“It’s hard to beat somebody three times in one year. We were going to play a doubleheader, but we cut it down to one game instead,” Gowanda head coach Mike Maloney said of the matchup with the Wolverines, who won the Section VI Class D title last year, but moved up to Class C this spring. “It was a good game, a good way to get it started.”

Prior to first pitch, Maloney and assistant coach Jerard Capozzi pulled a tarp off the center-field fence that was covering the banner recognizing last spring’s title. The Panthers, including eight returning players from the state championship team, went to work quickly in the bottom of the first inning.

Sophomore Corrina John reached on an infield single that easily could’ve been the first out of the game and junior Holland Browning reached on an error that easily could’ve been a double-play grounder.

“We pride ourselves on our defense and a high IQ on the field,” Westfield head coach Shawn Gnadzinski said. “We have to be the smartest team out there.”

Gowanda’s Addison Kota runs toward home after hitting a three-run home run against the Wolverines. Teammates Ella Luther, left, and Corrina John await Kota for the celebration. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

Those mistakes proved costly for the Wolverines when Panthers No. 3 hitter, sophomore Addison Kota, crushed a three-run home run over the left-field fence.

“It’s nice to have Addison Kota,” Maloney said. “She’s a great player.”

Senior Ella Luther followed with a double, sophomore Audrina Huss walked, senior Hailey Christopher hit an RBI groundout and senior Emily Pound hit an RBI single as Gowanda led 5-0.

Junior Eva Gnadzinski — Westfield’s first opening-day starter other than three-time Post-Journal/OBSERVER Player of the Year Haleigh Dellow since 2019 — settled in from there, holding Gowanda scoreless over the next three innings.

The Wolverines tied the game with a four-run fourth inning and another run in the fifth inning. Sophomore Madyson Burgess, senior Keara Kincaid and senior Drew Ernewein each had a run-scoring hit in the fourth before senior Tanleigh Bestine walked, stole second, went to third on junior Sydney Hotchkiss’ single and scored on an error in the fifth.

The Gowanda Panthers pose in front of the 2023 Class C state championship banner after defeating Westfield 12-11 in nonleague action on Tuesday in Gowanda. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

“We’re not going to hold anybody back if they are hitting the ball well and other people aren’t. I knew she was up for a big year,” Gnadzinski said of Kincaid, who finished a home run shy of the cycle. ” … She had a great season last year. She’s got good power to all fields and she’s fast.”

Tied at 5-all, the Panthers went back to work in the bottom of the fifth, sending 11 batters to the plate en route to six runs. Browning singled to right field and advanced to third on an error before Kota was intentionally walked. Luther then hit a two-run single to right field.

“That was huge. That has to happen because people are going to walk Addison,” Maloney said. “We have to have somebody behind her protecting her. Ella is a great hitter and will continue to hit.”

Christopher later added an RBI single and Herron tacked on a two-run triple, which spelled the end of the evening for Eva Gnadzinski in the circle.

“Aubrie has been hot all year. She’s started the season really smoking the ball,” Maloney said. “I’m happy for her. She’s a hard worker.”

Westfield catcher Sydney Hotchkiss looks to throw to first base. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

Sophomore Mackenzie Schumaker relieved and the second batter she faced, eighth-grader Sophia Bobseine, hit an RBI double to make it 11-5.

“Being away from it for so long, they haven’t thrown a whole lot at this varsity level. Maybe I held on to Eva for too long there and should’ve brought Mackenzie in,” Gnadzinski said. “I have confidence in both of those girls.”

Undeterred, Westfield put up a six-spot of its own in the top of the sixth inning. Kincaid and Drew Ernewein opened the frame with back-to-back singles before a wild pitch put them at second and third. Senior Brynn Ernewein then hit a comebacker to Kota in the circle that scored her sister, Drew, and a throwing error left Kincaid and Brynn Ernewein safe. Sophomore Arielle Corbett followed with a two-run triple and came around to score on an error to make it 11-9.

“They hit the ball. Shawn is a good coach,” Maloney said. “His team’s always prepared to play.”

Eva Gnadzinski then singled with one out followed by back-to-back walks to Bestine and Hotchkiss. With the bases loaded, Madyson Burgess hit an RBI single to make it 11-10. Bestine then raced home with the tying run on a sacrifice fly behind first base that was caught by Gowanda’s second baseman.

“I thought this game was as advertised. I’m proud of my girls for not giving up. They could’ve given up 5-0 or 11-5,” Gnadzinski said. ” … You know you have a great team when they don’t bury their heads and give up.”

Kota got out of the inning with a pop-up to first base and then retired the Wolverines in order in the top of the seventh inning to set up Gowanda’s dramatic ending in the seventh, sparked by Heron’s triple.

“I told my girls if they’re going to make a mistake, do it at 110%. You can’t be upset about that,” Gnadzinski said. “My left fielder makes a diving try at it … you can’t complain.”

NOTES: The first eight batters in Gowanda’s lineup scored at least one run with Browning, Kota and Luther each scoring twice. … Bestine singled, walked twice and scored three runs, while Drew Ernewein had two hits and two runs scored for Westfield.