BY CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — This past weekend was one that the Lions of Wellsville hoped to leave behind in the rearview mirror. They were provided with an opportunity to do just that with a visit from Canisteo-Greenwood on Monday back inside the Lion’s Den.
All of the game’s scoring would come in the first three innings of play, as both the Redskins and Lions gave it everything they had across an all-out defensive battle. As for what it would take to try and break the floodgates open, it would take an even balance of power.
With the offense already beginning to kick the tires into gear on one side, Logan Dunbar would help take it to another level.
With his best game of the season.
The Wellsville senior was unstoppable during his time on the rubber, as he went all seven innings holding Canisteo-Greenwood at an absolute standstill, handing out 16 chairs while holding them to just two hits. The momentum would continue after the Lions struck first with all three of their runs coming in the first three innings of play, holding the lead for good to secure a rebounding 3-0 shutout win.
“The last two games were tough pills to swallow for us. Logan really needed this game tonight, and he needed to get back on the horse to prove he’s a better pitcher than this past weekend. He did just that,” said Lions coach Tom Delahunt. “He found his rhythm, he located his pitches, he was really efficient. It allowed him to get back to where he was a week ago. It’s a great rebound game, and we had a lot of fast innings. It’s nice to play defense behind a pitcher that is working quickly and throwing a ton of strikes.”
The Lions (5-4) were able to scavenge four hits to fuel their offense, which generated the game’s first run in their first at-bats. The lead was held across a scoreless second inning before they were able to add on with their last two runs coming in the third. Pacing the offense were both Cody Costello and Ty Vogel, each recording a triple, with Costello leading the game off with his to the deep portion of the outfield, accounting the opening run himself along the way.
Dunbar carried a no-hit bid all the way into the seventh during Canisteo-Greenwood’s final tenure of offense, where they were able to break it up with a single each from Korbyn Osterwald and Noah Warriner. But before the Redskins could apply any pressure, Dunbar was able to record a humongous and successful game-ending pick-off of Warriner at first base to end the game, securing Wellsville’s shutout win in style.
Warriner would go on to strike out three and walk two during his start that stretched into the fourth inning for Canisteo-Greenwood.
Wellsville is back on the diamond Wednesday night back over the road for the next pair, beginning in the Maple City in a 5 p.m. first pitch against the Hornell Red Raiders.
Canisteo-Greenwood 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
Wellsville 102 000 X – 3 4 1
C-G – Noah Warriner (LP) (3K, 2BB), Thomas Sirianni (4) (2K, BB) and Sirianni, Warriner (4).
WLSV – Logan Dunbar (WP) (CG, 16K) and Alex Green.
Saturday: Canandaigua 22, Wellsville 2 (F-5)
WELLSVILLE — Saturday morning, the Lions of Wellsville were seeking redemption after a hard-fought defeat to the hands of Canandaigua over the road just over a week ago.
But the visiting Braves had other plans in store — a season sweep, as they started off the battle red hot, igniting a flame that the Lions could not extinguish as time went on, forcing an early end after five complete innings with an enormous 22-2 victory in the Lion’s Den.
Right in the first at-bats for the Braves, they would load up the bags behind Logan Dunbar and the Wellsville (4-5) defense. With one big swing of the bat, Nate Brinza unleashed a bomb that left the field in a hurry, knocking in four runs on a game-starting grand slam.
With a 4-0 lead in hand, the momentum would remain in their favor permanently. In the very next inning, they raced away and out of reach of the Lions by connecting on all fronts with a massive 13-run frame.
The Lions would eventually find their way onto the board to eliminate the possibility of a shutout for the Braves in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs off seven total hits on offense. Cody Costello and Trenton Green propelled the offense with a pair of hits each, with Costello paving the way forward with a double and RBI.
Wellsville is back on the field Monday night back inside the Lion’s Den, hosting Canisteo-Greenwood at 5 p.m.
Canandaigua 4 (13) 4 10 – 22 15 0
Wellsville 0 0 2 00 – 2 7 5
CAN – Aaron Crunick (WP) (CG, 2K) and Jack Clark.
WLSV – Logan Dunbar (LP) (3K, 3BB), Derek Coleman (2) (2BB), Trenton Green (2) (5K, 2BB) and Matt Ritter.
MONDAY
Bolivar-Richburg 13, Hinsdale 1 (F-5)
BOLIVAR — The start of the week for the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg was an explosive one. On Monday, the offense collected at least two runs in each of the four innings of action they partook, while the defense fronted by Reiss Gaines and Aydin Sisson on the mound converged to hold visiting Hinsdale hit-less, as they strolled their way towards victory by a 13-1 count after five innings.
The Wolverines (6-3) went on to post a fast start against the Bobcats right in the opening frame of play, automatically setting a tone that allowed them to take the game’s first and only lead, holding it to their advantage over the course of time with runs being scored across every inning of action.
After a four-run bottom of the third, Bolivar-Richburg closed up the night with a five-run frame that provided an exclamation point on the victory.
Reiss Gaines and Aydin Sisson were outstanding on the mound for the hosts in red and black, as the two combined to hold their opposition in check from start to finish, recording a no-hit performance with Gaines docking the win with six strikeouts and three walks. In relief, Sisson fanned four more Hinsdale batters and walked one to further the cause.
On offense, the Wolverines saw Ian Unfus take charge with a hit and two RBI. Evan Pinney and Trey Buchholz each recorded a hit and RBI of their own, while Caden Allen, Landon Barkley and Cayden Gaines each had a hit. For Hinsdale (1-5), Xander Pascucci tallied the team’s lone run in the top of the third off a fielder’s choice. He would also provide a strikeout and walk in relief on the mound.
Both teams are back in action tonight in a pair of 5 p.m. first pitches, as Bolivar-Richburg welcomes in Genesee Valley/Belfast, while Hinsdale hits the road once more to Friendship to take on Friendship/Scio.
Hinsdale 001 00 – 1 0 4
Bolivar-Richburg 224 5X – 13 6 0
HIN – Jake Elliott (LP) (4K, 11BB), Xander Pascucci (4) (K, BB) and Peyton Keller.
B-R – Reiss Gaines (WP) (6K, 3BB), Aydin Sisson (4) (4K, BB) and Cayden Gaines.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 17, Friendship/Scio 5 (F-5)
SCIO — While Ryan Daciw was delivering a phenomenal start for Genesee Valley/Belfast on the mound, the offense followed up with a big performance of their own on Monday over the road.
Holding a 7-1 lead over host Friendship/Scio in the first three innings of play, the game was branched out insurmountably by the visitors in black and gray, as they posted a fourth inning that saw them break away to force an early end to the battle, capturing the 17-5 victory after five complete innings.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (3-5) struck while the iron was hot in their first pair of tenures at the plate, finding their rhythm quickly with the game’s first seven runs in two innings of play, including a three-run opening frame. Friendship/Scio would go on to break the shutout in the bottom of the third with their first run before the visitors assumed control once again.
In the top of the fourth, the damage would soon be done, as Genesee Valley/Belfast struck all chords with a seven-run frame to pull away and out of reach of the hosts in gold and black. The team would collect 17 runs off eight hits, with Daciw leading both sides with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate, scoring a run. On the mound, Daciw recorded the win with seven strikeouts and one walk across three innings of work.
For Friendship/Scio (2-5), Nick Sortore struck out five and walked six in his three-inning start on the rubber. He also went 2-for-3 to lead the offense, driving in a run.
Both teams are back after it tonight in a pair of 5 p.m. first pitches, as Genesee Valley/Belfast continues their road trip with a visit to Bolivar-Richburg, while Friendship/Scio heads back over the hill to Friendship to take on Hinsdale.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 340 73 – 17 8 2
Friendship/Scio 001 04 – 5 3 4
GVB – Ryan Daciw (WP) (7K, BB), Fisher Herdman (4) (K), Ethan Bigelow (5) (3K, 3BB) and Evan Turybury.
F/S – Nick Sortore (LP) (5K, 6BB), Matt Donohue (4) and Landon Arnold, Cooper Greenman (3).
Fillmore 21, Andover/Whitesville 9 (F-6)
FILLMORE — After a strong start out of the gate by Andover/Whitesville, host Fillmore would have to fight their way back from behind in an early deficit on Monday.
The Eagles would regain traction by grabbing the lead after the first three innings, but it would become a back-and-forth battle down the stretch until the big finish in the bottom of the sixth. A frame where the bats caused a massive inferno at the plate after scoring the night’s last 10 runs to force the end of the battle with a 21-9 home win — their fifth in the first six games.
The scoring began right in Andover/Whitesville’s first outing at the plate, as they broke the ice against Fillmore with a four-run frame headlined by a pair of two-run singles posted by both Jacob Wagner and Brody Carlin, gaining their upper hand to work with.
In turn, the hosts in green responded with the next six unanswered runs themselves to overtake Andover/Whitesville in the driver’s seat, including a four-run second inning that propelled them ahead for their first lead.
Across the fourth and fifth innings, each team would trade deadlocks until Fillmore (5-1) took the lead back permanently with their three-run fifth inning, shifting the momentum into what would be their final term at the plate in the sixth. All in all, a 10-run bonanza paced by three big belts consisting of at least two runs or more.
Providing the game-changing bats: Damon Potter, Zach Sisson and Brent Zubikowski, who accounted for eight of the team’s 10 runs on three hits, with Potter blasting a three-run homer, Sisson scorching a three-run double to the deep outfield and a two-run double from Zubikowski to help further the team’s cause once and for all.
Zubikowski was one of four different Eagles to record at least two hits at the plate, as he was joined by Mitch Ward, Aiden Wagner and Luke Colombo. On the mound, Zubikowski was credited with the victory with a strikeout in relief. Starting, Kalen Beardsley struck out six and walked three in his three-inning tenure.
For Andover/Whitesville (1-4), Layton Miller posted a double — one of six hits the team recorded at the plate. On the mound, Jacob Wagner fanned two and walked five across his start that stretched into the third inning. The team will return to action back home in Andover on Wednesday, as they aim to rebound with a 6 p.m. visit from Friendship/Scio in store.
Tonight, the Eagles will look to remain hot to start the season, as they pay a visit to Cuba-Rushford for a 5 p.m. first pitch with the Rebels.
Andover/Whitesville 400 2 2 1 – 9 6 2
Fillmore 141 2 3 (10) – 21 12 1
A/W – Jacob Wagner (2K, 5BB), Gage Hall (LP, 3) (2K, 2BB), Joe Fonte (5) (4BB) and Colton Calladine.
FIL – Kalen Beardsley (6K, 3BB), Brayden Hennard (WP, 4) (K, 2BB), Brent Zubikowski (WP, 5) (K), Mitch Ward (6) (K, 2BB) and Nolan Krzeminski.
SATURDAY:
Cuba-Rushford 9, Canisteo-Greenwood 3
CANISTEO — Jack Frank was handed the ball to lead the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford on Saturday, as they looked to finish the week out perfect with a visit to Canisteo-Greenwood.
With it, he would go on to have the best afternoon of his season, as the Rebels senior allowed just a single hit across six outstanding innings on the mound. In turn, the offense scavenged some big hits, including one in the top of the seventh that allowed them to maintain their position out of reach from the host Redskins, securing their fifth consecutive win by a 9-3 decision.
“Jack Frank pitched a heck of a game today. Our defense played really well behind him too,” said Rebels coach Pat Wight. “Eli (Sleggs) had a great day at the plate and Jake (Smith) had a big double in the seventh that branched it out and locked it up for us in the end. We’re very pleased to go 4-0 this week. The guys locked it in all week long.”
Cuba-Rushford (6-2) started out of the gate with a big positive from Eli Sleggs. After two straight runners punched their way onto the bases, Sleggs used his bat to strike a two-run chord into the outfield to break the ice before coming home later on in the inning on special teams. In between their fourth run, Canisteo-Greenwood would make their way onto the board using special teams themselves, scoring a run in both the second and third innings to cut their deficit to a pair.
Both teams would exchange a scoreless fourth inning of action in rapid succession before the Rebels found their groove again in the fifth, scoring three bonus runs led by Sleggs again, along with Landon Shappacher, both recording RBI-driven smacks past the infield. The Redskins would attempt to chip away at the deficit one final time, but the game was put away in the seventh by Jacob Smith, as he belted a two-run single to branch their advantage out to six for good.
Overall, Sleggs led the bats with a 3-for-4 outing and four total RBI. On the bases, Braeden Wight and Finn Ricketts each scored twice. On defense, Jack Frank would hold the Redskins in check for much of the day, allowing just two hits while handing out 11 chairs and walking just three in his six-inning start on the rubber.
The Rebels will carry a red hot start to the campaign over into Tuesday night back home, welcoming in the Fillmore Eagles for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Cuba-Rushford 301 030 2 – 9 5 1
Canisteo-Greenwood 011 001 0 – 3 2 1
C-R – Jack Frank (WP) (11K, 3BB), Jacob Smith (7) (K) and Adam Shaffer.
C-G – Noah Warriner (LP) (2BB), Taige Stewart (1) (7K, BB), Thomas Sirianni (4) (K, 5BB), Kevin Sirianni (5) (K, 3BB), and T. Sirianni, Warriner (4).
Fillmore 10, Franklinville 6
FILLMORE — An electric start on offense for both Franklinville and Fillmore set the stage Saturday morning. Between the two foes, 12 combined runs were scratched across the plate to set up shop for a deadlock through the first three innings. From that point forward, it boiled into a defensive battle until the end.
A battle that the host Eagles were able to come away victorious in, as Luke Colombo and Mitch Ward helped shut the door on Franklinville on the field, while the offense came up with an outstanding finish in the sixth inning to pull ahead of the Panthers once and for all, rebounding after a tough loss to Bolivar-Richburg the previous night with a 10-6 edge for their fifth win in the first six games.
Right off the get-go, the Panthers made their presence known against the Eagles (5-1) with the help of Colin Mooney, who launched a massive three-run bomb off Luke Colombo to open the scoring in the first. But it was a moment that the hosts in green used as fuel to provide a response, as they countered the monster shot with five unanswered runs of their own, including a four-run bottom half to take the lead.
Franklinville would post their second and final three-run stanza later in the third to regain the lead for a brief moment before Fillmore created the game’s final deadlock with a run in turn. After the hot start on both sides, the action would cool off across a pair of shutout frames from the defensive side of the spectrum until the Eagles made the most of their final opportunity at the plate.
In the bottom of the sixth, the hosts unloaded a four-run bonanza headlined by a clutch double to the outfield fence from Zach Sisson, scoring a run to pull them ahead. The momentum was used to fortify their lead with three more pieces of insurance coming across the plate, closing up shop later on with a fourth straight shutout frame against the Panthers.
Fillmore accounted for 10 runs off eight hits on offense, with Nolan Krzeminski and Brent Zubikowski both recording two hits each. Krzeminski would also use his wheels around the bases to score three runs, including the go-ahead off Sisson’s RBI double. On the mound, the win belonged to Mitch Ward in relief, as he fanned three and walked two. Colombo wrapped up his day with five strikeouts in his start that stretched to the fifth inning.
The Eagles are back on their home field Monday night with a 5 p.m. visit from Andover/Whitesville.
Franklinville 303 000 0 – 6 7 1
Fillmore 411 004 X – 10 8 3
FRA – Matt Spittler (2BB), Ty Farrington (3) (4K, 2BB), Isaac Towne (7) (K) and Brady Tatlon.
FIL – Luke Colombo (5K), Mitch Ward (WP, 5) (3K, 2BB) and Nolan Krzeminski.
Friendship/Scio 14, Archbishop Walsh 1 (F-5)
SCIO — Despite Archbishop Walsh scoring their lone run late to eliminate the shutout, Ethan Davenport was untouchable on the mound for Friendship/Scio, as he battled his way through tough conditions to deliver the team a bounce back no-hit performance in a 14-1 home victory in Scio.
Davenport was lights out across the board for Friendship/Scio (2-4), as the ace handed out 14 chairs to Archbishop Walsh while allowing only two walks to reach base. While the defensive shutdown was intact, the offense broke out in a hurry by making an early statement, scratching across eight of their 14 runs right in the opening frame of play.
Friendship/Scio would gather 14 runs off eight total hits at the plate, with Tyler Nickerson having a humongous day behind his 4-for-4 outing, driving in four runs. Davenport would also add in two hits of his own, including a triple to further the cause.
On Monday, Friendship/Scio will return to Scio for another battle in a 5 p.m. first pitch, welcoming Genesee Valley/Belfast to town.
Archbishop Walsh 000 10 – 1 0 1
Friendship/Scio 840 3X – 14 8 0
