Wednesday Roundup: Fillmore golf clinches 5th straight County title, honor 4 Seniors after team’s home win over GV/Belfast; Corning ends Wellsville’s 29-game home win streak in clash of State ranks
RUSHFORD — Time is beginning to wind down for all four of Fillmore's Seniors – Will Roeske, Isaac Sylvester, Emma Cole and Haley Hall. With Graduation just a little over a month away, they hit the course for one of their very last times together on Wednesday to celebrate the annual night of dedication and reflection – Senior Night.
Turns out, that very same night would also be the time where Fillmore officially put their fifth straight bow on the Allegany County Championship, as the four Seniors were sent out with style by taking a balanced effort across the board and using it to fuel a 37.5-17.5 victory over Genesee Valley/Belfast at Allegany Hills in Rushford.
“It was a great night of golf with GV/Belfast,” said Eagles coach Tom Parks. “The weather was perfect. Both teams have a large number of players, so in addition to the normal match, we had an exhibition as well with our practice squad, so everyone was involved tonight. Reid (Cockle) had a really nice round tonight as our medalist, and overall our scores were very similar. On any given night, we don't take any crazy low scores that will knock your socks off, but at the same time no one blows up and takes costly high scores.”
Cockle fired the medalist round to pace the Fillmore (8-0) scorecard, as he earned the top honors with his team-low of 48 to help set up shop. Haley Hall and Will Roeske followed with rounds of 53 and 57 respectively. Isaac Sylvester pitched in with a 59, and Anderson Wiltsey rounded off with his round of 60.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-7) was led by a team-low round of 58 from Will Guilford. Addy Herring collected a 60. Deric Grantier and Chris Weaver each provided a 61, while Dakota Hemphill rounded off with a 63. The JagDogs will head back home to the Wellsville Country Club today for a 4 p.m. tee time slated against Arkport/Canaseraga.
As for his Seniors, Parks said he feels very fortunate to have been their coach.
“I'm very proud of our Seniors,” he said. “Haley has been here the longest, and she's our “Ms. Consistent.” Isaac spent all of last year on our practice squad, and he's been in every match with us this year. This is Will's first time out with us, and he's playing like a veteran. Emma found her way into our match roster this year, and I have been very fortunate to have been able to coach her in all three sports seasons this year. I am so thankful to have been their coach.”
Fillmore will also return to the links today with another 4 p.m. tee time back at Allegany Hills, as they host the Lions of Wellsville.
Bolivar-Richburg 33, Hinsdale 22
BOLIVAR — Despite the medalist round being recorded by the Bobcats of Hinsdale, host Bolivar-Richburg brought everything together to provide a even-balanced scorecard, with Parker Worth shooting his best round of the season to lead the Wolverines towards a victory on their home turf, a 33-22 decision over Hinsdale at the Bolivar Golf Club on Wednesday.
Worth led all Wolverines (3-4) on the links with his team-low round of 49. Roman Johnston followed up with a round of 57. Ryder Easton and Ryan Greeson concluded with rounds of 60 and 61 respectively, while Anthony Donoghue rounded off the home scorecard with a 65.
Hinsdale (2-7) was led by the medalist round of 48, which was shot by Parker Keenan.
Both teams will wrap up the home-at-home series today at the Ischua Valley Country Club in Franklinville, beginning at 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS
Campbell-Savona 3, Wellsville 2
WELLSVILLE — On Wednesday, the Lions rang in Senior Night with their final home match of the regular season with Campbell-Savona in for a visit. And what a match it was, with multiple bouts seeing back and forth exchanges that could have gone in either direction.
After the smoke cleared and the battle was over, the night belonged to the visiting Panthers, as they were able to survive with a pair of singles and huge first doubles victories in the end to sneak out of town by playing spoiler with a 3-2 victory over the Lions.
Wellsville (4-6) saw Matt Bittel come away with one of their two victories in the match, as he fought his way through a tight first-set tiebreak against Campbell-Savona's Nicholas Reed, and coasted towards the straight-set, 7-5, 6-1 win.
The Lions final win came from their second doubles team of Mohamed Ahmed and Keaton Sharpe, as they battled back and forth through both sets to come away as winners with a 6-2, 6-4 win.
In perhaps the match-deciding battle at first doubles, both Wellsville and Campbell-Savona would split a tiebreak through the first two sets, with the Panthers grabbing the first over Adam Iantorno and Hua Qui Zhang before they responded with one of their own to force it towards a third and final set.
That would help provide a strong finish for the Panthers doubles team of Ethan Enderle and Trentyn Grant, as they rolled their way towards a third-set shutout to lay claim on a 7-6, 5-7, 6-0 decision to capture match victory in the end.
Wellsville will get set for Sectional play, which begins next week.
Singles
1. Matt Bittel (WLSV) def. Nicholas Reed (C-S), 7-5, 6-1.
2. Sam Kephart (C-S) def. Ryan Carlton (WLSV), 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
3. Sage Brinkerhoff (C-S) def. Ryan Haggerty (WLSV), 6-2, 7-6.
Doubles
1. Ethan Enderle/Trentyn Grant (C-S) def. Adam Iantorno/Hua Qui Zhang (WLSV) 7-6, 5-7, 6-0.
2. Mohamed Ahmed/Keaton Sharpe (WLSV) def. Ethan Bonicave/Ethan Ignatz (C-S), 6-2, 6-4.
BASEBALL
Friendship/Scio 13, Lima Christian 3 (F-6)
LIMA — Ethan Davenport was a one-man wrecking crew for Friendship/Scio on Wednesday, as he delivered epic performances at both the plate and on the mound, charging up a big road win after six innings over host Lima Christian by a 13-3 count.
Friendship/Scio (6-9) was able to connect with a quick start that they were able to build from, as they scored a pair of big innings on offense beginning in the first, setting the tone right away against the Saints with a seven-run frame that gave them the room they needed to secure the victory.
Davenport was absolutely solid on the hill keeping Lima Christian at a standstill across all six innings, as he struck out a season-high 13 batters to go with his one walk, holding the Saints to just five hits on offense while he provided the jet fuel in turn at the plate, going 3-for-5 and driving in five total runs.
Kody Marvin helped the cause with three hits himself, driving in a run. In all, Friendship/Scio's offense produced 13 runs off 17 total hits, scoring a quick 7-0 lead before ending the night with their last six runs coming in the visiting half of the sixth.
There will be a quick turnaround tonight for Friendship/Scio, as they head down the road to Belmont to face host Genesee Valley/Belfast in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Friendship/Scio 702 006 – 13 17 3
Lima Christian 000 301 – 3 5 2
F/S – Ethan Davenport (WP) (CG, 13K, BB), and Landen Arnold.
LC – Evan Herring (LP) (3K, 3BB), Caleb Welker (1) (5K, BB), Elijah Mason (6) (4K, 2BB), and Curtis Welker.
SOFTBALL
Corning 4, Wellsville 2
WELLSVILLE — When you play the third-ranked Class AA team in New York State, some of the hard shots that get through an infield die in a glove. And some of the pitches are placed in the perfect spot when you are hitting with two strikes.
The Wellsville softball team witnessed that for a few innings as they hosted Corning Wednesday night at Tullar Field before another large crowd.
When Wellsville (16-3), also ranked No. 3 in the state, in Class B, settled in, a home run and some dazzling plays made it a 3-2 game.
However, Corning (15-1) added an insurance run in the sixth and held on for a 4-2 win.
"(Wellsville coach Matt Burke) and I had been talking for a year now about putting a matchup together, and who would've thunk at this moment in time, both teams would be ranked No. 3 in the state in their respective classes?" said Corning coach Mike Johnston. "It was great for me as a coach, 32 years into it and I haven't played Wellsville in forever, other than boys basketball when Coach (Jerry) Jusianiec's son (Max) was playing here. It was kind of neat because I was born in Alfred. For me to come back this way and to see how competitive they are, I think Wellsville has a great shot to go a long way."
Kelsey Booker blasted an opposite field home run to give Corning a 1-0 lead in the second. The lead went to 3-0 when Atalyia Rijo doubled in a run and scored on a groundout RBI by Kelli Zoerb.
Marley Adams made a couple great plays at short and Makenna Dunbar made an outstanding catch in left to keep Corning off the board. That set up the offense.
With two outs in the fifth, Brazen Beckwith turned an 0-2 count into a full count, fouled off two more pitches and walked. Four pitches later, Makenzie Cowburn blasted a home run over the left-center fence at Tullar that was gone when it left the bat.
"They were very competitive and they had us on the ropes when they cut it to 3-2 on the home run," Johnston said. "(Cowburn) actually hit that off of one leg on a screwball which is a heck of a hit and it means she has a lot of power and she's long."
In the top of the sixth, Ellie DeRose led off with a double and scored when Kendyl Curreri reached. But Beckwith threw a runner out to Natalie Adams at third and then Adams made an outstanding play at third to get the final out. But Corning was able to keep Wellsville off the board in the final frame.
"I couldn't be happier, granted we lost but, boy, our ladies played well and I am very, very proud," said Wellsville coach Matt Burke. "That's a really, really good softball team we lost to. Makenzie pitched a super game and Brazen caught a super game and we really did a nice job offensively putting pressure on them and getting on base. We just couldn't come up with a big hit here or there, but my goodness, I'm very proud of how we played."
Marley Adams, Emma Dunaway, Marissa Ordway and Makenna Dunbar had hits for Wellsville.
"They have pitching, they have hitting and Coach Burke said they have a couple kids who can throw a little bit if they need to change things up," Johnston said. "(Cowburn) did it on the mound. We need to see pitching like that to get ready for the postseason. We knew what we were getting into, we knew they were good. Kudos to coach Burke for reaching out and wanting to play a bigger school."
Wellsville saw an outstanding lefty and a righty, which will help the team in Sectionals.
"We try to mix our pitchers, whoever is the hot-hand gets the circle. I'm not afraid at any moment's notice in the middle of the count, in the middle of the batter," Johnston said. "We've been fortunate. And it comes from hard-work from the kids. They do a lot of work on their own and play high-level travel ball. They are very coachable for us. There are some things we need to improve upon, we had a couple kids back and they looked raw, but this is the stretch run and you have to be playing your best softball and you have to be on-point as far as getting signs and running bases and reacting and playing the game like you have a high IQ. We want higher-level thinkers, and if we want to be successful, that's our plan, and we are going to win."
Burke was impressed with Corning and the way the Lions played together.
"Corning had two very good pitchers they threw at us and we hit the ball hard. Their infielders made tremendous plays and their shortstop (Atalyia Rijo) is a tremendous player," Burke said. "A ball hits the hole or drops it might be a different story, but I'm looking at the process and how we worked. Boy, we have good team chemistry and a talented team and I'm very thankful to be the coach. It's just a really, really good situation for Wellsville softball."
Bishop Kearney is at Wellsville on Saturday in a 7 p.m. first pitch.
"Every game we've had at home this year, the Wellsville community has come out in great numbers and have been supportive," Burke said. "I can't say enough about it. It's something we look forward to, the energy playing at home. This ends the 29-game win streak for us at home, but we'll try to start a new one."
Corning 012 001 0 – 4 4 3
Wellsville 000 020 0 – 2 5 2
COR – Peyton Sullivan (WP) (K, 2BB), Jillian Austin (4) (3K, 2BB), and Kelsey Booker.
WLSV – Makenzie Cowburn (LP) (CG, 4K, 2BB), and Brazen Beckwith.
Bolivar-Richburg 17, Cuba-Rushford 2 (F-5)
RICHBURG — The Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg started their third game in four nights red hot on Wednesday.
With Cuba-Rushford in town for a visit, the hosts wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity to break down the door. After a 1-1 tie through the opening at-bats, the Lady Wolverines found their rhythm from that point on by scoring the next 16 unanswered runs to pull away and out of their reach to take a 17-2 win in five innings.
After the Lady Rebels found a way to break it open in the opening frame with the game's first run, Bolivar-Richburg (13-1) would soon take over from there, as the team scored 17 straight runs to springboard ahead into the driver's seat, 10 of those runs coming in the bottom of the fourth to push their lead insurmountably, ultimately forcing the 10-run rule.
Three different hitters recorded at least a pair of hits and a pair of RBI to lead the offense for Bolivar-Richburg, with Jessica Majot charging the efforts with a 3-for-4 outing to go with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored. Malayna Ayers added in two hits of her own, driving in three more runs while scoring twice, while Haley Mascho had two hits, three RBI and three runs scored.
In addition to the offense's success, Maddy Thornton drove in a pair of runs, while McKinlee Harris provided a triple. Harris would also go forth to collect the victory from within the circle, handing out three chairs while holding Cuba-Rushford (4-10) to just five hits in the complete game triumph.
On the other side, the Lady Rebels were led by Lillian Forward, who had two of the team's five hits, driving in one. Aubrey Williams chipped in with a double. On the mound, Sydney Howard struck out one and walked three in her three-inning tenure. Cuba-Rushford will get set to visit Fillmore for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Monday.
Bolivar-Richburg will now prepare to hit the road on Friday, visiting Andover/Whitesville for a 6 p.m. contest in Andover.
Cuba-Rushford 100 0 1 – 2 5 1
Bolivar-Richburg 115 (10 )X – 17 12 1
C-R – Sydney Howard (LP) (K, 3BB), Lizzy Kocsis (4) (K, 4BB), and Riley Keller.
B-R – McKinlee Harris (WP) (CG, 3K), and Maddy Thornton.
Friendship/Scio 21, Lima Christian 0 (F-5)
FRIENDSHIP — The Friendship/Scio ladies struck every chord in their return to the field back home on Wednesday, as they successfully rebounded from their narrow defeat to the hands of Avoca/Prattsburgh on the road with a massive 21-0 shutout in five innings over visiting Lima Christian, in Friendship.
Stats and a complete box score were not made available upon publication.
Friendship/Scio (11-4) is back in action tonight back over the road in a 5 p.m. first pitch against Genesee Valley/Belfast in Belmont.
