Roy-Hart bests Fredonia for Class B2 title

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart catcher Ethan Kuzma puts the tag on Fredonia’s Charles Parker during the Rams Section VI Class B2 championship game win at Grand Island High School this afternoon.

Runners-up the last two years, Roy-Hart came away with top honors this time as the No. 6 seeded Rams defeated No. 4 Fredonia 5-1 in the Section VI Class B2 baseball championship game this afternoon at Grand Island High School.

Roy-Hart, which had lost in the B2 final to rival Medina both in 2021 and 2022, will now face B1 champion Depew for the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state playoffs at 2 p.m. Monday at Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls.

“It’s been a while,” said Roy-Hart pitcher Thomas Russo who hurled a sparkling 2 hitter with 10 strikeouts. “We lost a couple of tough ones to Medina the last couple of years but this time we got it done. The extra time and extra work we put in paid off.”

“It feels great,” said Rams Coach Jim Heideman. “Tommy threw a gem and we played great defense behind him.”

Breaking away from a scoreless deadlock, Roy-Hart moved on top to stay on a clutch two out, two-run single by Zach Walker in the top of the fourth inning. Three walks loaded the bases to set up the threat.

Fredonia’s lone run came in the fifth inning on a wild pitch which cut the Roy-Hart lead to 2-1. Two walks and a single loaded the bases to set up the opportunity.

However, Roy-Hart got out of further trouble with a timely double play. Walker made a catch in right field for the second out. He then threw to Sean Mettler at second base who relayed the ball to catcher Ethan Kuzma who made the tag at home for the final out.

The Rams put a lock on the victory by scoring three times in the top of the seventh on two errors and a wild pitch to make it 5-1. Singles by Jake Gould, his second hit of the day, and Brayden Hy set up the threat.

Russo retired Fredonia in order over the final two innings to close out the win. He struck out the side in the sixth and then had his infield teammates Dawson Draper at third, Gould at shortstop and Mettler at second take turns turning ground balls into out in the bottom of the seventh to lock up the title.

Roy-Hart will now take a 19-4 record into Monday’s state qualifier against Depew which downed No. 9 Iroquois 3-1 in the B1 final.

Roy-Hart captains Brayden Hy, left, and Thomas Russo hold the sectional championship plaque high.

Roy-Hart’s Rem Albee slides into third base as Fredonia’s Owen Rush awaits the throw.

Roy-Hart’s Brayden Hy is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a seventh inning run.