State Quarterfinals

Way-Co advances to state semifinals

DANSVILLE — C.J. Ellis scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning after an errant throw from shortstop to first got away helping Section V champion Way-Co to the 8-7 victory over Section VI champ Fredonia (19-6) in a Class B state quarterfinal baseball game Thursday at Babcock Park in Dansville.

The game was a continuation of Wednesday’s match-up that saw both teams battle through a two-hour weather delay and ultimately play to a 7-7 tie through seven innings, before darkness settled in and forced Fredonia to drive the two hours to come back to start the top of the eighth.

Way-Co’s Evan Englert pitched the eighth inning and battled gamely despite a lead-off walk and a one-out error that put runners on first and third with just one out.

But Fredonia’s left handed lead-off hitter ripped a shot up the middle that shortstop Tim Weidman played perfectly as he took the one hop, stepped on second, and threw to first for the tailor-made double play.

Ellis opened the eighth with a base hit to left. A perfect bunt by Brett Curtis would move Ellis to second. After a Tyler Thielges ground out to third, Colin Burke’s hard smash at the Fredonia shortstop was bobbled and then thrown away at first as a hustling Ellis came around to score.

Way-Co advances to Saturday’s 1 p.m. Class B state semifinal where they will take on the No. 1 ranked team in the state in Oneonta (Sec. IV) at MacArthur Park in Binghamton.