Eventually, the Panthers conquered New York state.

On Wednesday, their best player and head coach received accolades that proved it.

Mike Maloney was named the Class C Coach of the Year and freshman Addison Kota was named to the Class C First Team by the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.

The Panthers, who won Gowanda’s first ever state championship in any sport, got hot at the right time this spring. Despite finishing second in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 East play, Maloney’s team finished 18-7 overall. In the Section VI Class C postseason, No. 7 Gowanda beat No. 10 Frewsburg 15-1 at home before going on the road for an 8-5 quarterfinal win over No. 2 Randolph and a 5-3 semifinal victory over No. 6 Silver Creek.

OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Gowanda head coach Mike Maloney, pictured above left, was named the Class C Coach of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports on Wednesday after leading the Panthers to the first state championship in school history this spring.

In the championship game, the Panthers beat No. 4 Chautauqua Lake 4-1.

Armed with their first sectional crown, the Panthers did not stop. They shut out Section V champion Bolivar-Richburg 5-0 in the Far West Regional in Gowanda before taking their talents to Long Island. In the state semifinal at the Moriches Athletic Complex, Gowanda beat Section IV champion Edison 3-2 before a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over Section IX champion SS Seward in the state title game.

Kota, their ace right-hander, was a big reason for their success. Despite playing shortstop for much of the year on the travel circuit, Kota stepped into the circle for the Panthers.

She did not disappoint.

Pitching in 21 of Gowanda’s 25 games, Kota allowed 74 hits and struck out 114 batters in 118 2/3 innings. At the plate, she hit .507 with 12 doubles, five triples and six home runs while driving in 20 runs and scoring 33. She also stole 13 bases.

OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Westfield’s Haleigh Dellow was named to the Class D First-Team all-state team by the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports on Wednesday.

Maloney and Kota were not the only two local stars to be honored by the NYSSCOGS.

Fredonia junior right-hander Jordan Lucas was named to the Third Team in Class B. In 115 1/3 innings in the circle, Lucas struck out 237 while allowing just 50 hits and pitching to a 1.34 ERA. At the plate, she hit .477 with eight doubles, a triple and two home runs while scoring 27 runs.

In the postseason, Lucas threw a no-hitter and hit a home run in an 11-0 Section VI Class B2 quarterfinal victory over No. 7 Royalton-Hartland before tossing a perfect game, singling twice and driving in a run in a 3-0 semifinal win over No. 3 Falconer. Lucas then threw a one-hitter with one walk as the Hillbillies topped No. 4 Akron 12-0 in the sectional final.

Falconer senior third baseman Kayla Lynn was named to the Fourth Team in Class B. She hit .571 with three doubles, four triples and two home runs while driving in 19 runs and scoring 20.

Chautauqua Lake senior pitcher Olivia Herrington was named to the Second Team in Class C. In the circle, the Canisius College-bound right-hander went 10-2 with a 0.48 ERA, striking out 172 in 87 innings. At the plate, she hit .458 with 10 doubles, two triples and a home run while driving in five runs and scoring 23.

OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Fredonia’s Jordan Lucas was named to the Class B all-state team Wednesday.

Silver Creek senior pitcher Kaylee Hutchison was named to the Fourth Team in Class C. In 14 appearances, Hutchison went 8-3 with a 2.58 ERA, striking out 173 in 86 2/3 innings. At the plate, she hit .571 with two doubles, five triples and three home runs while driving in 24 runs and scoring 26.

Westfield had a pair of players honored in Class D after the Wolverines’ run to the Far West Regionals.

Senior George Mason University-bound pitcher Haleigh Dellow was named to the First Team and sophomore second baseman Eva Gnadzinski was named to the Third Team.

Dellow pitched in 20 of Westfield’s 22 games and went 18-2 with a 0.65 ERA. The right-hander struck out 213 and allowed 44 hits in 118 innings, which included three no-hitters and eight shutouts. At the plate, she hit .547 with 14 doubles, a triple and six home runs while driving in 28 runs and scoring 40. She also stole 22 bases without being caught.

Gnadzinski hit .420 with 11 doubles, a triple and four home runs while driving in 28 runs and scoring 28. She struck out just seven times in 84 plate appearances and committed just two errors on 36 chances in the field.

OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Westfield's Eva Gnadzinski was named to the Class C all-state team Wednesday.

Clarence junior pitcher Ella Harrison was named the Class AA Player of the Year and Todd Banaszak was named the Coach of the Year after the Red Devils won their first state championship since 2012 with a 1-0, 11-inning victory over Section II’s Shenendehowa on Long Island.

Orchard Park sophomore Ava Farina joined Harrison on the Class AA First Team; Williamsville North senior Ella Johel and Clarence junior Ella Zobel were named to the Second Team; Frontier junior Jillian Locher made the Third Team; Orchard Park junior Evelyn Wozniak was named to the Fourth Team; Niagara Falls junior Ava White made the Fifth Team; and Frontier junior Cassidy Weller was named to the Seventh Team.

In Class A, Nardin junior pitcher/shortstop Erin Nuwer was named a co-Player of the Year and her coach, Jordan Dudish, was named the Coach of the Year. Senior pitcher Olivia Lewis of Section IV’s Maine-Endwell was the other Player of the Year.

Williamsville East senior Ella Wesolowski joined Nuwer on the First Team; West Seneca East senior Olivia Russ was named to the Second Team; Nardin junior Emily Gorman made the Third Team; Nardin senior Molly Stamm and Niagara Wheatfield junior Julia Kwitchoff were named to the Fourth Team; and Williamsville East junior Emily Wendt made the Fifth Team.

Depew junior Mia Vannelli was named to the First Team in Class B; Iroquois senior Madeline Grieble made the Third Team; and East Aurora junior Alyssa Kingston and Depew senior Jordan Kanick were named to the Fourth Team.

OBSERVER File Photo by Christian Storms Silver Creek's Kaylee Hutchison was named to the Class C all-state team Wednesday.

Section II Ichabod Crane senior shortstop Emma Scheitinger was the Class B Player of the Year, while Section IV Windsor’s Bill Waldron and Section V Wellsville’s Matt Burke shared Coach of the Year honors.

St. Mary’s junior pitcher Alexandra Packard was named the Class C Player of the Year while she was joined on the First Team by senior teammate Katie Pyszczek.

Senior pitcher Kaitlyn Macumber of Section IV Deposit-Hancock was named the Class D Player of the Year, while Section V Friendship/Scio’s Deb Warner was named the Coach of the Year.

OBSERVER File Photo by Matt Spielman Chautauqua Lake's Olivia Herrington was named to the Class C all-state team Wednesday.