By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
ROCHESTER — Behind a strong stand from Matt Cater at the plate to pair with a dynamic relief appearance from Owen Heaney in the late stages of their first road trip of the season Thursday night, Genesee Valley/Belfast took care of business against host C.G. Finney with a 13-3 victory after five innings to improve to 2-0 going into the holiday break.
Cater was outstanding for Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-0) to power up another spectacular showing at the plate, going a sublime 4-for-4 with four RBI, four runs scored and stole four bases out of the team’s 11 in total.
As for Heaney, he managed to keep the door shut against the Falcons with a big tenure of relief beginning in the fifth inning, dealing a pair of strikeouts to keep their opposition frozen at the plate.
A complete box score of the action was not available to report upon publication.
Genesee Valley/Belfast is now off until after the Spring Break when they mark their return to the field with a 12 p.m. first pitch next Saturday afternoon against Alfred-Almond at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast.
SOFTBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 20, Arkport-Canaseraga 2
ARKPORT — Following a first-game eruption against Hammondsport just a couple of days back in the rearview mirror, the Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies punched down on the gas at the plate once again while Hannah Southwick-Powers worked some more magic from within the circle to keep host Arkport-Canaseraga on their toes, congealing the two ingredients together to produce what was a 20-2 road win on Thursday in Arkport.
“Hannah wasn’t on her best game tonight, but she’s going to have those,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “The offense hit the ball like crazy, from number one down to number nine in the lineup. 20 runs on 19 hits, you can’t ask for much more than that. We were earning our way on base and we made everything happen off of it.”
Genesee Valley/Belfast (2-0) provided yet another five-alarm fire at the plate, posting 20 runs off 19 total hits. In the same swing, the squad would see seven different hitters record at least two of them. Amongst the contributors was a scorching hot 4-for-6 outing for Jenna Hill, belting a triple and double in the midst of her tenure to propel the attack.
Whitney Young chipped in with three hits, while Hannah Southwick-Powers, Sondra Guilford, Abby Sullivan, Morgan Yackeren and Keanna Sands all scored two.
The bats would allow the visitors in black and gray to begin the festivities with a five-run opening term to break the ice against the Lady Wolves, setting the tone in the time ahead by nearly accounting for a run in six of the seven innings of action.
In the circle, Southwick-Powers took care of business with a four-hit twirling of the hosts in teal, striking out 14 and walking seven in her complete game gem.
For Arkport-Canaseraga, Mattie Kellogg recorded three of the team’s four hits. On the mound, Grace Groves fanned six and walked one in her complete game for the Lady Wolves.
Genesee Valley/Belfast is now off until the following weekend when they head back to the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast to welcome in Alfred-Almond for a 12 p.m. visit, next Saturday afternoon.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 501 218 3 – 20 19
Arkport-Canaseraga 100 000 1 – 2 4
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (CG, 14K, 7BB) and Jenna Hill.
A/C – Grace Groves (LP) (CG, 6K, BB) and Nicole Merry.
BOYS TENNIS
Wellsville 3, Alfred-Almond 2
ALMOND — Similar to their season-opening battle with Addison to start their campaign, the Lions of Wellsville were in for yet another fight to the finish line over the road on Thursday in a titanic meeting of the boys tennis minds against Alfred-Almond.
All five matches between the two foes were decided in straight sets, but when it was all said and done, the Lions used a pair of strong performances from Adam Iantorno and Wheeler Dahlgren in the singles department to fuel their final victory of this month, as they deposited a 3-2 victory over the host Eagles to push towards a 2-0 start to their season.
Iantorno and Dahlgren both led the way in the singles matches for Wellsville (2-0), each recording a 6-1, 6-2 win in their respective matches, with Iantorno claiming victory over Patrick Power at first singles, while Dahlgren navigated towards his win over Noah Heffley at third singles.
To ensure the match would remain in their favor, the visitors would use a dominant first doubles performance from Jonah Mac and Michael Bidzerkowny to put a bow on the win after a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Vincent Craft and Aeden O’Connor.
Alfred-Almond scored a pair of victories on the court, one in each department, with Liam Carstens scoring the team’s lone singles win in the midst of his second singles match against Wellsville’s Jeremiah Pensyl, claiming the 6-3, 6-1 decision.
Down in the doubles department, the duo of Luca Reginio and Wyatt Worth rounded off the wins with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Isaac Mielke and Brayden Taggart at second doubles.
Coming up after the Spring Break, the Lions will mark their return to action in a 5 p.m. first serve back on the road, visiting the Fillmore Eagles at Houghton College on April 9.
Singles
1. Adam Iantorno (WLSV) def. Patrick Power (A-A), 6-1, 6-2.
2. Liam Carstens (A-A) def. Jeremiah Pensyl (WLSV), 6-3, 6-1.
3. Wheeler Dahlgren (WLSV) def. Noah Heffley (A-A), 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Jonah Mac/Michael Bidzerkowny (WLSV) def. Vincent Craft/Aeden O’Connor (A-A), 6-1, 6-0.
2. Luca Reginio/Wyatt Worth (A-A) def. Isaac Mielke/Brayden Taggart (WLSV) 6-2, 6-0.
