PORTVILLE — Behind an incredibly efficient offense, the No. 7 seed Portville softball team scored a 7-6 victory over No. 10 seed Cassadaga Valley in the first round of the Section 6 Class C Playoffs.
The Panthers scored in all but one inning against the Cougars, but it was the latter’s bursts of offense — scoring two in the first and three in the sixth — that kept them in the game.
And the visitors threatened to force the game into extras as they added another run to their tally in the top of the seventh to knot the scores up at six apiece.
But Portville’s bats remained unshaken by the late flurry from Cassadaga Valley as they connected for three hits in the bottom of the seventh, the last of which being a walk-off hit from Autumn Baker at the bottom of the order. It was Baker’s lone hit of the game.
Leading the offensive charge for the Panthers on the night was Peyton Young. A consistent source of offense all year, Young finished 3-for-4 with two runs. Backing her up was Ella Zeigler, who went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Portville will hit the road to face No. 2 seed Chautauqua Lake in the Class B Quarterfinals on May 22 at 5 p.m.
AT PORTVILLE
R H E
Cassadaga Valley 200 003 1 6 11 2
Portville 211 110 1 7 10 4
CV: Russell (1 SO, 5 BB)
Port: Morales (2 SO, 1 BB) and Zeigler
SECTION 6 CLASS A FIRST ROUND
No. 5 Olean 12, No. 12 Pioneer 0 (6 innings)
OLEAN — The No. 5 seed Olean softball team had no trouble in its Section 6 Class A First Round matchup against No. 12 Pioneer, closing the game out in six innings.
The Huskies scored their 12 runs on 16 hits, the most of which were contributed by Ava Finch, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Amelia Jones, who finished 3-for-4 with a run and three RBI. Riley Sudbrook and Allison Anastasia each provided two-hit performances as well.
In the meantime, the Panthers were held to just one hit all night as Olean’s Emma Edwards diced up the visitors lineup. She finished with nine strikeouts and just two walks in the win.
Olean will travel to face No. 4 seed Grand Island on May 22 at 5 p.m. in the Class A Quarterfinal.
AT OLEAN
R H E
Pioneer 000 000 X 0 1 2
Olean 122 142 X 12 16 0
Pio: Beaudette (0 SO, 4 BB) and Comstock
OL: Edwards (9 SO, 2 BB) and Bates
SECTION 6 CLASS B FIRST ROUND
No. 16 Salamanca 25, No. 1 Frederick Olmsted 4 (5 innings)
BUFFALO — The No. 16 Salamanca softball team brought their best to No. 1 seed Frederick Olmsted, dominating the top seed in Class B and knocking them out of the postseason.
Jaelynn Brown led the Warriors on offense, finishing 4-for-5 with two doubles and a triple. Makenzie Crouse backed her up, going 3-for-6 with two doubles and Ayla Newark went 3-for-4 in the big win as well.
Salamanca’s Charli Ross picked up her fifth win of the season, striking out four and walking three while only conceding three hits.
The Warriors will hit the road to face No. 9 seed Eden in the Class B Quarterfinals on May 22 at 5 p.m.
