One team hasn’t lost in 17 games. The other has won 11 of its past 12. Gananda and Kendall have already each won sectional titles and will meet for a spot in the state tournament.
It’s a clash of Wayne County and Genesee County on Monday night. Here’s the breakdown:
GANANDA BLUE PANTHERS (19-2/Wayne County/No. 12 NYSSWA Class C)
vs.
KENDALL EAGLES (20-2/Genesee County I/No. 5 NYSSWA Class C)
Monday, Dwyer Stadium, 7:00 pm
How they arrived here: Gananda opened up post-season play with a 10-0 win over Canisteo-Greenwood before taking down Pembroke 1-0 in the semifinals. The Blue Panthers defeated Notre Dame Batavia 1-0 to win the Class C1 title. Kendall started its run with an 11-0 win over Byron-Bergen and then defeated Perry 7-0 in the semifinals. In the Class C2 championship, the Eagles took down Genesee Valley-Belfast by a score of 3-1.
Scoring offense: Gananda (8.4 RPG), Kendall (9.7 RPG)
Scoring defense: Gananda (1.1 RPG), Kendall (1.7 RPG)
Trends: Gananda has not lost a game in over a month and a half, and have pitched shutouts in six straight games. Kendall is on an eight-game winning streak and has outscored its opponents 77-10 over that span.
Players to watch for Gananda: Henry Shutts Sr. P/INF (.556 BA, 35 H, 11 2B, 21 RBI, 35 R, 39.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5-0 record, four saves, 78 Ks), Maddox Stoughton Jr. P/INF (.508 BA, 32 H, 15 XBH, three HR, 32 RBI, 20 R, 27.0 IP, 2.33 ERA, 4-1 record, 47 Ks), Will Schneemann Jr. P/OF (.214 BA, 12 H, four XBH, nine RBI, 15 R, 53.2 IP, 0.39 ERA, 8-1 record, 95 Ks), Brady Wadsworth Jr. OF (.381 BA, eight H, one 2B, four RBI, eight R), Peter Jacob Sr. 3B (.231 BA, 12 H, three XBH, 11 RBI, 17 R), Anthony D’Agostino Jr. 1B (.214 BA, 12 H, seven XBH, 12 RBI, 15 R)
Players to watch for Kendall: Vinnie D’Agostino (Genesee County Player of the Year, threw perfect game in sectional semifinals), Jonny Conte (Genesee County All-Star), Nic Cole (Genesee County All-Star), CJ D’Agostino (Genesee County All-Star), Sammy Conte (Genesee County All-Star Honorable Mention)
Coaches: Bill McClare (Gananda), Tige Noni (Kendall)
History 101: Gananda is coming off its first sectional title since 2019, a year that saw the Blue Panthers reach the NYS Class C semifinals. Kendall is coming off of it’s second straight sectional title. The Eagles advanced to the Far West Regional last season before falling to Gowanda (VI).
What’s at stake: The winner advances to the subregionals to face Gowanda (VI) on Tuesday.
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