The Warriors fell behind early, conceding eight runs in the top of the first and were unable to shave the deficit down. The Eagles tacked on five more runs over the second and third frames and coasted to a five-inning, mercy-rule victory.

Delaney Haley recorded the lone hit of the game for Salamanca.

AT SALAMANCA

Ellicottville 823 00X X R:13 H:14 E:0

Salamanca 000 00X X R:0 H:1 E:7

Eville: Lafferty (11 SO, 0 BB) and Whitmer

Sala: Haley (0 SO, 2 BB), Ross (2 SO, 0 BB) and Santiago

Falconer 16, Olean 0, 5 innings

OLEAN, NY — The Olean softball team, hampered by walks, suffered a lopsided defeat to Falconer.

The Golden Falcons scored 16 runs on five hits and were the beneficiaries of 19 walks on the night.

Meanwhile, Olean’s offense was limited to three hits. Ava Finch, Anna Bates and Mallory Carter recorded a hit apiece.

AT OLEAN

Falconer 513 70X X R:16 H:5 E:0

Olean 000 00X X R:0 H:3 E:3

Falc: Rhinehart (6 SO, 2 BB) and Sharpe

OL: Maine (3 SO, 11 BB), Jones (1 SO, 8 BB) and Bates

HS BASEBALL

Bradford 13, Coudersport 2, 6 innings

COUDERSPORT, PA – On a night that saw five Owls tally double-digit hits and their man on the mound record double-digit Ks, the Bradford baseball team returned to the win column with a blowout victory on the road. 

Tarren Reese led the Owls at the plate, recording three hits in four appearances and coming away with two runs scored and two more batted in. Max Gow, Brody Haviland, Braylan Austin and Jay Parisella all recorded two hits, combining for seven runs and three RBIs. 

During his first stint on the mound, Haviland also posted 10 strikeouts through 22 batters faced, allowing just two hits. 

With the win, the Owls improve to 2-1 and will stay on the road to face DuBois on Monday at 4:30 p.m. 

AT COUDERSPORT

Bradford 104 314 R:13 H:14 E:1

Coudersport 011 000 R:2 H:2 E:4

Bradford: Haviland (10 SO, 5 BB), Austin (6) (2 SO, 1 BB) and Woodhouse

Coudersport: Wetzel (3 SO, 0 BB), Wahlers (4) (1 SO, 1 BB), Roessner (6) (1 SO, 0 BB) and McClintic

COLLEGE BASEBALL

St. Bonaventure 11, George Washington 0

ST. BONAVENTURE, NY — St. Bonaventure grabbed its first Atlantic 10 win on the newly renovated Handler Park in convincing fashion.

The Bonnies jumped on George Washington’s pitching, scoring 11 runs on 14 hits. Chris Hoalcraft led the offense with a 4-for-5 day at the plate which included four runs and two RBI. Joey Calabretti went 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and two walks as well.

The pitching for Bona was also spectacular as David James threw a complete game shutout, conceding just five hits and one walk in the process.

TRACK AND FIELD

Randolph 72, Salamanca 71, Bolivar-Richburg 18

Despite missing key pieces to their team due to injuries, the Warriors posted a second place finish in their triple meet with the Cardinals and the Wolverines.

On the track, Salamanca took two out of three gold place finishes in the relays. The quartet of Mia Rivera, Kaylin Lemon, Thia Chudy and Lailee Pierce took first in the 3,200m relay while Chudy, Lemon, Ireland Fidurko and Pierce followed up in the 1,600m. 

Pierce also earned first in the 800m dash while Paloma Haas won in the shot put and Rileigh Hutchinson took gold in the pole vault.

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

ST. BONAVENTURE — This era of college basketball is ruled by fearmongers.

Armchair GMs, Couch Coaches, etc.

No one decision that will ever be made will get the full approval of a fanbase.

In the immediate aftermath of legendary former St. Bonaventure men’s basketball head coach Mark Schmidt announcing his ‘retirement’, Mike MacDonald’s name nestled itself amongst rumor and speculation. Being a ‘88 graduate of St. Bonaventure and taking the wild amount of success he’s had at Div. II Daemen University as of late into consideration, there’s no wonder his name was one of the first to be thrown around in relation to the open position.

And a candidate he was. Relatively early in the search process, sources confirmed that his name was one that appeared on the shortlist the decision-makers had. But, MacDonald was unable to give the Bona speculation his full attention, given that he was leading Daemen on yet another historic postseason run.

Over the past two seasons, the Wildcats amassed a 61-3 overall record with not one loss coming in conference play. In 2024-25, Daemen got off to a 28-1 start and spent three weeks as the No. 1 team in the AP poll. This past season, they finished 33-2, were named East Coast Conference (ECC) Champions and were the East Regional Champions after reaching the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament.

The biggest challenge facing those within the St. Bonaventure athletic department is how to win in this current era in which money does all the talking. With one of the lowest NIL budget and revenue shares in all of the Atlantic 10, Bona needed a head coach with recent, proven success that could be sustainable in the cannibalistic transfer portal era.

MacDonald checks those boxes.

But what has made him an immediate target for critics is his rocky track record at the Div. I level.

From 1997-2006, MacDonald was the head coach at Canisius College. In those nine years, he had a record of 108-153 with one 20-win season (2000-01), a year in which he was named the Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) Co-Coach of the Year. He left his post as the head coach of the Golden Griffins after the 05-06 campaign, and while he transitioned into a successful head coach at Div. III Medaille College, doubters of his ability to lead the Bonnies forward have clung onto the struggles he had at Canisius.

What people must remember is that winning in this current ‘Wild West’ era of college hoops, means winning NOW.

Frankly, it is unfair to judge whether or not MacDonald will be a success at St. Bonaventure based on anything prior to what he has done since the NIL/portal era began (2021-22).

The landscape of the game has completely shifted since the late 90s, when the prospect of paying a player would have seen you thrown in an asylum. Since the 2021-22 season, MacDonald has proven himself with a 126-29 overall record, a 72-10 ECC record and has gone 11-10 vs. ranked opponents. Notably, he was able to retain 13 of 14 eligible players from Daemen’s 2024-25 team, keeping the core of the team intact, something that caught the eyes of those on the search committee, considering the Bonnies have been rocked in back-to-back years by a mass exodus of players.

Consistency and player retention is harder to find today than it was in the early 2000s, and MacDonald has proven he can do both at the very top of the Div. II level. St. Bonaventure University President Dr. Jeff Gingerich noted in the official press release on MacDonald’s hire that his ability to retain talent and build enamored the committee.

Of course, he was able to do that in Div. II, and people have made clear their doubt of whether or not it will translate to Div. I. The incredible recent success of Iowa men’s basketball head coach Ben McCollum, who made the jump from Northwest Missouri State (Div. II) to Drake (Div. I) just a few years back, might be the best case study on what works at the lower levels does translate.

It’s not like they’re playing a different game after all. 

“The same thing wins,” McCollum said during his introductory press conference at Iowa. “It’s the connectivity of your group, it’s toughness, it’s all those things. We didn’t win a lot of warm-up contests … but we were the most connected group out there, we were the toughest group and we were able to win basketball games. So, I learned quite a bit and a lot of it was just me understanding that that still does happen at these levels. Yeah, you need talent, but it doesn’t need to be Earth-shattering … you need connectivity, toughness and great kids.”

The other main critique people have had of MacDonald is his relationship to Men’s Basketball General Manager Adrian Wojnarowski. A concept that is simply lost on me.

Many have attached the confusion surrounding Schmidt’s departure from the Bona program to Wojnarowski and the athletic department as a whole. That, alongside the fact that the Bona faithful have only known what a Schmidt-run program looks like for the last 19 years, has fans questioning the decisions being made every step of the way.

To a certain degree, it is understandable. Change is scary, especially when the person that just left the position has the stature and track record of Schmidt.

But the fact of the matter is that since NIL and the portal shifted the power in college sports from the coaches to the players, St. Bonaventure has been above .500 in the Atlantic 10 just once. Schmidt was a master developer of talent, there’s no denying that. But he had gone on record saying how much he despised recruiting and what money has done to the game. So, for his replacement, Bona went with a guy that has had recent success, and it just so happens he has a previously established relationship with the team’s GM.

I am lost on where Woj having strong ties to MacDonald is an issue. My best guess would be preexisting disapproval.

Again to a certain degree I can understand why people are shaky on the hire of MacDonald. Do I have reservations about the hire? Sure. But can I also see why the leadership at St. Bonaventure went with MacDonald? Yes.

Established relationships with those in the athletic department aside, MacDonald has earned himself the chance at a shot back at the Div. I level. Sustainability might be the rarest characteristic in this hollowed out era of collegiate sports we find ourselves in, and he has managed to find that.

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

OLEAN — Returning all but two players from last year’s roster, Olean baseball head coach Les DeGolier has on his hands an experience-laden squad.

In its first game of the season, against Springville-Griffith, that deep level of understanding was put on display in a well-rounded 5-3 victory.

The Huskies gave up a run in the first inning, but responded with two of their own in the second — establishing a lead that would carry throughout the remainder of the game. The pitching, after some early hiccups, found a rhythm and was nearly unsolvable. But even when the Griffins did get a hold of a pitch, the Olean defense was sound.

Everything ran like a well-oiled machine for DeGolier. Never did his team get too high or too low. Led by a core of veterans, they found a vein of success and stayed in it.

“Some old guys led the way with some big hits, Landon (Johnson) had a big hit, Joe (Mest) had a big hit, some guys that have been here three, four years,” DeGolier said. “Then some of the underclassmen (stepped up). Dom (Myers) had his first home run as a freshman and the thing is … we’ve been working on hitting the ball away and he hit that out in right-center. That shows a big step in growth for him. Those are the things we talk about. If we keep incrementally getting better, and everybody works on their individual things, as a team, we’re going to be tougher and tougher.”

The Olean offense connected for seven hits from seven different batters on the night. Joe Mest and Taylor Teachman each tallied an RBI double apiece while the three runs that the team tacked on in the bottom of the fifth inning came courtesy of a three-run home run to right-center field from freshman Dom Myers.

“The bottom (of the lineup) did well and then the top finally came around,” DeGolier said. “Landon had a good game from the plate, driving a couple baseballs. Even (Ethan Woodring) had one. He hit a rocket to the second baseman who made the play. Otherwise, we score two there with two outs. I thought everybody swung the bat pretty well and put the pressure on them. If we do that 1-9, we’re gonna be happy.”

Noah Cartmill got the start on the mound for the Huskies and save for the lone run he gave up in the top of the first, he put together a solid, five-inning performance, striking out three and preventing the visitors from doing any further damage. Johnson entered the game in relief and slammed the door shut on the result, picking up four of the team’s final six outs via strikeout.

“He stayed mentally tough,” DeGolier said of Cartmill. “His command wasn’t there in the first two innings, but I thought in the third and fourth innings, he got stronger. He worked out a couple of those kinks. That was good to see. He didn’t panic. And then for Landon to come in and close the game out strong, that’s a big thing. He kind of ended the year last year with his control a little off, and he stepped out first thing this year and shut the door.”

Olean’s Noah Cartmill (9) delivers a pitch. Cartmill struck out three batters and allowed just one run in five innings against Springville-Griffith. (Spencer Bates)

The Olean defense had a significant impact on the game as well. While the team’s bats were producing, Springville certainly threatened, out-hitting the hosts 9-7. But thanks to stellar defensive plays all over the park, including a diving catch made by Gehrig Perry at shortstop for a lineout, the Huskies’ guests were left frustrated.

“Our pitchers are told to let their defense work behind them,” DeGolier said. “We want to force the action. We want to throw strikes and make them earn it because I believe we have a strong, deep defense. There’s a couple guys on the bench that could step in and there would be no letdown. So yeah, the depth of our roster and the strong defense, we’re certainly excited about.”

Olean will look to build on the positive result in its next game, set for April 1 at Wellsville.

AT OLEAN

Spring-Griff 100 001 1 R:3 H:9 E:1

Olean 020 030 X R:5 H:7 E:0

S-G: Glass (1 SO, 2 BB), Brown (0 SO, 1 BB), Michalski (2 SO, 1 BB) and Roy

OL: Cartmill (3 SO, 3 BB), Johnson (4 SO, 2 BB) and DeGolier

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

ST. BONAVENTURE — St. Bonaventure Vice President and Director of Athletics Bob Beretta officially announced that Mike MacDonald will join the men’s basketball program as the 20th head coach in its history.

News first broke of MacDonald’s imminent appointment on March 30 via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Further background on MacDonald and what he brings to the  Bonnies can be found here.

“We are extremely excited to bring Mike back to St. Bonaventure,” Beretta said via a release. “As we set out to identify the next leader of our men’s basketball program, we developed a list of more than 20 characteristics that we would look for in the person who would succeed Mark Schmidt as head coach. Mike checked every box. First and foremost, we searched for an individual who could maintain the championship pedigree of our men’s basketball program and build on the legacy of success authored most recently by Mark, and head coaches such as Eddie Donovan, Larry Weise, Jim Satalin, Jim O’Brien and Jim Baron before him.”

MacDonald joins the Bonnies after having led Div. II Daemen University to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament this past season. His Wildcats amassed a 61-3 record (32-0 in-conference) over the past two seasons.

A big part of what drew the Bona search committee to MacDonald was his ability to retain players and build in the NIL/portal era.

“I have complete confidence that Mike can build upon the foundation that Mark built here,” University President Dr. Jeff Gingerich said via a release. “In this transient era of college athletics, to be able to keep a team together and scale the heights that Daemen did really speaks to his ability to create an environment that players want to be a part of. I don’t care what level you’re coaching at — you’re coaching against peer programs. To achieve what Mike has at Daemen is remarkable.”

A news conference to introduce MacDonald will be held on April 8 in the Reilly Center. The time of the event is TBD.

The Panthers pounced in the top of the very first frame, bringing four runs across. The Warriors were able to find a response in the bottom of the second, scoring seven runs in the inning.

As the game neared its end, Salamanca held a 10-6 advantage, but yet another four-run inning from Gowanda brought the scores back level.

With the ball in the Warriors’ court, they took advantage, walking off the Panthers in the bottom of the seventh.

Mackenzie Crouse (3 runs), Delaney Haley (2 runs), Hadleigh Krug and Mae Bacelli led Salamanca with two hits apiece.

“This was a fun game to win in the end,” Salamanca softball coach Paul Furlong said. “Neither team played great defense but both teams really swung the bat today. Kenzie Crouse is really leading the hitting, getting on base and scoring runs.”

AT SALAMANCA

Gowanda 400 011 4 R:10 H:13

Salamanca 070 003 1 R:11 H:12

Gowanda: Miller (6 SO, 4 BB)

Salamanca: Ross (6 SO, 3 BB)

Wellsville 9, Allegany-Limestone 3

ALLEGANY, NY — Despite jumping out to an early advantage, the Allegany-Limestone softball team suffered defeat at the hands of Wellsville.

The Gators brought across two runs in the very first inning, but after that frame, struggled to generate much offense. In the meantime, the Lions put up five runs in the third inning, two in the fourth and one apiece in the fifth and seventh.

Riley Sudbrook led A-L with three hits and a run. Kailey Truman tallied two hits and two runs on offense and racked up 10 strikeouts in the circle.

AT ALLEGANY

Wellsville 005 210 1 R:9 H:8 E:2

Allegany-Limestone 200 001 0 R:3 H:6 E:3

Wellsville: Perry (13 SO, 1 BB) and Bennett

Allegany-Limestone: K. Truman (10 SO, 6 BB) and P. Truman

Northern Potter 17, Smethport 0, 3 innings

ULYSSES, PA — Unable to get their bats moving, the Lady Hubbers dropped their season opener with a blowout loss to NoPo.

AT ULSESS

Smethport 000 R:0 H:0 E:0

Northern Potter (13) 2 2 R:17 H:12 E:0

Smethport: Benjamin (0 SO, 7 BB), Miller (2) (1 SO, 4 BB) and Tronetti

Northern Potter: Williammee (8 SO, 0 BB) and Steele

Olean 7, Randolph 0

OLEAN, NY — Tiana Maine’s solid start to the season in the circle for Olean continued as she racked up nine strikeouts in a no-hitter performance against Randolph.

Ari Finch and Amelia Jones led the Huskies on offense with two hits apiece. Ava Finch tallied two RBIs in the win as well.

AT OLEAN

Randolph 000 000 0 R:0 H:0 E:2

Olean 310 210 X R:7 H:8 E:0

Rand.: Arnold-Hill (3 SO, 1 BB), Hill (1 SO, 4 BB) and Sears

OL: Maine (9 SO, 4 BB) and Bates

Punxsutawney 11, Bradford 0 (5 innings)

Punxsutawney 20, Bradford 2 (3 innings)

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA — The Bradford softball team suffered two lopsided defeats at the hands of Punxsutawney.

The Owls were out-hit 19-2 over the course of the double header.

AT PUNXSUTAWNEY (Game 1)

Bradford 000 00X X R:0 H:0 E:4

Punxsutawney 254 0XX X R:11 H:7 E:0

Brad.: Greene (3 SO, 5 BB) and Sipko

Punxy: Hallman (5 SO, 0 BB) and Gotwald

—

AT PUNXSUTAWNEY (Game 2)

Punxsutawney 6(14)0 XXX X R:20 H:12 E:0

Bradford 002 XXX X R:2 H:2 E:2

Punxy: Gula (2 SO, 0 BB), Verdill (3 SO, 2 BB) and Agenello

Brad.: Zandy (0 SO, 12 BB) and Sipko

HS BASEBALL

Salamanca 7, CSP 4

SALAMANCA, NY — The Salamanca baseball team survived a late scare from CSP en route to its first win of the season.

The Warriors conceded three runs in the top of the seventh inning, halving the 7-1 lead they held after scoring five runs in the third.

Payton Bradley led Salamanca with two hits, a run and an RBI.

AT SALAMANCA

Clymer 100 000 3 R:4 H:7 E:3

Salamanca 005 020 X R:7 H:6 E:2

Clymer: Burchanowski (3 SO, 3 BB), Posker (1 SO, 0 BB) and White

Salamanca: Farnum (4 SO, 2 BB), Stahlman (4 SO, 1 BB) and Bradley

Punxsutawney 10, Bradford 7

BRADFORD, PA — Despite building up an early lead, a surge in the fourth from the Chucks handed the Owls their first loss of the season. 

Max Gow and Jamin Bell led Bradford in the batters’ box, each finding two hits on the day. Gow ended 2-for-4 with one run scored while Bell finished 2-for-5 with two runs and two more batted in. Seven other Owls found hits throughout the loss, including Brody Haviland who finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs. 

On the mound, Bell and Tarren Reese each tallied three strikeouts while combining for five hits allowed. 

The Owls season-opening home stand continues on Wednesday, when they host St. Marys at 4:15 p.m.

AT BRADFORD

Punxsutawney 001 610 2 R:10 H:7 E:2

Bradford 331 000 0 R:7 H:11 E:2

Punxsutawney: Day (5 SO, 1 BB), Ryen (3) (4 SO, 4 BB), Stahlman (6) (3 SO, 1 BB) and Burkett

Bradford: Reese (3 SO, 2 BB), Wallace (4) (1 SO, 3 BB), Bell (5) (3 SO, 1 BB) and Haviland

Port Allegany 10, Otto-Eldred 0, 5 innings

PORT ALLEGANY, PA — Led by the trio of Kellen Veilleux, Aiden Bliss and Nick Wilfong, the Gators improved to 2-0 with a shutout win over the Terrors. 

Veilleux and Bliss both finished 1-for-2 in the batters’ box, each recording two runs in the win. Bliss also nabbed an RBI during the win, while Wilfong finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Wilfong also led the Gators on the mound, finishing with eight strikeouts while giving up just two hits. 

For the Terrors, Michael Sheeler and Jack Sherry each registered hits, with Sheeler going 1-for-3 and Sherry ending 1-for-2. On the hill, Sherry also came away with a team-high three Ks. 

AT PORT ALLEGANY

Otto-Eldred 000 00 R:0 H:2 E:3

Port Allegany 104 30 R:10 H:6 E:1

Otto-Eldred: Sherry (3 SO, 3 BB), Sheeler (3) (0 SO, 0 BB), Van Camp (4) (2 SO, 6 BB) and Splain

Port Allegany: Wilfong (8 SO, 3 BB) and Bliss

Smethport 12, Northern Potter 0, 5 innings

ULYSSES, PA — Taking to the road, Smethport picked up their first win of the season as six Hubbers registered hits. 

Konnor Davis finished 1-for-2 for the Hubbers, scoring three runs and batting another in. Colin Riekofsky also finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Zack Hungiville collected two runs and one RBI on a 1-for-3 day at the plate.

On the bump, Riekofsky also collected seven strikeouts through four innings pitched. 

AT ULYSSES

Smethport 300 3 0 R:12 H:6 E:1

Northern Potter 000 00 R:0 H:0 E:2

Smethport: Riekofsky (7 SO, 2 BB), Hungiville (5) (3 SO, 2 BB) and Young

Northern Potter: Snyder (4 SO, 3 BB), Shope (4) (1 SO, 6 BB), Elmadollar (5) (0 SO, 3 BB), Nicholas (5) (1 SO, 0 BB) and Bieser

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

ALLEGANY — Last season, Allegany-Limestone baseball coach Eric Hemphill spoke about how his team needed to show more confidence.

With a number of the team’s veterans last year having graduated, the time to step up to the proverbial plate is now.

The team’s 8-0 loss to Wellsville on March 30 showed that there is still room for improvement in some areas, but in the eyes of Hemphill, the program is on a good path.

The A-L defense allowed Wellsville one baserunner in the first on the back of an error, but worked its way through the inning without any damage being done. Starting pitcher Tayden Margeson got through two-thirds of the second inning before two more fielding errors led to the Lions taking the lead, a mental hurdle that was difficult to work around.

Wellsville put up three runs with two outs on the board in the second frame and tacked on two more in the third before A-L put a stop to the skid.

This is an area in which Hemphill believes an increased level of confidence could help. The Gators are extremely young in a number of key positions defensively and the biggest lesson they are learning is that one mistake cannot lead to more.

“We’re super young. I had a freshman pitching, I had a freshman at second and a freshman at short,” Hemphill said. “Those are three very key positions. We make one mistake and it unravels and they score three. After two innings, it should have been 0-0. We have to get through those (tough stretches), and hopefully in two weeks we don’t make those mistakes. That’s what we’re trying to build here. Baseball is a game of failure. We’re going to make mistakes as young guys against a good team, we just got to keep building off that and getting better.”

Margeson, a freshman, threw for four innings and Dylan Rhodes came in to pitch for the final three. And while the latter may be at a junior standing, both are relatively inexperienced on the bump according to Hemphill. The duo combined for five strikeouts and six walks, and although those numbers were not game-changing, the limited number of free bases they awarded pleased their head coach.

“Tayden is a freshman, he saw the ball very little last year as a pitcher. Dylan’s a junior. This is his third year with me, but he’s pretty much strictly been an outfielder. I thought both of them threw the ball fairly well,” Hemphill said. “They battled. We didn’t walk or hit batters like we tended to last year. We make some of these plays, it’s a 1-0 game against a very good Wellsville team.”

Allegany-Limestone’s Dylan Rhodes (5) chops a hit down the third-base line. (Spencer Bates)

Last year, Hemphill was able to rely on some of his veterans to give him solid innings on the mound. Caleb Strade and Collin Forrest were two of his aces. But both are no longer part of the program, which means he is relying on a younger fleet of arms. However, that does not mean he trusts them any less.

“I have confidence in all of these guys,” Hemphill said. “In two games, we’ve thrown five guys out there, and we’ve been OK. We’ve thrown the ball over the plate, and I keep stressing that we’re gonna rely on defense this year. I don’t have a guy in the rotation that’s gonna go strike out eight or 10 guys. We’re going to get two or three, maybe four, but we got to make plays, and if we make plays, I think we’re good enough to stay in games.”

The A-L offense was kept quiet by Wellsville, connecting for just one hit on the night. But while the team may not have had much to show for it, the connections the Gators were getting at the dish were solid. The Lions’ defense just continued to come up with the plays.

“I think we struck out 10 times in our first game against CSP. Wellsville threw two much better pitchers at us, and we might have had six. Our at-bats were a lot better,” Hemphill said. “Connor Crowley drilled one right at the center fielder and he hit one that hit the pitcher’s glove or his leg. Those are good signs, because those guys got thrown into the fire last year as sophomores and freshmen and eighth graders. Now, we’re having to lean on them a little bit, and they need to have better at-bats. If they continue to progress like they have from Game One to Game Two, I think we’ll be OK.”

Allegany-Limestone will look to build on the positives within the result in its next game, set for 5 p.m. on April 1 at home.

AT ALLEGANY

Wellsville 032 000 3 R:8 H:8 E:0

Allegany-Limestone 000 000 0 R:0 H:1 E:5

Wells.: Button (4 SO, 3 BB), Cowburn (5 SO, 1 BB) and Ritter

A-L: Margeson (3 SO, 5 BB), Rhodes (2 SO, 1 BB) and Cowburn

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

ST. BONAVENTURE — Dasonte Bowen, the captain for the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team this past season, has announced via Instagram that he will enter the transfer portal.

He is the first player from this past year’s Bona team to make his decision on the future official.

Bowen, transferring in from Iowa, spent two years with the Bonnies, granted his first year was cut short by a season-ending lower leg injury. He was the most notable returning player the Bonnies had this past season and in his comeback from injury, Bowen averaged 10.9 points (fourth-best on the team) and 4.8 assists (best on the team, third-best in all of the Atlantic 10) per game.

Bowen tied for the second-best assist-turnover ratio mark of any player in the A10 (2.3) and played an average of 34.4 minutes per game, the third-most of any A10 player this season.

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

ST. BONAVENTURE — The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team has their next head coach in Mike MacDonald.

MacDonald, who comes with 29 years’ worth of experience as a men’s college basketball head coach, is set to make it official with the Bonnies on March 31 after having been at Div. II Daemen University since the 2014-15 season.

The Bonnies were intrigued by the idea of a Div. II hire following the recent successes of former Div. II coaches Josh Shertz, who just signed an extension at Saint Louis after leading the Billikens to an A10 regular season title and the NCAA Tournament, and Ben McCollum, who reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with Iowa this year.

MacDonald, a ‘88 Bona alumnus, was one of the winningest head coaches in Div. II, amassing a 61-3 record over the last two seasons, but he led Daemen to the second-best win percentage of any NCAA basketball team over the last two years (95.3%). Only Div. II Nova Southeastern has a better percentage. Duke sits just behind Daemen in the category.

Since the portal/NIL era began (2021-22), MacDonald amassed a record of 126-29, an 81.3% win rate. He is also the only coach in history to have recorded 100+ wins at every level (Div. I, II, III).

There is no current set date or time for a press conference, but one will be set in the coming days, per sources.

More stats on MacDonald:

– 522-312 (62.7%) in 29 years of coaching.

– 12 straight seasons of 19+ wins (excluding COVID year)

– 9 straight seasons of 20+ wins

– Retained 13 of 14 eligible players from Daemen’s 2024-25 team (28-1, 16-0 in conference) en route to another unbeaten conference season and East Regional Championship this season.

– In 2024-25 Daemen spent 3 weeks at No. 1 in the AP Poll

– Since 24-25, MacDonald is 7-1 vs. ranked opponents, 18-3 vs. NCAA Tournament teams and 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament.

– Has coached three ECC Player of the Year winners, one of which (Andrew Sischo) being a three-time winner and an All-American.

– Top 5 nationally in points per possession allowed (0.92)

– Top 21 in points per possession (last two seasons)

– Top 70 in assists rate (three straight years.

– 149-73 at Div. III Medaille College (2006-2014) where he was a 4x CoY led the turnaround of the program into a consistent contender

– 108-153 at Div. I Canisius College (1997-2006) where he is top three in program history in wins and was named BCANY Co-CoY after a 20-win season in 2000-01

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

OLEAN — The Olean softball team had no shortage of veteran players returning to the roster for this season.

That experience shined through as the Huskies battled with Gowanda over the course of its season and home-opener.

The bats were hot from the jump and, after some early struggles in the pitching department, the latter innings were filled with Ks.

The Huskies responded to the Panthers’ first-inning run with four runs in the second. However, the visitors would immediately match that four-run inning with one of their own in the ensuing half frame.

Still, even with the output from its big inning having been erased, the resilience within the Olean  team shined through. Their heads did not drop and over the next 3.5 innings, it out-scored Gowanda 3-1, to shift the pressure back onto its guests.

Unfortunately for Olean, which is being led by first-year head coach Ryan Nawrot, the Gowanda bats had the last say in the matter as they brought across three runs in the top of the seventh after having entered the frame down a run. The Huskies were unable to respond in the bottom of the frame as they fell 9-7 to the Panthers.

But despite the loss, Nawrot noted there were plenty of positives his team can take away from its first outing of the year.

“Overall it was a good performance, they played solid,” Nawrot said. “Gowanda had one game behind them already. This is our first game, and we had a lot of highlights. We had a lot of key points. We had a freshman pitcher that had some good strikeouts. … They look solid. And with it being the first game and a little cold, getting those inside pitches, I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the way they played. We got a couple of small things that we can improve on. But plain and simple, Gowanda got a hold of the ball. They hit really well, and we got to try to try to defend it better next time.”

Olean’s Tiana Maine (5) delivers a pitch to Gowanda. Maine tallied 11 strikeouts against the Panthers. (Hunter O. Lyle)

One of the biggest tasks that Nawrot had upon taking the head coaching position this season was finding a replacement for Emma Edwards, the Huskies’ ace in the circle who graduated after last season. With a limited roster, he alluded to the fact that there may come a time in which the pitching duties will need to be by-committee. But after the performance he got from freshman pitcher Tiana Maine, he will be able to rest a bit easier.

Maine, bouncing back from a third-inning slump, finished the game with 11 strikeouts.

“The fact that she’s striking out girls at the beginning part of their order (is great),” Nawrot said. “If we can get her consistency there, she’s gonna be a phenomenal pitcher. … Other than that slump she had (she was great), and those things happen, you kind of get in your head. We’re just gonna have to keep working with her on remaining calm and realizing the team’s behind her. We got some great fielders that can have her back. So, yeah, I’m really impressed by her. I’m really happy by the way she played.”

The Olean bats showed no fear either. Leading the way offensively was Ari Finch, Anna Bates and Allison Anastasia, who each had two hits on the night, combining for six of the team’s seven knocks.

Nawrot was enthusiastic about the lack of hesitation in the approach of his batters. It may have been a cold first day of the season, but there were no signs of uneasiness at the plate.

“They went after the ball,” Nawrot said. “They attacked the ball, and that’s what we need to continually do, is get that ball out in the field and make them make plays on us. I know we have a great hitting team, and I’m really happy with the way that they attacked the ball and went after it.”

The Huskies won’t have long to stew in the loss as they will look to bounce back in their next game, set for March 30 at home against Randolph.

AT OLEAN

Gowanda 104 010 3 R:9 H:8 E:5

Olean  041 200 0 R:7 H:7 E:2

Gow: Miller (2 SO, 3 BB) and Luther

OL: Maine (11 SO, 8 BB) and Bates

Nolan Murphy

Ellicottville Central School

Height: 6’1” — Weight: 215 lbs.

Offense: G – Defense: DE

Nolan is planning to attend Alfred State after he graduates from Ellicottville Central to major in Autobody Collision Repair. He lists his honors and awards as Second Team and Heart of the Champion Character Athlete Award. He wants to play in the Big 30 game so he will be able to play one more game of football and to hit people. Nolan’s favorite memory while playing football was playing at the Bills’ stadium his junior year, and being able to have great teammates. He lists his hobbies as golf and snowboarding. Nolan’s favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and his favorite player is JJ Watt.

Caine DeGolier

Olean High School

Height: 6’0” — Weight: 175 lbs.

Offense: WR – Defense: OLB

Caine plans to attend Alfred State for heavy equipment operation. He listed his award as Defense of the Year. He wants to play in the Big 30 game because he considers it an honor to play with kids from other schools he played against this year. His best memory while playing football was just spending time with his teammates. Caine lists his hobbies as fishing, hunting, wrestling, and baseball. His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and his favorite player is Josh Allen.

Tristen Hennard

Franklinville Central School

Height: 5’10” — Weight: 150 lbs.

Offense: WR Defense: S

Tristen plans after graduation to proceed into the work force and work his way up into crane operations. He listed his honors as High Honor Roll BOCES 2024. He wants to play in the Big 30 game because he feels that this is a big opportunity to play this game that many people don’t get the chance to do. His best memory while playing football was playing peewee football in the mud doing Oklahoma drills. Tristan lists his hobbies as football, basketball, hunting, and fishing. His favorite football team is the Cleveland Browns, and his favorite player is Odell Beckham Jr.

Mike Ellman

Olean High School

Height: 5’8” — Weight: 190 lbs.

Offense: C

Mike’s future plans after graduation are to become a United State Marine/ Branch of the Military. He lists his awards as Most Improved Wrestler and Most Committed Husky Captain. He wants to play in the Big 30 game to represent his coaches, teammates, and state in a very honorable way. His best memory while playing football was lifting with the boys and sticking with each other through lots of adversity. Mike’s hobbies are listed as wrestling and hanging out with friends. His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and his favorite player is Johnny Manziel.

Carson Couchenour

Southwestern High School

Height: 6’0” — Weight: 220 lbs.

Offense: C – Defense: DE

Carson plans to attend college and become a teacher and coach sports. His honors include Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Coaches Award for Football, Most Improved in Football, Cross-Training Character Athlete of the Week in football. Carson wants to play in the Big 30 game because it was an honor to be picked to play in this game, and this will be his last chance to suit up. His best memory playing football was being part of this team and making it to Highmark Stadium. Carson lists his hobbies as football, basketball, and going to the races. His favorite football team is the New Orleans Saints, and his favorite player is Alvin Kamara.

Logan Marsh

Pioneer Central High School

Height: 5’7” — Weight: 130 lbs.

Offense: QB Defense: S

Logan’s future plans are to become a heavy equipment operator. He lists his honors and awards as 2025 Most Valuable Defensive Player, 2025 Record Breaker – seven interceptions in a season, and BOCES Heavy Equipment Honor Roll. He wants to play in the Big 30 game so he can play one last game with his boys. Logan’s best memory while playing football was being coached by his father throughout his childhood. He lists his hobbies as hunting, fishing, and snowboarding. His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and his favorite football player is LeSean McCoy.

Bo Pearsall

Cameron County High School

Height: 6’0” — Weight: 185 lbs.

Offense: WR – Defense: OLB

Bo plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and major in Exercise Science. His awards are John Simon Sportsmanship Award (2025), National Honor Society, and German Honor Society. He wants to play in the Big 30 game to leave a final mark in his football career, and to meet new people and friends. Bo’s best memory while playing football were the bus rides home after winning games. His hobbies are fishing, working out, video games, hanging out with friends, family, and loved ones. His favorite football team is the Denver Broncos, and his favorite player is Bo Nix.

Michael Nolder

Cameron County High School

Height: 6’3” — Weight: 310 lbs.

Offense: T – Defense: DT

Michael’s future plans are to go to college to play football. He lists his awards as the Thomas L. Malizia “54” Football Award. Michael wants to participate in the Big 30 game because he says he has worked really hard the last four years to try and get selected for this game. He said he is trying to get noticed by different colleges so he can go and play college football. Michael’s best memory while playing football was upsetting Union AC Valley in his sophomore year. He lists his hobbies as football, basketball, and weightlifting. His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and his favorite player is Josh Allen.

Dawson Welch

Oswayo Valley High School

Height: 5’9” — Weight: 162 lbs.

Offense: WR – Defense: S

Dawson plans to take his talents to the next level on the football field. He lists his award as District 9 Football League Outstanding Athletic Award for Offensive Honorary Mention during the 2025 season. He wants to play in the Big 30 game to be able to enjoy this great opportunity for the last time with these great athletes. Dawson’s best memory of playing football was playing US Union for district playoffs. He lists his hobbies as hunting, fly fishing, and working out. His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills, and his favorite player is Josh Allen.

Owen Thompson

St. Marys Area High School

Height: 5’8” — Weight: 185 lbs.

Offense: G – Defense: DT

Owen plans to attend Pennsylvania College of Technology for HVAC. His awards are listed as National Honor Society for 2 years, the Jerry Sain Memorial Award, and the 2025 Oil Can Award. Owen wants to compete in the Big 30 game because he feels it will show his hard work has paid off, and it will allow him to play one last game. His best memory while playing football was being a leader for his teammates, pushing through tough days, and choosing to stay positive no matter what he faced. He lists his hobbies as fishing, hunting, and riding dirt bikes.

Shane Magee

Otto-Eldred High School

Height: 5’11” — Weight: 175 lbs.

Offense: QB – Defense: S

Shane’s plans for the future are to get a higher education and continue to play football at the next level. He lists his honors as Region 4 All-Star Quarterback 2025, Region 3 Offensive MVP 2024, and a member of High Honor Roll. He wants to play in the Big 30 game because he loves the atmosphere of football games. He said he has watched the Big 30 game year after year, and has always wanted to play in it in front of all the fans. Shane’s best memory while playing football was in his junior year when they made the playoffs. He lists his hobbies as hunting, camping, gaming, hiking, and lifting. His favorite football team is the Carolina Panthers, and his favorite player is Cam Newton.

Colby Wilcox

Otto-Eldred High School

Height: 5’10” — Weight: 220 lbs.

Offense: G – Defense: T

Colby plans to work at Kinley Contractors and pursue his welding degree down in Texas. His honors are listed as Lettering in football, receiving Keystone Degree in FFA, lettered in Trap, maintained High Honor Roll, and Otto-Eldred FFA Officer. Colby wants to play in the Big 30 game to represent his community and give back to them for their support. He would love to play this game for the community and have one last run with all of his friends. Colby’s best memory while playing football was all the talks and jokes in the locker room after the games. His hobbies are listed as driving ATVs, shooting trap, and hanging out with all his friends. Colby’s favorite football team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his favorite player is T.J. Watt.