Gowanda Small Town Times

On June 7, the Gowanda varsity baseball team was in Batavia for the Far Western Regionals facing Kendall. Kendall came into the game with a 16-game winning streak and a record of 23-1.Their starting pitcher had a season record of 11-0 with 59 strikeouts. On paper, it looked to be a tight, low scoring affair.

Gowanda had the home team designation and batted first. After two scoreless innings, Gowanda shifted into high gear. Leadoff batter in the inning was Brayden Smith who was walked. Next up was Blake Herman. Herman connected, blasting a shot over the left field wall for a 2-run homer. After getting an initial out, the Kendall pitcher walked both Carter Capozzi and Logan Ruff. Jayden Fish singled and brought Capozzi home with the help of an errant throw to 1st base. Drew Kota followed with a bunt up the 1st base line scoring Ruff while being thown out at 1st. Seth Geiger was then hit by a pitch advancing Fish. A Kendall meeting on the mound followed. It was the third such stoppage in the inning and it led to a pitching change. Up next, Madden Lay powered a shot to right field bringing Fish home. Brayden Smith came back up to bat for the second time in the inning. While he was at bat, Lay got caught up in a rundown between 1st and 2nd that lasted just long enough for Geiger to up the Gowanda tally to 6 runs.

Two more scoreless innings followed. Brayden Smith was walked again in the 6th inning. He then stole 2nd base. A Kyan Austin hit was fielded by the Kendall shortstop who made a bad throw to 3rd base that allowed Smith to continue on to score again. Gowanda added an 8th run in the 7th inning. With one out, Jayden Fish drove a single into center field and would later score that run.

Pitching for Gowanda, Blake Herman put forth a 4-hit, no walk effort. He came one out short of getting the second shutout in two games. The lead-off Kendall batter was hit by a pitch before outs were registered on the next two batters. An RBI single followed getting Kendall on the board. Herman stuckout the next batter ending the game with a 8-1 score.

Screenshot from the NFHS Network stream. Blake Herman connects on the home run blast into left field.

Screenshot from the NFHS Network stream. The Gowanda players were out on the field to meet Blake Herman as he arrived back at home plate to complete the 3rd inning home run.