Photos and stories by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
ALLEGANY — The defending Class B Champions of Section V saw a complete team effort unravel across their first road trip of the young campaign on Monday. Despite the chilly conditions during their visit to the Swamp at Allegany-Limestone, the Lions of Wellsville were on fire right from the start.
Led by stellar pitching provided by Ty Vogel, along with some aid in relief from both Trent Green and Gavin Haggerty, the defensive efforts allowed the Lions to shift the firepower to the plate, where they commenced the festivities with a 4-0 lead they never lost against the Gators to warrant a 7-2 road victory to kick off their title defense on the right foot.
“I was very happy with the start of the season,” Lions coach Tom Delahunt said. “It’s difficult playing in weather and temperatures like this. But we battled through it and had some really quality pitching to go with it with 18 strikeouts. We hit the ball pretty well too and reached the bases well, although we left some runners on base. It was a complete team effort every way you look at it. We did just enough to pick up the win in the end.”
Despite the Lions (1-0) starting the contest with a 1-0 lead following their opening at-bats, the Gators fired right back with a vast amount of pressure against Vogel and the Wellsville defense in the field with an immediate loading of the bases. The Lions defense was able to exit the jam unscathed with their senior star on the rubber, as he rebounded with a pair of strikeouts in the midst of their first three-out sequence.
The offense then built off their resilient finish to the opening frame with two big hits off the bats of Vogel and Aiden Cowburn, along with the addition of some big baserunning, adding three more runs in the top half of the second to lock up a 4-0 lead on the Gators.
After a fanning of the side by Vogel in the third, the Lions kept firing on all cylinders with six more unanswered runs in the middle frames. Their first coming in the top of the fourth off an Anthony Button RBI, all before adding two more runs in the sixth off two more huge hits from Cowburn and Vogel.
Allegany-Limestone would put an end to Wellsville’s potential shutout bid in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs off just one hit at the plate, but the door was ultimately slammed shut from any further activity behind three big strikeouts from Green in relief.
Vogel led the way on the mound through the first four innings for the Lions, garnering the win with 10 strikeouts and two walks while allowing just two hits. Green and Gavin Haggerty combined to hand out eight more strikeouts, walking two along the way.
At the plate, Cowburn and Matt Ritter each had two hits, with Ritter posting a triple, and Cowburn stealing four bases and scoring three runs.
Leading the bats for the Gators was eighth grader Tayden Margeson, who recorded a double.
Additional statistics and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.
Wellsville is back home for their home opener coming up on Thursday, hosting Bath-Haverling at 5 p.m.
Wellsville 130 102 0 – 7
Allegany-Limestone 000 002 0 – 2
Tyler Vogel (W, 1-0) 10K, 2BB, Trent Green (5) (6K, BB), Gavin Haggerty (7) (2K, BB) and Matt Ritter
Bolivar-Richburg 10, Campbell-Savona 0
BOLIVAR — There was plenty of magic to go around last Spring when the Bolivar-Richburg Wolverines mounted and rode their high horses all the way back to Binghamton for the first time in 10 years on the baseball diamond.
Now after another remarkable postseason run on the hardwood has officially entered the school’s history books as one of monumental eminence, the hope for the Wolverines is that their recent success this past winter translates to their reintroduction to the great outdoors, starting with Opening Day on Monday on their home confines for the first time as defending Class C State Semifinalists.
One of those key pieces to the puzzle for the Wolverines was senior Landon Barkley. After a memorable final season leading the charge for the team indoors, he was then given the ball nearly a month later as Bolivar-Richburg’s starting pitcher against Campbell-Savona on the final day of March.
The momentum for the Wolverines did not slow down one bit.
Alongside Braden Zilker later on in the contest, Barkley pieced together a phenomenal outing for the Wolverines on the hill, as the two hurlers combined to hold the visiting Panthers to just one hit while collecting a combined four themselves at the plate out of Bolivar-Richburg’s eight total along the way, setting up shop for what was a 10-0 season-opening shutout.
The Wolverines (1-0) jumped the gun early against Campbell-Savona with some key special teams play, beginning with a three-run first at-bats — their first off heads-up baserunning from Landon Barkley at third base after a ball was propelled into the outfield on an attempted throwdown.
A passed ball behind the plate along with an RBI put-out from the bat of Charlie Millitello helped finish off the team’s anchoring of a 3-0 lead over Campbell-Savona.
After both teams came up empty in the second inning, Bolivar-Richburg resumed play with two more big runs, both of which stemming off the bat of Mason Baldwin and his two-run single into shallow right field.
The team’s big third inning sequence served as a momentum builder going forward into the final three innings of play, where they put the game on ice with five more runs to force an early end to the contest on their way to win No. 1 on the campaign.
Barkley was awarded the victory on the rubber for the hosts in black and red, as he went the first five innings with three strikeouts. Zilker closed the door on Bolivar-Richburg’s win in relief, adding one more strikeout in the team’s combined one-hitter.
At the plate, Barkley led the bats with a perfect 3-for-3 outing with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Maddox Davison had two hits, including a double, and one run scored.
Adding more damage was Ryder Iantorno, who also chipped in two RBI of his own along with a run scored. Tavyn MacDonell scored three runs.
Bolivar-Richburg will now sail into Wednesday night for their next battle back on their home field, as they host Friendship/Scio at 5 p.m.
Campbell-Savona 000 000 — 0 1 3
Bolivar-Richburg 302 122 — 10 8 0
C-S – Liam Maddock (LP) (5K, 6BB), Rece Jamison (3) (3K, 2BB), Chace Priset (6) and Lucas Corey.
B-R – Landon Barkley (WP) (3K), Braden Zilker (6) (K) and Ryder Iantorno.
More stories after Chris Brooks photos:
Genesee Valley/Belfast 17, Hinsdale 1 (F-5)
BELFAST — An absolutely sterling display of pitching from Ethan Davenport, along with a fiery bat belonging to Ben Cater were just two of the ingredients the Genesee Valley/Belfast boys brewed together for season-opening success at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast on Monday, as the hosts in black kicked the tires on a gigantic 17-1 five-inning victory over visiting Hinsdale.
Everything was clicking on all fronts across the board for Genesee Valley/Belfast (1-0) in their first game out on the diamond, as they used a 17-run, nine-hit display of offense to set up shop on one front — 11 of those runs coming in the bottom of the first to ultimately dismantle the floodgates from that point onwards with an advantage they never relinquished.
From within those efforts at the plate, the mighty bat of Cater was unleashed to lead the way on the attack, as he went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and six total RBI. Trent Hutchison added two hits, including a double of his own, pairing them with two additional RBI.
Damon Davis, Derek Calanni and Ryan Daciw all had a hit each to pitch in.
As for Davenport on the hill, he was sublime through all five innings of work in his first game with Genesee Valley/Belfast, holding Hinsdale (0-1) to a single hit — a Tim Ribble double in the top of the first inning, fanning a dozen Bobcats while walking just one to score the victory.
The Bobcats will hit the road once again tonight for a 5 p.m. visit to Cuba-Rushford.
Coming up Saturday morning, if weather permits, Genesee Valley/Belfast will host their annual Early Bird Tournament with a first round battle against the Elba Lancers beginning at 11 a.m. right back at the Rich Sullivan Complex.
Hinsdale 1 00 00 — 1 1 2
Genesee Valley/Belfast (11)02 4X — 17 9 0
HIN – Chris Forney (LP) (K, 8BB), Tim Ribble (1) (2K, 6BB), Jackson Jones (4) (K, BB) and Caleb Elliott.
GVB – Ethan Davenport (WP) (CG, 12K, BB) and Donivan Fields.
SOFTBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 12, Hinsdale 0 (F-6)
BELFAST — Hannah Southwick-Powers was simply lights out for the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies in their first term of the Spring season on Monday, as the senior star hurler allowed just three runners on base in the midst of a dominant 12-strikeout performance against the visiting Lady Bobcats of Hinsdale, headlining the evening with a 12-0 shutout for victory No. 1 on the campaign.
The damage for Genesee Valley/Belfast (1-0) came right out of the gate with five straight runs across a two-inning sequence — three of which served as the game’s genesis during their first at-bats at the dish.
Along with some key baserunning, the hosts in black collected a pair of big RBI from both Morgan Yackeren and Madison Tarar to help open the scoring with a 3-0 lead on their visiting opposition.
In the second, the momentum carried on for Genesee Valley/Belfast behind the bat of Yackeren once more, as she delivered a big two-run smack to right center field to score both Keanna Sands and Hannah Southwick-Powers to branch out their advantage.
After the next two innings saw no more than four hitters approach the plate on each side, including a fanning of the order by Southwick-Powers in the top of the fifth, the hosts went on to put a game-ending exclamation point across the final two frames, all generated by special teams, scoring the last seven runs off heads-up baserunning to force an early end to the contest due to the new implementation of the 12-run rule.
Genesee Valley/Belfast totaled 12 runs off seven hits at the plate, with Madison Tarar and her 3-for-4 outing charging the bats, as she finished with two RBI and three runs scored. Morgan Yackeren also had three RBI total, while Southwick-Powers finished with two hits and three more runs scored.
Hinsdale (0-1) saw Amaya Russell collect their lone hit in the top of the second, as she posted a single. On the mound, Jen Tuttle went the distance with three strikeouts and 10 walks. The Lady Bobcats will turn around and hit the road for Cuba-Rushford tonight at 5 p.m.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will also have a quick turnaround tonight back in Belfast, as they play host to Andover/Whitesville in a 5 p.m. first pitch at the Rich Sullivan Complex.
Hinsdale 000 000 — 0 1 0
Genesee Valley/Belfast 320 052 — 12 7 1
HIN – Jen Tuttle (LP) (CG, 3K, 10BB) and Jaylynn Wade.
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (CG, 12K, BB) and Jenna Hill.
Allegany-Limestone 13, Bolivar-Richburg 3
ALLEGANY — Although the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg broke the ice first to start their season back outdoors on Monday, the response they received in return from host Allegany-Limestone was multiplied insurmountably, as the Lady Gators took an early 2-0 deficit and turned it inside out going forward, setting the bar by rattling off 13 straight runs to coast away towards victory by a 13-3 count in the Swamp.
The bats for the Lady Wolverines (0-1) were working out of the gate despite falling into a two-out hole against the Lady Gators. With two runs aboard, the visitors made the most of the opportunity with Kylee Whiting supplying a big two-run double, scoring both Jayna Thomas and Sydney Faulkner on the play to grant an early two-run lead against the hosts in black and green.
But from the bottom half of the frame onwards, Bolivar-Richburg would remain frozen, as Allegany-Limestone went on to post seven straight runs across the next two innings, going ahead of the Lady Wolverines with a three-spot in a first at-bat sequence that was powered by a massive RBI triple off the bat of Abby Peck.
The Lady Gators added to their lead with four more runs off special teams in the second inning before the offense came alive down the stretch to put the game away for good with six additional runs in their last three terms of offense.
The Lady Wolverines assembled three runs off six hits at the plate, with Kylee Whiting’s 3-for-4 outing helping lead the charge. On the mound, Rylee Whiting went the first five innings in the circle, striking out one and walking four.
Bolivar-Richburg will look to rebound back home at Stan Harris Field in Richburg on Wednesday, hosting Friendship/Scio at 5 p.m.
Bolivar-Richburg 200 000 1 — 3 6 4
Allegany-Limestone 340 213 X — 13 7 0
B-R – Rylee Whiting (LP) (K, 4BB), Kylee Whiting (6) (3K, 4BB) and Sydney Faulkner.
A-L – Kailey Truman (WP) (CG, 6K, 4BB) and Peyton Truman.
Tuesday Roundup: Southwick-Powers dominates again for GV/Belfast, twirls no-hitter to capture home victory over And/Whi; C-R baseball, softball sweeps home opener vs. Hinsdale
BELFAST — It has been an exceptional first two games of the season for the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies on the softball field.
Carrying over a dominant victory over Hinsdale into the very next day, there was simply no letting off of the gas when Andover/Whitesville paid a visit to the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast on Tuesday, as they provided another strong start to their game on the heels of yet another supreme performance from Hannah Southwick-Powers in the circle along the way to roll towards a 15-3 five-inning victory.
The tone was set by the hosts in black out of the gate behind some strong special teams around the bases, as they capitalized on a flurry of walks along with some aggressive base-running, as well as a big two-run single off the bat of Whitney Young, to set up shop for a seven-run opening act at the plate through 11 at-bats.
To pair alongside six additional runs in the next two frames of play for the Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-0) offense, Southwick-Powers took command of the circle on defense to keep Andover/Whitesville at a standstill throughout by recording seven of her 11 strikeouts within that stretch, including three straight strikeouts following a lead-off walk to Olivia Waters in the top of the second inning.
Southwick-Powers went on to finish off a complete game no-hit performance, her first of the season.
Andover/Whitesville (0-1) was able to end the shutout bid in the top of the fourth, scoring three big runs off special teams play of their own. But the door was slammed shut on the victory for Genesee Valley/Belfast when they added two more runs — one off an RBI double from Morgan Yackeren, in the bottom half of the frame to force the 12-run rule into effect.
The Genesee Valley/Belfast bats amassed five hits at the plate, with Madison Yackeren, Kayla Wedge and Lily Green each recording a hit.
For Andover/Whitesville, Lilly Harrington struck out two and walked 10 in her start in the circle. The team will look to rebound back home tonight, hosting Cuba-Rushford in Andover at 6 p.m.
Up next for Genesee Valley/Belfast is a Friday night road trip, as they take aim at a third straight win with a 5 p.m. visit to Avoca-Prattsburgh.
Andover/Whitesville 000 30 — 3 0 6
Genesee Valley/Belfast 724 2X — 15 5 0
A/W – Lilly Harrington (LP) (2K, 10BB), Emma Bentley (5) (K) and Reece Winters.
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (CG, 11K, 4BB) and Jenna Hill.
More stories after photo gallery:
Cuba-Rushford 16, Hinsdale 1 (F-5)
CUBA — Game one for the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford outdoors was one they would not let slip from their grasp on Tuesday.
Across all angles on their home field, the Lady Rebels made no mistake garnering their first victory, as they utilized a fast start on the attack while Lizzie Kocsis settled in and delivered an exquisite pitching performance from within the circle, putting all the pieces together to record a 16-1 five-inning victory over Hinsdale.
Right off the hop, the Lady Rebels (1-0) wasted no time striking while the iron was hot, as they built a burst of momentum with two big runs in their opening at-bat sequence at the plate. After holding the fort down to keep Hinsdale at a standstill, the hosts let loose with the offense, scratching nine more runs across to branch out their advantage in insurmountable fashion.
The Lady Rebels posted nine hits total at the plate to set the music for their offense, with Aubrey Williams and Emma Bunk each recording two hits, with Williams collecting a triple, double and two RBI, while Bunk had a double and two RBI of her own.
In the circle, the win was collected under the command of Kocsis, who was red hot from start to finish, holding Hinsdale (0-2) to just two hits across nine strikeouts and a walk.
For the Lady Bobcats, Lily Bushnell struck out three and walked seven in her tossed complete game. Hinsdale will return to action Thursday night with a 5 p.m. trip to Hammondsport.
Cuba-Rushford will hit the road alongside the baseball team to Andover tonight, where they meet host Andover/Whitesville for battle at 6 p.m.
Hinsdale 000 01 — 1 2 3
Cuba-Rushford 290 32 — 16 9 2
HIN – Lily Bushnell (LP) (CG, 3K, 7BB) and Jaylynn Wade.
C-R – Lizzie Kocsis (WP) (CG, 9K, BB) and Arlah Shaffer.
BASEBALL
Cuba-Rushford 14, Hinsdale 2 (F-5)
CUBA — In their Spring debut on the diamond across from the Lady Rebels on the softball field, the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford did all the damage possible right from the start.
Behind stellar pitching from three different hurlers, the hosts in gray and blue limited visiting Hinsdale to just one hit while setting the tone in their first at-bats along the way, as they rolled straight towards a 14-2 home win in five innings on Tuesday.
“I was very pleased with my pitchers today. All three are young and all three came out and threw strikes,” said Rebels coach Pat Wight. “Offensively, we relied on Landen Schappacher and Finn (Ricketts), and they really carried the load for us. I thought the guys did a good job of being selective at the plate. We also did a very good job on the base paths as well. The (Jackson) Jones kid for Hinsdale came in early on in the first inning and really did a solid job in relief.”
Right after the Bobcats rocketed their way onto the board first with the game-opening run, the Rebels (1-0) were at the ready to fire back a response in their first term at the plate, as the offense assembled a massive 11-spot to set the bar for the remainder of the game.
The Rebels offense collected just five hits at the plate in the midst of the special teams chaos around the bases, with Landen Schappacher and Finn Ricketts each garnering a pair, including a triple by the latter, to lead the way alongside five combined runs scored.
Adam Shaffer chipped in with a hit of his own and scored twice.
On the mound, the win was granted to Lucas Haskins, who struck out two and walked one during his three-inning start for Cuba-Rushford.
As for Hinsdale (0-2), Jackson Jones handed out nine strikeouts and walked three during his tenure of relief that began part way into the first inning and onwards. Jones also supplied the lone hit and scored both runs for the Bobcats on offense.
Hinsdale will host Andover/Whitesville back home on Friday at 5 p.m.
Cuba-Rushford will have a quick turnaround this evening on the road, as they travel to Andover for a 6 p.m. first pitch against host Andover/Whitesville.
Hinsdale 1 01 00 — 2 1 2
Cuba-Rushford (11)30 0X — 14 5 2
HIN – Robert Childs (LP) (2K, 6BB), Jackson Jones (1) (9K, 3BB) and Chris Forney.
C-R – Lucas Haskins (WP) (2K, BB), Hayden Schappacher (4) (3K), Chase Haas (5) (3K, 2BB) and Adam Shaffer.
Wednesday’s single game: Despite cold and messy conditions, Wolverines baseball survives 1st inning battle with Fri/Scio, coast away down stretch to lock up 15-5 home win
BOLIVAR — The chilly and blustery conditions that surrounded much of the area on Wednesday tabled the majority of action that was set to take place in Allegany County.
But for the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg, they went back to business on their home turf.
With an early starting of the engine from visiting Friendship/Scio commencing the contest, the response that the defending Class C State Semifinalists provided in return was even larger, turning an early deficit and transforming it into a first inning advantage they proceeded to never lose again, as they survived the grueling conditions and a brilliant start from the visitors at the plate to claim a 15-5 five-inning home victory.
Out of the 20 combined runs that were scored between the foes, half of them were scratched across the plate in just the first inning alone, with Friendship/Scio receiving the honor of breaking the ice against the Wolverines (2-0) with special teams paying massive dividends early in a 4-0 advantage.
Bolivar-Richburg flipped the script later on during their first at-bats, seeing their bats come alive to produce a go-ahead six-pack of runs off three RBI singles off the bats of Tavyn MacDonell, Charlie Millitello and Carson Lipyance.
The damage was then furthered by the top of the lineup, with Landon Barkley posting a big two-run double to finish off a complete trip through the lineup after one complete inning.
Over the course of time, the Wolverines added to their lead with Friendship/Scio maintaining one step right behind them along the way with their final run in the top of the third.
Up by an 8-5 count going into the bottom of the fourth however, it gave the hosts in black and red an opportunity to break away, as they proceeded to score seven straight runs to force the 10-run rule into effect, closing the game out on top once and for all.
The Wolverines totaled 15 runs off 12 strong connections at the plate, with four different hitters: Barkley, Millitello, Mason Baldwin and Connor Margeson all recording at least a pair.
On the mound, the win was granted to Maddox Davison, who went two innings with three strikeouts and four walks. In relief, Baldwin handed out three more chairs himself while walking one.
For Friendship/Scio (0-1), the offense witnessed Aiden Golden and Deacon Brown collect a hit each at the plate. Cooper Greenman posted two RBI. On the rubber, Matt Donohue walked five during his three-inning start.
The team will look to regroup and bounce back with a 4:45 p.m. road trip up to Fillmore this evening, weather permitting.
Up next for the Wolverines, they hit the road themselves on Friday, as they travel to the west to visit the Olean Huskies in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Friendship/Scio 401 00 – 5 2 3
Bolivar-Richburg 611 7X – 15 12 4
F/S – Matt Donohue (LP) (5BB), Sean Dieter (4) (K, BB) and Cooper Greenman.
B-R – Maddox Davison (WP) (3K, 4BB), Mason Baldwin (3) (3K, BB) and Ryder Iantorno.
