By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — In each matchup of their three-game, three-day homestand, the Lady Lions of Wellsville had to discover and chart a new course towards victory.
Rewinding the tape back to Thursday night, the Lady Lions used a dynamic pitching performance from Makenzie Cowburn while capitalizing on clutch small ball to set up shop against Bloomfield.
The next night, it was a fast five-run start in the first inning that gave them room to work up front against Iroquois, playing with the lead before Makenna Dunbar cemented it with a sixth inning homer in their Class B Far West Regional rematch.
To close the facade on a rainy Saturday afternoon, the Lady Lions had one more trick up their sleeve. And it would come with just a simple swing of the bat.
Natalie Adams’ bat, that is.
The Wellsville junior stepped to the plate and remained inside that chalked batter’s box for as long as she could against Pennsylvania’s DuBois Central Catholic. With two runners on and the score still without an alteration on the scoreboard, Adams would battle pitch after pitch to find that perfect connection.
Crossing into double-digit pitches during the at-bat, the absolutely unbelievable sequence came to an end with a line drive two-run triple to left center field, allowing the Lady Lions to author and illustrate a 2-0 lead and hold it all the way to the end for their 10th win of the campaign.
“It was so nice to get that hit, she really worked hard for it after battling behind in the count,” said Lady Lions co-coach Shelley Chaffee. “The girls were really focused today and every at-bat, we battled. Their pitcher threw decent speed, but she had a lot of spin, so we were getting pieces of the ball and not the whole thing. Makenzie (Cowburn) did the same thing with her pitches. Every game this week, we’ve found a different way to win in addition to having some key pitching.”
Three scoreless innings would zoom by between DuBois Central Catholic and the Lady Lions (10-1), as both Rylee Kulbatsky and Makenzie Cowburn buckled in to lead the charge from within their respective circles. In the amalgamation, only one hit was garnered across the frames leading into the fourth, where the hosts in gray and orange would find that lucky strike from Adams at the plate.
The go-ahead play was set up with Brazen Beckwith and Lindsay Stuck both reaching on singles. After a Cowburn fielder’s choice recorded an out at third, along with Lexi Irish entering the field of play to serve as Cowburn’s pinch runner, two would remain on behind the Lady Cardinals defense.
The Lady Lions would break through behind the triple of Adams to take a 2-0 lead from that point on, but not without some added pressure by the visitors down the stretch.
Perhaps their biggest attempt to threaten Wellsville’s lead came in the sixth with the game-tying run stepping to the plate. After a fly out to Averee Palmatier in right field, she would then gun the ball straight down to second to catch the lead runner off guard before she could tag up, finishing off a divine double play by the defense to set up the exit off the field.
That would allow the Lady Lions to halt all momentum DuBois Central Catholic looked to build, as they went on to bring out the brooms and sweep the action at Tullar Field in a span of 72 hours.
Wellsville assembled just four hits on offense, with Sawyer Burke adding a single of her own alongside Stuck, Cowburn and Adams.
In the circle, the win belonged to Cowburn, as she held the Lady Cardinals to just three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Up next, the Lady Lions hit the road for a 5 p.m. visit to the Penn Yan Lady Mustangs on Monday.
Wellsville 4, Iroquois 1
WELLSVILLE — The Lady Lions were back at it with the second of a three-game homestand, this one of monumental statue, as they collided with Section VI power Iroquois in a rematch of last season’s Far West Regional at Webster Schroeder.
Wellsville had another challenge of epic proportions in store after a 1-0 victory over Bloomfield the previous night, using the full head of steam to carry into their battle against the Iroquois Lady Chiefs — their opposition from last season’s Far West Regional.
It was another game that the Lady Lions had to navigate the high seas in, going back-and-forth with Iroquois through the night. But the difference maker came right in the first inning of play following the Lady Chiefs and their icebreaking run, as they multiplied it by five to lay claim on the lead going forward.
Even though they remained out in front, Iroquois showed no signs of backing down one bit, as they crawled back bit by bit to keep the pressure on, ultimately trimming the deficit down to a pair of runs in the sixth inning. In their final at-bats of the game, the Lady Lions made sure to save their best firework show for last with Makenna Dunbar’s solo home run to gain all the traction they needed to keep the Lady Chiefs behind them, securing the 7-4 win.
“We were fortunate to jump out the way we did tonight,” Lady Lions co-coach Shelley Chaffee said. “Iroquois certainly made us field the ball with some quality at-bats. Makenna had some good control when she pitched and we wanted to give them a different speed and approach at first, then we stuck Makenzie (Cowburn) in later to hold them off. Iroquois is a very well-coached team and they knew when to be aggressive behind our defense. They knew when to field bunts, make plays and there were a couple of times where we didn’t and they took advantage of it. We’ve been fortunate to have our pitchers stay in control and limit what they could do at the plate. That’s been the story the last couple of games.”
The number one was the most frequently used number that displayed on the Saputo scoreboard for much of the evening, with Iroquois and Wellsville racing side-by-side through the heat of battle. Following the first run from the Lady Chiefs to go on top early, the Lady Lions (9-1) responded by multiplying their outing by five, capitalizing on a hit by Makenzie Cowburn to center to plate two on the play. Their last three runs of the inning came on Iroquois’ lone error.
It was a 5-1 lead that the Lady Lions would continue to hang onto after a series of ones were exchanged between the two foes, with the last being hung onto the board in the top of the fourth inning to cut their lead to a pair. After a change from Makenna Dunbar to Makenzie Cowburn on the mound in the fifth, it was smooth sailing from that point on, as the senior phenom allowed just two more Iroquois hits across three shutout innings to freeze the Lady Chiefs bats.
In the same swing, it also allowed the hosts in gray and orange to add to their lead with a humongous piece of insurance in the bottom of the sixth, as Dunbar blasted a solo homer deep into the Tullar Field night sky to put away the game for good.
The Lady Lions junior would finish as the team’s leading hitter, going 2-for-2 with a double to go with her home run. Marissa Ordway chipped in a ground-rule double along the way. On the mound, both Dunbar and Cowburn came together to hand out 12 chairs to Iroquois, each recording six, with Dunbar collecting the win.
“We knew these three games this week would serve as a tough stretch, probably the toughest we’ve had this season,” said Chaffee. “But this will give us a good indication of how we can continue on this road going into Sectionals. Last night’s game was an excellent pitching performance, and now tonight, it was aggressiveness on base and having the pitchers being stellar was the key.”
DuBois C.C. 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
Wellsville 000 200 X – 2 4 0
DCC – Rylee Kulbatsky (LP) (CG, 10K, BB) and Jessy Frank.
WLSV – Makenzie Cowburn (WP) (CG, 9K, 2BB) and Brazen Beckwith.
Iroquois 111 100 0 – 4 6 1
Wellsville 501 001 X – 7 6 4
IRO – Alexa Chiaramonte (LP) (CG, 3K, 3BB) and Brooklyn Bukaczeski.
WLSV – Makenna Dunbar (WP) (6K, BB), Makenzie Cowburn (5) (6K) and Lindsay Stuck.
More stories from around Allegany County after Chris Brooks photos:
B-R bests Naples, falls to host Waterloo at Strike-Out Tourney
WATERLOO — After going deep into the night against Genesee Valley/Belfast in an all-out, wire-to-wire offensive war, an early morning was in store for the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg nearly 12 hours after their Friday night battle at the Rich Sullivan Complex concluded, as they loaded up the bus for a trip to Waterloo and their annual Strike-Out Cancer Tournament.
The Lady Wolverines would flip on the switch again and spark their bats at the plate, mixing together 23 total hits across their two-game set in the afternoon to conduct an electric 16-5 win in their opening game against Naples before the Lady Tigers of Waterloo used a mammoth first inning swing to set the tone in game two, splitting the twinbill in half for Bolivar-Richburg .
In the first contest of the day, the Lady Wolverines (4-7) went right to work by going through their entire lineup in the first inning, using a combination of walks and errors, along with a three-RBI inning from Sydney Faulkner to lay the foundation down for an eight-run stanza to break the ice.
The lead would remain in Bolivar-Richburg’s possession ever since, as they went on to cushion their advantage with seven unanswered runs — five of them in the bottom of the fourth, proceeding the first two scores of the game from Naples in the third.
When the first chapter closed, the Lady Wolverines recorded 16 runs off 13 hits, with Jayna Thomas and Sydney Faulkner each recording three hits to lead the way.
In addition, Kylee Whiting went 2-for-4 with a two-run double to set the stage in the fourth inning, totaling three RBI. Cassidy Stives pitched in with a lead-off triple in the team’s two-run second inning. On the mound, the win belonged to Rylee Whiting, who twirled a four-hit performance with 10 strikeouts and five walks.
To finish off their appearance in Waterloo, the Lady Wolverines fought another offensive fight with the Lady Tigers, as the game saw nearly 30 hits come to fruition. In the end, eight unanswered runs following a two-run lead in the first inning allowed Waterloo to take full advantage while avoiding a late sixth inning rally by Bolivar-Richburg down the stretch to claim the 13-7 win.
The Lady Tigers swung for the fences out of the cage with all three of their runs coming in courtesy of a three-run homer from Gwyneth Panek to get the engine off and running. Following a response from Bolivar-Richburg in the bottom of the first, Waterloo would maintain all momentum for the next four innings, scoring eight unanswered markers to claim an 11-1 lead.
Despite falling into a deeper hole, the Lady Wolverines would not give in, as they fought their way back with a sixth inning centered around special teams play, scoring a pair of runs off back-to-back hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded, followed by a two-run double off the bat of Rylee Whiting to trim the 10-run deficit down to four.
But Waterloo was able to hang on for victory, as they scored two big pieces of insurance in the top of the seventh inning to keep their advantage glued together.
Bolivar-Richburg totaled seven runs off 10 hits, with Jayna Thomas and Sydney Faulkner both leading the way again on the attack, each recording two hits alongside Rylee Whiting.
On the mound, Kylee Whiting went all seven innings, scoring seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Lady Wolverines will return home and welcome in the Cuba-Rushford Lady Rebels for a 7 p.m. contest, Monday night.
Game 1
Naples 002 030 0 – 5 4 6
Bolivar-Richburg 802 501 X– 16 13 3
NAP – Emily Lester (LP) (CG, 3K, 6BB) and Grayce Hebding.
B-R – Rylee Whiting (WP) (CG, 10K, 5BB) and Sydney Faulkner.
Game 2
Waterloo 301 214 2 – 13 17 0
Bolivar-Richburg 100 006 0 – 7 10 1
WAT – Jillian Robinson (WP) (CG, 6K, 9BB) and Brooklyn Hack.
B-R – Kylee Whiting (LP) (CG, 7K, 2BB) and Sydney Faulkner.
Scio Tournament
Andover/Whitesville 19, Arkport-Canaseraga 4
SCIO — The offense came alive for Andover/Whitesville bright and early in the middle of the rain, Saturday morning, as they used the hot bat of Reece Winters to set up shop in their opening round battle against Arkport-Canaseraga in Scio’s Midseason Tournament, never looking back on what was a 19-4 win over the Lady Wolves in Friendship.
Winters helped Andover/Whitesville (2-5) with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, driving in five total runs — two of them off a double to help break the game open in the midst of a five-run third inning. Lilly Ordway and Olivia Waters each recorded two hits to further the team’s cause.
Going the distance in the circle, Makaila Brewster picked up the victory behind three strikeouts and five walks.
Additional in-depth statistics and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.
All three remaining baseball and softball contests in Friendship and Scio were suspended mid-game, due to rain. No make-up dates to resume play have been made, as of yet.
Andover/Whitesville will make their return to Scio on Tuesday to take on host Friendship/Scio in regular season play at 5 p.m.
B-R bests Naples, falls to host Waterloo at Strike-Out Tourney
WATERLOO — After going deep into the night against Genesee Valley/Belfast in an all-out, wire-to-wire offensive war, an early morning was in store for the Lady Wolverines of Bolivar-Richburg nearly 12 hours after their Friday night battle at the Rich Sullivan Complex concluded, as they loaded up the bus for a trip to Waterloo and their annual Strike-Out Cancer Tournament.
The Lady Wolverines would flip on the switch again and spark their bats at the plate, mixing together 23 total hits across their two-game set in the afternoon to conduct an electric 16-5 win in their opening game against Naples before the Lady Tigers of Waterloo used a mammoth first inning swing to set the tone in game two, splitting the twinbill in half for Bolivar-Richburg .
In the first contest of the day, the Lady Wolverines (4-7) went right to work by going through their entire lineup in the first inning, using a combination of walks and errors, along with a three-RBI inning from Sydney Faulkner to lay the foundation down for an eight-run stanza to break the ice.
The lead would remain in Bolivar-Richburg’s possession ever since, as they went on to cushion their advantage with seven unanswered runs — five of them in the bottom of the fourth, proceeding the first two scores of the game from Naples in the third.
When the first chapter closed, the Lady Wolverines recorded 16 runs off 13 hits, with Jayna Thomas and Sydney Faulkner each recording three hits to lead the way.
In addition, Kylee Whiting went 2-for-4 with a two-run double to set the stage in the fourth inning, totaling three RBI. Cassidy Stives pitched in with a lead-off triple in the team’s two-run second inning. On the mound, the win belonged to Rylee Whiting, who twirled a four-hit performance with 10 strikeouts and five walks.
To finish off their appearance in Waterloo, the Lady Wolverines fought another offensive fight with the Lady Tigers, as the game saw nearly 30 hits come to fruition. In the end, eight unanswered runs following a two-run lead in the first inning allowed Waterloo to take full advantage while avoiding a late sixth inning rally by Bolivar-Richburg down the stretch to claim the 13-7 win.
The Lady Tigers swung for the fences out of the cage with all three of their runs coming in courtesy of a three-run homer from Gwyneth Panek to get the engine off and running. Following a response from Bolivar-Richburg in the bottom of the first, Waterloo would maintain all momentum for the next four innings, scoring eight unanswered markers to claim an 11-1 lead.
Despite falling into a deeper hole, the Lady Wolverines would not give in, as they fought their way back with a sixth inning centered around special teams play, scoring a pair of runs off back-to-back hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded, followed by a two-run double off the bat of Rylee Whiting to trim the 10-run deficit down to four.
But Waterloo was able to hang on for victory, as they scored two big pieces of insurance in the top of the seventh inning to keep their advantage glued together.
Bolivar-Richburg totaled seven runs off 10 hits, with Jayna Thomas and Sydney Faulkner both leading the way again on the attack, each recording two hits alongside Rylee Whiting.
On the mound, Kylee Whiting went all seven innings, scoring seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The Lady Wolverines will return home and welcome in the Cuba-Rushford Lady Rebels for a 7 p.m. contest, Monday night.
Game 1
Naples 002 030 0 – 5 4 6
Bolivar-Richburg 802 501 X– 16 13 3
NAP – Emily Lester (LP) (CG, 3K, 6BB) and Grayce Hebding.
B-R – Rylee Whiting (WP) (CG, 10K, 5BB) and Sydney Faulkner.
Game 2
Waterloo 301 214 2 – 13 17 0
Bolivar-Richburg 100 006 0 – 7 10 1
WAT – Jillian Robinson (WP) (CG, 6K, 9BB) and Brooklyn Hack.
B-R – Kylee Whiting (LP) (CG, 7K, 2BB) and Sydney Faulkner.
Scio Tournament
Andover/Whitesville 19, Arkport-Canaseraga 4
SCIO — The offense came alive for Andover/Whitesville bright and early in the middle of the rain, Saturday morning, as they used the hot bat of Reece Winters to set up shop in their opening round battle against Arkport-Canaseraga in Scio’s Midseason Tournament, never looking back on what was a 19-4 win over the Lady Wolves in Friendship.
Winters helped Andover/Whitesville (2-5) with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, driving in five total runs — two of them off a double to help break the game open in the midst of a five-run third inning. Lilly Ordway and Olivia Waters each recorded two hits to further the team’s cause.
Going the distance in the circle, Makaila Brewster picked up the victory behind three strikeouts and five walks.
Additional in-depth statistics and a complete box score were not made available to report upon publication.
All three remaining baseball and softball contests in Friendship and Scio were suspended mid-game, due to rain. No make-up dates to resume play have been made, as of yet.
Andover/Whitesville will make their return to Scio on Tuesday to take on host Friendship/Scio in regular season play at 5 p.m.
