Gowanda Small Town Times

Photo: In the 4th inning of the May 15 home game against Bishop Timon, Tyler Smith (#15) slides in to home on a wild pitch tying the game at 3-3. Seen heading to 3rd base is Carter Capozzi (#21). Capozzi was later caught trying to make it to home base.

Monday, May 15, was a great start to the week for both the Gowanda Varsity baseball team and Varsity softball team. The baseball team was home for a non-league game with Bishop Timon-St. Jude.

Gowanda got off to a sluggish start and was down 2-0 after one inning. Scoring single runs in the next two innings, Gowanda managed to tie things at two. The score went to 3-3 in the third inning. Gowanda’s leadoff batter in the inning, Tyler Smith blasted a hard shot up the middle nearly hitting the pitcher. After an initial out, the next two Gowanda batters were walked advancing Smith to 3rd base. He scored (pictured above) on a wild pitch.

Going into the 4th inning 3-3, the Gowanda offense heated up. While Timon would not score again, Gowanda added 3 runs in the 5th and 6 more in the 6th inning. The Timon 6th inning collapse began with Logan Ruff being walked followed by a Madden Lay single. Then Andrew Barlow was walked loading the bases. The next two batters were struck out, but Gowanda was not done yet. Alex Pachucinski was walked scoring Ruff to start a Gowanda spurt. Next up, John Ondus, smashed a home run to the left corner for 4 RBIs. Gowanda’s 6th run in the inning was scored by Tyler Smith who was initially walked. Later he would again score from 3rd base on a wild pitch. Three Timon outs later, the game ended as a 12-3 Gowanda win. Powering the Gowanda offense were Tyler Smith (4 runs, 1 double, 1 RBI), Alex Pachucinski (2 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 triple) and John Ondus (4 RBI home run). Also involved in the scoring were Blake Herman (1 run, 1 double), Ben VanNote (1 run), Braydon Smith (1 run), Andrew Barlow (1 run) and Cole Herman (1 RBI). With a pair of big games against 2nd Place Dunkirk next up on the schedule, Gowanda rested pitcher, Alex Pachucinski. Gowanda went with seven different pitchers for this game, none pitching more than one inning They included Logan Ruff (1 inning), Drew Schull (1 inning), Tyler Smith (1 inning), Brayden Smith (1 inning), Carter Capozzi (2/3 inning), Blake Herman and Madden Lay (1-1/3 inning & credited with the win).

Monday the 15th also found the Gowanda Varsity softball team at Falconer. It turned out to be quite the battle.

After two scoreless innings, Falconer managed to grab a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Gowanda cut that to 2-1 in the 4th inning and took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 5th. Falconer matched Gowanda‘s production in the bottom of the inning re-taking the lead 4-3. It remained that way through a scoreless 6th inning. In a hard fought 7th inning Gowanda moved back in front 5-4 only to have Falconer tie the score at five forcing an extra inning of play. Going into the 8th inning, Gowanda got their best surge of the game. They tallied three runs in the top of the inning. Falconer also made a move in the inning, but was stopped one run short by Gowanda. That gave Gowanda an 8-7 win. Addison Kota hit a solo homerun in the Gowanda effort. It was her 5th homer of the season and the 1st one hit away from Gowanda’s Lady Panther Park. Also coming up strong was Lily Bob seine (1 run, 1 double, 2 RBIs). Ella Luther and Hailey Christopher each had a run and an RBI in the game. Scoring single runs were Jada Geiger, Holland Browning, Alhanna Gabel and Emily Pound. Corinna John had an RBI. Pitching all 8 innings for Gowanda, Addison Kota threw a 5-hitter giving up 7 walks against 12 strikeouts.

- Finally got the Week 4 scores for Trap -

Baseball 13-1, 11-1

Tuesday, May 9

Southwestern at Gowanda
Gowanda 9, Southwestern 2

Thursday, May 11

Allegany-Limestone at Gowanda
Gowanda 10, Allegany-Limestone 0

Saturday, May 13

Gowanda at Allegany-Limestone
Gowanda 13, Allegany-Limestone 1

Softball 10-6, 7-3

Tuesday, May 9

Gowanda at Forestville
Gowanda 9, Forestville 0

Wednesday, May 10

Pine Valley at Gowanda
Gowanda 9, Pine Valley 3

Friday, May 12

Gowanda at Randolph
Gowanda 2, Randolph 8

Boys Lacrosse 5-8, 5-4

Monday, May 8

Wiliamsville East at Gowanda
Gowanda 9, Williamsville 15

Wednesday, May 10

Newfane at Gowanda
- Senior Night -
Gowanda 23, Newfane 0

Friday, May 12

Gowanda at Medina
Gowanda 11, Medina 20

Girls Lacrosse 0-12, 0-6

Monday, May 8

Williamsville east at Gowanda
- Shooting For A Cure game -
Gowanda 6, Williamsville 12

Wednesday, May 10

Eden at Gowanda
- Senior Night -
Gowanda 5, Eden 14

Friday, May 12

Hamburg at Gowanda
Gowanda 1, Hamburg 18

Track

Monday, May 8

Gowanda at Salamanca
Boys
Gowanda 44, Salamanca 88
Girls
Gowanda 44, Salamanca 92

Tuesday, May 9

Gowanda at Franklinville/Ellicottville
Boys
Gowanda 16, Franklinville 123

Friday, May 12

Gowanda at Super 8 meet
at salamanca
-individuals only meet -
Chase Bolen 6th 1600m 4:58.69
8th 800m 2:18.44

Saturday, May 13

Gowanda at Jamestown Track & Field Classic
Boys
1st Hamburg 128
10th Chautauqua Lake 16
11th Gowanda 6

Trap Conference 1A-11

Week 4 score & Season total
1st Gowanda 1,045 3,714.00
2nd Hammond 784 3,330.00
7th Potsdam 451 1,477.00

Ranking in Conference 1A-11 and [in NY State]
Boys
1st Daniel Stang 48.50 ave. [4th in State]
2nd Zayne Laskey 47.25 [16th in State]
5th Daniel Humphrey 44.25
7th David Dirienzo 43.25
Girls
1st Maddison Smith 43.25 [13th in State]

On Saturday, May 13, the Gowanda Varsity baseball team was at Allegany-Limestone for the second game of that series. At the home game, Gowanda won 10-0 with the contest being called after the top of the 5th inning. This game would not go a full seven innings either.

The game started out with very stingy defense being played in the early going. Gowanda managed a 1st inning run plus two in the 2nd for an innitial 3-0 lead. The teams exchanged single runs in the next two innings with Gowanda scoring in the 3rd and Allegany-Limestone in the 4th. After a scoreless 5th inning, Gowanda exploded for 9 6th inning runs. That put Gowanda out in front 13-1, ending the game under the 10-run rule. Powering the Gowanda attack were John Ondus (2 runs, 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases), Blake Herman 2 runs, 2 stolen bases), Carter Capozzi (2 runs, 2 RBIs) and Drew Shull (2 runs). Also credited with RBIs were Brayden Smith (1 run, 3 RBIs), Alex Pachucinski (1 run, 3 RBIs) and Tyler Smith (1 run, 1 RBI). Cole Herman and Logan Ruff each scored a run. On the mound for Gowanda was Alex Pachucinski giving up one run against 4 walks and strikeouts.

Back in the first game of the season, Gowanda lost by a 3-5 score to Fredonia. Since then Gowanda has won 10 straight and is in 1st Place in CCAA Division 1. Right behind them is Dunkirk at 10-2. Gowanda and Dunkirk will face off twice in a very busy last week of the regular season next week.

Also on Saturday, the Gowanda boys track team was at the Jamestown Track & Field Classic in a field of 11 schools. While Gowanda finished at the back of the pack with 6 points as a team, two boys had individual results that are worth noting. They are Mason Wilson (4th in the 400m hurdles) and Chase Bolen (7th in the 800m).

Gowanda Elementary School’s March 2023 Students of the Month for Physical Education are, kindergartner Sariah Fisher, first-grader Zildjian Strawder, second-grader Faith Graham, third-grader Brianna Pope, fourth-grader Lorenzo Twoguns and multi-age classroom student Carmela Janiga. These young Panthers demonstrated superior effort, participation and attitude during gym class.

St. Francis High School, a Roman Catholic, Franciscan, private, college preparatory school for young men in Western New York has announced its first and second honors for the third quarter of the 2022-23 school year. Gowanda area students who made the list are as follows:

COLLINS

Second Honors: Jonas Herdlein (11th grade)

GOWANDA

Second Honors: Ethan Farley (10th grade), Samuel Comstock (10th grade)