Story and photos by CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, Wellsvillesports.com
Fillmore 2, Cuba-Rushford 0
CUBA — Sometimes in the game of baseball, you can find yourself in the midst of a dead heat. More specifically on the defensive side on the game — a position that both Fillmore and host Cuba-Rushford found themselves in to begin the new week of action on Monday.
Zach Sisson and Jon White were dealing haymakers all throughout the game, from start to finish. While the stellar defensive showing was being put on full display, it would come down to who would deliver the first strike. Fortunately for one team, that came right in the early stages.
Luke Colombo was responsible for conducting the majority of the Eagles offense, as the junior drove in both of the team’s runs beginning in the second, giving them the run they needed to break the ice before adding in insurance down the homestretch to secure what was a 2-0 shutout of the Rebels to collect their sixth win in the first seven games.
“Both pitchers were incredible tonight. They were in total control of the zone,” Rebels coach Pat Wight said. “It was your typical, old-fashioned pitcher’s duel. We had some opportunities to score a couple of runs late in the game, but their defense made the plays they needed to behind their pitcher. Defensively, we’re starting to find a groove ourselves after an error-less game.”
Both of Colombo’s RBIs saw Brent Zubikowski come in an score, with the first coming in the top of the second. Soon after, the defenses began to battle back and forth once more before Fillmore (6-1) found another big opportunity to add some insurance in the top of the fifth, as Colombo drove in Zubikowski on a hard shot straight to third base. A throw home from Finn Ricketts was applied in effort to catch him, but was not in time to prevent the insurance from coming across.
The lead for Fillmore was extended by a pair, making Cuba-Rushford’s (3-5) hole a little larger to climb out of, coming down the homestretch. But in the sixth, the Rebels were given an opportunity to provide their best strike against the Eagles with a pair of runners reaching. But behind an outstanding effort by Zach Sisson and the defense behind him, the visitors in green and black were able to escape with two big outs, ultimately shutting down the host’s offense for good to secure the shutout.
Sisson collected a four-hit shutout for the Eagles to earn the victory, fanning six. As a team, Fillmore collected five hits with Zubikowski adding one along the way.
On the other side, White provided just as dominant of a performance as Sisson did on the mound for the Rebels, as he handed out 11 chairs and walked just three in his combined five-hitter alongside Benson McCumiskey. At the plate, Logan Lewis recorded two of the team’s four hits, while Finn Ricketts posted a double.
If weather permits, both teams are back in action in the upcoming days, with Cuba-Rushford looking to rebound back home on Wednesday in a 5 p.m. battle against Andover/Whitesville, while Fillmore looks to keep the momentum rolling into Franklinville tonight in a 5 p.m. first pitch of their own.
Fillmore 010 010 0 – 2 5 0
Cuba-Rushford 000 000 0 – 0 4 0
FIL – Zach Sisson (WP) (CG, 6K), and Alex Ellsworth.
C-R – Jon White (LP) (11K, 3BB), Benson McCumiskey (7), and Logan Lewis.
Bolivar-Richburg 11, Genesee Valley/Belfast 1 (F-5)
BOLIVAR — The name of the game was starting fast for the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg, as they scored seven unanswered runs right out of the gate, five of them coming in the second inning alone to jumpstart what was an 11-1 home victory over visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast on Monday in five innings.
The Wolverines (8-0) wasted no time during their first at-bats to make their presence known on offense, as Wyatt Karnuth started with a huge bang in the form of a two-run triple, giving the team a quick 2-0 lead to control going forward. Five more runs would come across in the second inning, allowing their lead to be pushed out to seven before Genesee Valley/Belfast found their way onto the board in the third with their lone run.
But Bolivar-Richburg went straight to work one more time in the bottom half to continue pushing their advantage even further, ultimately ending the game with one final run in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the victory. To go with his two-run triple, Karnuth would also tally the marker on the mound for the Wolverines, fanning six and walking three.
At the plate, Landon Danaher recorded a pair of hits and drove in four runs to lead the bats. Cam MacDonell drove in two runs off a double, while Sawyer Johnson posted an RBI.
For Genesee Valley/Belfast (1-6), Matt Weaver accounted for all of the team’s offense, scoring both hits including a triple, and also scored the lone run in the third inning. On the mound, he added a strikeout and walk in relief.
Both teams will make their return to the field Wednesday in a pair of 5 p.m. first pitches, if weather cooperates, as Bolivar-Richburg goes for their ninth straight win back on the road against Friendship/Scio in Friendship, while Genesee Valley/Belfast welcomes in Hinsdale for a visit to Belmont.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 001 00 – 1 2 1
Bolivar-Richburg 253 01 – 11 10 1
GVB – Max Wedge (LP) (2BB), Garrett Miller (3) (K, 2BB), Matt Weaver (5) (K, BB), and Justin Hill.
B-R – Wyatt Karnuth (WP) (6K, 3BB), Sawyer Johnson (5) (2K), and Aydin Sisson.
Friendship/Scio 27, Hinsdale 4 (F-5)
FRIENDSHIP — All host Friendship/Scio needed to succeed was a fast start. Through the first three innings, they went on to record an early 10-2 lead on visiting Hinsdale, and they would never look back from it, ultimately coasting towards victory after five innings by recording the 27-4 win at Wellman Field in Friendship over the Bobcats.
The Friendship/Scio (2-4) offense recorded 27 runs off 13 total hits on offense, with Jacob Golden leading the way on offense with a perfect 3-for-3 outing at the plate, scoring four runs. Kody Marvin drove in three runs off his additional knock for the hosts, who recorded one final massive stand in the fourth, scratching across their final 17 runs to close out the game.
On the hill, Joey Bednez earned the win with three strikeouts and four walks. In relief, Ethan Davenport struck out three additional Hinsdale batters along with a walk to close out the fifth and final inning.
Both teams are back on the field Wednesday night with 5 p.m. first pitches, if weather permits, as Friendship/Scio jumps right back onto Wellman Field to host Bolivar-Richburg while Hinsdale heads out to visit Genesee Valley/Belfast, in Belmont.
Hinsdale 020 1 1 – 4 5 5
Friendship/Scio 532 (17)X – 27 13 0
HIN – Damien Brown (LP) (3K, 10BB), Xander Pascucci (3K, 10BB), and Parker Cummins.
F/S – Joey Bednez (WP) (3K, 4BB), Ethan Davenport (5) (3K, BB), and Landen Arnold.
GOLF
Fillmore 31.5, Bolivar-Richburg 23.5
BOLIVAR — It was a close battle between both Fillmore’s Reid Cockle and Bolivar-Richburg’s Maddox Day right down to the end on Monday. But after it was all said and done, it was Cockle that came out as the medalist shooter on a balanced scorecard for the Eagles, digging their way towards victory by a 31.5-23.5 count over the Wolverines at the Bolivar Golf Club.
Cockle helped lead Fillmore (3-0) towards their third straight win to start the season on the links, as he recorded medalist round honors with a match-low score of 50. Haley Hall trailed behind closely, as she pitched in a round of 54. Following was Anderson Wiltsey, who had a 61. Will Roeske and Emma Cole rounded off the scorecard with rounds of 67 and 67, respectively.
For the Wolverines (1-1), Day kept pace with Cockle all throughout the match, finishing with a team-low round of 51. Gauge Robinson followed suit with a 63. Parker Worth added in a round of 64, while Ryan Greeson and Dustin Murray finished the scorecard off with rounds of 67 and 74 each.
If weather permits on Wednesday, both teams will make their return to the links in a pair of 4 p.m. tee times, with Fillmore head back home to Allegany Hills to host Genesee Valley/Belfast, while Bolivar-Richburg heads to Franklinville to take on Hinsdale.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 32, Cuba-Rushford 23
RUSHFORD — With the severe weather beginning to hone in on Allegany Hills, both Genesee Valley/Belfast and host Cuba-Rushford halved their Monday afternoon match to just five holes, in hopes of beating it out. In the end, Will Guilford was the top shooter between both teams, as the Genesee Valley/Belfast golfer came away as the medalist to help earn the visitors a 32-23 road win over the Rebels.
Guilford claimed the top spot on the leaderboard for Genesee Valley/Belfast (1-2), as he recorded the match-low round of 28 to earn his medal. Chris Weaver followed suit with a round of 32. Dakota Hemphill chipped in with a 34, while Addy Herring and Jack Stout finished off the JagDogs scorecard with rounds of 35, and 40 each.
On the other side, the Rebels (0-2) were led by Sebastian Saulter and his team-low round of 31. Haven Kellogg and Ethan Fries each recorded a 35. Cliff Karn provided a 39, while Macy Minges concluded with a 46. Cuba-Rushford will return to the links on Wednesday, if weather permits, as they head to the Wellsvile Country Club to take on the host Lions in a 4 p.m. contest.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will continue their road swing today with another 4 p.m. tee time, this time in Franklinville as they take on the Bobcats of Hinsdale.
BOYS TENNIS
Fillmore 5, Bolivar-Richburg 0
HOUGHTON — The Eagles of Fillmore continue to stay at the top of their game on the tennis court, as the dynamic singles trio of Carter Sisson, Eben Schilke and Isaiah Sisson provided dominant showings to propel the team towards a 5-0 sweeping shutout of visiting Bolivar-Richburg on Monday at their home confines of Houghton College.
“Carter, Eben and Isaiah were all locked in today. They continue to be our strength,” said Eagles coach Randy Crouch. “We have been focusing on improving our doubles play, and showed some growth today. We need to keep working to find the right doubles combinations, and find a rhythm if we want to reach our goals.”
Carter Sisson and Eben Schilke both made statements in their respective singles matches to begin Fillmore’s (6-0) sweep of the Wolverines, with sweeps of their own, as they defeated Bolivar-Richburg’s Jacopo Canepa and Andrew Crawford at first and second signles respectively with 6-0, 6-0 sweeps.
Isaiah Sisson followed behind with a final broom to sweep all singles competition, recording the 6-1, 6-0 victory at third singles over Anthony Densmore. From that point, it was on the doubles teams to bring it home, as it saw the first doubles team of Henry Decker and Joe Derck fight their way through a first-set tiebreak to come away victorious in two sets over Bolivar-Richburg’s (0-3) Gwen Coats and Ben Kisel.
Rounding off the match sweep was Layton Sanasith and Noah Strickland at second doubles, as they shook off their first set to deliver a second-set shutout over Zane Pangburn and Nebula Wilson-Smith.
Both teams are back in action today in a pair of 5 p.m. first serves, as Fillmore goes for seven straight wins with a visit to Wellsville, while Bolivar-Richburg heads back home to take on Cuba-Rushford.
Singles
1. Carter Sisson (FIL) def. Jacopo Canepa (B-R), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Eben Schilke (FIL) def. Andrew Crawford (B-R), 6-0, 6-0.
3. Isaiah Sisson (FIL) def. Anthony Densmore (B-R), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Henry Decker/Joe Derck (FIL) def. Gwen Coats/Ben Kisel (B-R), 7-5, 6-2.
2. Layton Sanasith/Noah Strickland (FIL) def. Zane Pangburn/Nebula Wilson-Smith (B-R), 6-2, 6-0.
Andover/Whitesville 4, Genesee Valley/Belfast 1
BELMONT — All four Andover/Whitesville victories were collected in straight sets across the board, with a doubles division sweep leading the charge to help the visitors propel their way towards a first win on the season Monday evening, taking down host Genesee Valley/Belfast in a 4-1 decision.
Leading the way for Andover/Whitesivlle (1-2) are the first doubles team of Olivia Hanks and Morgan Saterlee, as they fought their way toward a 6-1, 6-3 finish over Genesee Valley/Belfast’s Angel Jimmerson and Gavin Kenyon. The second doubles team of Kori Carlin and Teegan McCrea collected a second-set shutout to fuel their 6-2, 6-0 win over Zane Cartwright and Luke Snyder.
In the singles department, Will Kent and Elden Terhune chipped in wins in two sets to finish off the match win for the visitors.
For Genesee Valley/Belfast, Trevor Clark was the lone victor at second singles, as he fought through a few ups and downs in the first two sets, including a second-set defeat to rally back and record the third-set shutout over Trey Kent. The JagDogs will look for the rebound back on the road tonight in a 5 p.m. contest at Alfred-Almond.
Andover/Whitesville will return to the court on Friday with a 5 p.m. visit planned for Houghton Academy.
Singles
1. Will Kent (A/W) def. Dominic Marro (GVB), 6-2, 6-2.
2. Trevor Clark (GVB) def. Trey Kent (A/W), 7-5, 3-6, 6-0.
3. Elden Terhune (A/W) def. James Frawley (GVB), 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles
1. Olivia Hanks/Morgan Saterlee (A/W) def. Angel Jimmerson/Gavin Kenyon (GVB), 6-1, 6-3.
2. Kori Carlin/Teegan McCrea (A/W) def. Zane Cartwright/Luke Snyder (GVB), 6-2, 6-0.
Houghton Academy 4, Cuba-Rushford 1
CUBA — Only three matches took center stage in Cuba on Monday, as both visiting Houghton Academy and the host Rebels beat out the potential rainfall. Of the matches, two of them belonged to the Panthers to pair along with a pair of forfeits to ignite a 4-1 road win over Cuba-Rushford.
Jim Patipewe and Sam Winkens collected both wins for the Panthers (2-1) in the singles department, with Winkens leading the way at third singles with a 6-0, 6-0 straight-set shutout of Cuba-Rushford’s Tyler Findlay. Patipewe chipped in with a victory at second singles, a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Ethan Cole.
Houghton Academy was also credited with both doubles victories by forfeit, which were awarded to the first doubles team of Ava Harrison and Lucy Lui, and the second doubles team of Katharinia Held and Josh Paschalis.
Cuba-Rushford (0-1) scored their lone victory in the first singles match, as he outlasted Caleb Hilshire in a back and forth battle resulting in a 6-2, 6-4 decision. The Rebels are back on the court tonight with a 5 p.m. contest at Bolivar-Richburg.
The Panthers will look for their third win in their first four matches on Friday, when they head home to host Andover/Whitesville in a 5 p.m. first serve.
Singles
1. Nate Cole (C-R) def. Caleb Hilshire (HA), 6-2, 6-4.
2. Jim Patipewe (HA) def. Ethan Cole (C-R), 6-3, 6-1.
3. Sam Winkens (HA) def. Tyler Findlay (C-R), 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Ava Harrison/Lucy Lui (HA) by for.
2. Katharinia Held/Josh Paschalis (HA) by for.
Avoca/Prattsburgh 5, Scio 0
PRATTSBURGH — Host Avoca/Prattsburgh rung in the new week in dominant fashion on Monday, taking care of business across all five matches against the Tigers of Scio to clinch match victory by a 5-0 shutout count.
Among the matches for the Tigers (1-2), Jordan White engaged with Avoca/Prattsburgh’s Gavin Mills on what was deemed the match of the night, as he overcame a 6-0 first-set shutout to bounce back and win a back-and-forth battle in the second set to force a final frame of action. White would hang right alongside with Mills, but would ultimately fall in the end by a 6-2 count in a tough battle to the finish.
Scio will look to shake it off on Wednesday, if weather permits, as they pay a visit down the road to Genesee Valley/Belfast for a 5 p.m. first serve.
Singles
1. Ryan Stanford (A/P) def. Jude Marion (SCIO), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Elias Putnam (A/P) def. Corey Field (SCIO), 6-0, 6-1.
3. Gavin Mills (A/P) def. Jordan White (SCIO), 6-0, 4-6, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Jackson Oliver/Bryce Schuck (A/P) def. Liam Carouge/Ben Weimer (SCIO), 6-1, 6-1.
2. Tyler Nichols/Connor Stewart (A/P) def. Will Broach/Austin Gowdy (SCIO), 6-0, 6-3.
