Stories by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com; photos by JC’s Photography
HORNELL — Achieving perfection is an accomplishment of the highest order. A no-hitter is one thing, but this? This was a whole different feeling in a league of its own.
In order to perpetrate such a glamorous feat, you have to have every single ingredient for success spinning all the tires simultaneously on offense, and more importantly, on defense.
For the Wellsville softball program, names like Regan, Thomas, Herberger and Scutt are all infamously synonymous with such a career-highlighting pinnacle from within its history books. The last Lady Lions from within their pantheon of pitching giants over the years was Jen Scutt, who navigated her way into the program’s ledger back in 1999.
In the present day, the Lady Lions are riding their high horses on a 3-0 start entering a visit to longtime rival Hornell in the Maple City on Wednesday, displaying no signs of slowing down. If there was any evidence of that, the defending Class B State Champions graced the spotlight for everyone in attendance to witness.
After becoming the newest entrant in the basketball program’s 1,000-point club this past winter, Makenna Dunbar added another accolade to her extraordinary resume: Perfect game hurler.
Alongside a barrage of hits that the Lady Lions supplied right from the get-go against the host Lady Red Raiders, the Wellsville senior was in her element from within the circle. With 15 batters reaching the plate, Dunbar struck out 12 of them and saw the defense behind her scoop up the remaining three outs to help finish off what was the program’s first perfect game in 26 years, as they coasted towards the 18-0 shutout after five complete innings to remain perfect thus far on the young campaign.
“I am so proud of Makenna. I can’t remember the last time that one was thrown, but it’s definitely been a long time. Makenna works so hard and she deserves all the recognition for this incredible achievement,” said Lady Lions coach Gia George. “Rod Perry helped call a great game for her to help get us this win tonight. It’s not perfect without a perfect defense behind her. We didn’t have many plays to make behind her, but when they did, they were stellar.”
To follow-up her magnificent command at the No. 1 position on the field, Dunbar also utilized her bat from within the team’s 19-hit flurry against the Lady Red Raiders, as she posted her lone hit in the top of the fourth inning by blasting a two-run nuke directly out of the park to branch out their lead to 10 before putting the official wrap on the battle with an eight-run fifth frame.
Six different Lady Lions (4-0) all posted at least a pair of hits, with Teegan Burke and her immaculate 4-for-4 outing leading the charge, as she recorded two doubles, two RBI and scored four runs.
Kennedy Perry had two more hits, including a double, driving in a run along the way. Brynn Hallock chipped in with three hits, also including a double and RBI, while Averee Palmatier (two RBI), Emily Stuck and Ayla Faulkner each had two of their own to chip in.
For Hornell, Alexis Smith went the first four innings on the mound, striking out two and walking four.
The Lady Lions are back home for the very first time at historic Tullar Field on Friday, weather permitting, as they prepare to host their home opener with the Cuba-Rushford Lady Rebels in town for a 5 p.m. first pitch.
Wellsville 422 28 – 18 19 0
Hornell 000 00 – 0 0 1
WLSV – Makenna Dunbar (WP) (CG, 12K) and Lindsay Stuck.
HOR – Alexis Smith (LP) (2K, 4BB), Raegan Evingham (5) (4BB) and Reese Harwood.
More stories after JC’s Photography photo gallery:
Fillmore 19, Andover/Whitesville 3 (F-5)
FILLMORE — While Mylee Miller played the role of conductor in the circle for the Lady Eagles of Fillmore and their defense, the bats soon came together to orchestrate a harmonious offensive symphony at the plate, beginning with a Mattie McCumiskey first inning crescendo that set many tones against visiting Andover/Whitesville on Wednesday, as the hosts in black and green bounced back to score a 19-3 victory after five complete innings.
There was simply no denying that the Lady Eagles (3-1) made their presence felt in the midst of an offensive explosion, with McCumiskey’s bat leading the charge, as she rocketed a three-run blast in the bottom of the first to help aid the team in a 5-0 lead. Following Andover/Whitesville’s first run in the top of the second, the hosts kept their foot down on the gas pedal to break the floodgates open, registering 11 more runs to garner all the room they needed to maintain their advantage.
In all, Fillmore produced 14 hits to go with their 19 runs, with their first four hitters in the lineup all posting at least a pair. Amidst the firepower at the plate, Morghyn Ross finished the day with a 4-for-4 night, driving in two runs and scoring three of her own.
Tenlee Miller finished a stellar 3-for-3 with an RBI and four runs scored.
Adding more assistance for the Lady Eagles was Mylee Miller, who had a triple and double, driving in five total RBI to go with three runs scored, while McCumiskey finished with four RBI and three runs scored off her two hits that she supplied.
On the mound, Miller went on to fan nine and walk two in her three-hit victory.
Andover/Whitesville (1-3) saw Brynna Gaylord, Leigha Phelps (double) and Avery Hoffman all providing a hit at the plate to power the offense.
In the circle, Olivia Waters struck out three and walked five in her complete game.
Both teams are back on the field tonight, weather permitting, with Fillmore stepping back onto the turf for a 7 p.m. showdown with Avoca-Prattsburgh, while Andover/Whitesville heads back home to host Campbell-Savona at 6 p.m. in Andover.
Andover/Whitesville 0 1 0 11 – 3 3 3
Fillmore 5(11)0 3X – 19 14 4
A/W – Olivia Waters (LP) (CG, 3K, 5BB) and Reece Winters.
FIL – Mylee Miller (WP) (CG, 9K, 2BB) and Morghyn Ross.
Bolivar-Richburg 20, Hinsdale 0 (F-5)
RICHBURG — After surviving an offensive firestorm with the Lady Eagles of Fillmore to open this week on a high note, the pistons were firing on all cylinders for the Bolivar-Richburg Lady Wolverines upon their return home 48 hours later.
To go with a bundle of runs and a supply of nine hits, Kylee Whiting was untouchable in the circle against visiting Hinsdale, going all five innings to score the no-hit victory in the team’s 20-0 blank at Stan Harris Field in Richburg on Wednesday.
The damage was done by the Lady Wolverines (2-2) right off the hop following a red hot start from Whiting at the No. 1 position. After six of the seven outs within the frame came courtesy of the freshman in the circle, the offense benefitted from the momentum shift in exponential fashion, breaking the ice with a 3-0 lead.
That, before the offense went an entire go-around in the lineup to produce an eight-run second inning they never looked back on — a frame highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Danika Loucks.
Bolivar-Richburg totaled nine hits at the plate, with Jaelyn Kinnicutt and Rylee Whiting both scoring a pair each, with Whiting posting a double and scoring two runs. Kylee Whiting chipped in with an RBI double along the way.
As for the ace in the circle, she froze the Lady Bobcats (0-4) at the plate from start to finish, twirling a triumphant no-hit performance behind 12 strikeouts and two walks.
For Hinsdale, Lily Bushnell struck out two and walked 10 in her start in the circle. The Lady Bobcats head back home to host Alfred-Almond at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Bolivar-Richburg will go for their third straight win back on Stan Harris Field tonight, weather permitting, hosting Friendship/Scio in a 5 p.m. first pitch of their own.
Hinsdale 000 00 – 0 0 1
Bolivar-Richburg 387 2X – 20 9 0
HIN – Lily Bushnell (LP) (CG, 2K, 10BB) and Karissa Keller.
B-R – Kylee Whiting (WP) (CG, 12K, 2BB) and Sydney Faulkner.
Genesee Valley/Belfast 25, Friendship/Scio 2 (F-5)
BELMONT — The Genesee Valley/Belfast ladies set off an extraterrestrial amount of fireworks on the offensive end of the spectrum Wednesday night, scratching across nine consecutive runs to break the ice against visiting Friendship/Scio inside the Jungle in Belmont to continue their red hot start, as they floored it straight towards a 25-2 five-inning victory — the fourth in their first five games of the campaign.
Out of the 25 runs that they supplied across the plate, Genesee Valley/Belfast (4-1) unleashed their fury with 12 big hits across three damaging sequences, with their first stemming from an eight-run second inning that ultimately set the tone going forward.
Amongst the bats, two titanium sticks. The first was from Whitney Young, who went 3-for-5 with seven RBI and four runs scored.
The next was possessed by Morgan Yackeren and her 2-for-5 tenure that witnessed the driving in of five runs — three on a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the third inning, to continue lighting the way ahead.
In the circle, Hannah Southwick-Powers garnered the victory across four innings of work, as she struck out eight and walked one in the midst of a combined two-hitter alongside Kate Calanni, who wrapped up the night with a strikeout in relief.
For Friendship/Scio (0-3), they found their way into the scoreboard in the top of the third with two runs on special teams. Avery Lamberson and Emily Lamberson posted the team’s hits, each recording a single to help end Genesee Valley/Belfast’s shutout bid.
The Friendship/Scio ladies are back on the field tonight, weather permitting, as they visit Bolivar-Richburg at 5 p.m.
Genesee Valley/Belfast will look to keep their early campaign fire ablaze come Friday night, if the weather cooperates, as they host the Arkport-Canaseraga Lady Wolves right back inside the Jungle in Belmont at 5 p.m.
Friendship/Scio 002 00 – 2 2 2
Genesee Valley/Belfast 189 7X – 25 12 3
F/S – Emily Lamberson (LP) (CG, 2K, 10BB) and Avery Lamberson.
GVB – Hannah Southwick-Powers (WP) (8K, BB), Kate Calanni (5) (K) and Jenna Hill.
