friendship. The Friendship/Scio senior, since the very beginning of her journey, has become one of the greatest pitchers to ever hurl the ball from within the circle, not only in Section V but maybe perhaps the entire state itself.

In fact, they could be building a Nevaeh Ross statue right outside Friendship Central School right now.

But she couldn’t do it all by herself. With the help of her teammates right behind her every step of the way, offensively and defensively, they have all accomplished things that have never been accomplished before. The best part is, they are only starting to get warmed up. With the ride back to New York City now just two exits away on the freeway, their first stop was in Fillmore to defend their three-peat seat at the throne against No. 1 Keshequa on Saturday.

And right from the start, Ross would settle in. She would never lose a beat since then.

Accounting for the first run straight out of the gate and with the top-seeds chasing them down in the rearview mirror, Friendship/Scio needed a call for action at the plate. With several quick innings, three of those in scoreless consecutive fashion, all zooming by in a flash, something had to give way. In the top of the fifth, they looked to #13 at the top of the order.

Boy, did she deliver.

The future LeMoyne Lady Dolphin, with their backs up against the wall down the stretch, crushed a line drive straight out to left center field, continuing to sail until it cleared the fence for a mastodonic two-run home run to fulfill their offense’s insurance policy at the plate, taking a one-run lead and turning it into their fourth straight Section V championship, winning Class D outright and an automatic trip to the Far West Regional next week with a 3-0 shutout of Keshequa.

“We are some proud coaches. Four Sectional titles is amazing and I am so amazed what this team has done and what they can accomplish,” Friendship/Scio coach Deb Warner. “Yes, Nevaeh is leading the team and is still crushing her performance on the mound and at the plate. I’m not sure if other teams had to face the situation this team faces. Most defenses see a ball put into play a few batters at a time. Our defense has to stay moving and alert for a ball put in play multiple times. They have to stay moving and focused to make plays behind her. They have done that all postseason long. Nevaeh goes above and beyond, but defensively they are really starting to come together.”

Friendship/Scio pieced together just a four-hit effort at the plate to score all three of their runs against Keshequa, but those four hits were paramount in helping them win the game, especially the two-run blast from Ross in the fifth inning to give them even more room to work with in finishing the night. Following that inning, Ross would close up shop, despite giving up a lead-off double, with five consecutive strikeouts.

That included a rapid fire 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh that would see them throw their gloves in the air and come together on the field for that celebratory warm embrace to win the Class D Championship. Ross put a bow a two-hit shutout with 19 strikeouts.

At the plate, Ross also added a two-out double in the third inning to go with her home run. Cece Davenport and Grace Drumm also mustered a hit each.

Coming up Friday night in a 5 p.m. first pitch, Friendship/Scio will take off for Webster Schroeder, as they now officially look to punch their tickets for another grand return to Long Island with a Class D Far West Regional battle against either Ellicottville or Clymer/Sherman.

Friendship/Scio 100 020 0 – 3 4 0

Keshequa 000 000 0 – 0 2 1

F/S – Nevaeh Ross (WP) (CG, 19K) and Morghyn Ross.

KES – Alynn Dunning (LP) (CG, 4K, BB) and Isabella Hugi.

BOYS TENNIS

Fillmore’s Schilke, Sisson compete at Friday’s Class B State Qualifier

BROCKPORT — In the midst of all the Sectional chaos around the area, the tennis court at Brockport High School was packed to the brim for the Individual State Qualifier event this past Friday to see which of Section V’s most elite tennis players would take that extra step forward towards an opportunity to contend for some of the Empire State’s glory.

At the event, Fillmore’s Eben Schilke and Isaiah Sisson were two of those players looking to do just that, as the two Eagles went to war.

After being granted an opportunity to play following his return from the Senior Trip, Schilke began his day in a Play-In match against LeRoy’s Owen Williams, one where he survived a close battle by a 10-6 count to advance into the opening round. In it, it would begin to get tougher, as he went up against Honeoye Falls-Lima’s Alex Haywood in his closest match yet. As a result, Schilke fought through it and delivered a clutch 10-9 (4) victory to continue his journey.

Schilke would then meet Wayne’s Evan Phillips in the pre-quarterfinal round, but would ultimately meet his match, as Phillips advanced further into the bracket by ending his season with a 10-6 victory. As for Sisson, he was defeated by Rush-Henrietta’s Justin Kim by a 10-4 count during first round play.

“Eben had a brutal schedule today. Because of a conflict with our Senior Trip, he couldn’t play in Sectionals, so he was granted an exceptional entry into Qualifiers,” said Eagles coach Randy Crouch. “The only catch was that he had to play his way into the first round. After winning the play-in and first round, he ran into a pretty even matchup in the second, but then he ran out of gas a little bit and couldn’t finish the way he is capable of. Isaiah ran into a tough first round opponent and struggled to find a rhythm with his serve. In spite of his loss, it was a great experience for him. I know Eben is disappointed, and that isn’t the way he wanted to finish his career, but I am really proud of how both him and Isaiah represented Fillmore today.”