Holley captures Class CC championship

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – MVP Joey DeFelice (5) celebrates with his Holley teammates after scoring what proved to be the winning run in the sixth inning of the Hawks 6-2 Section V Class CC championship victory over East Rochester this evening at Dwyer Staium in Batavia. The Hawks players include Josh Porter (8), Andrew Cary (15) and Patrick Bower (10).

Ending a six year title drought, No. 2 seed Holley combined timely hitting with clutch pitching to defeat top seeded East Rochester 6-2 in the Section V Class CC championship game this evening at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.

Holley, which last claimed a sectional title in 2009, made the most of its 8 hits as 6 of the base raps drove in runs including a pair of RBI triples by winning pitcher Joey DeFelice and a trio of RBI singles by Lucas Silvis.

DeFelice, who earned MVP honors, also had a big night on the mound. Coming on in relief in the fifth inning he struck out all 10 batters he faced.

“It takes a team effort to win it,” said a happy DeFelcie. “I’ think we’ve got the best team around.”

DeFelice fanned all 10 of the batters he faced.

“I’m really glad for our seniors,” said Holley Coach Jason Cole who earned Class CC Coach of the Year honors.

Breaking away from a 2-2 deadlock, Holley took the lead for good by scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning on RBI singles by Silvis and Nick Passarell. A leadoff single by DeFelice ignited that rally.

Keeping the momentum, the Hawks tacked on two big insurance runs with two out in the top of the seventh on an RBI triple by DeFelice and a run producing single by Silvis. It was a near instant replay for Silvis who also had the clutch game winning two-run single in the bottom of the seventh in Holley’s 3-2 semifinal win over Alexander on Tuesday.

Those two scoring bursts were more than enough as DeFelice fanned every East Rochester batter he faced over the final three frames.

Holley first baseman Lucas Silvis tags out Andrew Chilelli of East Rochester.

Dylan Hillabush hurled the first four innings for the Hawks scattering 6 hits and striking out 5.

“We needed Dylan to get as far as he did and he did his job and then Joey came on and did his,” said Cole.

Holley also got off to a quick start scoring twice in the top of the first inning as DeFelice and Silvis again provided the fire power. Jon Bower ignited the uprising with a leadoff single and scored on a triple by DeFelice. Silvis followed up with an RBI single to plate DeFelice.

East Rochester though battled back to knot the contest at 2-2 by scoring once in the bottom of the first on a triple by Max Argento and once in the third on a double by Kirk Georgantonis.

Holley pinch runner Andrew Cary scores an insurance run for the Hawks in the sixth inning.

Holley catcher Josh Porter though helped to prevent the Bombers from scoring any more in the inning as he made a fine catch of a high pop fly right near the backstop.

The Bombers also threatened in the fourth getting runners to second and third with just one out but the Hawks got out of the jam on a pair of groundouts, the first to DeFelice at shortstop and the second back to Hillabush.

Improving to 18-4, Holley will next face the Class C champion Geneseo, an 8-6 victor over Bolivar-Richburg, in the Section V Class C state qualifier game on Tuesday at a site to be determined.

Holley players and coaches celebrate with their championship trophy and good luck totem pole and garden gnome.