GOWANDA — Fredonia played its second game of the year on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Gowanda.

Yes, that is correct, a Sunday high school baseball game.

COVID-19 has even changed high school rules and the number of days a week you can play. Fredonia was able to bounce back after its season-opening loss to Frontier on Saturday with a 3-2 victory over the Panthers on Sunday.

It was an error-free game that included seven different pitchers between the teams.

Joey Vandette led the way offensively for the Hillbillies with three hits, including the game-winner.

The game remained scoreless until the third inning when both teams found themselves on the scoreboard.

In the top of the third, Vandette led off with a double, stole third and later scored on a Gabe Schrader sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Jake Helmer drove in Alex Rush on an infield single making it 2-0.

Gowanda was able to answer in the bottom of the third scoring on a wild pitch making the score 2-1.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Gowanda was able to tie it up on another wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, Helmer drew a leadoff walk and it seemed like he may get stranded at third until Vandette was able to drive in the eventual winning run on an 0-2 count.

That’s all senior Dominic Gullo needed. Gullo came into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a one-run lead and shut down the Panthers offense to earn his first save of the year. Owen Ludwig got the start and threw two scoreless innings after allowing a leadoff triple. He struck out three. Alex Rush pitched two innings giving up one earned run and Helmer earned his first varsity win pitching one inning and giving up one earned run.

Owen Rush, Helmer and Nick Frazier added hits for Fredonia.

The Hillbillies opened their season Saturday and gave defending Section VI Class AA champion Frontier all it could handle, but the Falcons prevailed 4-3 in nonleague action.

“Frontier is the defending Class AA Section VI champions,” Fredonia coach Vince Gullo said, “and it was a well-played game for so early in the season by both teams.”

Scoring started in the bottom of the first when Gavin Borrello singled in a run against Ludwig. Frontier added another run in the third to make it 2-0.

Fredonia was then able to take the lead temporarily by plating three runs in the top of the fourth. The inning started out with back-to-back hits by Gabe Schrader and Helmer. The first run was scored when Alex Rush drew a walk to score force in Schrader. After Helmer was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, Joey Vandette tied the game up on a wild pitch making it 2-2. The final run of the inning was also scored on a wild pitch which allowed Alex Rush to score.

That lead was short-lived. Borrello came through again with a two-out single to right field plating the last two runs of the game.

Fredonia made it interesting in the top of the seventh when Bryson Kolassa led the inning off with a single followed by Trevor Persch driving an opposite-field double to put runners on second and third with no outs and the top of the order coming up. Frontier was able to get out of the jam with no runs scored.

Ludwig started the game pitching and allowed on earned run in two innings. Frazier gave up an unearned run in one inning and Gullo gave up two unearned runs in one inning. Gabe Schrader finished the game throwing two scoreless innings.

“Four pitchers made their season debut and 16 guys got into the game and contributed,” Vince Gullo said. “We had a chance to win which is always nice.”

Fredonia out hit Frontier 5-2, but two errors were costly en route to three unearned runs.

The Hillbillies will open Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 1 West play Wednesday at Olean.

MARAUDERS BLANK EDEN

DUNKIRK — Three Dunkirk pitchers combined on a five-hitter and a single run in the fifth inning proved to be the winner as the Marauders beat Eden 1-0 on Saturday.

Alex Ahlstrom walked and stole second before moving to third on a passed ball. Phil Messina then drove in Ahlstrom with a sacrifice fly.

Nick Zatorski started on the mound for Dunkirk and struck out seven in a no-decision. Scott Korzenski earned the win with 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief while striking out five. Mike Porpiglia earned the save in an inning of work while striking out one.

The Marauders have not allowed a run in two games yet this spring.

Messina had two hits, including a double.

BLACK KNIGHTS STRIKE OUT 14

CATTARAUGUS — Three Silver Creek/Forestville pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts in a four-hitter as the Black Knights beat Cattaraugus-Little Valley 15-5 on Saturday.

Aiden Piccolo threw the first three innings before Max Vigue and Jonah Fox each threw two innings of relief for Silver Creek/Forestville.

The Black Knights took control with a seven-run sixth inning.

Cam Sakpal, Joey Villafranca, Caleb Fiegl, Gary Hemphill and Piccolo each singled for Silver Creek/Forestville, which benefited from 19 Cattaraugus-Little Valley walks.

Colin Wentz had three hits and Nick Savidge had one for the Timberwolves.

GATORS BEAT SALAMANCA

SALAMANCA — Allegany-Limestone pounded out five hits during a six-run fifth inning to pull away from Salamanca for a 13-3 nonleague baseball victory Saturday at Veterans Park.

Mason Fisher opened the inning with a single and stole second before scoring on Nolan Donovan’s RBI fielder’s choice. Ethan Paul walked before Sean Conroy’s RBI single. Maddox DeLong followed with an RBI groundout before Jake Brink’s RBI single, Weston Stevenson’s RBI triple and Jordon Gustofson’s RBI single.

DeLong finished with three runs scored; Brink had two hits and two RBIs; Fisher had two hits and two runs scored; and Donovan had two RBIs and two runs scored.

Hayden Hoag went 2 for 4 while Harley Hoag and Jake Herrick also had hits for the Warriors.

Fisher allowed one hit and an unearned run in 4 2/3 innings on the hill for the Gators. He struck out nine. DeLong and Brink combined for five strikeouts over the final seven outs.

Zaron Tucker was the most effective Salamanca pitcher, allowing one run and three hits while striking out four in 2 1/3 innings on the mound.