Two wins added for WVCS

After winning against both Franklinville and Ellicottville two weeks ago, the West Valley Wildcats added another pair of wins to their record against these same teams, playing against Franklinville on April 12 and Ellicottville on April 13.

The Wildcats overcame Franklinville by a score of 4-0. West Valley scored once in the third, twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth, to reach a victory.

Coach Bryan Hansen credited pitcher Dylan Westfall in helping the team win the game. “[Westfall] kept the [Panthers’] hitters off balance,” he said.

Cole Stanbro and Shawn Durandetto helped lead the team with 2 hits each. Brandon Rockwood, Collin Proctor, Durandetto and Stanbro each had 1 run in the match and Stanbro and Garrett Bailey had runs batted in. Westfall faced a total of 26 batters, 11 of whom he struck out.

After the home game against Franklinville, the Wildcats traveled to Ellicottville, where they won against the Eagles by a score of 10-0. West Valley added 3 runs in the second inning, 1 in the fourth, 4 in the sixth and 2 in the seventh, to close the game with a victory.

Hansen said that starting pitcher Stanbro’s arm “was not 100 percent” during the match, but Stanbro “helped carry the team” throughout four innings until closing pitcher Bailey came in to shut down Ellicottville in the remaining innings.

Austin Kopp had 3 runs, followed by Durandetto and Stanbro, who each had 2. Westfall, Durandetto and Bailey each had a run in the match and Bailey led the team with 4 RBI, followed by Westfall, who had 2 RBI and Mike Grigsby and Keegan Kittle, who each had 1 RBI. Stanbro had 4 strikeouts and Bailey had 6 strikeouts against 11 batters.

Hansen said that timely hitting and “great pitching” has helped the team be successful so far this season. He also said that Stanbro, Westfall, Kopp and Bailey have been key players in the team’s victories. As of the team’s wins over Franklinville and Ellicottville this past week, the Wildcats have not allowed a run in 17 innings.

The next match for West Valley will be away against the Panama Panthers on Thursday, April 19 at 5 p.m. The team will also play the Brocton Bulldogs at home on April 20 at 4:30.

The Wildcats also played an away game against the Ripley Eagles on April 16, but the score could not be reported before press time. The Wildcat’s match against Cattaraugus-Little Valley on April 10 was canceled due to a rainout.