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CLCS Edges CVCS In C1 Final

Chautauqua Lake’s Olivia Anderson delivers to the plate during Saturday’s Section VI Class C1 championship softball game against Cassadaga Valley. P-J photo by Lisa Monacelli

DUNKIRK — A pitchers’ duel commenced at Promenschenkel Stadium in Dunkirk between Chautauqua Lake’s Olivia Anderson and Cassadaga Valley’s Alyssa Hahn to decide who would be Section VI Class C1 softball champion.

The game came down to the final moments, but the fourth-seeded Thunderbirds prevailed over the third-seeded Cougars, 2-0, to win the sectional title.

Olivia Anderson was the winner in the circle for Chautauqua Lake. After hitting the first two batters she had faced, Anderson dazzled the rest of the way. She finished with a two-hitter, walking two while striking out 14 in her championship effort.

“Olivia (Anderson) just came on strong at the end,” Chautauqua Lake coach Sue Teets said. “I think in reality, when you look at a team, your pitcher is on the mound, but the hitting that came forth from our team and the confidence that she gained from that spurred her on.”

Anderson was backed up by Lakin Gustafson, who had a 2-for-3 effort with a double at the plate. Katelyn Fardink had two singles while and both Cameryn Hawkins and Anderson had crucial RBI singles in the win by Chautuaqua Lake.

Cassadaga Valley’s Alyssa Hahn rears back and fires during Saturday’s Section VI Class C1 championship softball game Saturday at Promenschenkel Field in Dunkirk. P-J photo by Lisa Monacelli

Alyssa Hahn had a complete game for the Cougars, and pitched admirably from the circle. In her effort, she gave up only two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine.

“Alyssa’s done a great job pitching,” Cassadaga Valley coach Ken Balling said. “She got Pitcher of the Year for Division 2. She’s been the varsity pitcher for five years. As an eighth-grader, we lost, 3-2, to Frewsburg in extra innings; that was her first sectional title she was pitching for, but it’s nice to be back and to be competitive.”

The game was tied 0-0 until the top of the sixth inning.

Katelyn Fardink hit her second single of the day to lead off the inning before moving to second on a Chadelynn Johnson groundout and to third on a wild pitch. Next up was Anderson, and in a clutch moment, she slammed an RBI single down the third-base line to score Fardink and give the Thunderbirds the lead.

The Cougars would mount an attack of their own in the sixth. Brittyn LeBaron walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Anderson struck out the final two batters of the inning.

Cassadaga Valley third baseman Brittyn LeBaron tags out Chautauqua Lake’s Cameryn Hawkins after Hawkins was caught in a rundown. P-J photo by Lisa Monacelli

In the top of the seventh, Gustafson led off with a single and moved to third via a groundout and a wild pitch. Hawkins brought Gustafson home with an RBI single to build the lead to 2-0.

Mikayla Rearick and Jenna Caskey belted consecutive singles against Anderson to open up the bottom of the seventh, and after a couple of miscues by Chautauqua Lake, Anderson found the bases loaded with two outs against the top of the order.

Then it was Hahn versus Anderson, and with the game on the line Chautauqua Lake’s ace came through with a strikeout to secure the crown.

“I know that last batter, it was debatable with Alyssa Hahn up what we should do,” Teets said, “but we just said, ‘let her pitch. That last pitch she threw … we just told her to throw it hard.”

“I was a good effort,” Balling said, “and I told the girls, ‘Chautauqua Lake beat us.’ The girls did not beat themselves and that was important. … We had a good season. All year long the girls have fought hard. … The girls had a heck of an effort today. … She (Anderson) was on top of her game.”

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” Teets said of winning the Class C1 title. “The feeling is just undescribable for these girls. I know they deserved it. I know they’ve worked hard. All season long we said, ‘let’s do the little things right, and you’ll be champions,’ and they did a great job today.”

Chautuaqua Lake now moves on to Tuesday’s Section VI Class C title game against Portville.

“We’ve discussed if we go past this game,” Teets began, “but you know what? I tell my kids, ‘You play every single team as they are the state champs. Doesn’t matter who they are. You go do what you need to do and focus.’ Our whole thing all year was: focus, focus, focus.”

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