×

Fredonia sets record in 4-2 win over Roy-Hart

OBSERVER Photo by Lisa Monacelli Fredonia pitcher Lucas Voss delivers during Fredonia’s Section VI Class B2 victory over Roy-Hart Wednesday at Gowanda Central School.

GOWANDA — The No. 3 Fredonia Hillbillies won the Section VI Class B2 title with a 4-2 victory over the No. 4 Royalton-Hartland Rams on Wednesday.

With the win, Fredonia set a Section VI record for most consecutive Sectional titles with seven. The streak began in 2011 and breaks the standing record of six, set by the Frewsburg Bears (2007-2012).

It also marks the team’s 10th in the past 13 years.

“These boys set high goals,” said Fredonia coach Vince Gullo. The Section VI title is one of them and they accomplished that tonight.”

Reid Tarnowski took the win for Fredonia, pitching five innings, giving up just one run on four hits. He recorded six strikeouts throughout. “Reid was phenomenal,” stated Gullo. “He overpowered some batters while throwing strikes. He eventually settled down and Coach Charlie LaDuca called some great pitches.”

Fredonia scored their first run in the second inning. Trey Swartz led off the inning with a walk. Drew Coniglio followed with a single, bringing Swartz into scoring position. After Cole Tippens sacrifice bunt moved Swartz to third, Tyler Winchell hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Hillbillies the first run of the game.

Roy-Hart tied the score in the fifth inning. After a single by Nick Kubas, and a sacrifice bunt brought him to second, Al Xapsos drove in the first run of the game for the Rams with an RBI Single.

Fredonia did not take long to get the lead back, reclaiming it in the bottom of the fifth. After Tarnowski walked and a wild pitch put him on second, Lucas Voss hit an RBI single to bring in Tarnowski.

The Hillbillies added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning. Tyler Winchell was given a free pass to start the rally. After a sacrifice bunt by Seth Schrader and walks by Tarnowski and Ryan Mroczka, Lucas Voss came up with another single, bringing in two runs.

Roy-Hart (13-6, 9-3) battled back with a rally of their own in the seventh with the top of their order. Xapsos began the rally with a single. After Brandon Hess hit a double, Eric Fitch hit a single to bring the tying run to first. A great catch in centerfield ended the threat and gave the Hillbillies the victory. “We want our kids to enjoy these types of close games,” said Gullo.

“It was a well-played game by both teams.”

Voss came in to pitch the last 2 innings in relief. He recorded three strikeouts in the process while giving up three hits. “We all knew that Voss was going to enter the game today,” said Gullo. “He has had quite a year. He is our best player, working hard to get to where he is and closed the door.”

Voss recorded three singles with three RBI’s while Coniglio had two hits for the Hillbillies. Xapsos had the only multiple hit game for the Rams.

One downfall for Fredonia was that they stranded 11 runners on base. “We were a little loose with our at bats,” said Gullo. “We came back after they scored and had some good bunts to move the runners up, but their pitchers did a great job to keep them in the game.”

Jake Bruning was credited with the loss for Roy-Hart pitching 4 1/3 innings while giving up two runs on four hits and six walks.

“We had our chances in the game, but it was a great pitchers dual,” said Roy-Hart coach Jeff Ziemecki. “I am proud of all nine seniors. Prior to last year, we have not won a league title since 1953, and this group gave us two consecutive. Fredonia has a solid program and that is the type of team that everyone tries to become”

Fredonia will play for the overall Class B championship against the winner of Depew/Alden on Saturday in Gowanda. “There is not a lot of time to enjoy this game,” stated Gullo. “We are happy to live another day and need to get ready for a tough task on Saturday.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today