Fredonia’s Stopper

His finish helped them clinch a share of the league title.

He was pretty good in the middle, too.

The junior right-hander was so good to start the Division 1 season that he didn’t allow a run through his first 26 1/3 innings, going 4-0 with 38 strikeouts while allowing 13 combined hits against Falconer, Salamanca, Southwestern and Olean. In between, he picked up a save in a nonleague tilt with Pioneer.

On May 6 at Allegany-Limestone, Putney was one out away from a complete game when he reached his pitch limit and had to leave with a 4-1 lead in the seventh inning. Two Gators he left on base scored and the hosts eventually tied the game before Fredonia won in eight innings.

Fredonia junior Ashton Putney is the 2024 OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year.
OBSERVER File Photo

Four days later, Putney suffered his only league loss of the season when Dunkirk handed the Hillbillies a 4-0 defeat. He struck out nine in a complete game.

Three days after that, with a share of the league title on the line, Putney threw another complete game, allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned) while striking out a season-high 14 and walking two in Fredonia’s 10-5 victory.

On May 20, in a Section VI Class B quarterfinal against No. 7 Newfane, Putney threw 5 1/3 no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts and just one walk as the Hillbillies won 10-0. Fredonia’s ace was pulled after throwing 70 pitches so he’d be available for its semifinal game against No. 3 Portville three days later.

On May 23, Putney came on in relief with 2 1/3 one-hit, shutout innings and struck out three as the second-seeded Hillbillies advanced to the sectional final with a 4-1 victory. He earned the save that day.

Putney saw his season come to an end May 25 at Grand Island High School when No. 1 Medina handed Fredonia a 4-3 defeat. That day, he tossed six innings of four-run ball, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

All told, Putney went 6-2 with a 1.62 earned run average and six complete games. He struck out 97 and walked 15 in 60 1/3 innings pitched.

For his efforts, Putney became one of just a handful of student-athletes to be honored with the Al Stuhlmiller Player of the Year and Roger K. Moore Pitcher of the Year awards in the same season for CCAA Division 1.

He was also a finalist for the Colpoys-Barrows Cup, given to the Western New York Player of the Year.

Offensively, Putney hit .471 out of Fredonia’s leadoff spot with seven doubles and three triples. He scored 34 runs and drove in 16 to go along with 21 walks and a 14-for-14 effort in stolen bases.

One of Section VI’s top all-around players, Putney is the 2024 OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year.