By CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
HOUGHTON — There was no doubt that the Bolivar-Richburg Wolverines were going to let Wednesday night’s defeat in Wellsville haunt them.
With all-day rains postponing the majority of the area’s action on Friday, a trip to Houghton University was made to meet Genesee Valley/Belfast in their second and final titanic Allegany County League showdown this year.
While the Wolverines were aiming to rebound after their defeat to the Lions, Genesee Valley/Belfast was looking to produce an act of redemption from earlier this season after a late rally from behind by Bolivar-Richburg to score the walk-off victory.
It was a much different story this time around. One that was authored immediately after the commencement of Bolivar-Richburg’s opening at-bats of the game, as they poured the fuel onto their bats and lit them on fire with the scratching of eight of their 12 runs across the plate in the first two innings of play, setting the tone automatically for the foreseeable future ahead to take care of business in just five innings in what was a 12-0 shutout of Genesee Valley/Belfast.
“This was a huge bounce back game for us,” Wolverines coach Dustin Allen said. “This was one of the most complete games we’ve had this year. That first inning was something that just kept going for us and it was something that we desperately needed. Caden (Allen) threw an excellent game for us tonight to go with it. He was in control. I was worried about how we were going to respond after the Wellsville game, and we responded better than I expected.”
Bolivar-Richburg (16-2) wasted absolutely no time firing on all cylinders against Genesee Valley/Belfast by bringing a 4-0 lead to the table, stemming off a double down the left field line to plate Reiss Gaines. Caden Allen and Landon Barkley each followed with back-to-back RBI before a dropped third strike throw to first went errant from the bag helped wrap up the frame.
After a strong first stand on defense, the momentum remained in their favor going into the second inning with another four-run formulation at the plate, led by a two-out single from Tavyn MacDonell that scored two to cushion their advantage to eight. Buchholz and Barkley would also each chip in RBIs to propel the offense along the way.
“It took a lot of wind out of their sails,” Allen said of the offense. “We’ve been preaching to hit the ball better, and we came out and hit the ball hard against a solid pitcher like (Ryan) Daciw. Genesee Valley/Belfast is very strong, and very well-coached by Dennie (Miles). Hopefully, we continue to keep it going, because this is the time of year where we need to fire on all cylinders.”
Following a scoreless trade in the third inning, the Wolverines went on to finish off the battle with the last four runs in the remaining two frames of play, using heads-up baserunning from third base in the fourth inning, while Aydin Sisson finished the game with a three-run double to the deepest part of the field in the top of the fifth.
In all, the Wolverines collected 12 runs off 11 total hits, with five different hitters all posting two hits, as Gaines, Buchholz, Sisson, Barkley and MacDonell led the way. On the mound, Caden Allen was superb in his complete game two-hit twirl of Genesee Valley/Belfast (14-3), striking out three and walking one.
As for the team in black, Ryan Daciw fanned three and walked one in his two-inning start on the mound. On offense, Matt Cater and Ty Hutchison each provided a hit. Genesee Valley/Belfast will look to regroup and bounce back in Cooperstown on Sunday, as they take on Andover/Whitesville at Doubleday Field in a 1:30 p.m. first pitch.
Bolivar-Richburg will look to put the finishing touches on an Allegany County League Championship after the weekend, weather permitting, as they pay a visit to Hinsdale at 5 p.m.
Bolivar-Richburg 440 13 – 12 11 2
Genesee Valley/Belfast 000 00 – 0 2 1
B-R – Caden Allen (WP) (CG, 3K, BB) and Aydin Sisson.
GVB – Ryan Daciw (LP) (3K, BB), Fisher Herdman (3) (2K, 2BB) and Evan Turybury.
