Tuesday Roundup: Fillmore assembles big finish, hang 5 go-ahead runs in 7th to complete comeback with 7-5 win at GV/Belfast; Southwick-Powers provides walk-off marker in GV/Belfast’s 9-inning win over Lady Eagles
By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
BELFAST — For one team, they were looking to build off a strong win behind some rising studs on the mound. As for the other, their aim was to soothe a stinging loss to the hands of a longtime Allegany County rival right before this past weekend took effect.
The Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast was the place to witness it all unfold on a Tuesday night under the lights.
Across five innings of play, the defenses held their ground ever so tightly and the pitchers were wheeling and dealing until their last pitches, as Fillmore’s Damon Potter and Genesee Valley/Belfast’s Ryan Daciw gave it everything they had during their long tenures that stretched into the game’s closing act.
With a big blast in the opening stanza getting the hosts started on the right foot, the contest would boil down to playing with the lead in possession. Since that incepting sequence, Genesee Valley/Belfast did just that, despite the Eagles chipping away little by little right behind them, as they carried the advantage in their back pockets going into the final inning to try and shut the door on Fillmore.
The Eagles however, provided a drastic alteration of the action instead. They would go on and turn the game on its head, rallying all the way back from a 5-2 deficit going into the seventh inning with five colossal runs to turn that sliver of hope they continued to cling onto all night long, into a complete comeback victory by a 7-5 count over Genesee Valley/Belfast.
“It took the whole team tonight with contributions up and down the lineup. With the seventh coming up, we had the bottom of the order at the plate. Most people probably would have counted us out, but those guys down at the bottom battled all night with some great at-bats, and they did so again to power this win,” said Eagles coach Kaiden Bowers. “Once they gave us a sliver of hope, we came alive and momentum pushed us the rest of the way. (Wade) DeRock was clutch on the mound to keep it close later in the game to give us a chance. Damon settled in and we were able to manufacture some runs out of nothing off his pitching.”
Prior to the epic comeback the Eagles fabricated on the assembly line, they would have to overcome a devastating blow out of the gate in the bottom of the first inning by Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-2). With two of their first three hitters managing to reach base with one out, the stage was set for Ryan Daciw to take the plate by storm.
With one swing, the Genesee Valley/Belfast junior launched a pitch straight into orbit, blasting a three-run homer to deep left field where it carried its way out of the playing grounds to break the ice in an even bigger way.
The score would remain glued together on board leading up to Fillmore’s (3-1) first piece of scoring in the top of the third off some baserunning capitalization from Nolan Krzeminski at third. In the midst of his break for home plate, he would ultimately score after a balk was issued to Daciw on the mound, allowing the Eagles to cut the deficit down to a pair.
Each team would trade a run in the fourth inning to keep Genesee Valley/Belfast’s two-run lead intact before a massive piece of insurance scratched its way home in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead entering the last frame the night would offer.
As the hosts looked to shut the door with the advantage in their grasp all game long, the Eagles formulated other plans, as they constructed a game-changing final stand to turn the tables, docking five go-ahead runs to force their opposition back at the plate one more time for their last at-bats.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wade DeRock accepted the challenge and allowed Fillmore to maintain control of their first lead of the game, garnering all three outs by strikeout while issuing just one walk to record the win in his relief appearance on the rubber.
In his no-decision, Damon Potter handed out nine chairs and walked seven in his five-inning start. At the plate, DeRock, Nolan Krzeminski, Isaac Wilcox and James Hillman (two RBI) all had a hit to chip in.
On the other side of the field, Ryan Daciw advanced his start into the sixth inning, where he struck out seven and walked one in his no-decision for Genesee Valley/Belfast. At the plate, Trent Hutchison added a hit. If weather permits this evening, Genesee Valley/Belfast will look to bounce back with a 5 p.m. visit to Hinsdale.
Fillmore will look to keep the ball rolling into Thursday night on the road once again, as they pay a visit to the Canisteo-Greenwood Chargers in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Fillmore 001 100 5 – 7 4 3
Genesee Valley/Belfast 300 101 0 – 5 2 8
FIL – Damon Potter (9K, 7BB), Brayden Hennard (6) (K, 3BB), Wade DeRock (WP, 7) (3K, BB) and Nolan Krzeminski.
GVB – Ryan Daciw (7K, BB), Matt Cater (LP, 6) (2K, BB), Fisher Herdman (7) (K) and Evan Turybury.
Bolivar-Richburg 16, Andover/Whitesville 1 (F-5)
BOLIVAR — It didn’t take long for the Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg to begin firing on all cylinders on Tuesday, as they supplemented an offensive firestorm with the bats of Kingston Loucks and Aydin Sisson continuing to jet-fuel their hot start to the campaign with a collection of their fifth consecutive win — a 16-1 five-inning victory over Andover/Whitesville at home.
Almost immediately, Bolivar-Richburg (5-0) set the tone after garnering a 3-0 lead through the opening frame of play. Following Andover/Whitesville’s first and only run of the contest to trim the early deficit, the Wolverines bounced right back and capitalized on what was provided for them on offense, scoring six enormous runs in the second frame to extend their advantage for good.
Kingston Loucks and Aydin Sisson played a big role in their success at the plate, especially Loucks who finished with a team-leading four RBI performance to go with a pair of hits. Sisson followed up with two hits, including a triple, adding them with a pair of RBI and run scored.
Brayden Zilker chipped in with a double, RBI and two runs scored, while Reiss Gaines scored three times.
On the mound, the win belonged to Gaines, as he went the first three innings by striking out five and walking one. Zilker chipped in with four more strikeouts of his own in relief.
Andover/Whitesville (0-2) was paced by Vinny Joyce and James Miller-Young at the plate, both posting a pair of hits. On the mound, Skylar Orpet recorded two strikeouts and walked one in his outing of relief.
If weather permits tonight, both teams will return to the diamond, with Bolivar-Richburg heading back over the road to Wellman Field in Friendship for a 5 p.m. contest against Friendship/Scio, while Andover/Whitesville heads back home to play host to Cuba-Rushford at 6 p.m. in Andover.
Andover/Whitesville 010 00 – 1 4 3
Bolivar-Richburg 364 3X – 16 11 1
A/W – Brody Vance (LP) (K, 3BB), Derek Perkins (3) (3BB), Skylar Orpet (4) (2K, BB) and Jake Mattison, Rogan Perkins.
B-R – Reiss Gaines (WP) (5K, BB), Brayden Zilker (4) (4K) and Aydin Sisson, Tavyn MacDonell.
SOFTBALL
Genesee Valley/Belfast 8, Fillmore 7 (F-9)
BELFAST — After a beautiful Tuesday afternoon saw its sunshine commence its descendance below the horizon, the temperatures started to decline and the wind was brewing at the Rich Sullivan Complex in Belfast.
But on the field, Fillmore and Genesee Valley/Belfast put on a show for all in attendance to keep the fire burning from start until its thrilling finish past the seven inning mark. Paid in part by a remarkable rally from behind by the hosts, as well as a clutch game-tying run by the Lady Eagles in the next inning, extras were ultimately required.
Just two sets of innings between both teams would assist in deciding it all when the metaphorical book was closed up, with Genesee Valley/Belfast claiming an opportunity to put away the game in the bottom of the ninth. With the top of the order working its way back into fruition, they would have to act quickly.
With the game-winning run standing at second base, Hannah Southwick-Powers delivered the big blow.
While Keanna Sands took her place on the most central bag in the infield, the rest would lay directly on the shoulders of the Genesee Valley/Belfast junior, as she squared up a bunt and reached base with no complication. Sands would then use her legs and her awareness to bolt her way to home plate in the midst of the Fillmore defense, as she scored on error to help walk it off with an 8-7 clinching of the victory.
“Fillmore is a great team, they made some plays everywhere and we were fortunate enough to make some plays of our own as well,” said GV/Belfast coach Mark Sullivan. “The win is a big confidence booster, especially when it could have gone either way. The way we were able to execute on the bunt to get the score across at the top of the order was huge. It was an exciting game, and I was more than pleased that we came back. We didn’t play good defense the first five innings, but we managed to settle down.”
Subsequent to Fillmore’s breaking of the ice in the top of the first inning, more damage was issued by the Lady Eagles during their second term at the plate. All three runs they would post came off one gigantic swing off the bat of Mattie McCumiskey, taking her pitch from Hannah Southwick-Powers for a no-doubt ride to extend their advantage to four behind her three-run homer — her third of the season.
Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-1) was able to implant a response immediately following the top half of the stanza with two runs of their own, trimming the deficit down to a pair before Fillmore garnered two runs of their own across the next two outings of offense to lay claim on a 6-2 lead.
It was the largest lead Fillmore (2-4) would hold in the contest, as Genesee Valley/Belfast worked some late stage magic and strung together a marvelous comeback to claim the lead for the very first time by a 7-6 count, stemming of a massive four-run bottom of the sixth inning. The advantage was short-lived however, as the Lady Eagles fought their way back one more time in the seventh to deadlock the game at seven and force extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth inning was traded between the clubs, one of the most prime opportunities to try and win the game arose for the hosts in black and gray, with the winning run standing on second and the top of the order coming to the plate.
In one foul swoop, Southwick-Powers was the recipient of a game-ending bunt to force Sands home, as the Genesee Valley/Belfast baserunning used her awareness to score all the way from second on error to close the game.
Out of the 11 total hits Genesee Valley/Belfast recorded at the plate, two of them came from four different hitters: Southwick-Powers, Sondra Guilford, Jenna Hill and Abby Sullivan — the first four hitters in the team’s batting lineup.
In the circle, the win would belong to Southwick-Powers, striking out 11 and walking three in her latest complete game effort.
As for Fillmore, Mattie McCumiskey finished with a multi-hit game, adding her three-run homer along the way in the team’s seven-hit array. On the mound, Mylee Miller fanned seven and walked seven in her tossed complete game. The Lady Eagles are back home to face Canisteo-Greenwood/Jasper-Troupsburg on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will now head for the Jungle in Belmont to welcome in Andover/Whitesville on Friday, beginning in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Fillmore 131 100 100 – 7 7
Genesee Valley/Belfast 020 104 001 – 8 11
FIL – Mylee Miller (LP) (CG, 7K, 7BB) and Oakley Frazier.
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (CG, 11K, 3BB) and Jenna Hill.
GOLF
Fillmore 189, Cuba-Rushford 255
RUSHFORD — Anderson Wiltsey was at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the night for the Eagles of Fillmore, as he garnered medalist round honors in their “road” match against host Cuba-Rushford at Allegheny Hills, firing the leading round of 44 to aid the team’s 189-255 victory over the Rebels.
Additional scores were not made available to report upon publication.
Both squads will return to the links next Tuesday evening in a pair of 4 p.m. tee times, with Fillmore (2-0) playing host to Wellsville right back at Allegheny Hills, while Cuba-Rushford travels to Ischua Valley in Franklinville to meet host Hinsdale.
BOYS TENNIS
Fillmore 5, Cuba-Rushford 0
CUBA — After taking care of business back home inside the Kerr-Pegula Fieldhouse at Houghton University just 24 hours ago, the Eagles of Fillmore hit the road and went outdoors for the very first time this season on Tuesday.
With the sun shining, and the Springtime temperatures very much prevalent in the air, the Eagles made that time worthwhile by garnering a 5-0 sweep of the action at Cuba-Rushford to claim a third straight win.
The terrific trio of the Eagles (3-0) harboring within the singles department all navigated their way to victory in strong fashion, as Eben Schilke (first singles) and Isaiah Sisson (second singles) converged to deliver 6-0, 6-0 victories over their opponents, Cuba-Rushford’s (0-1) Ethan Cole and Tyler Findlay, respectively.
Marcus Wolfer was able to help finish off the singles sweep with a 6-1, 6-0 win of his own at third singles over Carter Brown.
“Today was our first day getting to play outside,” said Eagles coach Randy Crouch. “For either practice or a match, I was a little concerned with how we would handle the transition between surfaces and the wind. I thought we did a good job of adjusting quickly. Isaiah has been playing really, really well and he helped lead the way today.”
Just one doubles match was in action, which allowed the Eagles to finish off their road win with one more 6-0, 6-0 triumph from the first doubles duo of Ezra Knapp and Carson Sanasith, as they went past Jasmine Roe and Jadyn Little to score the win.
At second doubles, Kallan Sanasith and Grayson Cox picked up the fifth and final win, via forfeit.
The Eagles will make their return on the court back home to the Kerr-Pegula Fieldhouse on Friday for a pair of matches, taking on both Andover/Whitesville and Avoca-Prattsburgh beginning in a 5 p.m. first serve.
As for the Rebels, they will travel to Bolivar-Richburg for a 5 p.m. start on Thursday.
Singles
1. Eben Schilke (FIL) def. Ethan Cole (C-R), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Isaiah Sisson (FIL) def. Tyler Findlay (C-R), 6-0, 6-0.
3. Marcus Wolfer (FIL) def. Carter Brown (C-R), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Ezra Knapp/Carson Sanasith (FIL) def. Jasmine Roe/Jadyn Little (C-R), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Kallan Sanasith/Grayson Cox (FIL) by for.
