GV/Belfast makes most of chances, outlast State-ranked Avoca-Prattsburgh in special teams battle to collect massive 3-1 home win; will finish regular season tonight vs. C-G

BELMONT — It was a game of limited opportunity in the Jungle on a rare Sunday night for softball in Belmont. With massive Sectional positioning up for grabs for both Avoca-Prattsburgh and Genesee Valley/Belfast in their respective classes, they were going to need all the momentum in the world to start making their move up the chain.

Between both squads, it was a clash that elongated just over an hour in play time, featuring just three runs and five combined hits at the plate.

The Lady Titans squirmed their way free in their first meeting early on this Spring, but Genesee Valley/Belfast made sure they weren’t going to let it happen again. Despite the visitors going up with the game’s first lead, the hosts, currently seeded third in Class C2, doubled their money in the bottom of the second to jump ahead, adding one more major piece of insurance along the way to hang on for dear life to split the season series in half with a 3-1 win.

“It was a good game to be a part of. Hannah (Powers) was composed and solid pitching,” said GV/Belfast coach Brooke Bradt. “We produced runs when we needed to. We had a couple of errors throughout the game, but fortunately for us, they didn’t come back to haunt us at all. This was a big win to have.”

Immediately following a rapid fire 1-2-3 inning for each defense to start the first inning, the scoring then came right behind it, beginning with the Lady Titans breaking the ice with the first run of the game. Genesee Valley/Belfast (15-4) came right back with a vengeance by multiplying their retort to Avoca-Prattsburgh, with Madison and Morgan Yackeren going back-to-back to reach base. Both eventually found their way across home plate to put the hosts ahead — one of them on an RBI groundout from Addison Bradt.

The two teams traded quick innings once again in the third inning leading up to a massive piece of insurance coming across in the fourth inning for Genesee Valley/Belfast, as Madison Yackeren utilized a passed ball before the next three hitters went down in order to create a 3-1 lead.

From the top of the fifth inning going forward, the rest of the action was on Hannah Powers’ shoulders. Out of the last nine batters she faced, the Genesee Valley/Belfast senior handed out six strikeouts, including a back-to-back sequence in the top of the seventh to close up the victory out on top.

Powers concluded a stellar complete game performance with 13 strikeouts, holding Avoca-Prattsburgh to just three hits.

In return, Genesee Valley/Belfast had just two, with Madison Yackeren and Jenna Hill each having one.

For the Lady Titans, Meyah Putnam went 2-for-3, while Ellie Harrell had a hit to chip in. On the mound, Payton Hopkins also went the distance with four strikeouts and a walk in her twirled two-hitter.

Genesee Valley/Belfast will bring the curtain down on their regular season back in the Jungle tonight, hosting the Canisteo-Greenwood Lady Chargers at 5 p.m.

Avoca-Prattsburgh 010 000 0 – 1 3 2

Genesee Valley/Belfast 020 100 X – 3 2 3

A-P – Payton Hopkins (LP) (CG, 4K, BB) and Brooke Vanskiver.

GVB – Hannah Powers (WP) (CG, 13K) and Jenna Hill.