Albion baseball and volleyball teams enjoy two title seasons

2014: A Year In Review

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Dominic DiCureia gets an out at second base during the Purple Eagles Class A2 title win over Springville. The Niagara-Oreans League champion Purple Eagles went on to also claim the overall Section VI Class A title.

Both on the baseball diamond and the volleyball court Albion High teams captured a pair of championships this past year.

Compiling a 13-1 record, the Albion varsity baseball team captured the Niagara-Orleans League championship for the third year in a row.

Keeping the momentum, the Purple Eagles went on to claim the Section VI Class A crown. Albion first defeated Springville 8-3 for the Class A2 title and then nipped Starpoint 2-1 for the overall Class A championship and a berth in the state playoffs.

The Purple Eagles bid for top state honors though was dashed in the Far West Regional as Section V champion Pittsford Sutherland rallied in the final inning to nip Albion 3-2.

Two Albion seniors, pitcher/shortstop Connor Barleben and catcher John Warne, both earned first team All-Western New York honors and were also named to the Class A All-State squad.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion volleyball players had plenty of reason to celebrate as the Purple Eagles captured both the N-O League and Section VI Class B-2 titles.

The Albion varsity volleyball team made it two straight 12-0 N-O championship years.

The Purple Eagle spikers likewise kept the momentum by registering three straight set victories in a row to claim the Section VI Class B2 title. Albion bested Cheektowaga in the title match.

However, Albion’s bid to gain a berth in the state playoffs was ended as eventual state champion Williamsville South defeated the Purple Eagles in three straight sets for the overall Section VI Class B title.

A trio of Albion players earned Al-WNY honors including junior Kelsee Soule (first team), sophomore Chanyce Powell (second team) and junior Meghan Hurley (Honorable Mention).

The spring season also saw the Albion girls track team’s 400 meter relay team of Kayla Doyle, Abby Squicciarini, Mariah Elsenheimer and Chanyce Powell place first at the Section VI small schools championships and third at the state small schools championships.

This fall the Albion boys soccer team avenged a pair of regular season losses by upsetting rival Medina/Lyndonville 1-0 in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class B1 playoffs. The Purple Eagles then bowed to top seeded East Aurora in the title contest.

This is the first in a series of stories that will appear today and Thursday reviewing the top area school and community sports events from this past year.