By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
BELFAST — With a perfect combination of hitting and pitching from the dynamic Hannah Southwick-Powers from within the circle, the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies were unstoppable right from the start on Tuesday, as they posted at least seven runs in the first three innings of play to set the tone immediately in what was a 23-3 home win over Hammondsport after five innings.
“I was glad we got outside finally and got this one in. It’s a great way to start the year,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “We hit the ball well, and we had some great discipline at the plate. We did some good things being our first game out, despite some blunders. But overall, Hannah threw it well and we had six or seven girls with two hits each to compliment that.”
Genesee Valley/Belfast’s (1-0) offense was red hot right from the start, as the team posted 23 runs off 15 hits at the plate. In the midst of production, five different hitters all posted at least a pair of hits, with Southwick-Powers, Jenna Hill, Abby Sullivan, Keanna Sands and Daphne Gugino all leading the way for the offense in claiming an 8-0 advantage after the opening frame and never looking back.
On the field, Southwick-Powers kept Hammondsport off the board with a divine performance to start her junior campaign, as she posted 13 strikeouts and two walks in her twirled three-hit bid for the hosts in black and gray.
Next up on Thursday, if weather permits, is Genesee Valley/Belfast’s first road trip of the season, as they get set for a 5 p.m. visit to Arkport-Canaseraga.
Hammondsport 000 21 – 3 3
Genesee Valley/Belfast 878 0X– 23 15
HAM – Nicole Pratt (LP) (K, 11BB), Morgan Conley (3) (2K, 2BB) and Sam Pratt.
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (CG, 13K, 2BB) and Jenna Hill.
Allegany-Limestone 8, Fillmore 4
ALLEGANY — The Lady Eagles of Fillmore remained in command for much of their battle over the road in the Swamp on Tuesday, scoring a lead as large as three crossing into the second half of their contest against host Allegany-Limestone to open up the campaign.
With the momentum riding in their favor, the hosts in green and white began to take aim at propelling the pendulum in their favor with a giant tilt. Down 4-1, their bats would come alive in tremendous fashion.
Led by the bat of Carley Barrey, the Lady Gators provided that massive offensive jolt of electricity with a five-run stanza, setting the stage for victory that saw them score the game’s final seven runs in consecutive fashion to lock up an 8-4 comeback win.
The Lady Eagles (0-1) went to work after trading back-and-forth scoreless barbs with Allegany-Limestone across the first two innings of play, delivering the game’s first pair of strikes in the top of the third inning. The lead was cut in half in the bottom of the fourth inning when Allegany-Limestone responded with Barrey’s home run — a monumental smack that allowed the Lady Gators to re-enforce their momentum swing as time advanced forward.
Despite Fillmore bolstering their lead once more in the fifth with a pair of runs, the hosts fired right back with their biggest outburst on offense in the game — a five-run frame to aid a comeback effort that saw them record the contest’s final seven runs in a row to lay claim on the four-run win that awaited in the end.
Mylee Miller went all seven innings in the circle for Fillmore, as she posted five strikeouts and four walks in her first start of the season. At the plate, she helped lead the bats with a pair of hits, including a double, totaling three RBI. Mattie McCumiskey also chipped in with two hits, including a triple to further the offensive cause.
A quick turnaround will be had for the Lady Eagles tonight, as they hop onto their home turf for the first time with a 5 p.m. first pitch against the Lima Christian Lady Saints.
Fillmore 002 020 0 – 4 5 2
Allegany-Limestone 000 152 X – 8 7 0
FIL – Mylee Miller (LP) (CG, 5K, 4BB) and Oakley Frazier.
A-L – Kailey Truman (WP) (CG, 5K, 2BB) and Peyton Truman.
BOYS TENNIS
Wellsville 3, Addison 2
WELLSVILLE — Aided by a complete sweep of both doubles matches, as well as a hard-fought singles victory from Wheeler Dahlgren, the Lions of Wellsville were able to kick the tires on a successful start to their 2024 campaign on the court against visiting Addison, edging their way towards victory by a 3-2 decision on Tuesday.
Dahlgren was the lone representative in the singles department to come away with the victory for the Lions (1-0) to ignite their victorious season-opening efforts, as he posted a gritty 6-4, 6-1 win over Addison’s Fin Jacobson at third singles.
Down in the doubles matches, the first doubles team of David Anderson and Michael Bidzerkowny collected a 6-3, 6-2 victory, while Jonah Mac and Caydon Grimes delivered a 6-1, 6-2 win to bring out the brooms for the hosts and help clinch the match victory.
The Lions nearly saw a fourth win develop in the first singles match featuring Adam Iantorno pinned against Addison’s Nick Wright. It would witness two different tiebreaks develop in their three-set match. Iantorno navigated his way through the first of two 7-6 set victories with a strong 7-2 tiebreak decision to garner the first upper hand.
Soon after, control went in Wright’s favor in the next two sets of play, as he posted wins of 6-4 and 7-3 in the third-set 7-6 tiebreak to rally from behind and claim victory.
Caleb Abbott added Addison’s second victory of the match with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Wellsville’s Jeremiah Pensyl.
If weather cooperates, the Lions hit the road Thursday night for a 5 p.m. visit to powerhouse Alfred-Almond.
Singles
1. Nick Wright (ADD) def. Adam Iantorno (WLSV), 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
2. Caleb Abbott (ADD) def. Jeremiah Pensyl (WLSV), 7-5, 6-1.
3. Wheeler Dahlgren (WLSV) def. Fin Jacobson (ADD), 6-4, 6-1.
Doubles
1. David Anderson/Michael Bidzerkowny (WLSV) def. Alex Dubois/John Clark (ADD), 6-3, 6-2.
2. Jonah Mac/Caydon Grimes (WLSV) def. Jason Zheng/Jax Donley (ADD), 6-1, 6-2.
