APRIL
15 2022
Gowanda Sports Report BY BILL PEGLOWSKI GOWANDA — The Gowanda Varsity baseball team hosted Allegany/Limestone on April 6. After taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning, Gowanda was up 9-1 after two. That lead expanded to 14-1 in the third inning followed by four scoreless innings. The 14-1 win puts Gowanda’s record at 3-0 through their first three games. April 7 saw Gowanda hosting a non-league baseball game with Hamburg. Gowanda started out strong with pitcher Gavin Phillips retiring the first three Hamburg batters in order, including two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the inning, Phillips led off at bat and was walked. He later scored as Blake Herman and John Ondus followed, both hitting doubles to deep center field. Hamburg got on the board with a pair of runs in the second inning, taking the score to 2-1. Both teams scored single runs in the third before John Smuda tied things up for Gowanda in the fourth inning. Gowanda only managed a Cole Herman single before three outs were tallied in the fifth inning. With the score at 3-3, both teams would double their production in the sixth inning. With a runner on second and with two outs, sloppy
outfield play on the wet field allowed Hamburg to score their three runs. In similar fashion, Gowanda had bases loaded with two outs when a Maddox Browning hit into deep center field resulted in a 3 RBI single. As a steady light rain began to fall in the final inning, Gowanda’s defense collapsed. Gowanda put a third pitcher on the mound to start the inning. The next three Hamburg batters all walked, loading the bases. At that point Gowanda switched to their fourth pitcher to salvage the inning. After giving up a 2 RBI double with the next batter, a third run scored on a sacrifice fly ball. With two outs Gowanda
Photo by Bill Peglowski Gowanda’s Chloe Luther (2) makes her way through the Frontier defense during a Varsity lacrosse game April 6. She scored all three Gowanda goals in the game including her 100th career goal.
would still give up another pair of runs before escaping the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Smuda led off for Gowanda. After the first baseman was unable to secure the throw to the plate, Smuda collided with the official at first base and fell to the turf. He was placed on second with a call of umpire interference. The next two Gowanda batters resulted in outs followed by two hitters who would be walked, loading the bases for Gowanda. After a Gowanda run was scored on a passed ball, the game ended on a fly out. Hamburg went away with an 11-7 win. Phillips, Herman and Smuda each had two runs for Gowanda. Drew Shull added a single run. — The Gowanda Varsity softball team hosted Wellsville on April 4. After the initial Wellsville batter was walked, Gowanda secured two outs, but not before the runner had worked her way to second and then to third base. An RBI single put Wellsville up 1-0. Gowanda could only manage a walk against three outs in the bottom of the inning. Gowanda’s only run was scored in the fourth inning by Gao:wisa:s Stevens who got on base via a walk. She scored on a Cameron Nagel double to right field. Scoring in every inning except for the fourth, Westfield was up 7-1 through six innings. They slammed the door shut in the seventh inning running up another six runs. Westfield totaled 10 strikeouts in the game. The Gowanda softball found themselves at Westfield on April 6, facing a team that had beat them
Photo Provided Receiving the 2021 championship banner are Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse team captains Autumn Nephew, Aailyah Stevens and Chloe Luther.
13-2 just a week before. Once again, they were up against Westfield’s All-Star pitcher, Haleigh Dellow. The game started out exactly as the meeting at Gowanda had, with a 4-0 Westfield lead after one inning that was 7-0 after two. The rest of the game, Gowanda did much better as they outscored Westfield 4-1 in the last four innings. That was still not enough to avoid a 9-4 loss. Addison Kota doubled for Gowanda in the game while Gao:wisa:s Stevens and Cameron Nagle each contributed singles. — The Gowanda Varsity boys lacrosse team was at Newfane on April 5. With a dominant first half performance, Gowanda took a 7-3 halftime lead. A 4-2 effort
in the final half resulted in an 11-5 victory. Sharing the top honors for Gowanda were Croix Snow (3 goals; 3 assists), Quinton Jackson (3 goals, 2 assists) and Logan Lukonaitis (3 goals, 1 assist). Evan Fort and Ha’tsihgahdo:d Stevens each added a goal and an assist. DJ Dirienzo and Aiden Ackley were each credited with an assist. The boys lacrosse team was at Akron on April 7. Akron completely dominated the first half taking the score to 16-2. While the second half play was more even, Gowanda still ended up with
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