Out with a bang

Lancaster Heat’s 10-9 win over Smash It Sports Vipers in the 16U championship game capped an exciting weekend of softball at the third annual Chadwick Bay Softball Bash in Dunkirk.
Submitted Photo

Despite less-than-ideal weather, the Chadwick Bay Softball Bash brought the Dunkirk community to life this past weekend.

Fifty-eight teams converged on the city and completed 109 individual games, crowning champions in four age groups: 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U.

The tournament came to an exciting completion as the sun set over Wright Park on Sunday evening as the 16U Lancaster Heat took on the Smash It Sports Vipers from Rochester. A back-and-forth affair saw the Vipers with a 9-6 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when Lauren Patterson stepped up to the plate with two girls on base and promptly drove a pitch over the center field fence of Joe Karnes Memorial Field to tie the game. While the crowd was still buzzing from the excitement, the Heat got two more hits to score another run to win the game in walk-off fashion.

In the 14U Division, Revenge Softball stormed through the field to take the title while the 12U Division was decided in a 2-1 championship game that saw the Southtowns Slammers defeat 814 Elite of Erie, Pennsylvania. In 10U Division, the Lou Gehrig Lasers-Welsch won the championship behind the tournament’s most dominant pitching, surrendering three total runs over the entire tournament.

“What a way to end a weekend, with one of the most exciting youth softball games I’ve ever seen,” said Kory Ahlstrom, tournament director. ” … Home runs, diving defensive plays, great pitching, neither team quit; Game 109 was the best softball of the weekend. I have to thank a few people without whom this game literally could not have been played: the City Parks and Recreation staff had these parks in amazing shape; Mayor Kate Wdowdiaz for her leadership; and I cannot say enough thanks to Coach Gomez and the boys of the Dunkirk High School Football program who donated their time and efforts to work on the fields throughout the weekend. When the rain came Saturday, these boys went to work and made sure the girls participating had the opportunity to play. The community and Dunkirk Schools should be proud to be associated with them.”

“It was amazing to see all the people in our parks and businesses. Lines were long at local establishments all weekend and the feedback about our little city was positive to say the least,” Wdowdiaz said. “I can’t wait to welcome them all back for next year’s event.”

In the midst of great competition, the local teams represented themselves well over the weekend.

In the 10U Division, the Dunkirk LL All Stars had a strong showing going 3-0 in pool play defeating the McLane (Pa.) Lightning, Rochester Lady Lions and CNY Xplosion to earn the No. 2 overall seed in heading into the playoffs. The team was led by strong play from Mara-Lyn Hebner in the circle and Olivia Thompson, Maddie Mackowiak and Mariah Stewart at the plate.

Not to be outdone, the host 12U Chadwick Bay team also went 3-0 defeating the Mel Ott Hurricanes, North Tonawanda Diamond Jaxx and McLane (Pa.) Lightning. Chloe Sutton earned two wins on the mound, while offensively the team was led by strong performances by Gracie Grann, Jessica Maines and Aubrey Glowniak.

The Chadwick 14U team was not to be out done earning two wins of their own in pool play behind the strong pitching of Alexis Szumigala. She earned two wins in the circle and offensively the team was led by key performances of Maria Dolce, Paige Miller and Maddie Parent. Anna Burlingame provided a stable presence at catcher throughout the tournament.

Not to be outdone, the Chadwick Bay 16U team started off the tournament at the stadium on Friday night with a dominant win over the Lou Gehrig Lasers. The game was highlighted by a grand-slam home run by Bella Buckley; a triple by Emma Ahlstrom; and multiple hits by Peyton Young and Rihanna Benner. Kassie Donisi pitched the complete-game win for the hosts.

The teams from Fredonia also represented themselves well with the 10U Fredonia Fury going 1-1 in pool play and the 12U Fury girls battling their way to the Silver Bracket finals before falling to the CNY Xplosion teams.

Next year’s event is scheduled for Aug. 1-3, 2025.