Thursday Roundup: GV/Belfast softball exacts revenge behind dominant 1-hit twirl from Southwick-Powers in 4-0 blank of Avo/Pra; Fillmore, C-R, GV/Belfast golf triumph
By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
PRATTSBURGH — They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. That prime opportunity was presented to Genesee Valley/Belfast for their first game in a week’s time, as they took aim at avenging an 8-0 shutout defeat courtesy of Avoca/Prattsburgh on their home field.
Now, the tables were turned for the road trip to Prattsburgh. This time around, it was all for Hannah Southwick-Powers to control.
The Genesee Valley/Belfast sophomore was lights out from start to finish within the circle, as she held Avoca/Prattsburgh to a single hit at the plate while handing out 13 chairs and walking five to complete one of her most dominant performances of the season to assist the team in a rebounding performance — a 4-0 shutout of the Lady Titans to record a season-series split.
“Hannah mixed her pitches really well, she did great. She played her position well, and she gave us a great game,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “I got to give Coach (Brian) Putnam credit, they all worked their butts off up here to get the field ready so we can play this game today. We were fortunate. This was a great win for us to get ready for Saturday’s tournament in Scio.”
Genesee Valley/Belfast (5-5) used a combination of baserunning and defensive miscues by the Lady Titans in the field to capitalize on their first run of the game, as Southwick-Powers worked her way around the bags to provide the opening run. From that point forward, it was a defensive shootout between both teams, as five straight scoreless frames were exchanged to maintain the one-run lead for the visitors in black and gray.
But the floodgates would soon open in the top of the seventh — the ultimate response to pull away from Avoca/Prattsburgh’s grasp, with a huge RBI single from Abby Sullivan leading the charge in what was a three-run frame for Genesee Valley/Belfast to secure their advantage permanently.
Genesee Valley/Belfast scored four runs off five hits at the plate, with Southwick-Powers, Ashley Burrows, Raygen Haggstrom all tallying hits.
For Avoca/Prattsburgh, Emily Hammond went the distance in the circle, striking out eight and walking nine. At the plate, Jordan Swift accounted for the team’s lone hit.
On Saturday, Genesee Valley/Belfast will now get set for a first round battle against Hammondsport in Scio, beginning at 10 a.m.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 100 000 3 – 4 5 1
Avoca/Prattsburgh 000 000 0 – 0 1 4
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (CG, 13K, 5BB) and Jenna Hill.
A/P – Emily Hammond (LP) (CG, 8K, 9BB) and Jordan Swift.
Fillmore scores 34 combined runs in twinbill sweep of Franklinville
FILLMORE — For the first time this week, the Lady Eagles of Fillmore took the stage for two. Two games where the Lady Eagles scored a big bundle of runs against visiting Franklinville, as they combined to scratch across over 30 runs paced by electric fast starts right from the get-go, recording wins of 16-7 and 18-4 to sweep Thursday night’s action at home.
In game one, the Lady Eagles would find their rhythm after Franklinville was the first to score during their first outing at the plate, recording four big runs to collect the early advantage. But it was soon short lived, as Fillmore went on to score all 16 of their runs without a response from the Lady Panthers to pull away from their grasp for good.
Fillmore scored 16 runs off 12 hits at the plate, with Oakley Frazier, Delaney Hillman, Mattie McCumiskey and Grace Russell all recording two hits. In the circle, Mylee Miller went the distance to score the win, fanning six and walking eight in her complete game.
To follow up the first game, the Lady Eagles would present a similar tempo in the nightcap, as they posted another outstanding outing at the plate to set the tone against Franklinville, using the momentum to add more fuel to the fire in an 18-4 game two win to bring out the brooms.
Both teams would exchange pleasantries across the first pair of innings, with a six-run frame by the Lady Eagles in the top of the first setting up shop. With a 7-3 lead in hand, Fillmore went on to score 12 of the game’s next 13 runs, including a massive eight-run fifth inning to officially close out the night on the most positive of notes in the midst of a 15-hit offensive outburst.
Skylar Gaddy had the big bat for the Lady Eagles, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. Mattie McCumiskey added in three hits, including a triple. Mylee Miller pitched in with two hits of her own to round off the offensive efforts. On the mound, the win belonged to Mercedes Wolcott, who struck out four and walked four across her four-inning tenure.
The Lady Eagles are right back on the field tonight under the lights, as they host Avoca/Prattsburgh in a 7 p.m. first pitch.
Game 1
Franklinville 400 030 0 – 7 7 2
Fillmore 831 400 X – 16 12 1
FRA – Aubrey Ensell (LP) (3K, 2BB), Kaelynn Graves (3) (K, 7BB) and Lilah Cudney.
FIL – Mylee Miller (WP) (CG, 6K, 8BB) and Oakley Frazier.
Game 2
Fillmore 612 180 0 – 18 15 4
Franklinville 210 100 0 – 4 2 5
FIL – Mercedes Wolcott (WP) (4K, 4BB), Mylee Miller (5) (K, 2BB) and Oakley Frazier, Jenna Austin (5).
FRA – Aubrey Ensell (LP) (K, 2BB), Kaelynn Graves (4) (K, 3BB) and Lilah Cudney.
BASEBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 18, Hinsdale 7 (F-6)
HINSDALE — With a strong start after the first inning in hand, Genesee Valley/Belfast continued to build onto their foundation while avoiding a late stage rally from host Hinsdale, as they made sure their return to action on Thursday was a positive one, rolling past the Bobcats with an 18-7 road win after six innings.
Stats and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.
Both teams are back in action Saturday morning, with Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-6) heading for an 11 a.m. visit to Jasper-Troupsburg, while Hinsdale (3-6) pays a visit to Scio to partake in tournament action with a first round battle slated to begin at 10 a.m. against Hammondsport.
GOLF
Genesee Valley/Belfast 217, Wellsville 230
WELLSVILLE — A balanced scorecard from top to bottom was the key to victory for the Genesee Valley/Belfast golfers in their return to the links at the Wellsville Country Club on Thursday, as they used Chris Weaver’s team-low round to help fuel a big win over the “visiting” Lions of Wellsville in a 217-230 decision.
Weaver led all Genesee Valley/Belfast (3-3-1) golfers with his team-low round of 53. Following right behind him were the team’s remaining three golfers, including Dakota Hemphill and his round of 54. Rounding off were both Jacob Borden and Justin Hill, as both pitched into the efforts with a round of 55 each.
Wellsville (4-6) was paced by another medalist round of golf fired by Ethan Bailey, as he recorded the match-low score of 41 to lead the way. Fletcher Kaye and Payson Root each recorded rounds of 62, while Jackson Shoughrue had a 65 to pitch in. The Lions are back in action at the Wellsville Country Club today, this time as the host, as they welcome in both Hinsdale and Addison for a 4 p.m. tee time in tri-match action.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will resume regular season play on Wednesday, marking their return to Wellsville with a 4 p.m. contest against Cuba-Rushford.
Cuba-Rushford 218, Bolivar-Richburg 277
RUSHFORD — With Sebastian Saulter navigating his way to the top of the leaderboard at Allegheny Hills on Thursday, the Rebels of Cuba-Rushford were able to get the job done on Senior Night over the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg, as they rolled their way towards victory by a 218-277 count.
Saulter led all Rebels (3-2-1) golfers at the end of the night, firing the match’s best round of 49 to propel the team towards victory back over .500 on the season. Following up was a round of 53 shot by Kaden Bell. Ethan Fries provided a 56, while Danner Shaffer finished with a 60.
Bolivar-Richburg (1-4) was led by a team-low round of 57 recorded by Trent Sibble. Andrew Cox had a 64, while Ryder Easton concluded with a 66.
Both teams are over the road on Wednesday in a pair of 4 p.m. tee times, as Cuba-Rushford heads for the Wellsville Country Club to meet host Genesee Valley/Belfast, while the Wolverines head back to Allegheny Hills to face host Fillmore.
Fillmore 202, Hinsdale 295
FRANKLINVILLE — Three different golfers all recorded the match’s medalist round at the top of the leaderboard, but on the confines of Ischua Valley Golf Club, but it would be the visiting Eagles of Fillmore who would rule the day on Thursday, as Anderson Wiltsey and Reid Cockle both propelled Allegany County’s lone unbeaten on the links towards a strong 202-295 win over host Hinsdale.
Wiltsey and Cockle were two of the three golfers who recorded the medaling round of 48, as they ignited a well-balanced performance from up and down the Fillmore scorecard. Following behind was Jack Cool, who tallied a round of 51, while Layton Sanasith rounded off the scoring with his round of 55.
The last medalist was Hinsdale’s Caden Miller, as he led the Bobcats with his team-low round of 48. Brett Bergstrom recorded a round of 80. Brian Bergstrom provided an 83, while Lily Howell finished the scoring with an 84. The Bobcats are back on the links over the road today at the Wellsville Country Club, as they meet both Addison and the host Lions in a 4 p.m. tee-time.
Fillmore will return to regular season play on Wednesday, as they host Bolivar-Richburg back home at Allegheny Hills in Rushford.
BOYS TENNIS
Fillmore 5, Houghton Academy 0
HOUGHTON — Led by a dynamic and epic battle from Eben Schilke at first singles for the Eagles of Fillmore, they strolled their way towards victory to remain undefeated on the regular season on Thursday with a 5-0 sweep of their crosstown foe Houghton Academy at the Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex at Houghton University.
Schilke went toe-to-toe with Houghton Academy’s Caleb Hilsher across their two sets of first singles action, with the first set entering a seven-point tiebreak, where Schilke would go on to take control with a 7-1 win to claim the first advantage. From that point, he would ward off another push from Hilsher, where he kept control to provide a straight-set victory with a 7-5 second set win.
Isaiah Sisson and Marcus Wolfer continued Fillmore’s winning ways by finishing off the singles department with wins over Sam Winkens and Christian Valentin at second (6-2, 6-1), and third singles (6-0, 6-0) respectively.
The first doubles team of Jack Boon and Joe Derck finished off the match win with the team’s final triumph, taking the 6-2, 6-2 decision over Houghton Academy’s James Adenuga and Yuelin Qi. The fifth and final win would come via forfeit at second doubles, credited to Henry Decker and Ezra Knapp.
Fillmore returns to the court at KPAC tonight with a 5 p.m. first serve against Andover/Whitesville.
Singles
1. Eben Schilke (FIL) def. Caleb Hilsher (HA), 7-6 (7-1), 7-5.
2. Isaiah Sisson (FIL) def. Sam Winkens (HA), 6-2, 6-1.
3. Marcus Wolfer (FIL) def. Christian Valentin (HA), 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Jack Boon/Joe Derck (FIL) def. James Adenuga/Yuelin Qi (HA), 6-2, 6-2.
2. Henry Decker/Ezra Knapp (FIL) by for.
