Fiery bats, Ordway and Dunbar’s combined gem assists Lady Lions in 3-0 start, carry momentum into Spring Break trip with 18-0 shutout of Clymer/Sherman

WELLSVILLE — Back on Thursday, Wellsville head coach Matt Burke noted the importance of the team’s season-opening momentum shift. In this game, having that certain element within your possession is a pretty big advantage to have. Especially when you’re about to leave town for the next week to face some unfamiliar competition down south over Spring Break.

After starting their first two games of the season against Allegany-Limestone and Falconer red hot, a third and final season-opening battle with Section VI competition came on Saturday in the form of Clymer/Sherman for their Diamond of Honor afternoon.

Like the past couple of games, the weather conditions played a role in getting the engine fired up bright and early. But once the pistons started firing, they would show no signs of slowing down.

Behind another combined twirled gem in the circle, this time by the combination of Marissa Ordway and Makenna Dunbar, the Lady Lions were able to take care of business with a 3-0 start to their back-to-back Class B2 title defense with another shutout, using a nine-run second inning to set a tone loud enough to earn an 18-0 victory at Tullar Field.

“Marissa did an excellent job today pounding the strike zone to get ahead of the hitters early,” Burke said. “Her curveball was working really well. Offensively, it was nice to see our team swinging the bats well collectively. It was nice to see Makenzie (Cowburn) put a lot of good swings on the ball. Brazen (Beckwith) and Natalie (Adams) were sharp on defense for us making plays, and Lindsay (Stuck) and Averee (Palmatier) both have continued to swing the bats well. It’s always nice to play well in front of a lot of fans for the Diamond of Honor game.”

Following a 1-2-3 tenure on defense for both sides across the first inning of play, the Lady Lions (3-0) would mount a full head of steam going into the bottom of the second after a strong finish on defense to begin. The first three at-bats would see the hosts in black and orange load the bags behind the Clymer/Sherman defense.

With it, the opportunity to strike came moments later with Lindsay Stuck igniting the fireworks with a two-run double to the deepest part of the field, in center back towards the fence. A slew of additional RBIs would stretch across an inning that would see the Lady Lions go through their batting order a full term, ending with a humongous three-run nuke off the bat of Makenzie Cowburn to finish what was a nine-run frame.

Wellsville would add in six more runs in the bottom of the third inning to continue extending their lead, paced by a two-run double by Makenna Dunbar. They would then finish off the victory with three final runs in the fourth. On defense, the Lady Lions would hold Clymer/Sherman to just two hits across another twirled gem by both Ordway and Dunbar in the circle.

Ordway received winning honors behind four strikeouts during her start that stretched into the fourth inning. From that point on, Dunbar put the finishing touches on a five-strikeout relief appearance.

At the plate, nearly every Lady Lion accounted for at least a hit, with Cowburn and Stuck leading with three. Ordway, Emma Dunaway, Brazen Beckwith, Averee Palmatier and Hailey Lanphier all had two hits each to pitch in.

After the game reached its conclusion, the Wellsville Softball program officially took part in inducting this year’s Diamond of Honor Class of 2023 which featured Rayanna Anderson, Amy Lorshbaugh Coyle, Jennifer Mattison Langborgh and Katie Thomas Nixon and her father — the late Ronald Thomas.

A full press release and photos of the ceremony will be available soon.

As for the team itself, they now journey down south to Virginia for their first game beginning on Monday, as they visit Eleanor Roosevelt for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

Clymer/Sherman 000 00 – 0 2 3

Wellsville 096 3X – 18 19 0

C/S – Ellie Bodamer (LP) (CG, K, 2BB) and Raegan Bates.

WLSV – Marissa Ordway (WP) (4K), Makenna Dunbar (4) (5K) and Brazen Beckwith.