Gowanda Small Town Times

Photo: Gowanda’s Lily Bobseine, #33, is seen heading for home base in the 4th inning vs. Falconer. The resulting collision would see both Bobseine and the Falconer catcher down on the ground for several minutes while being attended to. Bobseine would be called out on the play and both players did eventually return to the game.

April 24 was a cold day that never made it out of the 40s. Both the Gowanda Varsity baseball and softball teams had home games just across from the high school building while the Varsity girls lacrosse team traveled to Clarence. It was a rough afternoon for all except for the baseball team.

At the baseball game, Gowanda played host to a Jamestown team that had a terrible 1st inning. Several times during the inning Jamestown’s throws to 1st base were off target allowing Gowanda runners to have a field day on the bases. The Jamestown pitcher faced 16 batters, giving up 4 walks, before escaping the inning. Just one example of the comedy of errors came when two Gowanda runs scored on a Brayden Smith bunt for a single as the catcher overthrew 1st base. At the end of the inning, Gowanda was up 10-0.

The game would be called in the 5th inning under the 10-run rule with Gowanda picking up an additional 6 runs to 4 for Jamestown. Leading the Gowanda offense was Cole Herman (2 for 3 with four RBIs), John Ondus (3 for 4 with two RBIs), Tyler Smith (3 for 3 with two RBIs). Blake Herman and Brayden Smith were both 2 for 2 with two RBIs. Cole Herman and Drew Shull combined on a five-hitter with eight strikeouts and nine walks for Gowanda.

Falconer was at Gowanda on the 24th for a non-league Varsity softball game. The leadoff batter for Falconer singled and scored as the next batter doubled. A strikeout followed by a double play from 1st to 2nd base brought Gowanda up to bat. After the first two Gowanda batters registered outs, Addison Kota was at bat driving the ball over the fence in center field. That made her total for the year now 3 That tied things at one after one inning. The second inning went scoreless. After 3 walks and a pair of singles in the 3rd inning, Gowanda swapped out their pitcher putting Lily Bobseine on the mound. She would give up an RBI single before locking down three straight strikeouts ending a 3-run Falconer inning. Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens singled in the bottom of the inning and would eventually score on a Kailyn Farner single. That was all Gowanda managed as Falconer used three straight strikeouts to end the inning with 3 Gowanda runners on base. Things tightened up at that point and two scoreless inning followed. In the 4th and 6th innings, Gowanda again left 3 runners stranded on base. With Falconer adding four runs onto their total in the 6th inning Falconer held a 8-2 lead going into the final inning. Gowanda went with a third pitcher in the 5th inning putting in Hailey Christopher. After striking out the first batter she faced, she would give up three singles before escaping the inning with just a single Falconer run scored. In the bottom of the inning it was Addison Kota hitting a double to deep left field to start things off. The next two Gowanda batters would fly out. Kots came home on a Holland Browning double to just left of center field. That was all Gowanda could manage as the game ended in a 9-3 loss. Addison Kota led the Gowanda attack with a home run and a double. Also featured in the Gowanda offense were Emily Pound (a double), Jada Geiger (3 hits, including a double). Holland Browning (a double) and Lily Bob seine (a double).

The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse team had their hands full at Clarence. They were down 15-1 by halftime. Gowanda added another goal in the 2nd half while Clarence padded their score with five for a 20-2 final. Gowanda goals were scored by Aurora Stevens (1 goal, 1 assist) and Ke’ya Stevens (1 goal). Once again, Gowanda’s Freshman goal keeper, Nina Coulon, faced a barrage in the game. In a valiant effort, she did come up with 15 saves on 35 shots on goal.