APRIL
8 2022
Gowanda Sports Report BY BILL PEGLOWSKI GOWANDA — The Gowanda Varsity baseball team hosted Eden at Panther Park on March 31. Before the game, the team was recognized for its 2021 season accomplishments. The team finished as both Section 6 Class C and CCAA West 2 Division champions, and banners were officially presented to the team. It was noted that the team had not lost any players due to graduation in 2021, so hopes are high for the 2022 season. After the ceremony, Gowanda got the season off to a fast start, outscoring Eden 8-3 in the 1st inning. Things tightened up after that with neither team able to add to their total for the rest of the game. Gowanda was able to give pitchers John Ondus, Bryan Zynda, Alex Pachucinski and John Smuda all time on the mound giving up a total of just four hits. Ondus also had two RBIs on a pair of hits. At bat, Blake Herman contributed a two-run triple in the game. Tyler Smith and Cole Herman, along with Pachucinski, each had RBI singles. The team hosted Akron on April 2 and came up with another strong performance. Despite giving up two walks in the top of the 1st inning, Gowanda managed to avoid giving up any runs. In the bottom of the inning, they scored three times on five hits to go up 3-0. Gowanda would add another run in the 4th and two more in the 6th while managing to shutout Eden. That
From that point, they were able to hold on for the win by controlling possession for the last four minutes of the game. Powering the Gowanda attack was Chloe Luther with seven goals and two assists. Ke’ya Stevens added another five goals. Autumn Nephew was credited with an assist. In goal, Aaliyah Stevens came up with 10 saves. Both teams totaled 23 shots on goal in the game. SCOREBOARD
Photo by Bill Peglowski The Gowanda Varsity baseball team finished as both Section 6 Class C and CCAA West 2 Division champions in 2021. Commemorative banners were officially presented to the team at its March 31 game
included taking out the first three Eden batters, in order, in the final inning. The Pine Valley baseball team is also playing their home games at Gowanda’s Panther Park. They hosted Ellicottville on March 30 resulting in an 8-7 Pine Valley win. — The Gowanda Varsity softball team also got their season officially underway at North Collins on March 30. They followed up the 18run scrimmage of the previous week with another strong performance. After the 1st inning ended in a 1-1 tie, North Collins pulled
ahead 2-1 in the 2nd. Gowanda tied things up 2-2 in the 3rd inning and never looked back. Gowanda scored in each inning from that point, including a six-run 5th and a four-run 7th inning. Down that stretch, North Collins could only tally one additional run for a final score of 15-3. The team was back home March 31 to host Westfield. The high-flying Gowanda offense ran into problems facing pitcher Haleigh Dellow, a Player of the Year pick in 2021. Dellow tossed a one-hitter while striking out 14 Gowanda batters. Gowan-
da still managed a pair of 5th inning runs, but Westfield had already scored 13 runs by that time. Two scoreless innings followed leaving the score at 13-2. The sole Gowanda hit came from Holland Browning with a single. The two Gowanda runs were scored by Jada Geiger and Kailyn Farner. — The Gowanda Varsity boys lacrosse team was at Wilson on March 31. In a close game, Gowanda came up just short. At halftime, they were down 5-4. They would also be outscored in the 2nd half, 4-3, as things tightened up slightly. That
Baseball Thursday, March 31 -Gowanda 8, Eden 3 Saturday, April 2 -Gowanda 6, Akron 0 Softball Wednesday, March 30 -Gowanda 15, North Collins 3 Thursday, March 31 -Westfield 13, Gowanda 2
resulted in a final 9-7 loss. Leading Gowanda was Croix Snow with two Boys Lacrosse goals and one assist. Quinton Wednesday, March 28 Jackson and Logan Lukonaitis each had a goal. Nakotah -Lake Shore 17, Grand IsJackson and Evan Fort were land 3 credited with two and one Thursday, March 31 assist, respectively. -Wilson 9, Gowanda 7 — The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse team was at Girls Lacrosse Amherst on March 30 for Wednesday, March 30 what was another close nonleague game. Gowanda came -Amherst 13, Gowanda 12 out strong in the first half -N. Tonawanda 17, and was able to take a 7-5 Springville 0 lead at halftime. Amherst Friday, April 1 rallied back in the 2nd half -Lew-Port 12, Lake Shore 7 pulling ahead 13-12. -Newfane 4, Springville 1