Friday Roundup: Olean mounts epic 7th inning comeback, walk-off with wild 13-12 win over Lions at Bonas; B-R baseball uses 4-run 3rd, strong defense to hand Fillmore 1st loss

OLEAN — One of the wildest games this season unfolded on the grounds of St. Bonaventure University, Friday night.

In a game where the Lions of Wellsville assumed control to break an early deadlock against Olean, they began to take aim at shutting the door in front of the Huskies. But the hosts in red and yellow would not allow it to happen, keeping the pressure on with a massive sixth inning to cut their game-long deficit all the way down to take the lead heading into the last-ups on offense in the seventh.

In that last frame, all of the excitement in the air boiled over into one of the more thrilling finishes so far this year.

14 combined runs were scored between each team during their final at-bats, with Wellsville ultimately taking the lead away from Olean. After the Lions defense posted two straight outs to push their opposition towards the brink, the Huskies shoved back.

How forceful of a shove? How about an identical seven-run frame.

Down to their final out, the Huskies made the most out of the opportunity in the most clutch of fashions, as they regained their lead for the win after trailing 12-6 going into their last-ups, scoring their penultimate winner on a wild pitch to the backstop, completing a heroic and unbelievable finish to the night at Handler Park with a 13-12 victory to split the season series between the two clubs.

“This is very painful for us, because after getting two outs in the seventh, we only needed one more. I said to the kids after the game that in high school baseball, we needed 21 outs to end the game. They got the 21, we only had 20,” Lions coach Tom Delahunt said. “We hope to learn from this, and even though you’re down two or three runs, or even more than that in the seventh, you’re never out of it. Anything can happen. We have to flush this quickly, and it makes the game tomorrow even more important for us with some redemption on the line.”

Each team traded a run in the first two innings of play to set up a 1-1 tie, with the Lions (4-4) finding their way onto the board first during their first term of offense. The score would remain as such until the middle frames, when Wellsville built on with four unanswered runs, including a pair in the fourth inning that allowed them to take the lead back.

The lead would carry over into the bottom of the sixth until Olean dished out one of their game-ending responses with a five-run frame to take a 6-5 advantage into the final frame. In it, the Lions traded barbs with the Huskies another time with Cooper Brockway’s three-run inside-the-park home run to deep center field igniting a seven-run stand to go back on top with a six-run lead.

The rest of the battle laid solely on the shoulders of the defense from that point forward. Wellsville was able to grab the first two outs of the frame in rapid succession, but although they were pushed to the brink almost immediately, Olean bounced back in one of the biggest ways possible to provide an epic finish, scoring seven straight runs themselves to win the game.

Both squads combined to record 25 runs off 25 total hits at the plate, with the Lions out-hitting the Huskies by a narrow 14-11 count. At the plate, Aiden Cowburn and Cody Costello each recorded two hits, combining to record three triples. On the mound, Cooper Brockway fanned three and walked two in his five-inning start.

The Lions will look to turn things back around this morning back inside the Lion’s Den, if weather permits, as they play host to Canandaigua in an 11 a.m. first pitch.

Wellsville 100 211 7 – 12 14 3

Olean 010 005 7 – 13 11 2

WLSV – Cooper Brockway (3K, 2BB), Karson Grover (6) (3BB), Logan Dunbar (LP, 6) and Alex Green.

OLE – Austin Miles (4K, BB), Cal Vogtli (WP, 7) (2BB) and Aaron Vincent.

Bolivar-Richburg 6, Fillmore 3

FILLMORE — The chance to grab the upper hand at the top of the Allegany County leaderboard early on in the season, is a huge advantage.

In a battle of defending Sectional champions gunning for the County’s top honor once again this season, Bolivar-Richburg and Fillmore delivered another close battle across all fronts that was no different in year’s past. In their series-opening contest, it would take a defining moment to break the game open.

After both teams came together with their first run through two innings of play, the momentum quickly shifted into Bolivar-Richburg’s favor, as the offense caught fire to jump ahead in the lead. Once it was obtained, the Wolverines never let go of it, despite the host Eagles making one last attempt to bounce back late, as they remained a step ahead until the end to close up a huge 6-3 win to hand Fillmore their first loss of the season.

The first run for both sides would come in the opening two frames of play, when the Wolverines (5-3) connected first with an RBI single from Aydin Sisson into left field, plating Trey Buchholz who led off the game with a single of his own. After Fillmore’s responding run came in the second inning to tie the game, Bolivar-Richburg would then let loose in the third with a four-run frame to branch out their lead by using baserunning to their utmost advantage.

Fillmore (4-1) would go on to score the next two runs to trim their deficit down to a single run, including one late in the bottom of the sixth to begin turning up the heat on the Wolverines down the home stretch. But a big fielder’s choice with runners in scoring position during their last term of offense of the game allowed the visitors in black and red to seal up the victory, adding one final piece of much-needed insurance across the plate.

In all, the Wolverines collected six runs off 10 hits, with Landon Barkley’s bat leading the front of the back with three of them. Trey Buchholz and Reiss Gaines each had two hits to chip in. On the mound, Caden Allen went the distance with a four-strikeout, one-walk victory.

On the other side, the Eagles compiled three runs off nine hits, with Brent Zubikowski leading the sticks with two hits each. He would also record four strikeouts during his four-inning stint in relief on the rubber. Fillmore will turn back around and hit the road this morning, if weather permits, as they face Franklinville in an 11 a.m. first pitch.

Bolivar-Richburg is back home Monday night for a 5 p.m. contest against the Bobcats of Hinsdale.

Bolivar-Richburg 104 000 1 – 6 10 1

Fillmore 010 101 0 – 3 9 4

B-R – Caden Allen (WP) (CG, 4K, BB) and Aydin Sisson.

FIL – Damon Potter (2K, BB), Brent Zubikowski (LP, 4) (4K) and Nolan Krzeminski.

Cuba-Rushford 4, Genesee Valley/Belfast 1

BELFAST — Both defenses showcased by Cuba-Rushford and Genesee Valley/Belfast were put on full display all throughout the night at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast, Friday night.

With the battle raging on across the field, at the plate, one team would provide the timely hit to fuel their cause. With the visiting Rebels leading by one going into the final stand, Eli Sleggs ensured victory.

The Cuba-Rushford ace provided the big bat when his team needed it the most in the top of the seventh. In the midst of his complete game performance on the mound, Sleggs provided one of two monster pieces of insurance with Genesee Valley/Belfast right on their tail until the very end, as the Rebels collected their fourth straight win with a 4-1 victory on the road to close out the week.

“It was a battle that had great defensive play on both sides. It was 2-1 going into the seventh, and then they got two more in the seventh. We just couldn't get the comeback we wanted. They got the few hits that dropped, and we couldn't.” said GV/Belfast coach Kevin Scott.

After two scoreless innings were completed, Cuba-Rushford (5-2) found their opening in the top of the third by scratching across the game’s first two runs. With the lead in hand, the defensive battle with Genesee Valley/Belfast resumed with two more shutout innings being conducted by Sleggs and the pitching tandem of Matt Cater and Carter Stout on the mound for the hosts.

Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-5) was able to find their way onto the board for the first time off Sleggs in the bottom of the sixth, cutting their deficit in half with a colossal RBI single into the outfield from Thai Norasethaporn — one of two hits he had to pace the attack.

But in the top of the seventh, Cuba-Rushford answered the bell with a response even bigger from Sleggs, as he poked the penultimate of his three hits down the left field line far enough to score one of their two pieces of insurance, branching their lead out far enough to secure their victory once and for all.

Sleggs went on to complete his game-long outing that consisted of eight strikeouts and two walks to record the win. He would also finish going 3-for-4 at the plate. On the other side, Stout led the Genesee Valley/Belfast pitching with four strikeouts and one walk in relief.

Cuba-Rushford will hit the road again this afternoon, if the rain holds off, as they prepare for a 1 p.m. visit to Canisteo-Greenwood, while Genesee Valley/Belfast now travels to Scio to face off against Friendship/Scio in a 5 p.m. first pitch on Monday.

Cuba-Rushford 002 000 2 – 4 8 1

Genesee Valley/Belfast 000 001 0 – 1 5 2

C-R – Eli Sleggs (WP) (CG, 8K, 2BB) and Sam Grover.

GVB – Matt Cater (LP) (K, 2BB), Carter Stout (5) (4K, BB) and Evan Turybury.

SOFTBALL

Cuba-Rushford 6, Genesee Valley/Belfast 4

BELFAST — Baserunning is key. Whatever way a team reaches base can provide a big boost towards making an impactful footprint in the game. Because of it, the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford were able to get the first step they wanted in the opening frame, opening with their biggest frame of the night to garner the lead.

With control of the driver’s seat, they would see some added pressure from host Genesee Valley/Belfast later on, especially in the middle frames when they inched as close as a single run. But despite it, Cuba-Rushford was able to put the game away with one final piece of insurance before turning the game over to their defense to hold Genesee Valley/Belfast scoreless the last three innings of play to score the 6-4 edge on Friday in Belfast.

Right in the opening inning, each team was able to find their way onto the board. For the Lady Rebels (4-2), it was a frame where they amassed their largest spurt of offense, scoring three key runs to ultimately grab the lead and never let go of it. Although they found their way ahead, Genesee Valley/Belfast was never too far behind as the game went on.

Down 5-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, their best chance to turn the heat up on the visitors in gray and blue came with a three-run response of their own, decreasing their deficit down to a single run. In the top of the fifth however, Cuba-Rushford was able to garner one final piece of insurance to branch their lead back out to a pair before handing the game over to their defense to keep the hosts in check for the remainder of the way, dealing three straight shutout innings.

Sydney Howard and Jordyn Radomski each had a hand in that big success for the Lady Rebels, with Howard garnering the win in the circle behind six strikeouts. In relief, Radomski added four more strikeouts upon entry in the sixth inning. At the plate, it was the top of the order that carried the bulk of the team’s eight hits, with Aubrey Williams, Taylor Searle and Riley Keller all recording two hits each.

On the other side, Hannah Southwick-Powers tallied three of Genesee Valley/Belfast’s (3-2) eight hits, including a triple. In the circle, she would add seven strikeouts and four walks during her start that lasted into the fifth inning. The hosts in black and gray will return to action Monday night in Scio, visiting Friendship/Scio in a 5 p.m. first pitch.

Cuba-Rushford will hop back onto the field this afternoon, if weather permits, as they visit Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg for a 1 p.m. contest.

Cuba-Rushford 300 210 0 – 6 8

Genesee Valley/Belfast 100 300 0 – 4 8

C-R – Sydney Howard (WP) (6K), Jordyn Radomski (6) (4K) and Riley Keller.

GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (7K, 4BB), Ashley Burrows (5) (3K, 4BB), Southwick-Powers (6) and Jenna Hill.

Bolivar-Richburg 22, Fillmore 1

FILLMORE — One night after delivering the victory in the midst of their tight defensive battle against Friendship/Scio, Malayna Ayers shifted the momentum to the plate. And it was in the biggest of ways possible.

The Bolivar-Richburg senior would simply not be denied at the plate, as she blasted a pair of home runs — a two-run jack and later on, a grand slam, finishing one hit shy of going for the cycle, totaling nine RBI in all when the night was over to uplift the Lady Wolverines offense towards a 22-1 road win in Fillmore on Friday to close out three straight nights in the win column.

The Lady Wolverines (5-0) accounted scoring in six of the seven innings of action, including the first five, setting the tone right away with a 4-0 lead during their first at-bats against the Lady Eagles. Little by little, the visitors in black and red continued to add onto their lead until the big finish in the seventh, when they posted 13 final runs to close up shop.

Fillmore (2-5) was able to avoid the shutout being conducted by Bolivar-Richburg, as Skylar Gaddy recorded a fielder’s choice into the infield to account for the team’s lone run in the bottom of the seventh.

In all, Bolivar-Richburg recorded 22 runs off 18 hits at the plate, with Haley Mascho added more damage of her own by going 2-for-5 with a double and four more RBI to drive in. McKinlee Harris scored two hits and had two RBI of her own. In the circle, the win belonged to Harris, as she went the distance with 11 strikeouts and three walks.

For the hosts in black and green, Gaddy along with Oakley Frazier each recorded a single. Mylee Miller struck out three and walked seven during her start that went into the seventh inning.

Both teams will be back in action Monday night in a pair of 5 p.m. first pitches, as Bolivar-Richburg takes aim at a sixth straight win to open their season with a visit from Campbell-Savona, while Fillmore looks to rebound with Andover/Whitesville coming to town.

Bolivar-Richburg 411 210 (13) – 22 18 0

Fillmore 000 000 1 – 1 2 2

B-R – McKinlee Harris (WP) (CG, 11K, 3BB) and Madigan Harris.

FIL – Mylee Miller (LP) (3K, 7BB), Mercedes Wolcott (7) (BB) and Oakley Frazier.

GOLF

Hornell 225, Wellsville 230

HORNELL — Although Ethan Bailey continues to author a brilliant start to his senior season for the Lions of Wellsville, the day would ultimately belong to their archrivals to the east in Hornell, as the Red Raiders did just enough on the scorecard to swipe away a narrow and thrilling 225-230 win over the Lions at Twin Hickory Golf Club to close out the week on Friday.

Hornell was paced by deadlocking match-low round of 50 from Alex Norton, who tied Bailey for the match’s medalist honors at the end of the action. McKenna Donlon followed behind with a 57, while Kenny Graham provided a 58. Rachel Holbrook chipped in with a 60, while Dakota Soles rounded off with a 63.

Finishing behind Bailey’s round of 50 for the Lions (2-3) was Fletcher Kaye, who carded a 59. Jackson Shoughrue fired a round of 60. Payson Root had a 61, while Noah Brogan concluded the scoring for Wellsville with a 62.

Wellsville is back on the road Monday night with a visit to Ischua Valley Country Club in Franklinville, as they meet the Hinsdale Bobcats for a 4 p.m. tee time.

BOYS TENNIS

Campbell-Savona 4, Wellsville 1

CAMPBELL — Shane Davidson and Jayden Acker were able to get their hands on a hard-fought victory in first doubles competition for the Lions of Wellsville, but in Friday’s road trip to Campbell-Savona, but the host Panthers used a complete sweep of all three singles matches to power up a strong 4-1 home win.

Davidson and Acker overcame a first set defeat to the Panthers with a brilliant bounce back in the remaining two sets, as they took away a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 decision for the Lions (1-5).

Wellsville is back on the road Monday night with a 5 p.m. first serve at Bolivar-Richburg.

Andover/Whitesville 3, Bolivar-Richburg 2

ALMOND — With both Bolivar-Richburg and Andover/Whitesville taking two matches each, the battle would come down to the last remaining bout on the court — the first doubles match.

It would be forced into a lengthy third-set tiebreak, where back and forth points were exchanged between the two duos. But in the end, Taegan McCrea and Kori Carlin collected the last two points needed in a 10-8 victory to lay claim on the final set and the victory for Andover/Whitesville, as they squeezed past the Wolverines in Almond with a 3-2 match win on Friday.

The first doubles thriller was part of a doubles sweep that Andover/Whitesville was able to secure, with the second doubles team of Isabella Potter and Zoe Baert helping the cause with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Bolivar-Richburg’s Nebula Wilson-Smith and Alex Parker. The final win for the hosts came at third singles from Elden Terhune, who fought off a late second set push from Guinevere Coats to wrap up a 6-1, 6-4 triumph.

Bolivar-Richburg (0-5) garnered the last two wins in the singles department from both Anthony Densmore (6-4, 6-3) and Ben Kisel (6-4, 6-2), both squeezing their way through tight battles at first and second singles respectively to claim victory over Will Kent and Trey Kent.

Both teams are back on the court Monday night in a pair of 5 p.m. first serves, as Andover/Whitesville stays put in Almond to welcome in Fillmore, while Bolivar-Richburg heads back home to play host to Wellsville.

Singles

1. Anthony Densmore (B-R) def. Will Kent (A/W), 6-4, 6-3.

2. Ben Kisel (B-R) def. Trey Kent (A/W), 6-4, 6-2.

3. Elden Terhune (A/W) def. Guinevere Coats (B-R), 6-1, 6-4.

Doubles

1. Taegan McCrea/Kori Carlin (A/W) def. Zane Pangburn/Dylan Crawford (B-R), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8).

2. Isabella Potter/Zoe Baert (A/W) def. Nebula Wilson-Smith/Alex Parker (B-R), 6-0, 6-2.

Fillmore 5, Genesee Valley/Belfast 0

HOUGHTON — The Eagles of Fillmore put together a dominant finish to the week on Friday, stringing together all five victories on the tennis court once more, this time against visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast at Houghton University, as they rolled their way towards a 5-0 sweep to start their season with three straight wins.

Eben Schilke and Isaiah Sisson led the victories with strong performances at first and second singles, each garnering 6-1, 6-0 wins over Genesee Valley/Belfast’s (1-2) Dominic Marra and James Frawley, respectively. At third singles, Marcus Wolfer battled tough with Spencer Rambaran at third singles, but came away triumphant with a 6-1, 6-3 decision for the Eagles (3-0).

In the doubles department, the first doubles team of Jack Boon and Joe Derck propelled their ascension towards victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Luke Snyder and Gavin Kenyon, while Carson Sanasith and Henry Decker assisted in finishing off the match win with a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Liliana Porter and Larry Geffers at second doubles.

“It was a great team effort today, and a great way to cap off the week,” said Eagles coach Randy Crouch. “We finally got a chance to get a practice in yesterday, and work on some specific skills. The guys really did a great job of showing improvement and putting those drills into use today. We will need to keep building, with nine matches in the next 11 days starting Monday.”

Both teams resume play on Monday in a pair of 5 p.m. first serves, as Fillmore hits the road to Almond where they will meet with Andover/Whitesville, while Genesee Valley/Belfast looks to find the win column again with a trip to Houghton Academy.

Singles

1. Eben Schilke (FIL) def. Dominic Marra (GVB), 6-1, 6-0.

2. Isaiah Sisson (FIL) def. James Frawley (GVB), 6-1, 6-0.

3. Marcus Wolfer (FIL) def. Spencer Rambaran (GVB), 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles

1. Jack Boon/Joe Derck (FIL) def. Luke Snyder/Gavin Kenyon (GVB), 6-2, 6-0.

2. Carson Sanasith/Henry Decker (FIL) def. Liliana Porter/Larry Geffers (GVB), 6-2, 6-1.

TRACK

Bolivar-Richburg at Salamanca - No report.