The top-seeded Hornets had the opportunity to make the next wait just a calendar year as they took on Maple Grove at Olean Middle School on Friday.

It did not take long for the Hornets to assure their fans they would be keeping the championship at home as they raced to a 16-0 five-inning victory.

“We had a lot of players return from last year,” Forestville head coach Brianne Hazelton said about repeating as champions. “We graduated only two girls, so they had this as a goal to get here again and to win the Class D sectional title. All year they have been working hard and keeping that in the back of their mind. We play in a very tough league and I think that helps us.”

Forestville scored a crafty four runs in the bottom of the first inning, amassing the total with just two hits. The biggest hit came courtesy of Emily Lillie who drove in the winning run last year and again came up big with a two-RBI single in her first appearance against Maple Grove.

Forestville second baseman Madison Christian, right, catches a ball over shortstop Carilene Sliwa for the final out of the top of the first inning. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“I’ve always noticed that in those pressure situations that she is very focused,” Hazelton said of Lillie. “She doesn’t get rattled, she is just ready, she’s confident and she always comes through for us.”

Lillie was not done there as she drove in six runs total and finished the day 3 for 4, scoring three times and lacing a double in her second at bat.

Forestville was all over Maple Grove from the beginning and it started with senior captain Carilene Sliwa getting on base via walk and then stealing two bases before scoring on the Lillie two-run single in the first. Sliwa finished the day 2 for 3 with a triple and three runs scored.

“She just wanted it so bad,” Hazelton said about Sliwa. “She wanted to win this game and she set the tone for us.”

Ava Schwerk also had a big game for the Hornets hitting 2 for 3 with a double and four RBIs, Olivia Valentine hit 2 for 4 with a double and Alexandra Kerstetter hit 2 for 3 with a double.

“It’s been like that for us all season,” Hazelton said of the offense. “They are just so confident, they are working hard every day and I just knew they would come out today and do well.”

Last year the Hornets relied on their pitching as they needed 2-0 victories in both playoff games.

Without Megan Gruber in the circle, the Hornets were thoughtful to provide first-year pitcher Kerstetter with plenty of runs, but she did not need much help.

Kerstetter hit her first batter, but she settled in to thwart the threat. After five innings of work, Kerstetter gave up just three hits and walked two batters with four strikeouts.

“I don’t think she pitched in any of the games last year,” Hazelton commented on the pitching transition. “Coming this year, Kerstetter and Elizabeth Case came and were splitting games for us. Aly has taken that spot over and she has been doing well and performing well for us.”

Maple Grove got into scoring position another two times with Dani Trim and Meg Ryan hitting doubles in the third and fourth inning, respectively, but both girls only made it to third.

Forestville did not slow down offensively until the last trip to the plate in the fourth inning when it scored just once. Just like last year, the Hornets are heading back to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D Far West Regionals on a shutout, but this time outscoring Section VI opponents 29-1.

“Today I could tell they didn’t really seem nervous,” Hazelton said about her team. “Last year when we came to this game, everybody was a wreck. But this year, because we’ve played in these high-pressure games, they were very calm, confident and I think that experience of going to the state tournament last year did help today.”

Forestville will travel to Gates Chili High School next Friday to play the Section V champion at 7:30 p.m.