Instead of rolling over, the Hillbillies were determined to end their best season since 2015 on a high note.

In the top of the sixth, Fredonia’s Callie Draggett hit a leadoff single that ignited some hope into the Billies’ bench and then Erin Schrantz followed up with a walk. A wild pitch put both Draggett and Schrantz in scoring position and then they were both driven home by sacrifice hits from Kyleigh Waterman and Sarah Davis to make it 6-2.

But the Wildcats snuffed out a seventh-inning rally to win 6-2 and advance to the Far West Regionals, even though the ‘Billies put the pressure on until the very end.

“It could have been really easy for us to roll over when it was 6-0,” said Fredonia head coach Jesse Beers. “I couldn’t have been prouder how we battled back those last three innings. You could see the tide was turning, but unfortunately we dug ourselves too big a hole.”

OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Fredonia’s Callie Draggett scores the Hillbillies’ first run in the sixth inning Thursday. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Depew’s Natalie Witt scores the first run of the Section VI Class B crossover game as Fredonia catcher Kyleigh Waterman awaits the throw to the plate at Williamsville North High School on Thursday. Fredonia’s Erin Schrantz scores a run during the sixth inning Thursday.

Until the very end, things looked promising for Hillbillies as they put runners in scoring position. But just like the first inning, the Wildcats were able to silence the Fredonia threat.

Fredonia’s start to the game looked great before things took a quick turn south, as Jordan Lucas, hitting in the No. 2 spot, drilled the first pitch she saw into deep left field for a ground-rule double.

Unfortunately for Fredonia, that’s when the blunders began to arise. On a sacrifice fly from Gabby Matos, courtesy runner Sophia Gullo left second base early on the tag up and was doubled up to eliminate the scoring threat.

The troubles didn’t stop there, they just continued into the field for the Hillbillies. Depew’s Nos. 2-4 batters all scored with the help of errors, turning the tables from Fredonia threatening to score early to trailing 3-0 after the first inning.

“On the bigger stage we just played a little tight,” Beers said. “Right out of the gate, we had an error and that tightened us up instead of loosened us up. But I told the girls not to dwell on this, don’t let one game ruin what was a very special season.”

OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Depew’s Natalie Witt scores the first run of the Section VI Class B crossover game as Fredonia catcher Kyleigh Waterman awaits the throw to the plate at Williamsville North High School on Thursday.

Fredonia settled down in the second inning, but it wasn’t over as errors committed in the third and fourth innings helped give Depew a 5-0 then 6-0 lead in the early stages.

Despite the deficit, the Fredonia bench and well-traveled crowd continued to cheer for the hopes of a rally.

“We pull for each other,” Beers said about his team. “We got each other’s back regardless of if you’re in the game or on the bench. I thought our bench was great. They have been cheering on the starters all year long.”

Just like in the Class B2 final against Eden, it was the 1-2 punch of Draggett and Schrantz that got the momentum going. This time Draggett and Schrantz were able to reap the rewards of getting on base by scoring, unlike in the game against Eden.

The two earned runs of Draggett and Schrantz were all Fredonia was able to manage against Depew’s Jordan Kanick in the circle as she gave up four hits and three walks while striking out seven in the win.

OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Fredonia’s Erin Schrantz scores a run during the sixth inning Thursday.

Even with the ultimate outcome, Lucas was just as good in the circle, giving up one earned run, five hits and three walks while striking out eight.

“We play that team 10 times, we probably split five out of the 10,” stated Beers. “Out of their six runs, they earned only one of them. Like we said all year, you’ve got to be mentally tough, you can’t let one mistake compound into two, three and that’s what happened.”

Fredonia’s biggest headache was Depew’s Mia Vannelli, who was 2 for 2 with an RBI double, two walks and three runs scored.

While Fredonia’s best season since 2015 ends at the hands of Depew, Vannelli and the Wildcats will now take on Section V’s Wellsville at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Grand Island High School in the Far West Regional.