Saturday Roundup: Wolverines capture home tourney title, sweep action with wins vs. C-G, C-R; Lady Lions win 9th straight with rout of Ellicottville
BOLIVAR — In recent memory, the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg have come close to winning their annual home tournament multiple times, but have come up on the short end each time.
Until Saturday, when a chance for redemption in the tournament’s title game came about as they faced their storied rivals Cuba-Rushford for the second of now-three times this season. The first being this past Monday, when the Rebels completed a seventh-inning comeback to defeat Bolivar-Richburg.
Although the Rebels were able to get the jumpstart once again, the Wolverines made sure it wasn’t the same case scenario again, as they posted five unanswered runs in the first two innings to pull ahead, and for good, as they forced the 10-run rule to win their annual home tournament by a 12-2 count in six innings.
It was a win that completed what was an up-and-down week for Wolverines longtime skipper, Dustin Allen.
“It’s been a rollercoaster week. We had a good game with Cuba on Monday, but it didn’t go the way that we hoped it would,” he said. “But we turned it around with three big wins this week. I’m really impressed with the kids and the hard work they put in. They’re starting to come around, and we struggled a little with some control, but there was a lot of energy, there was some hustle, despite a long day. It’s been a few years since we last took our home tournament, but hats off to the other teams that came to play, they all battled.”
In order to get there, the Wolverines (5-2) had to get past Canisteo-Greenwood to open the day bright and early in the morning, as they fought through a pair of scoreless innings before they opened up the scoring with seven of the first eight runs, starting in the bottom of the third with a 3-0 lead.
After the Redskins got their run on the board, the Wolverines pulled away with four in the bottom of the fourth. Wayne Karnuth had one of the big bats for the hosts in black and red, going 2-for-4 with a triple. Camdyn MacDonell belted a two-run triple to help the cause, while Alex MacDonell added in an RBI single of his own.
On the mound, Caden Allen earned the win with six strikeouts and three walks in his four inning start. He would combine with Wyatt Karnuth to deliver a three-hit performance of the Redskins.
In game two, more of the same despite the Rebels starting the nightcap with a 1-0 lead in the first. But it was an advantage that was short-lived, as Bolivar-Richburg’s offense came to life with the next five runs to propel to the front permanently to force the 10-run rule after six innings, capturing their first home tournament crown in recent memory.
Landon Danaher and Trey Buchholz came together to hold Cuba-Rushford to a single hit at the plate, with Danaher handing out seven chairs and walking four in his five-inning victory. Buchholz added in two strikeouts of his own, as well as the team’s big bat, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored.
Allen added in a two-run triple, while Wayne Karnuth and Alex MacDonell each had two hits. For the Rebels, Noah Seigel had the team’s lone hit off a single, scoring one of the team’s two runs later on. On the mound, Jon White struck out one and walked one in his five-inning start.
After the tournament, Danaher was named as MVP, with Wayne Karnuth and Alex MacDonell receiving All-Tourney nods, while Seigel, Trent Chamberlain and Benson McCumiskey earned All-Tourney nominations for the Rebels.
Bolivar-Richburg will go for their sixth win in the last eight on Monday, when they welcome in Whitesville for a 7 p.m. battle.
Game 1
Canisteo-Greenwood 000 100 – 1 3 6
Bolivar-Richburg 003 422 – 11 7 3
C-G – D. McCaffery (LP) (4BB), Boyd (5) (2K), and Houghtaling.
B-R – Caden Allen (WP) (6K, 3BB), Wyatt Karnuth (5) (K, 2BB), and Brayden Ellis, Wayne Karnuth (6).
Game 2
Cuba-Rushford 100 100 – 2 1 3
Bolivar-Richburg 230 223 – 12 12 3
C-R – Jon White (LP) (K, BB), Austin Pinney (6), and Logan Lewis.
B-R – Landon Danaher (WP) (7K, 4BB), Trey Buchholz (6) (2K), and Brayden Ellis.
Rebels split B-R Tourney with 1st round win over Honeoye
BOLIVAR — The Rebels were able to get to this year’s tournament title game at Bolivar-Richburg on Saturday, but to get there, they had to climb over a hurdle in the shape of Honeoye to start their day.
After the Bulldogs got on the board with a 1-0 lead in the first, the Rebels offense exploded.
Cuba-Rushford went on to score the next 10 runs in the first two innings of play, earning a lead that they would never lose again, as they forced the 10-run rule after five innings of play in their first round contest, advancing to the title game later that night with a 19-4 victory over Honeoye.
“It was enjoyable going over to Bolivar, it always is,” said Rebels coach Pat Wight. “They were good, competitive games for the most part. In the nightcap, we got a quick start with that run in the first, but Bolivar played absolutely flawlessly. They held down the gas, and didn’t let go of it. But if you would have told me that we would split the games for the day and go 1-1, I couldn’t be more pleased with that.”
Three different Rebels (4-3) connected with three-hit days at the plate, as the team scored at least two runs across all five innings, with their biggest outing coming in the bottom of the second, extending their 4-1 lead to nine when they scored a six-run frame, branching their lead insurmountably to lock down the first round win.
Among the big Cuba-Rushford bats, was Noah Seigel, who went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple and four total RBI. Landon Wight also drove in four runs off three hits, including a double, while Cameron Dunlap recorded three hits of his own, and drove in two runs.
On the hill, Trent Chamberlain posted the complete game performance for the win, fanning five and walking four in his tossed six-hitter.
Cuba-Rushford continues their road swing with a 5 p.m. battle in Hinsdale after a few days off, on Wednesday.
Honeoye 102 01 – 4 6 3
Cuba-Rushford 465 22 – 19 18 0
HON – Logan Thomas (LP) (4BB), Cam Allison (3) (K, 2BB), Billy Covey (5) (2K, 3BB), and John Gawel.
C-R – Trent Chamberlain (WP) (CG, 5K, 4BB), and Logan Lewis.
SOFTBALL
Wellsville 16, Ellicottville 1 (F-6)
WELLSVILLE – The Lady Lions of Wellsville are in the midst of a five-game stretch in six days, with their last home game against Ellicottville, Saturday afternoon before hitting the road for a pair in a 48-hour span beginning the next day.
With the team already rolling fast and furiously with eight straight wins in their back pocket, Wellsville continued to show no signs of slowing down, as they continued rekindling their flame with another massive victory at Tullar Field with a 12-run third inning that paced their eventual 16-1 win over Ellicottville.
It was another stellar showing on both sides for the Lady Lions, winners of nine straight (9-0), as Makenzie Cowburn provided another gem from within the circle, while two big bats provided their first career home runs in the midst of the slugfest.
Cowburn led the Wellsville defense by twirling a four-hit victory, her sixth of the season, striking out 10 Ellicottville batters. At this point of the season, the Wellsville ace has struck out 78 total batters and has only drawn seven walks.
On offense, it was Marissa Ordway and Maddie Spicer both leading the charge with their first career home runs at the plate, with Ordway helping fuel the team's 12-run third inning with a three-run bomb. Later on, Spicer would add hers in the form of a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning to officially close out the game, via 15-run mercy rule.
Emma Dunaway and Mallory Sibble both collected three hits including a double, with Dunaway driving in a run and scoring twice. Carly Young drove in three runs off two hits, and scored two runs of her own while Matti Burke contributed two hits, and scored twice.
“Makenzie Cowburn continues to pitch well, and comes ready to compete every time out. Emma Dunaway has really been swinging the bat well this season. We are playing really well.” said Lady Lions coach Matt Burke.
Wellsville's swing continues with a Sunday afternoon battle over the road, as they prepare to take on the Addison Lady Knights in a doubleheader, starting at 1:30 p.m.
Ellicottville 00 0 100 – 1 4 5
Wellsville 00(12) 013 – 16 16 0
ELL – Courtney Sexton (LP) (CG, 2K, 3BB), and Allison Rowland.
WLSV – Makenzie Cowburn (WP) (CG, 10K), and Matti Burke.
