High School Extra /News and notes
Grand Island wins pitching duel
Marvin Pawlowski hit a walkoff home run to the opposite field in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs as the Grand Island baseball team beat Kenmore East, 1-0. Left-hander Joel Klock pitched a no-hitter with 18 strikeouts for GI. Canisius-bound Scott Whitehead of Kenmore East countered with a three-hitter with 19 strikeouts.
“It was the most dominant pitching performance by two guys that I’ve ever seen,” GI coach Dean Santario said. “We figured it was going to be a great outing, and it might be a one-run game.”
Ryan Wimmer singled, stole second and scored on Tyler Stoldt’s single as Alden edged Tonawanda, 3-2, to move to 3-1 in ECIC IV. Adam Szwartz went the distance, pitching a fourhitter.
Sansano tosses perfect game
Junior Jennifer Sansano pitched a perfect game with 18 strikeouts for Clarence in a 7-0 win over Hamburg in ECIC I softball. Sansano stayed ahead in the count, threw hard and had good location for the undefeated Red Devils (5-0, 4-0).
At the plate she helped herself with a pair of doubles. Emily Britzzalaro and Val Nappo had two hits each. Clarence broke the game open with four runs in the sixth inning.
Grand Island won its second game in a row in extra innings. After beating Kenmore West, 1-0, on Monday in eight innings, the Vikings downed Kenmore East, 2-1, in nine innings on Wednesday.
With two outs in the ninth, Ashley Mcrae walked, moved to second on Jamie Sobieski’s bunt single and scored on Jordan Dudish’s line single to left-center. Sam Tilkins pitched a fourhitter with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Also in the NFL, Jenna Rickan’s RBI double in the ninth scored Maggie Ryan with the winning run as Kenmore West edged Niagara- Wheatfield, 7-6.
Jessica Puskar’s line drive up the middle scored Alexis Wayne with the winning run with one out in the seventh as Depew beat visiting Amherst, 4-3, to remain in first place in ECIC III. Wayne singled and moved to second on an error before scoring on Puskar’s clutch hit.
Amherst had tied the game, 3-3, in the sixth on a two-run home run over the fence by Erin Dixson.
So far the Wildcats have met the challenge of a week that includes four league games and hosting their own tournament on Saturday. The win over Amherst was their third in a row in the league. Depew hosts Pioneer today, looking to take sole possession of first place. The Wildcats have a 5-1, 3-0 record.
Coach Dan Seelig said Wayne has been on a tear lately. On Tuesday she drove in three runs with a pair of doubles. “If you asked me, I would say she’s our best hitter, but there are a couple other girls on her heels,” he said.
Hamburg pulls out lacrosse win
Shawn Needham scored the tying goal with 4 seconds left in regulation and Matt Springer scored the game-winner just 45 seconds into overtime as Hamburg escaped with a 9-8 win over Williamsville East in boys lacrosse. Springer finished with six goals and an assist.
“I looked them in the eye when we shook hands and said, ‘Life is not fair, you deserved more than walking off the field with a loss,’ ” said Hamburg coach Jerry Severino. “A loss like that—there’s lots of positive things that can be found. I think they really came of age today.”
Hamburg (8-0, 4-0) hosts Canandaigua on Friday at 5 p. m. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 2 in the state in Class B while Canandaigua is No. 15.
Grand Island rallied from a 6-4 halftime deficit to beat West Sencea East, 9-8. GI scored four goals in the third period, taking the lead for good, 8-7, on a goal by Andy Lalonde. Lalonde and Joe Fischer had three goals each. The Trojans scored with two minutes left on a goal by Bryan Baider to get within the final margin.
Amherst girls lax moves to 8-0
Amherst scored the first six goals of the second half to beat East Aurora, 15-7, in ECIC III girls lacrosse. All-Western New York returnee Abbie Gowen had five goals and three assists while Ellie Poleon recorded 18 saves for the Tigers (8-0, 5-0).