JAMESTOWN - For each strikeout that Frewsburg senior Connor Grey recorded Thursday night, a Bears' fan hung a sign bearing the letter K - the universal scorekeeper's notation for a punchout - on the backstop behind home plate at Diethrick Park.
By the end of the Section 6 Class C championship baseball game, the exercise had been repeated 16 times.
But on a night of milestones, Grey's accomplishment may have been only the third most impressive number that the Frewsburg baseball team compiled.
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Photo by Scott Kindberg
Westfield’s Austin Alonge swings at a pitch during Thursday’s Section 6 Class C championship game against Frewsburg at Diethrick Park.
For by virtue of their 10-2 victory over Westfield, the Bears claimed their sixth straight sectional crown and their Western New York-record 20th overall, setting the stage for Tuesday's Far West Regional, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.
The Section 5 opponent won't be known until this weekend.
But based on how Frewsburg played against its north-county opponent last night, the Bears (19-4) are playing arguably their best baseball of the season.
''I'm just proud of our accomplishments and the kids deserve everything they get,'' said Frewsburg coach Jay Grann, who raised his record to 101-23 in five seasons. ''We ask a lot of them and they give us a lot back. There's a lot of joy.''
See WESTFIELD, Page B5
While Grey pitched masterfully - he gave up one earned run, allowed five hits and hit a batter - his teammates provided him with plenty of offensive support from up and down the lineup.
Senior Thad Johnson led the way with four hits, including a triple and a two-run home run, and scored twice; freshman Dane Johnson had two hits and drove in three runs; sophomore Bryce Peterson had two hits, including an RBI triple; and senior Dalton Peterson had a double and scored twice.
''Today, they came through big,'' Grann said.
Westfield, which pushed across a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings, had runners at the corners early in the game, but couldn't get the big hit against Grey, who raised his record to 6-1.
''The big thing about Connor is he's just an intelligent ballpalyer,'' Grann said. ''He doesn't let anything bother him out there.''
Seniors Austin Alonge and losing pitcher Brent Morrison both had two hits for the Wolverines (17-6) and senior shortstop Dillon Kawski capped a tremendous defensive performance by helping turn a triple play, but those highlights weren't enough to overcome Frewsburg's stellar all-around play.
''This is maybe, over 25 years, the fifth red (Section 6 runner-up) patch I've gotten from them,'' Westfield coach Doug Kaltenbach said. ''They don't surprise us. They're the best team in New York state.''
And the Bears jumped on the Wolverines right off the bat, scoring two runs in the first inning, four in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Not surprisingly, Thad Johnson, the state record-holder for career hits, was in the middle of most of it.
His leadoff triple in the bottom of the first inning got the Bears' offense started and his two-run blast over the left-field fence in the fifth capped it.
When combined with the improved hitting from the bottom of the lineup - the last four hitters combined for five hits and five RBIs - it was no wonder that Grann had plenty to be happy about as he looks forward to another regional game.
''It means a lot,'' said Johnson, who claimed his sixth sectional title patch. ''Going six for six in sectional titles is pretty impressive.''
Frewsburg didn't get past the regional game last season, but Grann likes the way his team is playing as the calendar turns to June.
As for the Wolverines, Kaltenbach will lose eight players to graduation.
''We lose eight really good guys,'' he said. '' ... (Wednesday) we played really well (in a semifinal win over Cattaraugus-Little Valley), but Frewsburg is just too good of a team to make mistakes. It just wasn't meant to be.''
NOTES: The Wolverines turned a double play in the third inning and a triple play in the fifth, both started by outstanding plays by Kawski. ''Kawski is the best shortstop I've had,'' Kaltenbach said. ''He's dynamite. I've never seen a triple play in high school.'' The Bears have, though, as they hit into a triple play during their trip to Myrtle Beach in April.
