Seven games into the 2026 campaign, that simply has not been the case.

Alexander Kerstetter and Kaylee Adamczak are big reasons why.

Kersetter, Forestville’s sophomore pitcher, tossed five innings of five-hit ball, allowing just an unearned run while striking out four and walking two while Adamczak, the Hornets’ junior catcher, went 4 for 4 with a double and four RBIs as Forestville beat Gowanda 14-1 in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3 softball Thursday afternoon.

The Hornets improved to 6-1 on the season, including a perfect 6-0 in their league, with the victory while the Panthers fell to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the division.

Hornets catcher Kaylee Adamczak looks toward her coach after doubling. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“When we played Silver Creek, we knew that would be a good game,” Forestville head coach Brianne Hazelton said of last week’s 5-3 win over the Black Knights. “These are playoff-level games. We just try to take every game as preparation for playoffs.”

Just seven games into the season, Kerstetter has thrown 23 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits while walking eight and striking out 25. Just one of the nine runs she has allowed has been earned.

Meanwhile, despite hitting out of the No. 6 hole in the lineup Thursday, Adamczak is hitting .333 with a .400 on-base percentage.

“Jade (Work) and Megan (Gruber) were a great combination, but I knew we had some girls that were eager to take over those spots,” Hazelton said of her pitcher and catcher for the past several years. “They worked hard. Kaylee and Allie, even Lizzy (Case), my other pitcher, have been working hard in the offseason to try and prepare. They’ve been doing a great job so far.”

The top four hitters in the Hornets’ lineup — Carilene Sliwa, Elizabeth Case, Emily Lillie and Madison Christian — went 7 for 13 with three walks and a double while scoring all 10 times they reached base against Gowanda.

Forestville left fielder Elizabeth Case catches a flyball against Gowanda as shortstop Carilene Sliwa ducks out of the way. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“They’ve been very consistent and confident at the plate,” Hazelton said. “It’s just nice to see it play out in the games.”

Forestville jumped ahead 4-0 in the top of the first inning as Sliwa doubled, Case hit an RBI single, Christian singled, Kerstetter plated two runs on a long flyball to right field that went for an error and Adamczak hit an RBI single.

“For Allie to have that lead behind her does help her confidence. I think her pitches started to move better after that first inning,” Hazelton said. “No matter where we are in the order, we can have somebody come through in those clutch moments. Early on (Adamczak) had a hit to get some runs in, so that was helpful.”

Addison Kota doubled to lead off the bottom of the first for the Panthers and was later recognized for that being the 200th hit of her career. She was intentionally walked in her two later plate appearances.

“Addison is the best hitter in our league, the county, even Western New York. I think she’s an outstanding hitter,” Hazelton said. “I knew that she was coming up with people on base, we had to walk her, it wasn’t even an option.”

Gowanda senior Addison Kota, fourth from right, is pictured with her teammates after being recognized for collecting her 200th career hit with a first-inning double during Thursday’s CCAA Division 3 softball game against Forestville in Gowanda. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

The Hornets added three runs in the top of the third. Lillie walked and Christian reached on an infield single before a throwing error allowed Lillie to score on the play. Olivia Valentine followed with an RBI groundout, Kerstetter walked and went to second on a passed ball, and Adamczak hit an RBI double to make it 7-1.

Forestville put the game away with five runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Gowanda committed three errors in the fourth inning before Kerstetter and Adamczak had RBIs in the fifth.

Kerstetter then got the final three outs with a groundout, a strikeout and a flyout to end her 87-pitch outing.