OBSERVER Staff Report

The Fredonia Hillbillies baseball team won at least a share of the league title yet again on Thursday, the program’s fourth straight CCAA Division 1 West crown and its eighth in nine years, with a 9-3 win over Cassadaga Valley at Fredonia High School.

Fredonia (11-4, 9-0) used four pitchers on Thursday, beginning with Trey Swartz. He threw two shutout innings and by the time the second inning was finished, Fredonia led 4-0. Evan Pirtz, Nick Whitfield and Anthony Gullo also saw time on the mound for the Hillbillies. The four Fredonia pitchers combined for eight strikeouts, with only four hits and one walk allowed.

The Hillbillies scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Alec Schrader had a single and scored, while Pirtz had an RBI double and Troy Lanski had an RBI single. He later scored on a groundout by Dom Gullo.

Fredonia added three more runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a squeeze bunt by Swartz and RBI singles by Alec Schrader and Pirtz.

Cassadaga Valley had two runs in the fifth inning, both on a two-run single. Adam Goot had a triple and a run for Cassadaga Valley.

Alec Schrader, Pirtz and Whitfield all had two hits in the game for Fredonia.

“Winning a league title is a really nice accomplishment for these kids,” said Fredonia head coach Vince Gullo. “We’re a really young team. … It’s nice to see them excited.”

Fredonia is back in action today — weather permitting — against Dunkirk at Chestnut Street Field. The rivalry matchup between Dunkirk and Fredonia has been postponed due to weather multiple times already this season.