Friday Roundup: Wellsville, Ark/Can battle to 7-7 tie, game will resume later due to darkness; Lady Lions fall in Semis to No. 1 LeRoy

WELLSVILLE — The wait was over, Friday night. A nearly two-year hiatus across the Spring Sports scene due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing to cancel last season’s festivities, was history when the action resumed across Allegany County beginning in Wellsville inside the Lion’s Den.

The Lions, who are aiming to build off their Class B2 Finals trip back in 2019, are back with a brand new look on the field behind Marc Agnello, who enters his second season at the helm, looking to guide a youthful squad back to glory once more. Their first opponent — Arkport/Canaseraga.

It was safe to say that both teams engaged in a battle across seven innings of play, but Mother Nature played a role in saving bonus action for another day on the schedule, as both the Wolves and Lions fought toward a 7-all deadlock that will be continued at a later date, as the game was called due to darkness.

“It was great to be back on the field again,” Lions coach Marc Agnello said. “We did some good things and we have some things to work on as well. We struck out too much today, and we need to find a way to get quality at-bats on offense. We also need to eliminate big innings on defense.”

Both teams collected seven runs in all on the offensive side with Wellsville outhitting Arkport/Canaseraga by a 5-2 count when play was halted. Through the first three innings of play, Logan Dunbar helped the Lions get off to a 2-0 lead behind his arm, accounting for six strikeouts and three walks while holding the Wolves still at the plate.

The Lions would take the lead after the Wolves tied the game in the fourth, in the bottom half of the frame, collecting five runs. That came immediately before the visitors tied the game one more time to force extras with a five-spot of their own in the fifth.

The game was called due to darkness after the completion of the seventh inning. It will resume at a later date with the Arkport/Canaseraga resuming play in the top of the eighth inning.

This article will be updated with the completion of this game when it is rescheduled.

The next game for the Lions will take place over the road on Tuesday, as they prepare for a 4:45 p.m. first pitch at Canandaigua.

SOFTBALL

Genesee Valley 10, Andover 6 (F-9)

ANDOVER — A wild start to the 2021 season took place under the lights in Andover, Friday night. The Lady Panthers and visiting Lady Jaguars of Genesee Valley fought their way through an up-and-down battle in a contest that saw nine innings take place.

The Lady Jaguars got off to a hot start, and later, the Lady Panthers responded to force extras. But in the end, a four-run ninth inning provided by the visitors in black and green was all that was needed to shift the balance of power one more time, as Genesee Valley picked up victory number one with a season-opening 10-6 win over Andover in extras.

Genesee Valley (1-0) started the night off with a 3-0 lead through the first three innings of play, collecting a 2-0 lead in the first behind an RBI-single from the bat of Emera Aquila. She would finish as the leading batter, going 2-for-5 with a double, RBI, and three runs scored. Later on, Emily Schwiegart helped bring the Lady Panthers (0-1) to life by tying the game not once, but twice, with her first deadlock coming in the bottom of the third with a three-run double to tie the game at three.

After the Lady Jaguars sprung ahead with a 6-5 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, Schwiegart came through the clutch one more time to force extra innings, as she provided another big poke into the outfield off an RBI-single, knotting the game at six to carry the action further.

But in the top of the ninth, Genesee Valley was able to scratch four final runs across, led by an RBI-triple from the bat of Sierra Burrows to conclude the victory.

On the hill, Ashley Burrows came up with the victory behind 11 strikeouts and seven walks in her complete game three-hitter. On the other side, Makaila Brewster grabbed nine strikeouts with 13 walks in her complete game four-hitter for the hosts in white and purple.

Both teams are back in action Tuesday night, with Genesee Valley continuing the road swing into Cuba-Rushford in a 5 p.m. contest, while Andover remains pat at home to welcome in the Belfast Lady Bulldogs for a 6 p.m. battle.

Genesee Valley 210 012 004 – 10 4 3

Andover 000 302 100 – 6 3 3

GV – Ashley Burrows (WP) (CG, 11K, 7BB), and Savannah Werner.

AND – Makaila Brewster (LP) (CG, 9K, 13BB), and Katie Calladine.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

No. 1 LeRoy 3, No. 4 Wellsville 0

LEROY — The Lady Lions of Wellsville were one final step from reaching the Class C2 Finals next week. But in their way Friday night, was top-seeded LeRoy. They would give it their all, but for the first time this season, the Lady Lions would fall to the hands of defeat, as the Lady Oatkan Knights rolled their way to the winner’s circle with a straight-set, 25-13, 25-17, 25-12 victory on their home turf to end Wellsville’s season.

“LeRoy did a great job at placing the ball on the floor at places where we couldn’t cover,” Lady Lions coach Shannon Steiner said. “Our girls lost quite a bit of stamina after the first match, and we really didn’t seem to get it back after that. We had a great season however, and I am so proud of how far we have come together as a team.”

In the team’s final game of the season, Brooklyn Stisser (five digs, one ace) led the way with a team-high four kills. Adding to the cause was Makenna Dunbar, who had three kills. On defense, Jaelyn Knapp provided a team-high five digs to pair with her pair of kills.

The Lady Lions have finished an incredible 2021 season, the first under Steiner, with an overall record of 12-1. Wellsville would also receive the crown as Steuben County League Champions behind the leadership of the team’s libero, Mattie Buckley, who was named the League’s MVP. Stisser and Marley Adams would receive first team honors, while Kaylee Coleman received a second team honor.

No. 3 Notre Dame-Batavia 3, No. 2 Houghton Academy 2

HOUGHTON — The second-seeded Lady Panthers of Houghton Academy gave visiting Notre Dame-Batavia all they could handle on their home floor, Friday night. Out of the five sets that were played, four of them were decided by just two points, three of them going beyond the regulated limit. But in the end, the No. 3 Lady Irish managed to outlast the Lady Panthers in a thrilling Class D3 Semifinal matchup by a 28-30, 26-24, 26-24, 23-25, 25-19 count.

In-depth statistics were not made available upon publication.

No. 3 South Seneca 3, No. 2 Bolivar-Richburg 0

BOLIVAR — The season for the second-seeded Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg came to a conclusion Friday night at home, as the road halted in the Class D2 Semifinal round via straight-set sweep to No. 3 South Seneca, as the Lady Falcons rolled their way toward a 25-16, 25-17, 25-21 victory to advance.

In-depth statistics were not made available upon publication.

No. 1 C.G. Finney 3, No. 5 Fillmore 0

ROCHESTER — Top-seeded C.G. Finney earned the right to battle in the Class D3 Finals next week, as they rolled their way toward a straight-set victory over the No. 5 Lady Eagles of Fillmore on Friday, taking the 25-10, 25-9, 25-23 decision.

In-depth statistics were not made available upon publication.