2022 in Review: Mustangs, Rams diamond title clashes highlight the spring season

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 December 2022 at 8:24 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The Medina and Roy-Hart meetings for league and sectional titles were highlighted by strong pitching performances by, from left, Thomas Russo III, Zach Fike and Aidan Paul.

Diamond rivals Medina and Roy-Hart waged tight battles for both Niagara-Orleans League and Section VI baseball titles this past spring.

The Mustangs and Rams shared the N-O title with identical 10-2 records after splitting a pair of regular season meetings. The title was the third in a row for the Mustangs and the fourth in seven years for the Rams.

Those regular season encounters saw Roy-Hart win 2-1 as Thomas Russo hurled a 4 hitter and also drove in both runs with on an RBI triple and a double. Medina evened the score with a 9-0 win as Zach Fike pitched a no hitter.

Medina then nipped Roy-Hart 1-0 in the Section VI Class B2 title game as Fike hurled a 1 hitter with 5 strikeouts earning the Mustangs their third straight sectional crown. The pitching dual saw Russo scatter 4 hits and strikeout 7 for the Rams.

The Mustangs then downed Depew 4-1 to claim the overall Section VI Class B title and a berth in the state playoffs. Aidan Paul hurled a 2 hitter with 6 strikeouts in 6 innings of work on the mound.

Medina finished the season with a 21-4 record after dropping an 11-1 decision to Palmyra-Macedon in the Class B Far West Regional.

Lady Tigers repeat as G-R Division champs  – Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Compiling a perfect 14-0 record, Lyndonville captured the Genesee Region League Division 2 softball title. It was the second straight G-R title season for Lyndonville which claimed the Division 1 crown during the 2021 season. Lyndonville went on to reach the Section V Class C3 championship game where the Lady Tigers dropped a narrow 4-3 decision to Bolivar-Richburg. The Lady Tigers finished the season with a school record 20-1 mark. Lyndonville was led by a quintet of G-R All-Stars including pitcher Haley Shaffer, infielders Gracie Johnson, Lorelei Dillenbeck, Ella Lewis and outfielder Addison Dillenbeck. Lewis is shown here rounding third base.

Lady Rams win 3rd straight N-O softball titlePhoto by Cheryl Wertman – Compiling a perfect 12-0 record, Roy-Hart captured a third straight N-O League softball championships. The Lady Rams were led by senior pitcher Reanna Perkins, shown here, a two-time N-O Player of the Year, who registered 165 strikeouts in the circle and hit .500 at the plate with 32 RBI, 6 doubles, 3 triple and 10 home runs. Perkins, Juliana Buscarino and Kaitlin Metter all earned first team All-League honors while Maria Peracciny and Lila Brigham were second team honorees.

Albion three-peats as N-O boys track championsPhoto by Tom Rivers – Albion posted a 6-0 record to capture a third straight N-O boys track championship. The Purple Eagles clinched the title with a late season 85-56 win over Wilson as Brian Spall doubled in the 110 Hurdles and 400 Hurdles, Sh’Kwe Riley took the 400, Orion Groth the 800, Ozzie Matos the 200, Brendan Lebaron the Shotput and Jahmeek Riley (shown here) the High Jump. Newfane won the N-O girls title with a 6-0 record.