Now a junior, the Westfield right-hander is continuing to make her case as the best player around.

Dellow led off the game with a home run and added a second-inning triple while also hurling a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Wolverines beat Frewsburg 13-1 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 West action Wednesday.

“I kind of prepared everyone else to match what she did last year. I told her, ‘Don’t be upset if you don’t because that was a special season,” Westfield coach Shawn Gnadzinski said. “I wasn’t convinced that was going to happen, but am I surprised? No. This kid works. She gets up in the morning before everyone else and she works.”

After retiring the Bears in order in the top of the first inning, Dellow stepped up to the plate in the bottom half of the frame and lined a solo home run to right field to give her team a 1-0 lead.

Westfield’s Tanleigh Bestine slides safely under the throw to home. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

“To have a leadoff home run sets the tone and loosens everybody up,” Gnadzinski said.

Eva Gnadzinski then reached on an error and eventually scored on Casey Black’s RBI groundout to make it 2-0.

“I know she’s worked even more on her pitching,” Coach Gnadzinski said of Dellow. “She’s developed a changeup now. That’s kind of what’s made her dominant again on the mound.”

Westfield took over in its half of the second inning, scoring seven runs on four hits. Madyson Burgess led off with a single up the middle and Keara Kincaid reached on an error after her sacrifice bunt. Mackenzie Schumaker was then hit by a pitch to load the bases for Dellow, who ripped a three-run triple to the fence in right-center field.

“The fence is new. When we put it up, I was concerned it might hurt (Haleigh) a little bit,” Coach Gnadzinski said. “She’s more of a line-drive hitter and I was concerned we’d be getting doubles instead of hitting gaps and being able to run the bases.”

Westfield's Haleigh Dellow delivers a pitch during Wednesday's game. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

Dellow scored on a wild pitch and Gnadzinski walked before Tanleigh Bestine singled off the first baseman’s glove to put runners at first and third. Gnadzinski and Bestine then executed a double-steal to plate the Wolverines’ sixth run and Bestine eventually scored on Kincaid’s RBI double.

Frewsburg’s Braelyn Stelmack walked and stole second in the top of the third inning before moving to third when Reagan Chitester reached on an error. The Bears then attempted to pull off a double-steal of their own, but Westfield catcher Sydney Hotchkiss threw out Chitester attempting to steal second. Stelmack raced home on the play.

The Wolverines got the run back in their half of the inning as Hotchkiss and Black walked to open the inning. On Senior Night, Westfield’s lone 12th-grader Bianca Seger laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up and Burgess followed with a sacrifice bunt of her own to plate courtesy runner Drew Ernewein.

“She’s the first kid I coached when they were little in Little League and is now going to graduate. It was really emotional for me,” Coach Gnadzinski said of Seger. ” … Having that moment with her tonight and allowing her to be able to hit for herself and to make things happen … she’s a special kid, she deserves it. She’s worked hard and she’s a great asset to the team. We’re going to miss her when she’s gone, that’s for sure.”

A three-run fifth inning sent Frewsburg home via the 12-run mercy rule. Gnadzinski doubled and went to third before Bestine walked. Before the throw back to the pitcher, Bestine took off for second. Bears shortstop Peyton Yost intercepted the throw down to second and threw out Gnadzinski attempting to score from third.

Westfield second baseman Eva Gnadzinski tosses the ball to first for an out. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

Hotchkiss followed with an RBI double before Black and Seger walked. Drew Ernewein then hit an RBI single and Kincaid ended the game with an RBI single to the fence in right-center field.

“What we haven’t had in the past years, we actually hit Nos. 1-9. Even the two girls on the bench, they can play as well. It’s been tricky for me to keep everybody happy. We have 12 players. I’m trying to do the best I can. We’re even using a (designated player),” Coach Gnadzinski said. “The hitting through this lineup, Nos. 1-9, they can all do it. I can comfortably bring in the other girls and they can play defense and hit as well. This year, we have way more depth and I’m happy for that.”

The Wolverines will put their perfect 10-0 overall and 6-0 league records on the line today when they travel to Mayville to take on undefeated Chautauqua Lake (6-0, 6-0) in a battle for first place in the league.

NOTES: Chitester singled off Dellow’s hand in the second inning for Frewsburg’s first hit. … Chitester and Teghan Trocki combined to strike out five and walk 10 for the Bears (6-4, 4-3).

Frewsburg third baseman Cadence Rodgers makes a throw to first. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman