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Stowell’s three-run blast clinches Letchworth’s second sectional title in three years

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Letchworth defeated Avon, 4-2 in the 2024 Section V Class C1 championship. (Photo: Paul Gotham)

By PAUL GOTHAM

WAYLAND, N.Y. — Jake Stowell’s fifth-inning home run proved to be the difference as No. 5 Letchworth defeated No. 15 Avon, 4-2 to clinch the 2024 Section V Class C1 Baseball championship, Sunday at Wayland-Cohocton High School.

Trailing 2-0 with runners on first and second, Stowell connected on a one-out shot to give Letchworth (17-5) a lead it did not surrender.

“I’m screaming ‘get over the fence,'” said Letchworth head coach Tim Eustace who was standing in the third base coach’s box. “That was a big swing for us.”

The first two batters of the inning reached via hit by pitch before Stowell came to the plate with one out. Massimo Malone and Brody Whalen scored on the play.

“Big ‘mo’ was on our side after that swing,” Eustace said. “That was big.”

Hitting out of the leadoff spot, Stowell lined out in his first at-bat of the game. It looked like the senior centerfielder had put the Legends on the scoreboard in the third with a two-out single. Avon centerfielder Jack Ruter threw a strike to home plate to get Malone who was trying to score from second on the play.

“The great thing about Jake is everything is always going to be all right,” Eustace said. “It doesn’t matter if the worst thing in the world has happened. He’s always got a smile on his face with a great attitude and positive body language. He’s got a short memory.”

Tournament MVP Adam Halsey hurled four shutout innings in relief. The senior right-hander struck out seven and and issued two walks. He allowed two hits.

“He came in and did a job like he does every time, every time,” Eustace said.

Hayden Schroeder started and threw three innings for Letchworth.

“That was our plan to use him all along. He (Halsey) threw against Gananda on Thursday. He threw 70 pitches. I wasn’t positive he would be able to go an entire seven innings. I wanted to get us a good start. Schroeder did his job and got us through the first couple of innings.”

Schroeder singled and scored on Lucas Grisewood’s base hit in the sixth.

The win clinched Letchworth’s second sectional title in three years – this after having gone 50 seasons between championships.

“The kids believe,” said Eustace – in his 17th year as head coach. “They’re committed, passionate.”

Avon (6-13) took a 2-0 lead in the third. RJ Gibson led the frame with a single and moved to second on a Reese DeVito sacrifice bunt. Michael Rowland reached on an error to put runners on the corners. After Rowland stole second, Ryan Davis drove in the first run with a base hit. Rowland eventually scored on a passed ball.

Avon had doubled its season win total in the previous week.

“We were making plays just last week that we haven’t made all year,” said Avon head coach Rob Fries. “It was fun to be part of.

“It was a hard year, but they didn’t quit. We always said we have two choices: ‘We can quit, or we can try and get better.’ The kids worked and worked. We had really good senior leaders. We shuffled guys around to find places they fit. All of sudden we started to hit and that cures a lot of things.”

Avon was looking to win its ninth sectional title and fifth since 2015 having taken the C1 title most recently in 2021.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out in the seventh.

“We’ve had a heckuva run,” Fries said. “I’m really proud of the guys. A lot of times they could’ve given up this year, but they didn’t.”

Letchworth will face Class C2 champion, Bolivar-Richburg in the regional qualifier Tuesday evening at Houghton University. A 5 p.m. first pitch is scheduled.

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