By CHRIS BROOKS, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — Just a couple of days separating the Lady Lions of Wellsville from perhaps their biggest challenge of the season this weekend, the task at hand on Wednesday back home at Tullar Field was one they were able to take care of right from the start, as their bats remained red hot at the plate while the tandem of Marissa Ordway and Makenna Dunbar combined to provide another shutout victory by a 16-0 count over Dansville to eclipse the 10-win mark this season.
The Lady Lions put together 16 runs off 15 total hits on the attack, starting the night with a two-run lead before the offense was re-ignited in the very next inning after another solid performance from the field, as they branched their lead out with a six-run second inning that gave them more cushioning to remain out in front over the Lady Mustangs, ultimately for good.
Leading the bats was Makenna Dunbar, who had two hits including a massive grand slam — her fifth homer of the season, totaling five RBI for the game. Marissa Ordway followed with a pair of doubles, driving in a pair while Makenzie Cowburn cleared the bases with one big swing, sending a double to the outfield to total four RBI in the contest. Emma Dunaway, Brazen Beckwith and Kaylie Fuller all had two more hits each to contribute to the cause.
In the circle, Ordway and Dunbar came together to toss a three-hit shutout of Dansville, with Ordway collecting the win behind five strikeouts.
“Marissa was sharp tonight, and the movement on her pitches was excellent. Our offense is firing on all cylinders. Everyone in the lineup tonight hit the ball hard.” said Lady Lions coach Matt Burke.
Wellsville will now get set to square off with defending Class A State Champion Webster Schroeder right back at Tullar Field, beginning at 1 p.m. before facing Addison later on in the day at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Dansville 000 00 – 0 3 4
Wellsville 260 35 – 16 15 0
DAN – Megan Tyler (LP) (K, 3BB), Elliot Hanks (5) (BB) and Treva Wadsworth.
WLSV – Marissa Ordway (WP) (5K), Makenna Dunbar (5) and Lindsay Stuck, Teagan Burke (5).
Genesee Valley/Belfast 8, Andover/Whitesville 4
ANDOVER — Whether it’s a single one, or even a plethora of them, finding hits in a timely fashion can provide a big time difference maker. With Genesee Valley/Belfast and Andover/Whitesville neck-and-neck with one another for the majority of their Wednesday battle in Andover, something most certainly had to give way. And quick.
Down by one to Andover/Whitesville, visiting Genesee Valley/Belfast was running out of time to try and make one final attempt at fighting back. But it was an opportunity they would not allow to let slip away from them.
In the top of the sixth, the offense came together to provide that final push against the hosts, as they managed to scratch across four gigantic runs to take the lead away from Andover/Whitesville. They would go on to account for the game’s last five runs with one more in the seventh, as Genesee Valley/Belfast picked up their third win in the first four games with an 8-4 decision.
Going into Andover/Whitesville’s second term of offense, the game found its way towards breaking one of many deadlocks, when Makaila Brewster delivered a strong hit into the outfield — an RBI single to pull the hosts back ahead of Genesee Valley/Belfast (3-1). After both teams traded a scoreless third inning, the visitors climbed their way back to the top again with a run in the third inning.
As the pendulum began to shift between both teams, it would take another dip into Andover/Whitesville’s (0-3) direction with a monster lead-off bomb from Aislinn Hamilton, giving them the 4-3 lead back to control down the stretch.
What momentum was built off of the home run, was immediately stopped by Genesee Valley/Belfast, as Hannah Southwick-Powers and Sondra Guilford each came together to provide two big RBI singles in the top of the team’s four-run sixth inning to pull their way ahead of Andover/Whitesville, and out of reach for the remainder of the game, adding one final piece of insurance in the seventh to lock down the victory.
Southwick-Powers and Guilford, along with Jenna Hall, all led the offense for Genesee Valley/Belfast with two hits each. In the circle, Southwick-Powers and Ashley Burrows provided two outstanding performances, with Burrows fanning eight and walking four in her five-inning start. Southwick-Powers then took over and laid claim to the team’s victory with strikeouts in five of the last seven Andover/Whitesville at-bats.
For the hosts, Hamilton, Brewster and Olivia Waters all had two hits to record. In the circle, Brewster struck out six and walked one in her complete game effort. Andover/Whitesville is back on their home field Saturday afternoon with a 12 p.m. first pitch against Avoca/Prattsburgh, in Andover.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will now take aim at potentially a fourth straight win to close out the week on Friday, as they head back home to host Cuba-Rushford in a 5 p.m. contest at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 110 104 1 – 8 7 0
Andover/Whitesville 210 010 0 – 4 5 5
GVB – Ashley Burrows (8K, 4BB), Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP, 6) (5K) and Jenna Hall.
A/W – Makaila Brewster (LP) (CG, 6K, BB) and Gabbi Hall.
Don’t miss it!! Giant’s 1 day sale is this Saturday April 22 in Wellsville and Cuba
