Back-to-back championship seasons ended Lyndonville’s long diamond sectional drought

Contributed Photos – Winning pitcher Bill Wright celebrates Lyndonville’s 1982 sectional title victory.

Lyndonville ended a long 23 year diamond title drought in the spring of 1982 when the Tigers blanked Cuba 2-0 in the Section V Class C championship game at Rochester’s Silver Stadium.

Senior Bill Wright hurled a 5 hit shutout with 9 strikeouts as Coach John Hayes’ Tigers captured a Section V title for the first time since 1959. His effort included getting out of a one out bases loaded jam in the sixth inning.

Wright received excellent support from his defense which included Jeff Wells at catcher, Mike Joy at first, Ed Luce at second, Rick Donald at shortstop, Rob Riemer at third, Dave Dix in left, Jim Boseck in center and Jim Perkins in right.

The Tigers runs both came home on errors in the third and fourth inning.

Wright also hurled the Tigers to victories in both the quarterfinals (5-1 over York) and the semifinals (4-3 over Geneva DeSales). He had a 5 hitter with 2 strikeouts against York and a 3 hitter with 11 strikeouts against DeSales.

At the plate, Donald had 3 hits and Joy 2 against York. Joy also had 3 hits against DeSales.

Lyndonville catcher Tim Riemer congratulates his brother Rob who hurled the Tigers to the 1983 sectional title win.

Keeping the momentum from that then school record 17-3 season, the Tigers went on to repeat at Section V Class C champions by romping past Pavilion 10-0 in the 1983 title contest at Silver Stadium.

Junior Rob Riemer pitched a sparkling one hitter with 10 strikeouts to lead the way for the Tigers.

The Tigers offense included three hits by Everett Seymour and two each by Rob Riemer, Ed Luce and Brad Hoffee.  Rob and Tim Riemer, Hoffee and Darryl Joy all had doubles.

Rob Riemer also hurled the Tigers to a 6-1 win over Mt. Morris in the quarterfinals allowed only 2 hits and struck out 14. Two hits apiece by Hoffee and Luce led the Tigers offense. Luce and Donald both banged out triples.

In the semifinals Seymour hurled a 6 hitter with 7 strrikouts to lead Lyndonville to a 4-1 win over Arkport. Luce, Tim Riemer and Joy each had two hits to spark the offense.

Lyndonville then almost made it three straight Section V Class C title campaigns but the Tigers dropped a narrow 2-1 decision to Geneva DeSales in the 1984 final at Silver Stadium.

Hayes’ Tigers also captured Section V titles in both 1994 (2-0 over Hammondsport) and 1996 (1-0 over Fillmore). Terry Stephens hurled the Tigers to both title victories. He blanked Hammondsport on just one hit his sophomore year and Fillmore on only two hits his senior season.