Both teams opened the afternoon sooner rather than later. For the Marauders, they broke ground on the scoreboard by seeing four consecutive walks bring a runner across home plate, then scoring off a Camryn Krzanowicz RBI-single. However, Olean was quick to respond. 

Putting two runners on base with back-to-back walks, Bates then took charge, cracking a home run over left field to take the lead. The Huskies tacked on another run from Alaina Hirliman’s sac-fly in the third before doubling down with eight scores through the next three frames. Holding a comfortable cushion, Olean staved off a Dunkirk comeback for their tenth victory of the season. 

Finding her second homer of the season, Bates ended with three RBIs and one run scored on a 1-for-2 day at the plate. Hirliman also tallied three RBIs, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Ava Finch went 2-for-4 with a team-high three runs while Amelia Jones, Tiana Maine and Mallory Carter combined for three runs and two RBIs. 

At 10-5, Olean has just two games left in the regular season, both of which will be played on the road. On Wednesday, they will see Wellsville before concluding their campaign with a trip to Allegany-Limestone on Friday. Both games are set for 5 p.m. starts. 

AT OLEAN

Dunkirk 200 201 2 R:7 H:9 E:1

Olean 301 431 X R:12 H:10 E:0

Dunkirk: Grann (3 SO, 6 BB), Sutton (6) (1 SO, 0 BB) and Krzanowicz

Olean: Maine (7 SO, 10 BB), Pancio (7) (0 SO, 0 BB) and Bates

Bradford 19, Warren 8 (5 innings)

BRADFORD, PA – The Bradford softball team was the beneficiary of its opposition’s pitching difficulties, scoring 19 runs on eight hits in just five innings.

The Owls made their hits count, using an eight-run third inning and a six-run fifth to bring the mercy rule into effect. 

Daisy Greene led Bradford with a 3-for-5, four-RBI performance. She also racked up five strikeouts in a complete game outing from inside the circle. Alexis Kicior went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI in the win as well.

AT BRADFORD

Warren 101 42X X R:8 H:7 E:6

Bradford 038 26X X R:19 H:8 E:4

Warren: Holden (0 SO, 7 BB), Romanosky (1 SO, 7 BB) and catcher

Bradford: Greene (5 SO, 4 BB) and Kicior

Southwestern 16, Salamanca 0 (5 innings)

SALAMANCA, NY – Unable to stop the bleeding, the Warriors watched errors pile up into their ninth consecutive loss. 

Makenzie Crouse, Kynleigh Wass and Delaney Haley all ended 1-for-2 in the loss. 

Playing their last three games of the season this week, Salamanca will first see Jamestown at home on Wednesday before traveling to take on Dunkirk on Friday. Finally, they will end their regular season on Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against Frewsburg on their home turf. 

AT SALAMANCA

Southwestern 317 32 R:16 H:11 E:1

Salamanca 000 00 R:0 H:3 E:11

Southwestern: Burnett (11 SO, 0 BB) and Carlson

Salamanca: Haley (1 SO, 5 BB), Krug (4) (2 SO, 4 BB) and Bacelli

Port Allegany 17, Kane 1 (3 innings)

KANE, PA – Opening their final week of the season with a rematch against the Lady Wolves, Port made quick work of Kane on the road, dominating through three complete innings, 

Kendra Ayers finished with a perfect record at the plate, finding three hits in three trips with two runs scored and one run batted in, while Breah Fillhart went 2-for-4 with three runs and one RBI. Maddy Errick ended 2-for-4 with two runs while Brynn Evens scored a team-high three times. 

The Lady Gators will keep their foot on the pedal as they run through the final three games of their schedule in the same amount of days. Returning home for a Tuesday meeting with Johnsonburg, Port then sees Coudersport on the road on Wednesday before a season finale against Elk County Catholic on Thursday, 

AT KANE

Port Allegany 485 R:17 H:12 E:0

Kane 100 R:1 H:3 E:7

Port Allegany: Wilcox (5 SO, 2 BB) and Errick

Kane: McGuire (1 SO, 2 BB), Vito (3) (2 SO, 4 BB) and Mix

Elk County Catholic 16, Smethport 0 (3 innings)

SMETHPORT, PA – Unable to find production at the plate, the Lady Hubbers were shut out and dispatched in three against the Lady Crusaders. 

Smethport has just two games left on the schedule, a home contest against Otto-Eldred on Tuesday followed by the finale against Bradford on Thursday.

AT SMETHPORT

Elk County Catholic 5(10)1 R:16 H:7 E:0

Smethport   000 R:0 H:0 E:8

Elk County Catholic: Weisner (7 SO, 0 BB) and Geci

Smethport: Tanner (0 SO, 3 BB), Miller (1) (1 SO, 3 BB), Benjamin (3) (0 SO, 3 BB) and Tronetti

Franklinville 6, Portville 4

FRANKLINVILLE, NY – Despite building up a lead early, the Panthers were unable to hold out, ultimately dropping their fifth loss of the season at the hands of Franklinville.

Sienna Schoonover led Portville with two hits in two trips to the plate, recording a pair of RBIs while Lauren Lyle ended 2-for-4 with one run scored. 

AT FRANKLINVILLE

Portville 030 100 0 R:4 H:5 E:5

Franklinville 012 111 X R:6 H:8 E:0

Portville: Warters (6 SO, 2 BB) and Lyle

Franklinville: Decker (12 SO, 3 BB) and Sullivan

HS BASEBALL

Port Allegany 9, Bradford 2

BRADFORD, PA – Taking to the road for the last time of the season, the Gators tacked on an eleventh win to their record with consistent work at the plate. 

Chase Boyd led Port in the batters’ box, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored while Kellen Veilleux ended 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Aiden Bliss and Gavin Wright both went 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Bliss rounded home twice. 

For the Owls, Sean Ward ended a perfect 2-for-2 with one run scored and another batted in, followed by Lucas Wallace and Tarren Reese, who both finished 1-for-3. 

Port will conclude their season on Tuesday when they host Oswayo Valley at 4:30 p.m. Bradford, on the other hand, has two games remaining on the schedule, seeing OV themselves on Wednesday before ending their season at home against Smethport on Thursday. Both games are slated for 4:30 p.m. starts. 

AT BRADFORD

Port Allegany 003 024 0 R:9 H:9 E:1

Bradford 000 020 0 R:2 H:4 E:3

Port Allegany: Wilfong (2 SO, 0 BB), Petruzzi (3) (1 SO, 2 BB), Veilleux (5) (0 SO, 1 BB), Hawver (6) (3 SO, 0 BB) and Boyd

Bradford: Bell (1 SO, 1 BB), Reese (3) (1 SO, 3 BB), Austin (5) (1 SO, 3 BB), Christjohn (6) (1 SO, 0 BB) and Gow

Elk County Catholic 15, Smethport 0, 4 innings

SMETHPORT, PA – Unable to get past the Crusaders’ men on the mound, the Hubbers were stumped and shutout as they suffered their seventh loss of the season. 

At 8-7, Smethport will look to end their season on a high note, playing Otto-Eldred on Tuesday and Bradford on Thursday. 

AT SMETHPORT

Elk County Catholic 472 2 R:15 H:11 E:0

Smethport 000 0 R:0 H:0 E:7

Elk County Catholic: Brem (4 SO, 1 BB), Hasselman (3) (2 SO, 5 BB) and Herzing

Smethport: Holmberg (1 SO, 4 BB), Hungiville (3) (1 SO, 0 BB), Wertz (4) (0 SO, 0 BB) and Cooney

TRACK AND FIELD

GIRLS: Portville 93, Salamanca 48

SALAMANCA, NY  – Paloma Haas led the way for the Salamanca girls track and field team with individual wins in the shot put and discus. 

Harper Ellis and Kaylin Lemon each picked up an individual win on the day as well, claiming the 400m hurdles and 1,500m, respectively. Lemon’s time in the 1,500m was a PR.

The 1,600m relay team of Ellis, Ireland Fidurko, Lailee Pierce and Lemon took first with a PR time of 4:34.40.

Other personal bests were posted by Ava Porter, Raelynn Jones, Mia Rivera, Makena Reisdorf, Elizabeth Rozler, Pierce, Addison Follman and Azayla Warrior.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Eden  13, Salamanca 11

SALAMANCA, NY – Despite four goals apiece from Leilene McComber (2 assists) and Kiera Bova (1 assist), the Salamanca girls lacrosse team fell at home to Eden.

Also getting on the scoresheet for the Warriors was Amilia McComber (2 goals) and Maliyah Foster (1 goal, 2 assists). Brenda Bova-Redeye tallied an assist as well.

The duo of Jorja Miller and Brenda Bova-Redeye were a force on defense, causing 8 turnovers.

Liana Jimerson tallied eight saves in goal.

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

SALAMANCA — Behind a composed and effective offense, the Salamanca baseball team took care of business in five innings against Pine Valley.

The Warriors had already faced the Panthers this season, claiming an 11-7 victory back on March 31. In that game, Salamanca held a 9-1 lead going into the sixth frame, but Pine Valley brought six runs across in the inning to put the affair right back into contention.

Nearly a month and half later and this time there would be no such late drama as the Warriors controlled the game from the start and emerged victorious by a 16-3 margin.

In the eyes of Salamanca head coach Greg Herrick, the difference between the two meetings of the sides this season showed just how much the team has grown in the short time in between.

“We’re definitely getting better at-bats and more confidence against really good competition with a lot of different lineups,” Herrick said. “If you look at our lineup card, it’s kind of crazy to see how many combinations we’ve played. The kids are competing for spots and … even in a game like this, they know they got to continue to put good at-bats together to get in the lineup. So, I liked their level of competition. I like our growth. We just got to finish games. … We gotta learn how to close out games, but there’s definitely big progress.”

Salamanca wasted no time in round two against Pine Valley, jumping out to a big lead after scoring three in the first inning and six in both the second and third frames before adding a final run in the fourth.

Payton Bradley’s perfect 5-for-5, three run, three RBI performance highlighted the strong offensive showing. Behind him, both Parker Stahlman (2-for-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI, walk) and Nolan Seeley (2-for-2, run 3 RBI, walk) produced multi-hit outings.

As a team, the Warriors produced 11 hits, making it the second game of their last three in which they have eclipsed double figures in the hit column. Another sign of maturity according to Herrick.

“I think we’re learning not to chase,” Herrick said. “I think our pre-pitch recognition is better. Our preparation is better. And that all comes with getting in swings. We just gotta continue to do more work in the offseason so that we get a faster start and there’s quicker growth once the season gets going. It’s a tough game, and to pick up a bat and try to go against some of the pitchers that we’ve been facing, it’s a year-long process. So, I’m happy with the growth. … I think that we’ll be competitive come playoff time, and that’s all you can ask as a coach.”

When all was said and done, Salamanca sent 15 different players to the plate and used two different pitchers. Playing with as significant of a lead as his team had, Herrick took the opportunity to give some of the team’s younger members more looks at the varsity level. After all, the goal of the team going into the season was a hybrid of fostering development and seeking out wins.

One such player that got significant experience was starting pitcher Zander Milks, who threw 3.0 innings. And while he did walk eight batters, he avoided giving up a single hit.

“It’s about balancing growth with competing this year for our seniors and upperclassmen,” Herrick said. “We’ve been committed to getting guys like Zander Milks time on the mound and this is the perfect night to do it. Now, he walked eight, but he didn’t give up a hit. So we just got to continue to find the strike zone and work on mechanics. … I’m pleased with the way he fought through some of the free passes. And he’s not the only one, we continue to be committed to making this a three or four year project where our young guys get time, they get experience, and they learn how to fight back from adversity.”

Salamanca will look to take the momentum of the win into its next game, at home against Silver Creek on May 12 at 5 p.m.

AT SALAMANCA

Salamanca 366 10X X R:16 H:11 E:3

Pine Valley 020 10X X R:3 H:3 E:2

Sala: Milks (1 SO, 8 BB), McCormick and Seeley

PV: Meyers (4 SO, 4 BB), Austin (1 SO, 4 BB), Slade (5 SO, 3 BB) and Howard

lyleoleanstar@gmail.com

DUKE CENTER, PA – In a night that saw a barrage of hits from up and down the roster, the Otto-Eldred softball team honored their four seniors with a dominating win, beating Galeton 16-0 in three innings.

After finishing up the first game against the Lady Tigers – a 12-0, five-inning win which was resumed in the fourth frame after being suspended two weeks ago due to inclement weather – the Lady Terrors took to the diamond, ushering Arayah Holly, Layla Horton, Payton Kaziska and Grace Rositzke – from Oswayo Valley – in the Senior Day procession. All coming to the team with little to no experience, the quartet hit the ground running as they developed and found ways to contribute for the Blue and Gold.

“Grace has been strong with RBIs all season, batting in the four position. Payton has surprised herself from the very first game she stepped out on,” said Otto-Eldred head coach Kristina Francis. “They all continue to get better every game and bring a good atmosphere to the dugout.”

After a team embrace at home plate, they then returned to the dugout, ready to chase down their eighth win of the season. Although the Lady Terrors conceded a loaded diamond early off a single and a pair of hit batters, O-E quickly ironed out the wrinkles thereafter. Dispatching Galeton with defense at home plate, the Lady Terrors swiftly gave themselves the advantage on the scoreboard. 

Leading off was Jahden Prince, who reached first via walk before eventually moving to third off a steal and sac-grounder from Emily Rounsville. Capitalizing on a passed ball, Prince cleared the final distance to home for the inaugural run of the afternoon. Baylee Francis then replicated the feat, reaching first on a walk, stealing to third and rounding home on another passed ball to put O-E up 2-0. 

Holding an early cushion, the Lady Terrors kept their foot on the gas. With only one out, the next three batters loaded the diamond before the following three rotated them in. Horton and Kenyan Kellogg cracked back-to-back RBI-singles followed by a sac-grounder from Holly to put O-E up 5-0. 

“We just understand pitches a little bit more. We understand the pitch counts, as far as being more selective,” said Kristina Francis. “Whereas before we were just getting up there and swinging, now we’re being selective.” 

Returning to the top of the lineup, the Lady Terrors continued to maintain pressure on all three bases, scoring another on a walk before Baylee Francis returned to the plate. With the diamond still full of Blue and Gold baserunners, she crushed the second pitch she faced, sailing a shot over centerfield for a grand slam and four runs. 

“She puts in the time in the batting cages,” said Kristina Francis. “It’s really come together the last two games and it’s nice to see.” 

Although the Lady Tigers tied on a tourniquet immediately after, they were helpless in the batters’ box, seeing three go up and three come back empty handed. Back to the plate sooner rather than later, O-E put three runners on base once again before driving in six more scores to enact the mercy rule. Prince and Rositzke tallied an RBI a-piece during the bottom of the second while Rounsville, Kameca Stebbins and Baylee Francis all crossed home plate on passed balls. 

Recording her second homer of the season, Baylee Francis ended with a game-high five RBIs alongside her three individual runs on a 1-for-2 day at the plate. Smith also scored three times during the win, going 1-for-1 while Helaina Unverdorben and Rounsville scored twice each. 

Looking ahead, the Lady Terrors have just two more games left on their regular season schedule. First, they will host Smethport on Tuesday before completing their campaign with a road game against Elk County Catholic on Wednesday. Beyond that, they await the District 9 Class A playoffs.

“We’re at Smethport tomorrow where we’re looking to take care of business and then we see ECC and could see them back-to-back (in the playoffs,)” said Kristina Francis. “I don’t know what the seedings will be but I expect to see ECC or Northern Potter in the first round. Either one, it’s a win. The fact that we’re going to be in a position to be in the playoffs and be in the top six in the District is a win.” 

AT DUKE CENTER

Galeton   000 R:0 H:1 E:4

Otto-Eldred (10)6X R:16 H:6 E:0

Galeton: Schoett (1 SO, 8 BB) and Batterson

Otto-Eldred: Francis (5 SO, 0 BB) and Rounsville

Fire crews arrived on scene within four minutes of dispatch and immediately initiated fire attack

operations while simultaneously conducting a primary search of the residence for any occupants.

Fire personnel successfully extinguished the fire and completed search operations within three

minutes of arrival, according to Capt. Nate Veno.

All residents were accounted for at the scene. Occupants were evaluated by emergency personnel and transported to Olean General Hospital by Trans Am Ambulance for treatment.

The incident remains under investigation. 

The City of Olean Fire Department thanked TransAm Ambulance, Love Thy Neighbor, District 4 coordinator, Portville, Allegany, Weston Mills for their support during this incident.

Winner of the 100-yard freestyle in the New York State Championship in with the Huskies, Trietley shipped across the country to ultimately become a cornerstone for the Colorado State Swim and Dive team.

The accolades didn’t take long to start rolling in as she was named the Rams’ team MVP during her freshman year. She was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week six times and later earned multiple conference Swimmer of the Week honors.

She was a five-time All-Mountain West selection and recorded several medal-winning performances at the conference championships. 

In the classroom, she was consistently recognized as a scholar-athlete, earned Academic All-District honors, and was a member of the Dean’s List Gold tier.

Over the course of her collegiate career, Trietley, who specialized in sprint events, was credited with over 100 total wins — over 50 individual and over 60 as a part of various relay teams. She holds the third-fastest time in program history in the 50-yard freestyle and the fourth-fastest time in the 100-yard freestyle.

Trietley helped power Colorado State to school records in four major relay events: the 200-yard medley, 400-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle relay. She also hold individual records at CSU’s Moby Pool in the pool records in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. The previous owner of those records was Amy Van Dyken, a six-time Olympic gold medalist.

batesoleanstar@gmail.com

OLEAN  — The city of Olean has a storied relationship with the game of baseball.

From a visit from Babe Ruth, to the legendary John McGraw and Hugh Jennings, to the founding of the Olean Oilers as a minor league baseball team in 1939, to the resurection of the franchise in 2012. The roots are there.

Now, behind the leadership of an established pillar of the community with deep ties to the baseball scene, the Oilers are set to begin a new chapter.

Back on Dec. 3, Olean Oilers Team President Matthew Fidurko announced that the team would be departing from the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) and moving to the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). 

The Oilers had been a part of the NYCBL since 2012 and during their time in the league, reached the championship three times — winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.

But as Fidurko noted back in December, the team is ready to take this next step.

“We could not be more excited for the challenge,” Fidurko told the Olean Star in an exclusive interview. “It’s a bigger league and we’re really excited to prove that we belong in the league, just like we proved that we belonged in the NYCBL for all those years.”

But that’s not where the changes stopped. The Oilers were also seeking out new leadership — a head coach that could successfully guide the team through its first steps in a new era.

Just three days after it was announced that the team would be joining the PGCBL, the Oilers announced that Mike Threehouse would be the man to do just that.

A former Div. I baseball player at St. Bonaventure, and most recently the head coach of the St. Bonaventure softball team, Threehouse was the “perfect candidate,” according to Fidurko.

“He checks a lot of boxes,” Fidurko said in December. “First, what we were looking for in our first head coach going into the Perfect Game league was a local connection. We want people in the community to be connected to our coaches and ‘House’ definitely checks that box. He is an ingrained member of our community through-and-through. He grew up in Olean, went to school at St. Bonaventure, coached at St. Bonaventure and helps run the Twin Tiers Academy. We were also looking for someone that had his personality. When you’re coaching summer baseball, it’s not as much about the day-to-day instruction. It’s about managing a group of people. You’ve got to keep 35 players interested for two months. It’s a grind, it’s a grueling schedule, and House has that background, has that ability to lead a group in a very player-centric way.”

Threehouse has been a keen observer of the Oilers since their return as a franchise. His familiarity with the program, his experience as a player and coach, and his ties to the local community made the hire a no-brainer for Fidurko. Fortunately enough, the eagerness to hire Threehouse was matched by his desire to accept the offer.

“They called me up and as soon as the phone rang and I saw who it was, I thought, ‘I know where it’s going,’” Threehouse said. “We sat down, had a nice conversation, and when they asked me I was obviously very excited about it, it’s an honor to do it.

“I’ve gone to a ton of games, I’ve watched a ton of games, experienced them and being able to coach at the Division One level for so long like I did, they were kind of looking at it like, ‘hey, you’re the guy in town right now that can do it. Jumping into a new league we want a guy from Olean to represent us and bring the city together on this.’ I said it’s a great idea.”

Threehouse, by his own admission, is no spring chicken. But the level of excitement he has to get back in the saddle this upcoming season — which begins on May 29 with a road game against the Jamestown Tarp Skunks — is not to be doubted.

“I haven’t coached collegiate summer baseball in a long time,” Threehouse said. “I think the last time I did was ‘96 or ‘97. So I’m definitely looking forward to it, especially it being my own hometown. We’re looking forward to bringing guys in from all around the country, bringing them into town, playing some baseball, and traveling around Western New York. I just think it’s going to be a great experience for all of us together.”

Now, while Olean may be the home town of Threehouse, his hire as the head coach of the team is not one born out of convenience, but one based on capability. As Fidurko mentioned, they have the utmost faith in him taking the reins ahead of their next big step as a team: their first season in the PGCBL. 

A move that will certainly bring tougher competition to Bradner Stadium, but one that Threehouse believes the program, and the city of Olean itself for that matter, is ready for.

“Olean is one of those towns that’s been built around baseball,” Threehouse said. “Maybe a lot of people don’t realize it because obviously St. Bonaventure basketball has been the only show in town for a long time. But back in the the heyday, when Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner, the old boys were coming to St. Bonaventure to play baseball, it was a big baseball town. From St. Bonaventure itself, (John) McGraw and (Hugh) Jennings are both in the Baseball Hall of Fame. There’s a lot of connections. … So, watching the game of baseball grow over the years in Olean has been really, really good.”

According to Fidurko, the PGCBL actually inquired about the Oilers joining the league ahead of the 2025 season. Ultimately, that move never happened.

But after rekindling those conversations this year, the switch was officially made. And in the words of Threehouse, when a bigger league wants your team, its a move you have to make.

“There were other teams that were interested in joining the league, but when (the PGCBL) took a look at franchises, I think that they were probably looking at us saying, ‘hey, listen, Olean’s the team we want.’ … When the league actually wants you to join them, that’s when things go really well. It’s like finding a team that wants you, that’s what all those players are looking for. And I think we found a league that wants us in it. It’s going to be a great step for us. We’re gonna be playing great competition. … Moving up is only gonna help us.
It’s not going to hurt. That’s for sure.”

In terms of roster composition, Threehouse credited Fidurko for doing the grand majority of recruiting. With the spring semester for colleges just about wrapping up, Threehouse has only just recently been able to see a completed squad list. That being said, the early looks have been promising with Fidurko following through on the two requests Threehouse had.

“I’m going to leave (recruiting) to Matt Fidurko,” Threehouse said. “He’s the man. He’s the president of the team, he’s the guy who goes out and finds the guys. I told him exactly what I think we need: ‘make sure we have enough catchers, make sure we have enough arms.’
We’re talking about 46 games in a short period of time. … I only saw (the roster) a couple weeks ago for the first time, but it looks like he’s done a wonderful job with it. We’ve got guys from a lot of different schools, from all different levels. If we can get them to play together and play for the right reason, I think we could have some fun this summer.”

Now, of course the Oilers want to be competitive. They aren’t joining the PGCBL with complacency on the mind. But according to Threehouse, there’s a necessary balance when coaching summer baseball between playing to win and making sure you’re helping your players improve — the latter being the ultimate goal.

“My job is really not as a coach, my job is a manager,” Threehouse said. “My job is to make sure that the pitchers get their their innings in so they’re ready to go back to their school in top shape. Make sure the guys get enough quality time in their position. Making sure you get enough reps at the plate. A lot of the (college) coaches depend on us summer guys to make sure that their players are ready to get back to school and be in top notch shape when they get there. …
But at the same time, we want them to represent Olean, New York. … I want them to represent themselves, their families, their schools that they’re going to be going back to. So, it’s kind of a mix, but it’s very important for them to make sure they understand why they’re here and the purpose behind it. And that’s getting better every single day.”

With a new league, a new coach and a new team, it has truly been an offseason full of change for the Oilers. Uncharted territory lies ahead, but there is no wavering from Fidurko or Threehouse — Olean is ready to write a new chapter in its noted history with baseball.

Olean Star

OLEAN — About 40 American flag-waving “Right Thinkers” staged a rally for President Trump and the Save Act Saturday outside Lincoln Park.

One of the organizers, Connie Wolfinger of the conservative Right Thinkers group, said the rally started as an effort to encourage the Senate to pass the Save Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) — a bill to document citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It passed the House in a party-line vote earlier this year.

The rally quickly turned into a Trump rally, Wolfinger said.

Olean City Republican Chairwoman Mary Fay agreed, saying the Save Act bill would use cyber-security and AI to make sure people voting in elections were who they say they are. 

A birth certificate or passport would be required to prove citizenship before registering to vote in federal elections.

“It started out as a rally for the Save Act, but it quickly turned into a Trump rally,” Fay said. “We’ve had a mostly positive reaction from people driving by and honking their horns.”

Nate Smith, a co-chairman with Wolfinger of the Right Thinkers, held one side of a large American flag at the corner of South Union and East State streets. 

“We’re supporting the Save Act and supporting Trump,” Smith echoed. “We’re getting lots of positive honks. It’s kind of a spontaneous group,” he said of the nearly six-year-old Right Thinkers group.

Smith, who attended the rally with many of his family members, said it was a good way of getting the word out on the Save Act and supporting Trump. It’s also good for the group’s morale. “We’ve done it many times over the years, he said. “I’m sure we’ll do it again.”

Is Smith concerned that the president’s approval rating has dropped into the mid-30s?

“Trump is resilient and his supporters are resilient,” he replied. “All Trump has to do is be Trump. He loves America.” 

Smith said gasoline and food prices will come down after the war with Iran ends and the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. “I’m optimistic prices will come down.”

Another man carrying a flag said, “I support the president. Everything I see on TV is negative. He’s gotta get the gas prices down and end that (Iran) war.”

Nearby, Mark Weitzel of Portville, carried a sign topped with four small American flags that read: “Long Live the King,” with a picture of the president wearing a crown. 

“I thought I’d put a little humor in this (rally),” Weitzel said. “I support Trump very much.

Opponents to Trump’s policies have staged three nationwide “No Kings” rallies.

“The people down here love America,” said Steve Clute of Hinsdale. 

What about high gas and food prices that are affecting the president’s popularity? 

“They were higher under Biden,” Clute replied of gasoline and food prices.

David Freidly of Olean said he’s a veteran “and I love America.” He attended with his two granddaughters. “They wanted to come too and wave the flag.”

Helen and Harry Button of Ceres were waving an American flag and a big Trump flag. “We’re here to show support for the nation’s 250th anniversary and Donald Trump,” Helen said. They read about the rally on Facebook and decided to come.

“I’m here to support my president and my country,” said Harry, who spent eight years in the U.S. Army and was in  the Gulf War. “You don’t have to like the man to like his policies. We need to get middle class jobs back here. He’s bringing back manufacturing.”

The rally was held from 3-5 p.m. The Right Thinkers meet monthly at The Hall in Allegany. 

The theme at the next meeting on May 18 is “NYS — Where does the money go?” Panelists include: Republican state comptroller candidate Joe Hernandez, Cattaraugus County Legislator Don Benson of Allegany and Dr. Nicholas Waddy of Alfred State College.

The Panthers scored early, bringing a run across in the top of the first and third to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Aidan DeFazio (2-for-3) and Dylan Chudy (2-for-3) were responsible for a run apiece.

The Cardinals cut the lead in half with a run in the fifth and threatened to play spoiler with two on base in the bottom of the seventh, the game tying run just 90 feet away.

However, it was Chudy who slammed the door shut on a possible comeback, gunning down a runner looking to steal second base.

“Ty Kosinski took command today, delivering a complete game on the mound,” Portville head coach Joe Pleakis said. “This was a great team win for us. Chudy remains a solid leader on the team for us in every aspect, DeFazio also stayed hot at the plate. Fun win for the boys in a big league matchup, and great to see them play as a complete team to take the win wire-to-wire.”

AT RANDOLPH

Portville 101 000 0 R:2 H:7 E:1

Randolph 000 010 0 R:1 H:6 E:0

Port: Kosinski (4 SO, 7 BB) and Chudy

Rand: Taylor (12 SO, 1 BB) and Nottingham

Olean 14, Dunkirk 2

DUNKIRK, NY — The Olean baseball team rolled past Dunkirk on the road behind a red-hot offense.

The Huskies scored 14 runs on 13 hits, the most of which came from the bat of Ethan Woodring, who led the team with a 3-for-4, four run performance.

Caine DeGolier (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Landon Johnson (2-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI) and Tyler Sullivan (2-for-3, run, 2 RBI) each had multiple hits in the win as well.

AT DUNKIRK

Olean 115 003 4 R:14 H:13 E:0

Dunkirk 000 101 0 R:2 H:3 E:4

OL: Cartmill (7 SO, 3 BB), Teachman (2 SO, 0 BB) and DeGolier

Dunk: Lemanski (4 SO, 2 BB), Bache (0 SO, 1 BB), Kinney (1 SO, 4 BB) and Ott

HS SOFTBALL

Otto-Eldred 11, Kane 10

KANE, PA — WIth three runs in the top of the seventh, the Otto-Eldred softball team swiped a high-scoring victory over Kane.

The Terrors scored in all but one inning, which ended up being just enough to overcome the combined nine runs the Wolves scored in the fourth and sixth.

Helaina Unverdorben led the Terrors in hits, going 4-for-5 with two runs. Jahden Smith added a three-hit, two-RBI performance as well.

Grace Rositzke (1-for-4, run) and Payton Kaziska (2-for-5) each had three RBI in the win.

AT KANE

Otto-Eldred 201 221 3 R:11 H:14 E:3

Kane 100 603 0 R:10 H:13 E:1

O-E: Francis (11 SO, 2 BB) and Rounsville

Olean 17, Jamestown 1 (5 innings)

OLEAN, NY — Highlighted by an eight-run third inning, the Olean softball team ran away with a lopsided win over Jamestown.

Anna Bates led the Huskies, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Allison Anastasia (2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Ari Finch (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) had multiple hits in the win as well.

AT OLEAN

Olean 308 24X X R:17 H:14 E:1

Jamestown 100 00X X R:1 H:1 E:9

OL: Maine (2 SO, 4 BB), Jones (2 SO, 2 BB) and Bates

JT: Maggio (0 SO, 2 BB) and Hughes

HS GOLF

Olean 32.5, Southwestern 22.5

OLEAN, NY — A pair of 46s carded by Cam Bartman and Finn Caya led the Olean boys golf team past Southwestern at Bartlett Country Club.

Southwestern’s Ejuah Sarvaiya had the low score on the day with 45.

COLLEGE BASEBALL

La Salle 11, St. Bonaventure 9 (Game 1)

La Salle 18, St. Bonaventure 9 (Game 2)

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The St. Bonaventure baseball team dropped both games of a double header against La Salle on May 8.

There was no shortage of hits in the first two games of the three game series with the Bonnies and Explorers combining for 62 on the day. 

The first game of the day was a walk off win for La Salle, which scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to steal the result. Joey Calabretti led Bona with a 3-for-5, two-run, two-RBI performance.

In the second game, Bona got at least one hit from all but one player and got at least two from all but three. At the top of the lineup, Anthony Fernandez and Chris Hoalcraft each connected for three hits. Fernandez scored two runs and batted in three in the loss as well.

THURSDAY

TRACK AND FIELD

Allegany-Limestone 89, Cattaraugus-Little Valley 52

CATTARAUGUS, NY — The Allegany-Limestone track and field team picked up a big win at Cattaraugus-Little Valley, winning all but five events on the day.

Aliyah Conner and Elexa Duggan were multi-event winners at the meet for the Gators. Conner won the 100m (13.9), the 200m (28.7) and was part of the winning 400m relay team. Elexa Duggan claimed first in the 1,500m (5:41.6), 3,000m (12:47.4) and led the winning 3,200m relay quartet.

lyleoleanstar@gmail.com

BRADFORD, PA – Walking up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, the Bradford baseball team’s season rested in one final at-bat. Down by a pair and on the brink of playoff elimination, it all came down to a couple of trips around home plate. 

Unfortunately for the Owls, their struggles to find clutch hits in the box continued and after three quick trips, their fate was sealed, losing 3-1 to Warren and forced to play out the remainder of their season in vain. 

Entering this week and playing under a 0.500 postseason rule, Bradford’s mission was clear: at 3-9, they had to win out the rest of their games for a chance to chase a District 9 title. Facing Brookville and Brockway on Monday and Thursday, the Owls’ playoff hunt proved fruitful, tacking on 7-3 and 6-5 wins, the latter of which was decided by a walk-off steal with two outs. 

“Our mentality was just one game at a time,” said Bradford head coach Eric Haynoski. “We knew what we had to do. We knew we had to win out and the kids battled. These guys have the heart and desire (to win.)”

Defense had carried them through the first two games of the week, and against the Dragons, Bradford didn’t change course. Starting with a slick double-play in the top of the first, the Owls managed to swiftly dispatch Warren time and again, allowing just two men on base through the first three frames. The effort, in large part, came from Sean Ward, who protected the diamond by chasing down anything and everything that came his way.

“The field came down to Sean Ward at first base. I think he had six put-outs and caught four fly balls over his shoulder. That’s something I haven’t seen, it was just his senior leadership and his will to win,” said Haynoski. “He wants it and he puts his body on the line every time he can make a play for the team. He’s worried about the name on the front of the jersey and not his own.” 

However, on the other side of the plate, the Owls’ found themselves stumped. Despite putting the ball in play and men on base sooner rather than later, they continuously left men stranded without finding a final base-hit. Unable to find the gaps in the field or a way past the Dragon’s ace, David Manning, Bradford routinely returned to the dugout empty handed. 

Then the cracks began to show. 

Heading into the top of the fourth, the Owls’ defense initially held strong, finding the first out in the first batter. However, giving up a walk and a steal of second immediately after, Bradford’s first error of the day would allow Warren to put another man on the baseline. Another walk filled the diamond before a hit batter drove in the first run of the day. With a Dragon still standing on every base, two more walks through the next three batters widened the margin on the scoreboard to three before the Owls finally tallied the final out. 

Needing to sow up their self-inflicted wounds, Bradford’s response started with a single from Lucas Wallace. Two batters later, Jackson Peterson joined him on base with another single before, with two outs, the Owls loaded the bases with a hit batter. 

Finding themselves in a microcosm of their season, with their backs against a wall and an opportunity in front of them, the Owls came up just shy. Their sixth man to take to the plate, Max Gow, rattled off a single, driving in their inaugural score of the afternoon, however, in an attempt to bring in a second runner, the Owls were tagged out at home plate, coming just inches short of extending their retaliation.

From there, they once again went silent. Although they were able to return to shutting out Warren, Bradford’s bats failed to draw the same production. Despite finding two more hits, singles from Tarren Reese in the fifth and Jaron Lohrman in the sixth, in the seventh they were retired in just three, putting an end to their potential comeback, as well as their hopes of a playoff berth.

The Owls’ three hits came from Wallace, who ended 1-for-2 with one run scored, Gow, who finished 1-for-3 and Reese, who went 1-for-4 in the loss. 

Still having three games left on the season, Bradford’s final stretch will be one of continued developmental focus. While this season came up short of their expectations, the Owls are hopeful for what lies in the years to come.

“We’re going to give it all we got and play for these seniors. Lay it all on the line for (Ward and Ben Woodhouse.) Those two love the game, they love competing and I just hope it carries on with these younger kids,” said Haynoski. “I see a lot of drive with these younger kids and it’s a pleasure to see. It’s exciting. I think Bradford baseball has a bright future, I really do.” 

AT BRADFORD

Warren 000 300 0 R:3 H:0 E:3

Bradford 000 100 0 R:1 H:3 E:2

Warren: Manning (7 SO, 3 BB), Neal (7) (0 SO, 0 BB) and SnyderBradford: Haviland (1 SO, 3 BB), Austin (4) (2 SO, 5 BB), Bell (6) (0 SO, 0 BB) and Gow

Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne invited city residents to the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the revitalized Marcus Park at 2 p.m. on May 15.

Located at West Sullivan Street between North 13th and North 15th streets, the park has undergone a complete $2.1 million reconstruction designed to serve every member of the community.

The new recreation hub will include an all-inclusive playground, modernized facilities and a dog park.

From its 1930s roots to the 2026 vision, the story of Marcus Park began nearly a century ago. In the 1930s, H.W. Marcus donated the initial land to the city, a legacy expanded in 1950 by his son, Ben Marcus. 

For decades, the 3.5 acre park was a staple for neighborhood athletics and the gathering of the neighborhood kids. 

“Today’s reopening honors that history by preserving its spirit while introducing state-of-the-art infrastructure that meets the needs of a modern, diverse population,” Sherburne said in a statement. “The hallmark of this renovation is the all-inclusive playground, a specialized recreational area where children of all physical and developmental abilities can play together.”

Beyond the playground, the park now offers: 

• Revitalized Athletic Space — Upgraded ball fields and expansive green areas for community sports. 

• New Infrastructure — Modern restroom facilities, paved accessible pathways, and improved lighting for safety and comfort.  

• A Premier Dog Park — A safe, fenced environment for local pets and their owners. 

“This project represents a significant investment in Olean’s future, made possible through a strategic blend of state grants and local philanthropy,” the mayor said. 

The broader park improvements were funded by Empire State Development’s Capital Improvement Grants for Pro-Housing Communities, the Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, the City of Olean and the InTandem Foundation.

Sherburne said the vision for the all-inclusive playground “was brought to life through the unwavering and vital support of InTandem and the InTandem Foundation. Their profound dedication to accessibility ensures that Marcus Park truly belongs to everyone.” 

The City of Olean encourages all residents to attend the ceremony, explore the new amenities, and witness the start of a new chapter for this cherished neighborhood landmark, Sherburne said.