OBSERVER?Staff Reports
WESTFIELD - Rob Burgess earned the win on the hill, tossing a complete game, allowing a run on four hits while striking out six and walking three, as the No. 2 Westfield Wolverines dropped No. 14 Salamanca, 12-1, in a Section 6 Class C baseball pre-quarterfinal, on Tuesday.
"It was his first Sectional appearance," Westfield head coach Doug Kaltenbach said. "And he settled down and did a real nice job for me."
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Photo right by Mark L. Anderson
Westfield’s Rob?Burgess had strong outings Tuesday.
Tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Wolverines' offense erupted for six runs, collecting five doubles in the frame, with the big blow coming off the bat of Travis Rammelt, who delivered a bases-clearing three-run double. Dillon Kawski added a two-run double in the inning while Jon Coe, Greg Best and Burgess also added doubles.
"Frankly, in the fourth inning, I was a little worried," Kaltenbach said. "The last few games we were hitting the ball, but we weren't getting hits. Then, all of a sudden it just started (in the fifth). I just hope it continues."
The Wolverines success did continue, as they scored five more runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game well out of reach of the Warriors. Kawski added another two-run hit, chasing home a pair of teammates with a single.
On the afternoon, Rammelt finished with three hits while Best, Coe, Kawski and Burgess all finished with two hits each.
Westfield will host No. 6 Maple Grove, on Friday. The Red Dragons were a 9-2 winner over No. 11 Barker, on Tuesday. The Wolverines and Red Dragons split their season series, as each team one a game. Westfield won behind a no-hit effort from Austin Alonge, while Maple Grove won on a dominant performance by Matt Fowler. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
No. 5 Cassadaga Valley 6, No. 12 Franklinville 1
SINCLAIRVILLE - Mike Lanphere ripped a two-run double as part of a four-run fifth inning to lead fifth-seeded Cassadaga Valley (11-9) past No. 12 Franklinville, 6-1.
Prior to Lanphere's extra base hit, Cassadaga Valley led by a slim, 2-1 margin.
Kenny Oakes picked up the victory after surrendering one unearned run on six hits over seven innings. He allowed six hits, walked none and struck out eight.
For Franklinville, Ryan Reithmiller connected for a game-high three hits, including a pair of doubles, and Jake Reynolds, who struck out one and walked one in six innings, took the loss.
Cassadaga Valley is slated to host fourth-seed Portville, 4-0 winners over Randolph, on Thursday at 5 p.m.
No. 7 CLV?1,
No. 10 Silver Creek 0
CATTARAUGUS - The No. 7 Cattaraugus-Little Valley Timberwolves scored a run in the first inning which held up to down No. 10 Silver Creek 1-0, in Section 6 Class C pre-quarterfinal action.
After the Timberwolves' Josh Forster led off with a single, he eventually moved to third on a Sam Agnew single. Two straight walks plated Forster for what proved to be the winning run.
Silver Creek pitcher T.J. Grant settled down to allow only three more hits the rest of the way in a complete-game effort.
"T.J. threw an outstanding ballgame," Silver Creek coach Mike Janisch said. "He threw 34 pitches in the first inning and was dominating the rest of the way. Unfortunately we couldn't come back and score one run for him."
The Black Knights had just three hits and never got a runner past second base. Grant, Adam Klajbor and Kevin Rocque had singles for Silver Creek's only offense.
"(Cattaraugus-Little Valley pitcher) Sam (Agnew) just continued to throw and mix his speeds and kept our batters off balance," Janisch said. "It was the last game for our seniors Kevin Rocque and T.J. Grant. They are our two senior captain leaders and we will sorely miss them in the future."
No. 8 Holland 12,
No. 9 Chaut.?Lake 7
HOLLAND - The No. 9 chautauqua Lake Thunderbirds had a rough fifth inning which ultimately led to No. 8 Holland escaping with a 12-7 victory Tuesday in Section 6 Class C pre-quarterfinal action.
Holland had six hits and the Thunderbirds committed two critical errors in the fifth inning which led to Holland taking a 10-5 lead in which it would never surrender.
For the Thunderbirds, they stranded 10 runners on base, seven of which were in scoring position. But to Chautauqua Lake's credit, it never backed down and fought the whole way as it chipped away at the deficit multiple times.
In the sixth inning, the Thunderbirds cut the lead, 10-7 as Jed Walsh belted an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch.
After giving up two more runs in the sixth, Chautauqua Lake made one final push as it loaded the bases with one out. Unfortunately, two straight pop ups ended the threat and the game.
The Thunderbirds' big inning came in the fifth as Nate Gleason and Colton Mulkins each had an RBI single and Ian Clute had a bases-clearing triple.
"We bent but did not break early," Chautauqua Lake coach Tim Cowan said. "I was very happy with the effort. Holland is a very strong hitting team and we knew that coming in. We faced them last year and they have seven players back from last year. They hit the ball hard. We threw a runner out at the plate in the first."
Cowan also noted the strong play of his catcher Tyler Furlow, who threw out two base stealers.
It was a great game," Cowan concluded.
