Gowanda Small Town Times

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)

Photo courtesy of Gowanda boys lacrosse team. Gowanda’s Winter Rivera poses after passing the 100-goal mark in his high school career.

Friday, May 12, found the Varsity boys lacrosse team and the Varsity softball team on the road while the Varsity girls lacrosse team was at home at Hillis Field. The Gowanda softball team was at Randolph for the biggest game of the regular season. Going into the game, Gowanda had 2 losses in CCAA East 1 and Randolph had one loss. That single loss had been to Gowanda. So this game was for the top spot in the division. This is becoming a regular situation for these two teams.

It was Senior Night for Randolph and things started out tight. The two teams exchanged single runs in the first inning and the score stood at 1-1 all the way into the 4th. Gowanda was again unable to score in the top of the inning. Then, in the bottom of the inning, Gowanda defensive glitches allowed Randolph to pile up five runs taking the score to 6-1. Gowanda managed a single run in the 5th inning. The score was 6-2 when Randolph was up in the bottom of the 6th inning. They padded their total with a pair of runs moving the score to 8-2. Again shutout in the final inning Gowanda took the loss. Leading the Gowanda scoring were Corina John (1 run & a double), Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens (1 run) and Addison Kota (a double and an RBI). Also prominent on the offense were Ella Luther (2 hits), Holland Browning (1 hit) and Jada Geiger (1 RBI). Addison Kota pitched for Gowanda giving up 3 hits and 5 walks against 9 strikeouts.

May 12 took the Gowanda Varsity boys lacrosse team to Medina. Another hard fought battle for the boys, they were down 12-6 at halftime on the way to a 20-11 loss. It did not come without a highlight moment, though. On his 3rd goal of the night, Winter Rivera reached the 100-goal mark for his Varsity career. Rivera ended up with 6 goals and 2 assists on the night. Also featured in the Gowanda attack was Ha’tsihgahdo:d Stevens (3 goals, 4 assists). Nakotah Jackson and Nate Warrior had goal each.

The Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse was home versus Hamburg on the 12th. The powerful Hamburg team dominated keeping things at the Gowanda end of the field for most of the game. It was 11-0 at halftime with a final score of 18-1. With the Gowanda girls getting pushed around for most of the game shots on goal were hard to come by. Gowanda’s only goal of the game came with 13:05 left in the 2nd half. As she was falling towards the goal, Ke’ya Stevens managed to shovel the ball into the net just before she hit the ground.

Photo: Gowanda’s Blake Herman (#27) scores for the second time against Allegany-Limestone. This came in the 2nd inning of the May 11 home game.

On May 11, Gowanda Varsity sports action was limited to the baseball team. They played a home game versus Allegany-Limestone. This would be another contest ended early by the 10-run rule.

Gowanda got off to a quick start grabbing a 3-0 lead after the 1st inning. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, the 1st four Gowanda batter were walked. They added 3 runs to their total in the inning including one scored on a wild pitch. By the end of the 3rd inning Gowanda was up 7-0. With the Gowanda defense continuing to stand strong, they were ready to add to their total in the bottom of the inning. Gowanda started out with a Alex Pacucinski walk. After registering one out, Tyler Smith, Cole Herman, Carter Capozzi and Logan Ruff hit consecutive singles scoring three runs in the process. Heading into the 5th inning Gowanda had a 10-0 lead. The first Allegany-Limestone batter in the inning singled. Past that, three straight fly outs ended the game.

Leading the Gowanda attack were Cole Herman (2 runs) and Blake Herman (2 runs & a triple). Logan Ruff had a run, a double and an RBI in the game. Tyler Smith, Brayden Smith and Alex Pachucinski each contributed a run and an RBI. Rounding out the scoring with one run each were John Ondus and Drew Shull. In support, Carter Capozzi had 2 RBIs. At pitcher, Cole Herman registered 5 strikeouts and a walk in the shutout.