Gowanda Small Town Times

Back from the Easter/Spring break, Gowanda Varsity sports teams saw a full schedule of activity on April 12. It was a beautiful Spring day that saw the softball and boys lacrosse teams pick up wins while baseball and girls lacrosse fell short. The track season is still a week away.

After having a pair of games scrubbed previously due to weather issues, the Gowanda Varsity baseball team got their first action of the season at home hosting Fredonia. In what figured to be a good test of the Gowanda team, the game remained in a scoreless tie for three innings. After four innings, Fredonia held a 1-0 lead. Gowanda managed to tie things at one in the fifth. Fredonia broke things open with a 4-run sixth inning. Gowanda came up to bat in the final inning trailing 5-1. While able to pick up a pair of runs in the inning, it was not enough to avoid a 5-3 loss to open their season. John Ondus scored twice for Gowanda with Alex Pachucinski scoring the third run. Credited with RBIs were Tyler Smith, Cole Herman and Carter Capozzi.

The Gowanda Varsity softball team hosted Forestville while the baseball team was playing their game. Gowanda picked up their second win in their first strong defensive game of the season.

For three innings, Forestville batters were unable to reach first base. During that time Gowanda pitcher, Addison Kota, recorded five strikeouts including three in a row in the 3rd inning. Gowanda managed to score single runs in each of those innings building a 3-0 lead. Two scoreless innings followed before Gowanda came up big in the sixth. Leadoff batter, Jada Geiger singled, just barely beating the throw at 1st base. She would be brought home on a Lily Bobseine RBI single. On two outs Aubrie Heron, Kailyn Farner and Corrina John all singled in order with Farner and John both picking up RBIs. That put Gowanda’s total to six runs. In the final inning, Forestville had a runner on base with two outs. A bad throw to first base allowed Forestville to spoil the shutout with a single run.

Addison Kota threw a full game for Gowanda registering 10 strikeouts with 3 walks. She also only gave up a single hit on a play where the lead runner was thrown out at 2nd base. Hot bat for Gowanda was Kailyn Farner with 3 hits in three at bats. Jada Geiger, Ella Luther, and Corrina John each had 2 hits in the Gowanda effort. As a final softball note, it seems that Gowanda in back where they left off last year with many talented base runners. This game saw Gowanda players steal a total of eight bases in the game (Jada Geiger 4, Holland Browning 2, Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy“ Stevens and Kailyn Farner 1 each).

That brings up to the lacrosse teams. While baseball and softball were busy at the school, the Gowanda Varsity boys lacrosse team was playing host to Wilson at Hillis Field. It was another dominating performance for Gowanda at home. They piled up 8 goals in both the 1st and 2nd halves. At the same time, they held Wilson to three goals in the game. This ups their record to 2-1. Leading the Gowanda scoring was Landen Jimerson (4 goals, 1 assist). With three goals each were Winter Rivera (3 goals, 5 assists) and Nakotah Jackson (3 goals, 1 assist). Cashis Montour contributed a pair of goals. Gowanda goal tender, Faolan Quinn, was credited with 3 saves. Four other players scored single goals for Gowanda.

The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse was at Orchard Park on the 12th to open their season. a completely one-sided 1st half found the team in a 15-1 hole by halftime. Orchard Park was able to coast through the 2nd half from that point to a 19-2 final. No individual stats were available from the game.