The Scio-Friendship softball team after the tournament win on Saturday. Photo courtesy Friendship Central School.
By CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com
SCIO — You couldn’t ask for a better to go out and play a whole day’s worth of action on the field, Saturday afternoon.
The sun shining, the sky blue. Eight games were on display at a busy town of Scio, four on the baseball field (more on the boys tournament, down below), and on the softball field, where Andover/Whitesville, Genesee Valley/Belfast, Cuba-Rushford and Friendship/Scio all met at one place and at one time to decide it all.
While the weather was perfect, there was also a certain someone whose display of power was just as immaculate as what Mother Nature ordered outdoors.
That was Nevaeh Ross.
Friendship/Scio’s sophomore phenom did not disappoint. After the team fell to a 5-0 shutout to the hands of Portville the night before, the hosts return home and provided as big of a bounce back as ever, as Ross handed out 16, and 18 strikeouts in her two games without allowing a single runner to reach each time.
That by definition — the perfect game, as she handed out two of them to propel Friendship/Scio towards tournament glory with a 12-0 shutout win over Genesee Valley/Belfast, and a 3-0 shutout win over Andover/Whitesville to cap the day.
“I told the girls that they did a great job rebounding from that Portville game. I think they realized that there is still work left to be done,” said Friendship/Scio coach Deb Kane. “We have come a long way in hitting, and that’s my kudos to my assistant, Darrell (Ross). They stayed focused, came in early for hitting practice before the game. That tells me how much dedication this team has. As for Nevaeh, she has worked so hard on trying to get this accomplishment. Every game, she just amazes me with her ability. Her sister Morghyn, who’s in eighth grade catching for her, she’s just as amazing as her sister. She’s going to be one to watch for down the road too.”
The first of two perfect games for Friendship/Scio (8-1) came bright and early in the morning against Genesee Valley/Belfast, as Ross immediately went straight to work on stringing together the first of her two dominant performances, handing out 16 chairs in all to keep the Lady JagDogs at bay. As for the offense, the hosts started out with an RBI single from Kendra Gleason in their first at-bats to break the ice.
The damage soon escalated in the second when back-to-back RBIs delivered by Keely Sisson and Jadeyn Shields were recorded to branch their lead by three, with Shields belting an RBI double. After a scoreless trade in the fourth, Friendship/Scio broke away for good with a five-run fifth led by a lead-off solo homer by Ross, as well as a two-run single from Morghyn Ross.
Morghyn Ross would finish as the team’s leading batter, going 3-for-4 with four RBI off a pair of two-run singles. Nevaeh followed with two hits, while Katherine Lamberson added to the scoring with an RBI single of her own in the sixth.
On the mound for Genesee Valley/Belfast (3-6), Ashley Burrows struck out eight and walked four in her complete game.
The first performance would propel Friendship/Scio into the tournament title game later in the day, where they met Andover/Whitesville to decide it all. For the most part, it was a strong display of defense. But when the opportunity arose, the offense for the hosts came through, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third while Ross continued to shell out one strikeout after another, garnering 18 in all to finish with a second perfect game to win the title for Friendship/Scio in a 3-0 shutout.
It was as dominant of a start that Ross recorded throughout the entire day, as she went four straight innings with a fanning of Andover/Whitesville’s side, striking out 12 to keep them off the board. In the midst of it, Friendship/Scio struck in the bottom of the third with all three of their runs which were headlined by back-to-back RBI singles from Morghyn Ross and Kendra Gleason. Claire Calhoun helped further the cause with a fielder’s choice to bat in Grace Drumm to finish the scoring.
From that point on, it was Ross’ game to control from within the circle, as she went on to shut down Andover/Whitesville (3-4) the rest of the way, including one final fanning of the side in the seventh to complete the perfect day.
On offense, Morghyn Ross and Kendra Gleason led the bats with two each, out of team’s seven in all. As for the visitors, Zoey Lee struck out five in her tossed complete game for Andover/Whitesville.
As for how Andover/Whitesville got to the title game, they had to battle right alongside the Lady Rebels of Cuba-Rushford through a back-and-forth battle that ultimately reached its end with one final piece of scoring coming in the bottom of the sixth, tallying insurance while the defense held up the Lady Rebels bats in time to secure an 8-6 win.
Andover/Whitesville started by doubling up the Lady Rebels in the first inning, scoring four runs led by some baserunning and an RBI single from Kennedy Bledsoe. The lead grew to as much as four in the third when Makaila Brewster scored two RBI on error. The back-and-forth pace continued on, with the Lady Rebels (2-6) responding in the top of the third with a three-run frame led by a Laney Murphy RBI double, closing the gap to one run once more.
But in the sixth, Andover/Whitesville was able to pull away with one final piece of insurance to secure their lead.
Brewster collected the win on the mound for the victors, striking out four, while Zoey Lee and Gabby Terhune led the offense with two hits each. As for the Lady Rebels, Sydney Howard struck out five and walked three and posted two of the team’s five hits at the plate. Taylor Searle helped the cause with two hits of her own.
With the defeat, that moved Cuba-Rushford down into the Consolation game pitted against Genesee Valley/Belfast. In that game, an early deadlock was broken by a massive five-run fourth inning by the Lady JagDogs, as that set up a run of 12 unanswered scores that pushed their lead insurmountably to claim the victory by a 14-2 count.
With a 2-2 tie to be broken after three complete innings, Genesee Valley/Belfast’s offense sprung to life with a game-changing inning that was led by back-to-back RBI doubles off the bats of Harley Proctor and Anna Drozdowski. The hits were two of the team’s 11 in all, with Proctor becoming one of three Lady JagDogs to record a pair of hits, both being doubles. Sondra Guilford was the other, as she recorded two hits and scored twice. Brooke Middaugh rounded with two hits of her own, including an RBI double.
Burrows fanned two and walked one to split her day in the circle. On the counter, Lizzy Kocsis fanned seven and walked three for the Lady Rebels across five innings. On offense, Elysa Tylor led the bats with a double, while Howard, Meghan O’Keefe, Riley Keller and Harlie Jones all had a hit to add.
The next games for all four teams are listed below as follows:
- Cuba-Rushford & Andover/Whitesville will partake in a doubleheader in Andover, starting at 6 p.m. on Monday.
- Genesee Valley/Belfast will return home to host Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg in a 7 p.m. contest, Monday in Belfast.
- Friendship/Scio will host Andover/Whitesville on Wednesday in Scio at 5 p.m.
First Round
Cuba-Rushford 201 030 0 – 6 5 2
Andover/Whitesville 403 001 X – 8 8 8
C-R – Sydney Howard (LP) (CG, 5K, 3BB), and Riley Keller.
A/W – Makaila Brewster (WP) (CG, 4K), and Gabbi Hall.
First Round
Genesee Valley/Belfast 000 000 0 – 0 0 1
Friendship/Scio 121 053 X – 12 13 1
GVB – Ashley Burrows (LP) (CG, 8K, 4BB), and Harley Proctor.
F/S – Nevaeh Ross (WP) (CG, 16K), and Morghyn Ross.
Consolation
Genesee Valley/Belfast 020 514 2 – 14 11 2
Cuba-Rushford 110 000 0 – 2 5 7
GVB – Ashley Burrows (WP) (CG, 2K, BB), and Harley Proctor.
C-R – Lizzy Kocsis (LP) (7K, 3BB), Sydney Howard (6) (3K, BB), and Riley Keller.
Championship
Andover/Whitesville 000 000 0 – 0 0 4
Friendship/Scio 003 000 0 – 3 7 0
A/W – Zoey Lee (LP) (CG, 5K), and Gabbi Hall.
F/S – Nevaeh Ross (WP) (CG, 18K), and Morghyn Ross.
BASEBALL
Scio Tourney: GV/Belfast powers past And/Whi to capture title, Fri/Scio beats Hinsdale in Consolation
SCIO — While Friendship/Scio was getting the job done on the softball field, across the way was the baseball field where four additional teams occupied its grounds to settle the score in tournament action of their own, as Genesee Valley/Belfast, Hinsdale, Andover/Whitesville and host Friendship/Scio all did battle.
In a day that saw Genesee Valley/Belfast and Andover/Whitesville work their way towards the title game after successful first round wins over Friendship/Scio and Hinsdale respectively. Both would engage in an early fight before the JagDogs worked themselves free and now of reach, as they scored a massive eight-run seventh inning as their last hurrah towards winning this year’s tournament title on the diamond, taking the 17-3 win.
The bats ignited for Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-6) after they traded a scoreless first inning with Andover/Whitesville as they went on to score the first nine runs of the game, including a five-run third inning that ultimately gave them the momentum they needed to keep their lead in tact for good, closing out the afternoon with an eight-run final tenure along the way.
In all, the JagDogs collected 17 runs off 15 hits, with Elden Aquila leading the charge with a 3-for-5 afternoon, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Max Miller went 3-for-3 with two more runs. Matt Weaver added in two hits and two runs of his own, while Matt Cater had a double. On the mound, Cater picked up the win behind seven strikeouts and four walks.
Andover/Whitesville (2-6) ended the shutout bid in the sixth inning with their lone three runs. Layton Miller scored both of the team’s hits, including a double.
To get to the title game, Genesee Valley/Belfast saw a breakout pitching performance develop from Carter Stout, as he dominated Friendship/Scio back in the opening round to begin the day, holding them to just two hits while dishing out 16 strikeouts to help the team fly towards a 7-0 shutout.
The performance by Stout also saw the JagDogs defense hold the hosts in check at the plate, allowing just two hits which were garnered by both Joey Bednez and Ethan Davenport. In translation to offense of their own, the victors collected eight hits to power their attack, led by Matt Weaver who had a perfect 4-for-4 day with two doubles and four RBI. Garrett Miller added in two hits, and scored twice.
Genesee Valley/Belfast scored a 3-0 lead in the top of the third after battling back and forth with Friendship/Scio (3-7) in the beginning stages that saw two scoreless innings formulate.
Despite the defeat and knock down into the Consolation round later in the day, Friendship/Scio garnered a fantastic pitching performance from Ethan Davenport, who struck out nine and walked two in his six innings pitched.
Friendship/Scio would rebound in their final game of the afternoon against Hinsdale, who fell to Andover/Whitesville in their first round contest, by starting out red hot from the plate and building a double digit lead that they never lost control of, taking the 19-9 win in six innings to close up shop.
After the Bobcats (0-7) grabbed the game’s first two runs, Friendship/Scio’s response was even bigger with 12 of their 19 runs coming in their opening at-bats, allowing them to set the tone for the remainder of the way to make sure their day ended on the right foot. Joey Bednez would grab the win on the mound behind two strikeouts and two walks. At the plate, Kody Marvin recorded a hit.
Damion Brown led Hinsdale’s bats with three, scoring three runs in the process.
The next games for all four teams are as follows:
- Genesee Valley/Belfast will host Arkport/Canaseraga on Monday in Belfast starting a 7 p.m.
- Andover/Whiteville will visit Friendship/Scio on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Scio.
- Hinsdale will host Fillmore on Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m.
- Friendship/Scio will welcome in Hammondsport for a 5:30 p.m. contest on Monday in Scio.
First Round
Genesee Valley/Belfast 003 001 3 – 7 8 1
Friendship/Scio 000 000 0 – 0 2 5
GVB – Carter Stout (WP) (CG, 16K), and Thai Norasethaporn.
F/S – Ethan Davenport (LP) (9K, 2BB), Joey Bednez (7), and Landen Arnold.
Consolation
Hinsdale 2 20 221 – 9 11 2
Friendship/Scio (12)00 304 – 19 6 5
HIN – Jake Elliott (LP) (K, 8BB), Damion Brown (1) (2K, 7BB), and Parker Cummins.
F/S – Joey Bednez (WP) (2K, 2BB), Jacob Golden (4) (3K, 3BB), Landen Arnold (7), and Golden, Nick Sortore (4).
Championship
Genesee Valley/Belfast 015 012 8 – 17 15 0
Andover/Whitesville 000 003 0 – 3 2 2
GVB – Matt Cater (WP) (7K, 4BB), Garrett Miller (6) (2K, BB), and Matt Weaver.
A/W – Brody Carlin (LP) (2K, BB), Joe Fonte (6) (K, 6BB), and CJ Estep.
BOYS TENNIS
Fillmore 5, Scio 0 (from 4/29)
SCIO — On Friday, the Eagles of Fillmore continued their blazing hot start to their tremendous season thus far, as they picked up another match sweep, this time against the host Scio Tigers by a 5-0 count.
Just three matches took the stage in Scio, with Fillmore (8-0) collecting all the victories, including from Jack Boon at first singles, as he nearly shutout Scio’s Austin Gowdy to record his first Varsity career win in what was a 6-0, 6-1 decision to start things off.
In the doubles department, the team of Joe Derck and Layton Sanasith went on to add a win themselves over Scio’s (2-3) Corey Field and Jude Marion at first doubles, taking the 6-2, 6-1 win. Rounding off was the second doubles team of Isaiah Sisson and Marcus Wolfer, as they fought through a closely-contested first set to provide a game-ending shutout in the second, taking the 6-3, 6-0 win over Liam Carouge and Ben Weimer.
The team would go on to add forfeit wins from Carter Sisson and Eben Schilke at second and third singles, respectively.
Fillmore will return to action back at Houghton College on Tuesday, “visiting” Houghton Academy in a 5 p.m. battle. As for Scio, they’ll look to rebound on Monday back on their home court, hosting Cuba-Rushford in a 5 p.m. first serve.
Singles
1. Jack Boon (FIL) def. Austin Gowdy (SCIO), 6-0, 6-1.
2. Carter Sisson (FIL) by for.
3. Eben Schilke (FIL) by for.
Doubles
1. Joe Derck/Layton Sanasith (FIL) def. Corey Field/Jude Marion (SCIO), 6-2, 6-1.
2. Isaiah Sisson/Marcus Wolfer (FIL) def. Liam Carouge/Ben Weimer (SCIO), 6-3, 6-0.
