Here’s a look back at the top moments of the year:

1. Chautauqua Lake wins softball state title

Before the season began, the Chautauqua Lake Lady Thunderbirds softball team looked as comfortable and confident as can be, exuding the behavior and the excitement that comes with winning. As it turns out, the team had quite a bit of winning in 2018. After beating Fredonia on a two-run home run by Cam Hawkins in the seventh inning for the league title, in Fredonia, the Lady Thunderbirds kept on rolling all the way through the sectional playoffs, then claiming a Far West Regional win and eventually, a Class C state title. As special as the run was, Chautauqua Lake’s Hollywood story may not be finished yet, as the Lady Thunderbirds return all but one player for this year. Still, regardless of what the future holds, Chautauqua Lake had a year for the record books in 2018.

2. Bryce Rowe wins 160 pound wrestling state championship

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Above, Dunkirk softball star Emilee Hanlon (center) signed her letter of intent to play NCAA Division 1 college softball at the University of Tennessee last April. She is pictured with her parents at Dunkirk High School.

Chautauqua Lake sure had a flair for the dramatic in 2018. Before the Lady Thunderbirds captured the softball title in the spring, Bryce Rowe took the wrestling community by storm in the 160 pound weight class en route to a Division II State Championship. After a 4-3 decision victory over fellow Chautauqua County wrestling standout Dan Torres of Cassadaga Valley-Falconer in the state semifinal, Rowe defeated top-seeded Jacob Nolan of Section 7’s Saranac. Rowe won by decision over Nolan, 2-1, in the final. Tied 1-1 in the last period, Rowe managed a reversal on Nolan with just 10 seconds left to score the winning point. Rowe’s championship will certainly be remembered for years to come.

3. Fredonia beats Dunkirk in the Orange Bowl for division title

As far as regular season games go, it doesn’t get much better than this. With both Dunkirk and Fredonia carrying undefeated records into the game with a league title and a home playoff game on the line, Fredonia took care of business at the Orange Bowl, defeating Dunkirk 35-6 to cap off an undefeated season.

Before the game, Dunkirk head coach Mike Sarratori said, “It’s something we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives. … It doesn’t matter what our records are. It doesn’t matter that we’re playing for the division title. Those things just add to it. This is a game our kids are going to remember for many years.”

It will certainly be a fond memory for the Fredonia faithful. For Dunkirk, the bitter taste of an undefeated regular season coming to an end at the hands of the Hillbillies will remain until the two meet again in 2019. However, with the likely departure of Brocton from the Fredonia football program, the Hillbillies and Marauders will almost certainly be in different divisions next year. Though the two teams will almost certainly face each other again next year, it will likely be in a non-league contest. Considering all that surrounded the matchup this time around, a game like 2018’s may not come along again for a very long time.

OBSERVER File Photo At right, Chautauqua Lake shortstop Cameryn Hawkins holds the state championship plaque during the team's celebration parade after claiming Chautauqua Lake's first softball state championship in school history in 2018.

4. Dunkirk’s Emilee Hanlon signs with Tennessee

It’s not often that an athlete from Chautauqua County gets an offer to play a sport at the NCAA Division 1 level, but that’s exactly what Dunkirk’s Emilee Hanlon accomplished this year. Hanlon, a star athlete in track and field as well as softball, signed to play Division 1 college softball at the University of Tennessee. Hanlon was well aware of how rare it is for an athlete in Chautauqua County to get noticed by a nationally renowned college, and she hopes her experienced will inspire others to make their aspirations come true as hers did.

“It means a lot to me because I know these kids down here don’t see a lot, around town or anything, and for me to be going somewhere else, other than staying here, it gives them a little more encouragement to go out and try new things,” said Hanlon, the day of her signing. “From the help of all my family and my friends that kept encouraging me to keep going, even when times got hard, I feel like I’m doing this for them. They deserve this.”

Hanlon completed her final season at Dunkirk with a .400 batting average and was selected as CCAA Division 1 West’s Co-Player of the Year.

5. Lady ‘Billies beat Dunkirk at Buffalo State, make Far West Regionals

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Westfield’s Mackenzie Schumaker follows through after delivering a pitch during her team’s game in the Little League 8-10 year old softball state championship tournament in Dunkirk.

When the Section VI girls basketball playoff brackets were released, Dunkirk and Fredonia fans could only dream of a Class B1 title game at Buffalo State between the two longtime rivals. On March 4, those dreams came true. The fifth-seeded Fredonia Lady ‘Billies took on 11-seed Dunkirk with the sectional title on the line.

Just like the previous two meetings earlier in the season between the two teams, Fredonia’s Katie Price stole the show.

After setting a career-high with 30 points at Dunkirk earlier in the season, Price put up 30 again, this time on the biggest stage the rivalry has ever seen. Fredonia cruised to a 72-37 win over Dunkirk.

Fredonia wasn’t done, however, as the Lady ‘Billies followed up with a thrilling 42-39 win over another division rival, Southwestern, to claim the overall Class B sectional title. It was the fourth sectional title under head coach Carol Zirkle, who resigned in the offseason.

6. Devin Pope scores 2,000th career point

OBSERVER File Photo Fredonia cross country stars Diego Rey (left) and Emily Brown pose with their medals for finishing in the top 20 at the New York State Championship Meet in November.

One of the most prolific scorers Chautauqua County has ever seen saw his high school career at Chautauqua Lake come to an end in 2018, but not before his biggest accolade of all. Devin Pope scored his 2,000th career point in his final home game at Chautauqua Lake on Feb. 23 against Salamanca in the Class C sectional playoffs.

After growing up in Ripley watching girls basketball star Sam Eimers score 2,018 career points, Pope reached the 2,000 point mark in the year 2018.

“She was my role model when I was little. Just that she was even here today in attendance to watch was awesome,” Pope said of Eimers, after the game. “I’ve always looked up to her. It’s 2018 … so I was hoping it would all just mesh together and happen.”

Pope became only the fourth boys basketball player to reach the 2,000 point mark in Chautauqua County. He is currently a member of the Penn State Behrend Lions mens basketball team.

7. Fredonia’s Walters throws no-hitter in Gullo’s 300th win

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The North Collins Lady Eagles are pictured with a plaque after winning the Far West Regional game, at Fillmore High School in 2018, to earn a spot in the state final four for the second straight season.

Tuesday, May 8 will go down as one of the most memorable days of the regular season in Fredonia High School sports history, as Hillbillies’ ace Derrick Walters pitched a no-hitter against Silver Creek to lead Fredonia to victory in Silver Creek, 11-0.

“I tried to pretend like I didn’t know, but in the back of my mind I knew,” said Walters, after the game.

Walters’ no-hitter aged pretty well looking back at it, as Silver Creek claimed the Section VI Class C title later in the year. An 11-0 win on the road and a no-hitter over a sectional champion is quite the achievement.

But it was more than that. With the win, Fredonia head coach Vince Gullo claimed his 300th win as head coach.

“(Coach Gullo) is a very selfless guy,” said Fredonia leadoff hitter Seth Schrader after the game. “At the end of the game when he mentioned it, he said ‘This was OUR 300th win’, and I think that sort of embodies who he is as a coach and a person. He works really hard and he deserves this. He puts a lot into this, more than anybody knows.”

The accolades didn’t end there, either. Gullo was recently announced as a member of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2019. When he looks back on the career he’s had at Fredonia, May 8, 2018 will certainly go down as one of the more memorable days on the diamond for Coach Gullo.

8. Brocton baseball makes first ever trip to state final four

The 2018 varsity baseball season started with more questions than answers for the Brocton Bulldogs, who entered the year without a clear head coach and with many talented players without experience playing in big games. The season ended in a place where the program has never been before — the state final four.

The Brocton Bulldogs made their first trip to states in the baseball program’s history in 2018, in Binghamton in early June.

After a Section VI Class D title, the Bulldogs won in the Far West Regional game to earn a spot as one of the four state finalists, and a chance to play on the minor league field of the New York Mets’ minor league team in Binghamton. From the stellar pitching of Bubba Brown, to the leadership of seniors like Charlie Rexford and Hunter Rizzo, the Brocton Bulldogs put together a playoff run that captivated the community.

“Thank you for all of the support and encouragement everyone has given us, it’s something amazing,” said Brocton co-coach Ray Rosas, after the loss in the state final four. “16 kids on a baseball team were able to do that, to bring the whole community and the village together. … People used to wonder where Brocton is, but now when it comes to high school baseball, we put Brocton on the map with the way we played this year.”

9. North Collins Lady Eagles return to states

The North Collins Lady Eagles softball team had never won a sectional title until two years ago, but in 2018, they proved just how far the program has come in the last two seasons.

After making its first ever trip to the state final four a year ago, the Lady Eagles returned to states again this year after a Far West Regional win over Arkport/Caneseraga on June 2 at Fillmore High School.

“This group, there’s something special about them,” said Warren after the Far West Regional win. “This has been one fun ride.”

North Collins’ star pitcher Rebecca Cyrek earned First Team All-State honors for her contributions in 2018, and even hit a home run during the team’s Far West Regional victory. Center fielder Alexa English earned Third Team All-State honors, while Morgan Mathis was named to the Fifth Team.

After proving that 2017 was no fluke, the Lady Eagles established themselves as a legitimate contender for sectional titles — and well beyond — after the team’s success in 2018.

10. Four local cross country runners make states

It is often said around Chautauqua County that the Southern Tier is a hotbed for high school runners. The 2018 high school cross country season proved that to be true, as four local runners made the state championship meet. Fredonia’s Emily Brown and Diego Rey made return trips to the state meet, while Dunkirk’s Jericha Petrella and Silver Creek’s Ellie Decker also made the trip, each for the first time. At the final meet of the year, Fredonia’s duo of Brown and Rey each earned medals for finishing in the top 20, which was a first for each runner.

“It’s something they’ve been working towards for a long time,” said Fredonia coach Carol Zirkle before the final race. “My goal for (Diego and Emily) is to walk away happy with their race. They’ve trained so hard and as much as that place matters — it’s whether or not you feel good about your race. You can only control your own race.”

Judging by the smiles of the two holding up medals after the race, it seems like that goal was achieved.

Top non-high school sports moment:

Westfield 8-10 softball team makes Little League state tourney in Dunkirk

Though many local teams make the trip to their respective sport’s state tournament, it’s not often that the best in the state head to Chautauqua County for the season’s grand finale. However, that was the case this past summer, as Dunkirk hosted the New York State Little League softball tournament for girls ages 8-10.

But the local excitement had plenty more to be excited about than just the event.

The Westfield All-Stars qualified for the tournament and captured the applause of the local sports community, as the first ever Westfield Little League team to qualify for a state tournament made it all the way to extra innings of the state semifinals. Westfield battled back from the loser’s bracket with three straight wins, then came away with a win to set up a winner-take-all semifinal to earn a spot in the state final. Westfield came within one strike of making the state final, before eventually falling, 3-2 in 10 innings, to Great Kills — who ended up winning the state championship the next day.

The young girls of Westfield may have fallen just short of claiming the banner, but they certainly captured the hearts of their community.

2018 was surely a year to remember, full of incredible achievements. Now it’s time to turn the page and start a new chapter in the record books.

Twitter: @bradencarmen

OBSERVER File Photo The Brocton Bulldogs baseball team made the state final four in Binghamton in 2018 for the first time in program history.

OBSERVER Photo by Joe Conti Derrick Walters of Fredonia pitches during the Hillbillies’ 11-0 defeat of Silver Creek in May. Walters tossed a no-hitter, with eight strikeouts in the game, while Fredonia head coach Vince Gullo claimed his 300th win as a coach.

OBSERVER Photo by Lisa Monacelli Chautauqua Lake’s Devin Pope, left, poses with Thunderbirds coach Mike Putney after scoring his 2,000th high school point. Pope became only the fourth boys basketball player to reach the 2,000 point mark in Chautauqua County.

OBSERVER Photo by Ron Szot Fredonia’s Katie Price (left) gathers for a layup as Dunkirk’s Nadara O’Dell (5) gives chase during the high school girls basketball Section VI, Class B1 championship game at Buffalo State College. Price led Fredonia to a 72-37 win over Dunkirk with a game-high 30 points, to claim Fredonia’s second straight Class B1 title.

OBSERVER Photo by Justin Goetz Fredonia's Joell Colon (23 in black) carries the ball in the regular season finale against Dunkirk in the Orange Bowl. The Fredonia Hillbillies beat the Dunkirk Marauders to finish off an undefeated regular season with the division title.

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