Gowanda Small Town Times

Despite a 0-14 regular season record, the Gowanda Varsity girls lacrosse team entered the Sectional playoffs as the #3 seed. On May 23 they hosted #6 Newfane at Gowanda’s Hillis Field. Gowanda got off to a fast start taking the opening draw down the field and scoring just 10 seconds into the game. Twenty-nine seconds later a missed pass to a player in front of the net continued on into the net. Two and a half minutes into the game, Gowanda had a 4-0 lead that grew to 6-0 with ten minutes left in the half. A 5-goal spurt by Newfane tightened things to 6-5 with 1:51 showing on the clock. Gowanda’s Ke’ya Stevens scored on a free shot with 57 seconds left in the half giving Gowanda a 7-5 advantage.

Gowanda got another fast start in the second half. Cadence Luther scored for Gowanda 1:09 into the final half. Newfane had only one player on their bench and running with Gowanda without being able rest players started to show as the game wore on. Newfane wasn’t able to get a shot on the Gowanda goal for the first ten minutes of the period. By that time the Gowanda lead had grown to 13-5. Newfane managed two 2nd half goals, both on free shots. Luther scored Gowanda’s final goal with 25 seconds left leaving the final score at 19-7.

Ke’ya Stevens led the Gowanda season-high 7 goals. Aurora Stevens contributed 5 goals and Karice John had 3 goals and an assist. 8th grader, Cadence Luther collected 8 points in the game with 3 goals and 5 assists.

While the girls lacrosse team was beating Newfane, the Gowanda Varsity baseball team was shutting out Chautauqua Lake at home in a Quarter-Final Sectional game. Cole Herman tossed a 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts in the effort. The Gowanda offense started out slow with a single run in the 1st inning and three more in the 2nd. That was followed by a pair of scoreless innings. Going into the 5th inning at 4-0, Gowanda went on a 6-run surge taking their total to 10-0 for the win. Logan Ruff and Carter Capizzi each had a pair of runs and 2 RBIs for Gowanda. Blake Herman also scored twice for Gowanda. Alex Pachucinski had 4 Gowanda RBIs in the game.

One day earlier, on May 22, the Gowanda Varsity softball team was at Randolph for a Quarter-Final Sectional game. Gowanda started out fast. A 3-run Addison Kota homer gave Gowanda a sudden 3-run lead and they never looked back. Gowanda’s lead was 5-0 after two inning. Randolph had their best inning of the game in the 3rd inning closing the score to 5-3. Gowanda picked up single runs in the 4th and 5th innings which Randolph countered with a 2-run 5th inning. The 7-5 score held into the 7th inning where Gowanda added an unanswered run to their tally. The left the final at 8-5. Noteworthy for the Gowanda offense were Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens (2 runs, 2 RBIs), Holland Browning (2 runs) and Corina John 2 runs. Addison Kota had 4 RBIs along with the previously mentioned home run. She also pitched the entire game for Gowanda with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in a 4-hitter.

Gowanda Scoreboard - w/e 5/21

Baseball 16-2, 12-2

Monday, May 15

Bishop Timon at Gowanda
Gowanda 12, Timon 3

Tuesday, May 16

Gowanda at Dunkirk
Gowanda 4, Dunkirk 5

Thursday, May 18

Dunkirk at Gowanda
Gowanda 7, Dunkirk 4

Friday, May 19

Hamburg at Gowanda
- Senior Night -
Gowanda 7, Hamburg 6

Softball 12-6, 8-3

Monday, May 15

Gowanda at Falconer
Gowanda 8, Falconer 7

Wednesday, May 17

Frewsburg at Gowanda
- Sectional Quarter-Final
Gowanda 15, Frewsburg 1

Boys Lacrosse 6-8, 6-4

Tuesday, May 16
Gowanda at Newfane
Gowanda 24, Newfane 0

Girls Lacrosse 0-14, 0-7

Tuesday, May 16

Gowanda at East Aurora
Gowanda 5, East Aurora 15

Thursday, May 18

Gowanda at Frontier
Gowanda 1, Frontier 20

Track

Tuesday, May 16

Portville at Gowanda
- Senior Night -

Friday/Saturday, May 19/20

CCAA Championships
In Division 2
Boys
1st Allegany-Limestone 187
6th West Valley 38
Gowanda 15
Girls
1st Allegany-Limestone 153
5th Gowanda 34
7th Cattaraugus-Little Valley 11

Trap Conference 1A-11

Week 5 score & Season total
1st Gowanda 891.00 4,605.00
2nd Hammond 685.00 4,015.50
7th Potsdam 397.00 1,874.00

1st Daniel Stang 23.80 12th in State
2nd Zayne Laskey 23.60 15th in State
6th Daniel Humphrey 21.90
7th David Dirienzo 21.80

1st Maddison Smith 22.00

As the regular season for Spring sports end, the Gowanda trap team has finished their Spring season in 1st Place in Conference. This is the team’s 7th time winning their conference. Gowanda finished strong outscoring 2nd Place Hammond 891-685 in the 5th and final week. That gave Gowanda a season total of 4.605 points compared to 4,015.5 for Hammond.

Four Gowanda shooters finished in the Top 10 in Conference 1A-11. They are Daniel Stang (1st, 23.80 point average [12th in State]), Zayne Laskey (2nd, 23.60 [15th in State]), Daniel Humphrey (6th, 21.90) and David Dirienzo (7th, 21.80). The female member of the team, Maddison Smith, finished 1st in conference with an average score of 22.00.

On Friday and Saturday, May 19 & 20, the Gowanda track teams were at Falconer for the CCAA Track and Field Championships in a field of 20 schools. The Gowanda boys placed 7th in Division 2 with a score of 15 while the girls team was 5th with a score of 34. Standing out for the boys was Mason Wilson who finished 17th overall in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:07.77. Highlight girls were Rhianna Woods (15th 100m dash, 14.47; 11th 200m dash, 29.69 and 11th long jump, 14-04.75) and Elizabeth Malek 13th 100m hurdles, 19.54 and 12th 400m hurdles, 1:22.14).

May 19 was Senior Night for Gowanda Varsity baseball. Pictured are the Senior Class members of the Varsity baseball team. From left to right, Tyler Smith (#15), John Ondus (#7), Alex Pachucinski (#19), Drew Shull (#10), Andrew Barlow (#23) and Cole Herman (#22).

On Friday, May 19, the Spring Sports regular season ended with an elaborate Senior Night presentation for the Varsity Baseball team. That was the capper of a season that hit a high point the day before. After having just lost to Dunkirk 5-4 on May 16, those two teams met again on the 18th tied for the lead in CCAA Division 1 with 2 divisional losses each. This game for the Division 1 title was all anyone might have expected.

After holding Dunkirk scoreless in the top of the 1st inning, Gowanda’s leadoff batter, Blake Herman singled. He later scored on a Tyler Smith single giving Gowanda an early 1-0 lead. The game stayed tight through a scoreless 2nd inning. Things broke open in the 3rd inning. After the first Dunkirk batter was walked and the first out was recorded, Dunkirk jumped into the lead with a 2-run homer over the left field fence. Going to the bottom of the inning down by a run Gowanda returned the favor. Their first batter was thrown out at 1st base and the next, Alex Pachucinski, was walked. That was followed by a John Ondus 2-run home run, again over the left field fence, that put Gowanda back in front by a run. The teams traded single runs in the 5th inning after a scoreless 4th. The Gowanda run was scored by Tyler Smith who stole home on a passed ball. Dunkirk picked up another run in the 6th tying the game at 4 with Gowanda coming to bat in the bottom of the inning. Brayden Smith scored the go ahead run for Gowanda on an Ondus double. Then Pachucinski scored while Tyler Smith was being thrown out at 1st base. Ondus also scored in the inning as outfield miscues gave him the opportunity to steal home. With a 7-4 lead, Gowanda retired the first three Dunkirk batters in the 7th inning to close out the win.

The baseball team was back at home on May 19 to close out the regular season with a game against Hamburg. Senior Night ceremonies were held honoring the Seniors from both teams with Dunkirk going first. After all of the Dunkirk Seniors had been recognized, Gowanda brought all of the player from all of the high school baseball teams onto the field, spreading out along the base path from home to 3rd base. Coaches then moved out on the line from 3rd base to home. As each of the Gowanda Seniors was introduced, they walked along the bases being greeted by all of the other players, then coaches and finally meeting up with their parents at home base.

Once the game was underway, Gowanda held Hamburg scoreless for three innings while accumulating four runs on the way. Down 4-0 in the 4th inning, Hamburg went on a tear starting with their first batter, Nolan Smith, driving the ball over the right field fence for a solo home run putting Hamburg on the board. Hamburg then loaded the bases with a single and two walks. The next batter drove the ball into the right corner where the Gowanda right fielder just missed on a diving attempt to grab it. By the time the ball was recovered and sent back into play, four Hamburg runs had scored putting them up 5-4. In the bottom of the inning Gowanda answered with a pair of runs after their first three batters were walked. While Hamburg managed to pull back into a tie at 6 in the 6th inning, Gowanda again matched their production in the inning going back in front by one. There was a tense moment for Gowanda in the 7th inning with Nolan Smith back at bat. He slammed a shot into the farthest corner of centerfield. It went off the Gowanda fielder’s glove and over the fence. While at first it looked like a tying home run, the deflection over the fence placed Smith back on 2nd base by rule. There were no further Hamburg hits in the game. Gowanda closed out the regular season with a 7-6

In a festive end to the regular season, there was a post-game pizza party after the game. The sheet pizzas and soft drinks were set up for the teams to enjoy.

The Gowanda girls lacrosse team ended their regular season without a win on the 18th. They were at Frontier for another one-sided game. They were down 13-0 at halftime, eventually losing 20-1. The lone Gowanda goal was scored by Ke’ya Stevens. The usual goalie for the team, Nina Coulon, was replaced early giving Kiernan Quinn a first shot at the goalie position. She faced 28 shots making 10 saves in the debut.

Photo: Gowanda’s Ella Luther (#3) heads home to score the 1st run of a 9-run 3rd inning against Frewsburg. The May 17 game marked the opening of playoff season in Gowanda with a 15-1 softball win.

The 2023 Spring Sectionals started in Gowanda on May 17 as the Gowanda Varsity softball team hosted Frewsburg. Gowanda was a 7-seed despite a 2 loss record in divisional play while Frewsburg entered the playoffs as a 10-seed.

Both teams settled in through a scoreless 1st inning. Gowanda began a mini rally on two outs in the 2nd inning. Kailyn Farner and Lily Bobseine both singled to get things started. They both eventually scored as the base hits continued. Frewsburg finally got on the board with a single run in the 3rd inning thanks to an overthrow at 1st base. In the bottom of the inning, a Frewsburg overthrow at 1st base allowed Ella Luther to get on base as Gowanda mounted their biggest streak of the game. A string of nine hits, including three doubles, and two walks followed as Gowanda added nine runs to their tally. Frewsburg was unable to score for the rest of the game while Gowanda added 3 and 1 to their total in the 5th and 6th inning, respectively. Powering the Gowanda attack werte Ella Luther (2 runs, 4 RBIs, 1 double), Kailyn Farner (2 runs, 3 RBIs), Lily Bobseine (2 runs, 2 RBIs, 1 double), Emily Pound (2 runs), Gao:Wisa:S “Wassy” Stevens (1 run, 3 RBIs, 1 double), Jada Geiger (1 run, 1 RBI, 1 double) and Corinna John (1 run, 1 double). Scoring single runs were Cheyanna Pasternack, Holland Browning, Hailey Christopher and Aubrie Heron. Addison Kota had a double in the game, but made her biggest contribution from the pitchers mound. She tossed a 1-run 2-hitter walking two and striking out eight.

No other teams were active on the day.