Saturday Roundup: After rain ceases, Lady Eagles buckle in, ward off tough fight from Franklinville, score razor-thin 7-5 home win for 2-0 start; Fillmore boys tennis sweeps Pembroke to open campaign
FILLMORE — There was plenty of uncertainty to go around entering Saturday morning for much of the area, after the rain began to come down left and right all throughout the overnight hours. When dawn arrived in its entirety, an overwhelming abundance of rain puddles surrounded almost every field in the County, forcing much of the weekend’s action to be postponed.
But as the clock struck 11 a.m. on the turf softball field in Fillmore, there was a break in the sky. No more rain. It was time to game.
The Lady Eagles of Fillmore graced the center stage as the area’s lone team outdoors to take the field, looking to build off a monstrous season debut earlier in the week with the Franklinville Lady Panthers in town for their final game of Opening Week.
It was a dead-even battle throughout the morning between the two foes, with mirroring responses coming left and right through the first four innings. But when the contest began its descent into the homestretch, it was crunch time.
For the Lady Eagles, it was a moment they needed to capitalize upon in full. They did just that, as they fractured a 4-4 deadlock with the Lady Panthers beginning in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three unanswered runs to pull ahead into the driver’s seat, ultimately for good, as Fillmore slammed the door shut in the final frame to lay claim on a close 7-5 decision over Franklinville.
“When we woke up this morning and it rained hard for four hours, I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to sneak this one in today,” said Lady Eagles coach Jon Beardsley. “Right at game time, the rain stopped and we had a great day. This game was a pretty even match-up. Defensively, Franklinville really played a sound game. While we were a little shaky with five errors, I appreciated that we stayed with it and never let it snowball. Offensively, we did some good things and are showing improvement. We just need to gain more experience, more confidence and keep working on all facets that will allow us to be more comfortable on the field.”
Through the first four innings between both clubs, the advantage on the scoreboard changed hands twice, with the Lady Eagles (2-0) forcing both each time. After a 1-0 lead was met with a game-tying run after a scoreless second inning, the Lady Eagles offense came together once again to knock in three enormous runs to regain the advantage. Franklinville’s response in return was equalled, as they created level playing ground in the top of the fourth with a three-spot of their own.
But that would be the last time the Lady Panthers would climb to within striking distance against the Lady Eagles, as the hosts proceeded to score three straight runs in the next two frames of play to claim a 7-4 lead they never lost, keeping it glued together despite five defensive errors against Franklinville to score another triumphant performance to begin the season.
The Lady Eagles recorded seven runs off nine hits at the plate, with three different hitters posting at least a pair. Leading the way was Tenlee Miller, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Summer Friedl had two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while Mattie McCumiskey pitched in two hits of her own to couple alongside two runs and an RBI. Morghyn Ross had a triple and two RBI. Mylee Miller had a hit and drove in two to help round off the offensive cause.
In the circle, the win belonged to Mylee Miller, who went all seven innings, holding Franklinville to just four hits across seven strikeouts and six walks.
Fillmore is back on the field Monday night, hosting the Bolivar-Richburg Lady Wolverines at 5 p.m.
Franklinville 001 301 0 – 5 4 1
Fillmore 103 210 X – 7 9 5
FRA – Kaelyann Graves-Decker (LP) (CG, 6K, 2BB) and Mya Sullivan.
FIL – Mylee Miller (WP) (CG, 7K, 6BB) and Morghyn Ross.
BOYS TENNIS
Fillmore 5, Pembroke 0
HOUGHTON — While the Lady Eagles were taking care of business on the softball field outback of the school, the Fillmore Eagles boys tennis squad returned to the court for the first time this season just down the road inside the Kerr-Pegula FieldHouse in Houghton bright and early Saturday morning, as the defending Class B4 Finalists went to battle with the Pembroke Dragons to open their 2025 campaign.
Just like how most of their season went last Spring, the Eagles picked up where they left off with another signature performance filled with dominance, as they fought tooth and nail with the Dragons to come away as winners in all five matches on the court to record the 5-0 match sweep, earning their first win of the young season along the way.
“It’s always nice to get the season started off on the right foot. Today was fun as former Fillmore and Houghton College player Chase Rangel is the Pembroke coach. He is working hard to develop their program, and it was great to coach against a former player of mine,” Eagles coach Randy Crouch said. “Isaiah (Sisson) and Ezra (Schilke) really got us off to a great start in singles. Both of them played to their strengths and looked sharp for the first match of the year. It was great to see Ezra get his first Varsity win as a seventh grader. We struggled a bit elsewhere, but after some slow starts, we managed to regroup and get the final three wins. Levi Russell has been playing tennis for about three weeks, but he has looked good in getting his first Varsity win in doubles with Ezra Knapp. We have a lot more fine tuning to do before a big matchup coming up after the weekend.”
The brooms were brought out first by both Isaiah Sisson and Ezra Schilke at first and second singles for the Eagles (1-0), with competitors nearly garnering straight-set shutouts to open their seasons, as Sisson recorded a 6-0, 6-2 win over Pembroke’s DJ Hale, while Schilke capitalized on a 6-0, 6-1 win of his own over Logan Manne.
To finish the singles sweep, Carson Sanasith helped the cause with a fierce battle against Angeline Neureuter, surviving to secure a 6-3, 6-1 decision at third singles.
Down in the doubles department, the first doubles duo of Ezra Knapp and Levi Russell outlasted Tyler Koepf and Camden Schneider through a first-set tiebreak to score a resilient and dominant finish to their battle, as they came away 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 winners.
To round off the triumphant performances, Kallan Sanasith and Brayden Walton picked up a 6-2, 6-4 win over Danielle Mast and Paul Tebor at second doubles.
Fillmore is now off until Monday night for their first of back-to-back road trips to open the new week, as they hit the road for a 5 p.m. first serve at Avoca-Prattsburgh.
Singles
1. Isaiah Sisson (FIL) def. DJ Hale (PEM), 6-0, 6-2.
2. Ezra Schilke (FIL) def. Logan Manne (PEM), 6-0, 6-1.
3. Carson Sanasith (FIL) def. Angeline Neureuter (PEM), 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles
1. Ezra Knapp/Levi Russell (FIL) def. Tyler Koepf/Camden Schneider (PEM), 7-6 (7-4), 6-0.
2. Kallan Sanasith/Brayden Walton (FIL) def. Danielle Mast/Paul Tebor (PEM), 6-2, 6-4.
