In a rematch of the Section VI Class C final, Chautauqua Lake did not blow the lead it got back in the second inning, in fact the Eagles and starting pitcher Cayzlee Johnson got better as the game went on, closing out an important 3-1 victory.

“We kind of struggled defensively in yesterday’s game,” Chautauqua Lake head coach Katie Yudin stated. “We made I think four errors and kind of lost on errors, so it was kind of nice that our defense stepped up today. They really had a clean game and everybody was focused and dialed in working hard.”

Westfield got after Johnson in the second inning when Sydney Hotchkiss sent a stinger back up the middle that hit off Johnson and into the outfield. The Wolverines worked Hotchkiss around the bases and Avery Smith drove her in with a single, but aggressive running on the basepaths helped bring an early end to the inning.

“Our ladies hit the ball well against a great pitcher throughout the game,” Westfield head coach Shawn Gnadzinski stated. “Chautauqua Lake’s defense was flawless tonight, definitely the difference in the game.”

Westfield shortstop Mackenzie Schumaker makes a throw to first base. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Despite tying the game 1-1, Westfield mistakes would quickly turn the game back in favor of Chautauqua Lake the following inning.

“It’s always nice to see our offense respond once the other team gets a run,” Yudin said. “We talk about winning or tying every inning and that keeps us in games. They did a nice job of that today.”

After getting the first two batters out to start the bottom of the second, a throwing error prolonged the frame and put Chautauqua Lake’s Sydney Williams on base. The Eagles immediately made Westfield pay when No. 9 batter Makennah Ryberg hammered a triple down the left field line to regain the lead at 2-1.

“We’ve got a really strong group of kids this year in the lineup,” Yudin said about her team. “It’s nice that we don’t have to rely on just one person and we kind of can come together as a team and string some hits together and get some runs as a team.”

The following inning, Chautauqua Lake added more insurance thanks to an error in the outfield off a line drive by Johnson to get on third base. Right behind Johnson was Lucy Gates to clean up with her second RBI of the game thanks to a booming triple to the left-center field fence.

Chautauqua Lake’s Lucy Gates connects for her third hit of the game against Westfield during Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 action on Wednesday in Mayville. P-J photo by Christian Storms

“We have six ladies in positions they weren’t in last year,” Gnadzinski said about his defense. “Saying that, they are doing very well and will get better and more confident as the season goes on.”

Gates finished the game 3 for 3 with the triple and two RBIs which were enough to secure the Eagles a big league victory.

“She’s been on this team a few years now,” Yudin added about Gates. “She’s a junior and one of our oldest kids on the team now, so she’s kind of in that role as a nice leader this year. She’s stepping up at the plate, stepping up offensively and she had a good play at third base in the first inning.”

Other than the first run scored by Alice Scarpine in the opening inning, Westfield’s Eva Gnadzinski did not give up an earned run the rest of the game. She finished with five strikeouts, the lone walk to Scarpine and five hits in a strong effort.

“Eva was hitting her spots,” Coach Gnadzinski said about his daughter. “Her spin forced numerous groundouts and definitely was getting better as we went on. Yudin does a great job and had her ladies ready; we knew we had our hands full. A few mistakes we’ll clean up; we showed tonight we can play with anybody.”

Westfield pitcher Eva Gnadzinski winds up during Wednesday's game against Chautauqua Lake. P-J photo by Christian Storms

Unfortunately for Gnadzinski and the Wolverines (2-2, 1-1), Johnson had her stuff in what became a pretty special day for the Chautauqua Lake senior. Over seven innings of work, Johnson gave up just one earned run on three hits while punching out six. Her final strikeout was No. 300 in her career.

“She throws a lot of strikes,” Yudin said about Johnson. “She does her job, she lets the other team put the ball in play and lets the defense do the work which is nice. She’s able to mix up her pitches quite nicely, too.”

The 3-1 victory for Chautauqua Lake (3-1, 1-0) avenges last year’s loss in the sectional final and puts the Eagles in the driver’s seat for the division early on.

Chautauqua Lake senior pitcher Cayzlee Johnson winds up during Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 action against Westfield in Mayville on Wednesday. Johnson recorded her 300th career strikeout during the 3-1 league victory. P-J photo by Christian Storms