By Chris Brooks, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — With the conditions outdoors going from summer-like going into the weekend, to an early-Spring freeze coming back out of it, it can become quite a challenging adjustment for teams to make. But for the Lions of Wellsville, there was no problem whatsoever, as they started on the absolute strongest of notes against visiting Red Jacket on Monday and never looked back, racing towards a 30-2 home win in the Lion’s Den.
Wellsville (4-3) wasted no time striking while the iron was hot in the opening frame of the play against Red Jacket, as the offense went up and down their entire lineup to create a 13-run frame. One that saw 10 of those runs scored with no out on the board, which allowed the hosts to set the tone permanently going forward.
The Lions were led by Ty Vogel at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, six RBI and four runs scored. Gavin Haggerty also recorded four hits, driving in four and scoring three times. Karson Grover and Aiden Cowburn each had three hits and recorded four RBI.
On the mound, Logan Dunbar was credited with the win behind three strikeouts in his two inning start.
Wellsville will look to carry the momentum into Friday night, as they head for St. Bonaventure to take on the Olean Huskies to close out their two-game set this season. First pitch is slated for a 5 p.m. start.
Red Jacket 0 11 0 0 – 2 4 5
Wellsville (13) 81 8X – 30 23 0
Bolivar-Richburg 8, Coudersport (PA) 2
COUDERSPORT, Pa. — As of late, Trey Buchholz has ignited a strong flame not only from the pitcher’s mound, but also with his big bat. He had a swing that started off their last battle against Hornell back on Friday, going to the fence for a lead-off triple.
The Bolivar-Richburg senior once again made his impact apparent after the weekend in the team’s next road trip down below the border to Coudersport, where he provided another big blast to help open the scoring in the top of the third. With the swing of his bat, the Wolverines maintained position in the driver’s seat from start to finish, flying towards an 8-2 road win to get back to .500 on the season.
“Trey had an excellent outing on the mound, and Reiss (Gaines) did his job to close it,” Wolverines coach Dustin Allen said. “We got a contribution from our bats all the way through tonight, which was big. Coudersport put a little pressure on us in the sixth, but Reiss did a great job getting us out of that jam to keep them held still. It’s a nice way to start the week.”
Both teams traded scoreless barbs in the first two innings before Bolivar-Richburg (3-3) broke the ice with a bang from Buchholz. In the top of third with two runners on, Buchholz slammed a shot into the outfield deep enough to reach third on a triple to score both runs. An RBI from Aydin Sisson moments later would ultimately find Buchholz in to score, wrapping up a 3-0 lead.
The lead would remain until the visitors in red and black added on with another run in the fourth, with Buchholz scoring his third RBI on a grounder into the infield, plating James Margeson along the way. While the defense was maintaining their part, Bolivar-Richburg recorded one last impact inning in the sixth, led by Buchholz and his final RBI, as the team strung together a four-run stanza to extend their lead out to eight.
Coudersport would apply some late pressure down the stretch with their first two runs of the game, plating them on an RBI triple and a fielder’s choice into the infield. The Bolivar-Richburg defense would hold down the fort one last time to keep the Falcons at bay, springing back to .500 after the rebound win.
Buchholz was awarded the win on the hill, fanning one and walking two while holding Coudersport to just three hits. At the plate, he went 2-for-4 with his two-run triple, four total RBI and a run scored. Margeson and David Baldwin each tallied two hits, while Caden Allen had a double and RBI to pitch in.
The Wolverines are now off until their next battle Thursday night under the lights, as they prepare to host Friendship/Scio in a 7 p.m. first pitch.
Bolivar-Richburg 003 104 0 – 8 9 2
Coudersport 000 002 0 – 2 6 1
B-R – Trey Buchholz (WP) (K, 2BB), Reiss Gaines (6) (3K, BB) and Aydin Sisson.
COU – Owen Deutschlander (LP) (2K, BB), LT Myers (3) (5K, BB), Mason Roessner (7) and Jacob Hooftallen.
Cuba-Rushford 17, Andover/Whitesville 4 (F-5)
CUBA — Although Andover/Whitesville continued to fight until the very end, the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford came out swinging for the fences on Monday to start the new week on the diamond, as they scored all 17 of their runs in the first three innings of play to set the tone on offense, as they strolled their way towards victory by a 17-4 count in five innings.
“We swung the bats well again tonight on a cold and wet night. It was good to jump out and really get a nice lead. We went up 13-0 and Andover/Whitesville answered with four runs. They never quit. We made some nice plays defensively, and we’re looking to be settling in nicely as a group.” said Rebels coach Pat Wight.
After a 1-0 lead during their first at-bats got them started, the Rebels (3-2) kept their foot down on the gas pedal in the second, going through their entire batting rotation in full and then some, scoring 12 runs off 10 total hits in the frame. Three different hitters for Cuba-Rushford all recorded at least a pair of hits, with Preston Bilotta’s perfect 3-for-3 leading the pack, totaling two RBI and two runs scored. Braeden Wight drove in four runs off his two hits, while Caleb Root had two hits and three runs scored.
Jacob Smith rounded off the hitting with a double, three RBI and four runs scored for the hosts, who saw Eli Sleggs garner the win with three strikeouts and six walks.
Andover/Whitesville (1-2) posted all four of their runs in the top half of the third, using baserunning to their biggest advantage. CJ Estep was the recipient of the team’s lone hit, earning a single while scoring a run. Colton Calladine scratched a run across himself to help further the cause. On the mound, Layton Miller struck out two and walked two in his two-inning start.
Both teams are back on the diamond Wednesday night, as Cuba-Rushford plays host to Hinsdale in a 5 p.m. first pitch, while Andover/Whitesville looks to rebound back home in Andover with a visit from Genesee Valley/Belfast at 6 p.m.
Andover/Whitesville 0 0 4 00 – 4 1 3
Cuba-Rushford 1 (12)4 0X – 17 14 1
A/W – Layton Miller (LP) (2K, 2BB), Jacob Wagner (3) (2K, 4BB), Joe Fonte (5) (2K, BB) and Colton Calladine.
C-R – Eli Sleggs (WP) (3K, 6BB), Jacob Smith (4) (2K) and Adam Shaffer, Caleb Root (4).
Genesee Valley/Belfast 10, Hinsdale 0 (F-5)
BELFAST — Thai Norasethaporn was lights out for Genesee Valley/Belfast on Monday, as the senior kept visiting Hinsdale at bay across a two-hit complete game on the hill, helping provide energy for the offense along the way in the first two innings to set the pace in their 10-0 blank of the Bobcats in Belfast.
All 10 of Genesee Valley/Belfast’s (1-4) runs came straight in the first two innings of play, starting the day with a 2-0 lead in their opening at-bats to begin setting Hinsdale off balance. With it, the momentum shifted into the second inning where it completely tipped in their favor all the way to the end, as they used some key hits and some clutch baserunning to deliver an eight-run frame that allowed them to pull away towards their first win of the season.
“It was nice to finally get one for the start of the season,” said GV/Belfast coach Kevin Scott. “We started to get some positive confidence back, and Thai’s great game helped with that. The bats aren’t still where we want them, but they’re getting there. Hopefully this will get us back on the right track, and help us keep moving. It wasn’t the most ideal night for baseball, but the kids came to play and they got the W in the end.”
Norasethaporn held Hinsdale (1-3) to just two hits across his complete game in all five innings, striking out seven and walking one to record the victory on the bump. At the plate, Genesee Valley/Belfast recorded just four hits, with Garrett Miller having two of them, including a double, to pair with two runs scored. Owen Heaney and Evan Turybury each had an RBI single and run scored.
The Bobcats saw Peyton Keller and Xander Pascucci both record a hit to pace the offense. On the hill, Henry Schwartz struck out three and walked six in his start.
Both teams are back on the field Wednesday night, as Genesee Valley/Belfast hits the road to visit Andover/Whitesville in a 6 p.m. first pitch at Andover, while Hinsdale continues their road swing with a 5 p.m. visit to Cuba-Rushford.
Hinsdale 000 00 – 0 2 2
Genesee Valley/Belfast 280 0X – 10 4 0
HIN – Henry Schwartz (LP) (3K, 6BB), Xander Pascucci (2) (K, 3BB) and Peyton Keller.
GVB – Thai Norasethaporn (WP) (CG, 7K, BB) and Evan Turybury.
Photos by Chris Brooks:
