OBSERVER Photo by Ron Szot Fredonia pitcher Anthony Gullo releases a pitch during Thursday’s Class B1 playoff baseball game at SUNY Fredonia, a 21-7 win for Fredonia over Alden.

The Fredonia Hillbillies once again find themselves walking into the second round of the Section VI Class B1 baseball playoffs after beating the Alden Bulldogs, 21-7, at SUNY Fredonia on Thursday. The Hillbillies reached base 14 times from bases on balls and twice more from being hit-by-pitch on their way to the victory over the Bulldogs.

Thursday’s matchup between No. 4 seed Fredonia and No. 13 seed Alden got off to a clean start as the Hillbillies set down the Bulldogs in order to start the top half of the first. The Hillbillies followed up the strong top half performance by having their first two batters score. Alec Schrader scored on the first of many wild pitches and Trey Swartz was knocked in by Troy Lanski, giving Fredonia an early 2-0 lead.

After the top half of the first inning, Fredonia’s starting pitcher, Swartz, struggled to find the strike zone and allowed the first five batters from Alden to reach, Nick Whitfield came in for relief of Swartz and helped the ‘Billies minimize the damage. After the inning, Alden led 3-2, with all of the runs attributed to Swartz.

“I don’t think the wind had anything to do with it,” said Fredonia head coach Vince Gullo. “I just don’t think that we were maybe ready to play, maybe we were too tight. It’s tough being favored, and being favored to win by a lot. We didn’t get off to a very good start. We are a very young team and we looked it today.”

Fortunately for Fredonia, the Bulldogs found similar issues finding the strikezone in the very windy game. In the bottom half of the second, Alden walked the first four Hillbillies — tying the game 3-3. With the bases loaded, Evan Pirtz found a ball in the strike zone and sent a missel to left field, clearing the bases for a three RBI double. After two innings, Fredonia led 6-3, but No. 13 seed Alden was still hanging around.

“We were pretty lucky their pitchers were struggling to find the strikezone and we took advantage,” said Coach Gullo.

Similar to Swartz, Whitfield’s play on the mound did not last long, as he just went 1 2/3 innings pitched. Fredonia found that the third one’s the charm as Anthony Gullo settled in on the mound.

After Anthony Gullo gave up the lead — without being responsible for any of the runs — he settled in and steadied the ship for Fredonia. Anthony Gullo went on to pitch 2 1/3 innings off scoreless baeball and snuffed out any chances of Alden sticking in the game.

“I am very thankful for him throwing today,” Coach Gullo said about his son, Anthony Gullo, on the mound. “He threw strikes, they hit a few balls and the defense started playing. When he throws strikes the defense knows they have to be in the game. And we started to pick it up a notch and get some quick outs.”

After the third inning, the score was not close again as the Hillbillies offense began to take advantage of Alden’s pitching woes. Fredonia walked four more times in the bottom half of the third and scored three more times. Fredonia tacked on two more in the fourth, eight more in the fifth and one more in the sixth on their way to 21 runs.

Fredonia was led offensively by Pirtz going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, Dominic Gullo walked five times and scored five runs, and Gabe Schrader went 2-for-2 with three walks, a double, three RBI and scored two runs.

Once Fredonia got up big there was no looking back for them. Pirtz and A.J. St. George finished the game in relief for Anthony Gullo on the mound, with each of them getting an inning apiece.

Fredonia is back in action for round two of the playoffs today, as they host No. 5 seed Depew at Fredonia High School.

“We’re very fortunate to move on and have another opportunity to have another home game tomorrow,” said Coach Gullo.