The duo delivered constantly throughout the season for the Hornets and they did it again when it mattered most, in the Section VI Class D championship game at Olean Middle School on Friday. With the run support from a pair of freshmen, Gruber pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts to secure the 2-0 win and school’s first section championship since 2012.

“It definitely feels amazing since it’s the first win since 2012,” Gruber said. “I’m so happy to be part of it. There’s not even words to express how happy I am. I started crying as soon as I threw the last pitch.”

The only trouble Gruber had with the Ellicottville lineup came from the top with Ande Northrup and Courtney Marsh.

Northrup broke up the no hitter in the bottom of the fourth inning and eventually made her way to third on a stolen base and groundout.

Forestville's Jade Work, left, and Megan Gruber pose with the Section VI Class D champion plaque. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

Coincidentally, a train began passing the ballpark with the pressure on and with the horn blowing Gruber was still able to make it work with a pair of grounders she fielded herself to keep the game scoreless.

“For me, personally, it fuels me,” Gruber said about the high-pressure situations. “It pushes me to do better. A lot of people ask if I get nervous in those type of situations and I think it helps me. I like being under pressure. Being under pressure helps me a lot.”

Then in the bottom of the seventh inning after surrendering a hit to Marsh, Ellicottville’s most dangerous hitter, Gruber was able to blaze her last two strikeouts for the victory.

“They’ve worked hard all year,” Forestville head coach Brianne Hazelton said. “I’ve had these girls for a lot of years and to finally have this it’s a long time coming for us. I’m proud. I’m really proud of how they played today.”

Despite the rain’s best effort, both pitchers made it difficult to put runs on the board.

Forestville's Megan Gruber delivers a pitch during the sectional finals. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

Ellicottville’s Katie Lafferty surrendered just four hits, walked two batters and struck out 12, but that was enough for the Hornets to plate a pair.

“Katie did a great job today,” Ellicottville head coach Matt Finn said. “Hitting her spots well and she’s a young pitcher. She did really well for this much pressure.”

After nearly giving Ellicottville the lead in the fourth, Kaylee Adamczak began the fifth with a walk and Ava Schwerk entered as a pinch-runner. Then freshman Alexandra Kerstetter delivered the first big hit of the game with a towering double to right-center that scored Schwerk.

Another freshman answered the call in the sixth inning as Emily Lillie smashed a triple to left field and an error later brought her in for the 2-0 lead.

“It’s a very young team,” Gruber said. “There’s only two seniors, me and Jade Work, and we’ve been catcher-pitcher duo for 10 years. Seeing some of these young girls come up, some of them playing their first year on varsity, and being able to do this and play a big part of it is amazing to see.”

The Forestville softball team poses for a team photo after winning the Section VI Class D title on Friday at Olean Middle School. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms

That extra run just became a formality as Gruber fearlessly set down six of the final seven batters to send the Hornets into the Far West Regionals next weekend.

“It’s 2012 since we won,” Hazelton added. “We try to explain to them the feeling of how exciting it is to keep winning. I think until they experience it you don’t really know, but now I think they’re starting to realize how fun it is to win the championship.”

Ellicottville's Katie Lafferty delivers a pitch during the sectional finals. OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms