Scio-Friendship pitcher Neveah Ross. Photo provided.
By CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com
ARKPORT — All that the Eagles of Fillmore needed to rally back from a narrow defeat to Bolivar-Richburg a couple days prior, was a fast start on Thursday, as they scored a five-run opener against host Arkport/Canaseraga and never looked back on their eventual 12-2 rout of the Wolves after six innings to grab their fourth win in their first five games.
The Eagles (4-1) collected 12 runs off five hits in all, resorting to some big bats and baserunning to find their way across the plate, while the defense was commanded by a superb five-inning start from Graham Cahill, who picked up the victory behind six strikeouts and one walk. Fillmore struck while the iron was hot in the first two innings of play, recording an early 7-0 lead to control, five of them coming during their first at-bats.
The shutout bid for Cahill would end after the fifth inning after Arkport/Canaseraga worked their way onto the board with their two lone runs off three hits. But the game would reach its conclusion a short time later in the sixth, as the Eagles forced the 10-run rule with their second five-run frame, crossing the double digit plateau along the way to secure the rebounding victory over the Wolves.
Although Fillmore had just five hits on offense, Luke Colombo had two of them, both off singles that saw him add three RBI in the process.
Up next is a trip to Andover/Whitesville tonight for the Eagles, as they get set for battle in a 6 p.m. first pitch in Andover.
Fillmore 520 005 – 12 5 1
Arkport/Canaseraga 000 020 – 2 3 4
FIL – Graham Cahill (WP) (6K, BB), Brent Zubikowski (6) (K, BB), and Alex Ellsworth.
A/C – Phil Chamberlain (LP) (2K, 6BB), T. Marvin (3) (4K), Drake (5) (3K, 5BB), and B. Jones.
Cuba-Rushford 15, Friendship/Scio 6
SCIO — The Rebels of Cuba-Rushford, despite losing an early first inning lead to Friendship/Scio, saw the beginning of an offensive eruption on Thursday in their latest road trip, as they accounted for runs in the first six innings of play after a 4-3 lead for the hosts, including seven unanswered in the middle innings that allowed them to push their lead insurmountably in what became a 15-6 win in Scio.
“I thought we bounced back well after a tough first inning defensively,” said Rebels coach Pat Wight. “It was great to see us jump right out offensively with runs to open the game after struggling last night at the plate. It’s always a great feeling to pick up two League wins after a nearly two week lay-off.”
After the Rebels (3-4) took the lead back from Friendship/Scio with a pair of second inning runs, they would take the time to branch it out with three more runs coming across, led by Jack Frank and his monster game for the visitors in blue and maroon, as he went 5-for-6 with four RBI, two of them coming on a huge double to the outfield to help extend their advantage to four.
Friendship/Scio (0-4) would trim their deficit back down to a pair immediately after in the bottom half, but it would wind up being the closest to Cuba-Rushford they would get, as they went on to shut down the hosts with seven unanswered runs from that point forward to pull away from their grasp for good, securing the victory behind a 15-run, 14-hit effort on the attack.
The win also comes on the heels of a dynamite start from Austin Pinney on the rubber for the Rebels, as he struck out 10 and walked four in his five-inning tenure. Benson McCumiskey added five more strikeouts and walked one in his two innings of relief. Helping further the cause at the plate, Noah Siegel went 3-for-6 with a triple, drove in two runs and scored four times, while Braeden Wight tallied three hits, driving in one and scoring twice in his first Varsity start.
On the other side, Ethan Davenport went 3-for-4 and scored twice to lead the Friendship/Scio bats. Joey Nickerson added a pair of hits. On the mound, Davenport and Jacob Golden each struck out two in relief. Friendship/Scio is right back on their home field in Scio again tonight with another 5 p.m. battle in store, as they host Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Cuba-Rushford will look to reach the even mark of their season back home on Monday, as they welcome in the Eagles of Fillmore for a 5 p.m. battle.
Cuba-Rushford 323 241 0 – 15 14 3
Friendship/Scio 402 000 0 – 6 5 5
C-R – Austin Pinney (WP) (10K, 4BB), Benson McCumiskey (6) (5K, BB), and Caleb Root, Logan Lewis (2).
F/S – Joey Bednez (LP) (2K, 7BB), Ethan Davenport (5) (2K), Jacob Golden (7) (2K), and Landen Arnold.
SOFTBALL
Friendship/Scio 7, Cuba-Rushford 1
SCIO — Nevaeh Ross has given Friendship/Scio some massive contributions on both sides of the spectrum thus far this season, and in years past. Thursday night was no different, as she provided two big hits to earn the first lead of the game while holding visiting Cuba-Rushford in check all game long from within the circle, as they moved to 4-0 on the season with a 7-1 home win.
Ross helped Friendship/Scio (4-0) kick into gear during their first at-bats in the first, poking the first of two RBI singles into the outfield to break the ice. For the next three innings after both teams traded a scoreless second frame, the hosts would account for their last six runs, with Ross netting the last of her RBI singles in the third to branch their lead out to a pair.
More bats came alive in the Friendship/Scio lineup to help the cause, as Claire Calhoun provided an RBI single in the fourth inside a two-run frame, while Jaedyn Shields and Kendra Gleason powered a three-run fifth with RBI hits of their own, with Gleason belting a double to score a run in what became a 7-0 lead.
The shutout bid ended during the final at-bats for Cuba-Rushford (1-3), and with two outs on the board, as Harlie Jones provided the third and final hit for the Lady Rebels in the shape of an RBI single. But Ross was able to take care of business in the end to secure the win.
Ross finished with a complete game three-hitter with 19 strikeouts and did not talk a batter, while adding two hits on offense. For Cuba-Rushord, Sydney Howard struck out seven walked two in her complete game. The Lady Rebels will look to rebound back on the road Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in Franklinville.
Friendship/Scio will remain pat at home in Scio for another battle in store tonight, as go for five straight wins by facing Genesee Valley/Belfast in a 5 p.m. contest.
Cuba-Rushford 000 000 1 – 1 3 2
Friendship/Scio 101 230 X – 7 8 1
C-R – Sydney Howard (LP) (CG, 7K, 2BB), and Riley Keller.
F/S – Nevaeh Ross (WP) (CG, 19K, 0BB), and Morghyn Ross.
Fillmore 23, Arkport/Canaseraga 9
ARKPORT — The bats for the Lady Eagles of Fillmore saw a volcanic eruption when they made their way to Arkport/Canaseraga on Thursday, as they recorded 23 total runs off 17 hits, with 11 different Lady Eagles all recording at least a hit to power past the host Lady Wolves after an early deficit with a 23-9 road win.
“Confidence and success make a big difference,” said Lady Eagles coach Jon Beardsley. “When you believe you can do something, it’s no secret that you tend to perform better. When good things happen, usually it creates more good things. The psychology of the game is underrated.”
After the Lady Eagles (4-2) fell into an early 2-0 hole against the Lady Wolves, they would go on a massive run of offense. From the second inning on, they would score at least a run in each inning until the end, including a pair of six-run frames in both the third inning to begin pulling away from Arkport/Canaseraga’s reach, and in the seventh inning to close out the victory.
Saige Friedl took the win from within the circle, handing out nine chairs while walking 11, holding Arkport/Canaseraga to just four hits. At the plate, Lizzy Nugent and Skylar Gaddy earned three hits each.
The Lady Eagles are back on the field tonight for a 6 p.m. first pitch in Andover, against host Andover/Whitesville.
Fillmore 036 251 6 – 23 17 1
Arkport/Canaseraga 203 012 1 – 9 4 6
FIL – Saige Friedl (WP) (CG, 9K, 11BB), and Lizzy Nugent.
A/C – Caitlin O’Dea (LP) (3K, 6BB), Graves (6) (2K, 4BB), and Valerie Miller.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 18, Hammondsport 5
HAMMONDSPORT — Baserunning provided some big help for the Lady JagDogs of Genesee Valley. After they exchanged a scoreless first inning with host Hammondsport, they went straight to work with a massive 10-run frame that gave them the lead ultimately for good to put towards their first win of the season, rolling past the host Lady Lakers with an 18-5 road win on Thursday.
The Lady JagDogs (1-3) would go on to score the first 16 runs of the game, 10 of them coming from within the second inning that ultimately allowed them to set the tone immediately against the Lady Lakers. With baserunning helping their offensive cause, Genesee Valley/Belfast collected five hits altogether, with Hannah Southwick-Powers and Abby Sullivan each recording a pair.
On the mound, Southwick-Powers was credited with the victory behind a solid nine-stirkeout, five-walk performance for the visitors.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will continue their road swing tonight in Scio, as they prepare to take on unbeaten Friendship/Scio in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 0 (10)6 001 1 – 18 5
Hammondsport 0 0 0 401 0– 5 6
GOLF
Bolivar-Richburg 29.5, Genesee Valley/Belfast 25.5
WELLSVILLE — Despite some wet conditions falling down at the Wellsville Country Club, it didn’t stop from Genesee Valley/Belfast getting right back onto the links to continue their start to the season with the Bolivar-Richburg Wolverines in for a visit on Thursday.
Both teams would split medalist honors, but at the end of the day, the visiting Wolverines would make sure they came out on top, but the host JagDogs wouldn’t make it easy, as they edged their way towards victory by a 29.5-25.5 count to start their season on the right foot.
For the Wolverines (1-0), Parker Worth led all drivers with the medalist round of 54. Not far behind was Maddox Day, who chipped in with a 55. Gauge Robinson collected a 58, while Ryan Greeson and Anthony Donoghue rounded off with rounds of 63, and 74 respectively.
On the other side, Chris Weaver had the match’s second medalist round, as he led Genesee Valley/Belfast (0-2) with the round of 54. Dakota Hemphill tallied a 55. Will Guilford finished with a 60, while Deric Grantier and Jack Stout finished the scoring on the card with rounds of 72 and 74 each.
Both teams will have Fillmore up next on their schedules, with Genesee Valley/Belfast getting first crack with their third straight match to begin the season today right back at the Wellsville Country Club in a 4 p.m. tee-time. After the weekend, Bolivar-Richburg will host the Eagles in a 4 p.m. tee-time themselves at the Bolivar Golf Club, Monday afternoon.
