Denny hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and then a solo drive in the fourth that gave Oakfield-Alabama the cushion it needed before eventually pulling away for a 6-1 victory in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D Far West Regional inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili High School Athletic Complex on Friday night.

“Even down 6-0, they didn’t give up,” Forestville head coach Brianne Hazelton said about her team. “They kept swinging hard, trying to get them to make defensive errors. I respect them for not giving up and fighting until the end.”

Denny’s first homer came right after Forestville failed to strike in its first appearance at the plate. Hornets leadoff hitter Carilene Sliwa reached via walk and stole twice to reach third.

Oakfield-Alabama dropped a third strike on the final out, but Forestville did not seize the opportunity to reach base and plate the opening run.

OBSERVER photo by Christian Storms Forestville catcher Kaylee Adamczak throws the ball back to the circle after saving a run by tagging out Oakfield-Alabama’s Emma Thompson during the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili Athletic Complex on Friday.

The Section V champions made no mistake cashing in during the bottom of the first as Chloe Lamb doubled before Denny’s home run.

Forestville pitcher Alexandra Kerstetter settled in after that and was only bested again by Denny until the sixth inning came around. She finished the game giving up eight hits, six earned runs and three walks with six strikeouts.

“That girl just took two pitches for a home run,” Hazelton said. “Allie was good listening for what I call for pitches, but that girl was just a good hitter. It just wasn’t the day.”

Forestville was able to knock around Oakfield-Alabama pitcher Savannah Durham a little bit, but it just failed to get across the necessary runs.

In the top of the third inning, Forestville had its best opportunity to do some real damage getting the first two runners on base.

OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Forestville’s Carilene Sliwa steals second base just before a tag from Oakfield-Alabama shortstop Emma Thompson in the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili Athletic Complex on Friday.

However, Durham was able to finesse her way past the top of the Forestville order with a groundout, strikeout and then another big strikeout once the bases were loaded by an Emily Lillie walk.

“We just couldn’t string hits together enough to score,” Hazelton said about the offense. “We had bases loaded and several other innings with runners on second and third with one out. We just couldn’t put hits together, I’m still proud of them for the way they fought.”

In the next inning, a pair of hits from Kaylee Adamczak and Olivia Valentine had Forestville on the basepaths, but once again Durham worked out of the jam. Durham’s efforts in the circle were rewarded by her second baseman as Denny cranked her second homer of the game in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-0 lead.

“She’s obviously a great hitter,” Hazelton said about Denny. “She started off the first inning to make it 2-0 and it kind of takes the wind out of your sails. I think maybe if we didn’t have those two hits it would be a different ballgame.”

Forestville never gave up, even after the deficit was doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning.

OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Forestville’s Alexandra Kerstetter delivers to the plate during the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional inside Spartan Stadium at the Gates Chili Athletic Complex on Friday.

At the bottom of the order, Forestville freshman Avery Rebmann gave the team life reaching on an error and getting into scoring position with a passed ball. Liz Case knocked a single to move her along and another passed ball put Forestville on the board 6-1.

The mountain was just too tall to climb for Forestville and Oakfield-Alabama was able to get out of the inning without any further damage, advancing to the state semifinals next Friday against Section III’s Cincinnatus in Binghamton.

“Carilene and Madison are my two seniors and we’re going to miss them,” Hazelton said. “I think they have been able to teach the younger girls, especially how to play at these levels. Now that we made it back to sectionals two years in a row and won the championship, the girls know what this feels like. I think their leadership has paid off.”