softball

The Genesee Community College softball team opened Western New York Athletic Conference play on Thursday afternoon with a two-game sweep of visiting Alfred State College.

Alishia Foss pitched well in game one, allowing five runs while striking out three in a complete game effort. Her offense built an early lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning, including an RBI triple from Miki Kawaguchi. The Lady Cougars led 8-5 in the fifth inning and won via the eight run mercy rule after putting together a five-run fifth. They sent all nine batters to the plate and got a two-run single from Kawaguchi and a sacrifice fly from Amanda McGowan. Genesee won game one 13-5.

Kawaguchi finished the game 2-4 with 3 RBI’s, Alex Miller went 2-3 with four runs scored and Sabrina Wilhoite went 3-3 with three runs scored.

Alex Miller delivers a hit against Alfred State College

In game two, Genesee answered a top of the first inning run from Alfred State with a three-run home half of the inning, highlighted by an RBI single from McGowan, to take the early lead. The Lady Cougars were a run away from another mercy rule victory, leading 11-4 in the 6th inning before Alfred State scored seven times to tie the game at 11. GCC went quietly in the sixth and the seventh innings, and the game went into extra frames.

Both teams exchanged a run in the eight inning. Alfred State kept the pressure on with a run in the ninth and put two runners on base with a chance to extend the lead. GCC pitcher Abbey Rocque kept the Lady Cougars in the game by striking out the next three hitters, keeping it a one-run game. Genesee quickly tied the game in the ninth on an RBI single from Foss and then won the game when Wilhoite hit a line drive to center that was dropped, scoring Foss. GCC won game two 14-13.

Members of the GCC softball team celebrate #8 Sabrina Wilhoite's game-winning hit

Rocque pitched the entire game and also delivered a two-run double. Lindsay Chatt was 2-5 in game two, scoring twice and driving in a run. Kawaguchi was 2-5 with two runs scored and Chelsea Lynch was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

With the wins, Genesee is now 2-0 in conference play and 9-9 overall. They will play again on Tuesday when they host Erie Community College at 3:30pm.

The Genesee Community College softball team took two from visiting Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday afternoon to improve to 7-9 on the season.

In game one the Lady Cougars fell behind early after Finger Lakes CC scored twice in the first inning and then nine times in the third inning to take an 11-0 lead. Genesee began their comeback in the bottom of the third, scoring three times on four walks and an RBI single from Miki Kawaguchi. They then sent 13 hitters to the plate and scored eight times in the fourth inning to tie the game at 11. Finger Lakes CC regained the lead with three runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth and held a 17-11 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Down to their final three outs, Genesee put together a seven run inning including a two-run base hit from Alishia Foss and won the game on a walk-off single by Kawaguchi.

Genesee celebrates Miki Kawaguchi's walk-off single in game one against Finger Lakes Community College

Kawaguchi finished the game 3-4 with three runs batted in. Amanda McGowan added two hits and two runs batted in and also scored twice. Sabrina Wilhoite scored three runs.

Abbey Rocque pitched all seven innings and struck out two en-route to the win.

In game two, Genesee grabbed the early lead when they scored three times in the bottom of the first inning including an RBI single from Chelsea Lynch. Finger Lakes CC responded with four runs in the second inning to take a 4-3 lead. The lead did not last long as Lynch reached base in the third inning after being hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored on an error to tie the game at four. After retiring the Lady Lakers in order in the fourth, Genesee took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Wilhoite reached on an error and then scored on an error with two outs. Genesee added a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth and held on for a 7-5 victory.

Foss was the winner on the mound in game two, pitching all seven innings allowing eight hits and struck out two.

Kawaguchi again went 3-4 at the plate, Lynch delivered a run batted in and scored twice and Jennifer Merle went 3-3 with a run batted in.

Genesee will play on Thursday afternoon at 3pm when they host Alfred State for a double header.

The Genesee Community College softball team hosted Corning Community College on Thursday afternoon and split the two-game double header with the visiting Red Barons.

Corning jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning in game one. The Lady Cougars responded when Chelsea Lynch delivered an RBI single that scored Alex Miller to cut the lead to one. Genesee took the lead in the third inning after Miki Kawaguchi tied the game with an RBI single and then came around to score on a Lindsay Chatt hit. GCC led 4-3 in the fifth inning before the Red Barons scored six runs to take the lead for good. Genesee added a run in the seventh but could not come back further.

Kawaguchi finished game one going 3 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Chatt and Lynch each went 1 for 4 with a run batted in. Abbey Rocque pitched seven innings and allowed nine runs (four earned) and struck out one.

In game two, Genesee fell behind early once again. Corning scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead. The Lady Cougars cut into the lead with two runs in the second on RBI singles from Sabrina Wilhoite and Kawaguchi. The Red Barons added a run in the sixth and the seventh to take a 5-2 lead into the final frame. Down to their final two outs, GCC put together four straight hits including a three-run double by Alishia Foss, tying the game at five and sending it to extra innings. In the eight, Corning took a 6-5 lead with a run on a hit and a sacrifice fly. The Lady Cougars responded scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth, winning the game 7-6 on a walk-off single from Miller.

The GCC Softball team  celebrates Alex Miller's walk-off single in game two against Corning CC on Thursday afternoon

Mallory Frew scored two runs in game two, Chatt went 2 for 4 with a run scored and Rocque went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Foss picked up the win on the mound going eight innings allowing six runs and sruck out three.

Genesee moves to 5-9 on the season and will host Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday at 3pm.

It might have been a rainy day and a ball field with more mud and puddles than grass and clay, but I can say with certainty that the first ever Oakfield Alabama Alumni Softball Game was a success -- I was there.

Yep, I proudly put on my blue and gold colors and --- although my cleats have been misplaced over the years -- my good old softball glove to play against the other 25 or so OA grads who bravely turned out for the rainy game.

While us “even graduation years” ended up beating the “odds,” everyone had fun stepping up to the plate one more time. I already can’t wait for next year!

Varsity baseball coach and organizer of the event, James Patric said he hopes for next year’s turnout to be better so a tournament can be arranged with more than two teams.

“We’re looking to improve from here, I’ve asked all the players what they’d like to see done differently and now that we have the first game to learn from, I’m hoping for a bigger crowd,” Patric said.

Retired OA athletic director Fred Francis agreed.

“What a great start we had, but you can tell everyone in the area that didn’t make it for some reason or other that I’d better see them on the field next year,” he said.

So as a personal challenge to all of those who couldn’t make it (especially the ones who still live in the area -- you know who you are) why not make next year the first of many alumni games to come? Hornet Pride Runs Deep… so prove it!

Submitted by Mary Beth Mcmartin.

Pembroke Girls Softball team knocks out # 1 seed Gananda 
to meet Oakfield in the Class CC Finals on Wednesday

 

 The Buffalo News today reported a story in which reporter Maki Becker gives us some more detail on the New York State Public High School Athletic Association cuts as he interviewed executive director Nina Van Erk.

There wasn't a whole lot of information than what we have previously reported, but there are a couple of interesting items in the piece.

Van Erk says that it is expected that the cuts will save schools in the state up to $10 million, with nearly $6 million of that going to officiating fees.

The other thing that comes from this story is that the cuts are expected to be for two years.

The changes, which were approved by a slim majority late last month, would begin in the next school year and would remain in effect for two years, Van Erk told the paper.

This opens up some more questions.

Did Van Erk and the rest of the NYSPHSAA directors make these cuts for two years because it is a quick fix to help schools and families get through these difficult economic times?

Was it announced that the cuts are for two years because that is the original plan or because of all the backlash the NYSPHSAA has received from coaches and athletic directors?

And what happens after two years? Will these policies just continue or will they be reviewed again at that time, with the number of games being returned to the schedule?

Buffalo Public Schools athletic director David Thomas summed up what a lot of people are thinking when they hear this with his quote late in the story.

 

“I don’t think we should be worried about funding school budgets on the backs of the kids playing sports,” said Thomas told the paper.

Cutting the number of games might help school districts in the more remote areas of Western New York that require longer traveling distances, Thomas said, “but it doesn’t save it up here [in Buffalo], where we are trying to keep the kids off the streets and busy with school and athletics.”

The current schedule allows Buffalo athletes the opportunity to play in suburban areas and “to travel to some nice tournaments,” Thomas said. “Now we have to pull back on that.”

Thomas also questioned whether the cuts were really temporary. “When they take things away,” he said, “they don’t often come back.”