SANBORN — Niagara Wheatfield already faced a tall task.
In order to reach the Class AA championship game in the Section VI softball playoffs, the Falcons would have to beat Orchard Park, which had handled them, 10-3, on April 5.
So although Niagara Wheatfield entered Tuesday evening’s semifinals as the top seed, the fourth-seeded Quakers were the clear favorite.
If knocking off Orchard Park wasn’t enough, injuries and defensive miscues made life that much more difficult for Kevin Schucker’s Falcons, who suffered a 12-2 defeat in the rematch.
After four innings, Niagara Wheatfield had committed five errors — and allowed 10 runs
The Falcons, who fell in the sectional semifinals for the second straight year, were simply overmatched.
“We knew we were going to have our hands full, but we have a great group,” Schucker said. “(The errors) didn’t help, but I’m not taking anything away from Orchard Park. They’re just a great team. They hit the ball.”
Indeed, the Quakers had 16 hits in all. Among those witnessing the offensive display was Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott, whose daughter, Maddie, plays second base for OP and went 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Ella Hernandez and Bri Owczarczak (double) also had three hits.
Orchard Park’s Ava Farina limited Niagara Wheatfield to six hits, striking out eight batters and walking two.
The Falcons had relied on two pitchers in winning their fourth straight Niagara Frontier League title. But they were without half the duo Tuesday, with senior Brooke Bodewes sidelined with an apparent left knee injury. Instead, classmate Gianna Graber went the distance in the circle.
“To me, we had a nice one-two punch,” Schucker said. “We were happy going with both. It might’ve been where one started (Tuesday) and the other finished, or vice versa. But I don’t know what we would’ve done. I’m not going to lie — it was a loss, but we did have other girls step up. Adrianna (Sirianni) played a great first base when Brooke got hurt, because Brooke, when she wasn’t pitching, was playing first, and then Gianna just gutted it out this year. I’m proud of the whole team.”
Niagara Wheatfield junior catcher Maris Huff also left with an injury after two innings.
“She’s got too much softball left in her career to take any kind of chance,” Schucker said. “She’s our leader. She’s our vocal leader, and she’s been with me since seventh grade. Her future is more important than anything that was going to happen tonight.”
Orchard Park (17-4) advances to face No. 2 Frontier (15-5) in the Class AA final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Grand Island.
Lindsay Tylec (RBI double) and Emma Hurley (triple) each had two hits for the Falcons, who finished 16-4.
“We had a great season,” Schucker said. “We battled some injuries. It was the next-person-up mentality like it’s always been at Niagara Wheatfield, and we’ve had a good year — a really good year. We just went against a very, very good team.”
Walk-off win sends Barker to title game
Kaylee Stoll’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Fallyn Mescall for the game’s lone run as No. 1 seed Barker bested No. 5 Falconer, 1-0, in a Class C semifinal.
Winning pitcher Mady Flint allowed six hits and struck out seven. She and Stoll collected two hits apiece for the Bulldogs, who won their second straight one-run game to reach the finals for the first time since 2016. Barker (17-4) will seek its first Section VI title when it plays No. 2 Chautauqua Lake (14-3) at 5 p.m. Friday at Olean.
Nylah Sharpe had two hits for Falconer (12-4).
Brunner one-hits Falls in Class AAA Game 1
Alyssa Brunner fired a one-hitter as No. 1 Lancaster took Game 1 of the best-of-three Class AAA finals, 12-0, against No. 2 Niagara Falls (10-7).
Peytyn Chojnacki had three hits and two RBIs for the Legends (12-5).
The series continues at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lancaster.