On Wednesday, the rest of the Panthers showed they aren’t too shabby with the bats either.

Kota had three doubles and three runs scored as Gowanda pounded out 14 hits as a team en route to a 12-9 win over Randolph in the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Central Division opener for both teams at Gail N. Chapman Elementary School.

“Zoey’s been our leader ever since she’s been a freshman,” Gowanda coach Tyler Thompson said. “She just has a great eye, a beautiful, nice, easy swing with a lot of power. She’s the real deal. When Zoey’s on, we’re on.”

The teams were tied at 5 after three innings until the Panthers took control with a four-run fourth inning — all of the damage coming with two outs.

OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Gowanda third baseman Abigail Valone throws across the infield for an out at first base during Wednesday’s game.

No. 2 hitter Gao:wisa:s Stevens walked and stole second with two outs before Kota drove her in with her second double of the afternoon. Abigail Valone followed with an infield single and Randolph tried to throw out Kota at third base, but the throw hit her in the back and got away, allowing Kota to score. Two more Cardinals errors allowed Valone and Cameron Nagel to score, giving Gowanda a 9-5 lead.

“We have some girls who are playing some new positions in their first game,” Randolph coach Geoff Olson said. ” … We’ve only practiced a couple of weeks. There is a little bit of nerves and a little bit of inexperience.”

Panthers seventh-grader Addison Kota settled down in the circle over her final three innings, allowing just one hit and two runs (one earned), finishing her afternoon with four strikeouts.

“It’s not an easy thing as a seventh-grader to come in and be put in this position. The circle can be the loneliest place in the world sometimes,” Thompson said. “She’s been an elite travel ball player for a long time. We definitely knew that she was able to handle the task. … We’re very pleased with her performance.”

The Panthers scored three more runs in the top of the sixth inning, and again the middle of their order did the damage. Stevens led off with a single and went to third on another Zoey Kota double to left field. Abigail Valone then hit a two-run double to the right-center field fence, went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a passed ball.

OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman Gowanda second baseman Gao:wisa:s Stevens throws to first base for an out during Wednesday’s CCAA Central Division game against Randolph at Gail N. Chapman Elementary School in Randolph.

“I think we hit the ball well and made plays when we needed to,” Thompson said. “We’re definitely encouraged about the rest of league play.”

Nagel set Randolph down easily in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Cardinals did not go quietly in the seventh. Despite trailing by five entering the frame, the hosts pushed across two runs and had the bases loaded when the game ended.

“Whenever you are up big you have a tendency as a defense to relax a little bit,” Thompson said. “We had a little cushion. For (Nagel) to dig down deep and make pitches when we needed to is a big thing.”

Alaina Bunker reached on an error to open the inning and Miranda Waterman followed with a single to move Bunker to third. Waterman went to second on a wild pitch and after a strikeout, pinch-hitter Alana Chadwick walked after fouling off multiple pitches to load the bases. After a strikeout for the second out, leadoff hitter Kyra Pence hit a two-run single.

“She was phenomenal today. She’s looking pitches over, hitting the ball hard and getting around the bases,” Olson said of Pence. “You can’t ask for anything more out of your leadoff spot.”

Abigail Mansfield singled to again load the bases, but a pop out to second base allowed Gowanda to escape with the win.

“We’ve only had a handful of practices with our full team. The first game of the season … I can’t complain,” Olson said. “We hit the ball all the way through. That’s a really solid team. … You have to score runs to keep up with them.”

The Panthers’ Nos. 2-6 hitters went a combined 10 for 20 with five doubles and 11 runs scored.

“We’ve been very fortunate. Our girls take hitting seriously,” Thompson said. “We do a lot of batting drills. … They are always trying to improve theirselves. … They know that scoring wins games.”

NOTES: Pence went 2 for 3 with a triple and three runs scored; Mansfield went 3 for 4; and Waterman had two hits for Randolph. … Mansfield threw a complete game with five strikeouts for the Cardinals. … Valone was 3 for 4 with a double while Addison Kota and Hailey Fort were each 2 for 4 with a double for the Panthers.