Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Cole Callard breaks between a pair of Depew defenders during the Mustangs win over the Wildcats at Vets Park this evening.

Building up a 7-2 halftime advantage, Medina went on to defeat Depew 11-6 in a Class D Division lacrosse game at Vets Park this evening.

Will Prest scored 4 goals, Lucius Wagner and Dylan Lonnen 3 each and Jacob Rissew 1 for Medina which improves to 2-0.

Rissew, Wagner and Prest took turns scoring goals in the opening quarter to spark Medina out to a 3-1 lead.

Prest and Lonnen then each scored a pair of goals in the second period to up the Mustangs lead over the Wildcats to 7-2 at the break.

Medina maintained a 10-3 advantage at the three-quarter mark after third period tallies by Lonnen, Wagner and Prest.

Wagner scored again early in the final stanza to yup the Medina lead to 11-3.

The Mustangs next host Akron on April 10.

Medina’s Lucius Wagner looks for a shot as he drives toward the Depew goal.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – This veteran quartet of Nathan Gibson, Jack Kinter, Josh Bovenzi and Kaiden Froman will lead Albion into the upcoming baseball season.

Four veterans anchor the lineup for the Albion varsity baseball team which faces a bit of a rebuilding task this season after a large number of graduation losses.

That quartet includes seniors Jack Kinter (Pitcher/Infield) and Josh Bovenzi (Outfield) along with sophomores Nathan Gibson (Catcher/Pitcher/Inf) and Kaiden Froman (Inf/Of/C/P).

“It is a rebuilding year for us,” said Coach Bruce Blanchard. “It is a pretty young group but our goal as always is to compete.”

The Purple Eagles lineup also includes juniors Lucas Martin (Inf/P), Lucas Powley (Of/P), Seth Krenning (Inf/Of/P), Andrew Boyce (Inf/P), Aaron Woodroe (Of) and James Harris (Of) along with sophomores Elliott Trapiss (Inf) and Joshua Shoeberlein (Of).

Albion’s graduation losses included first team Niagara-Orleans All-League pitcher/shortstop Amari Jones, second team selection shortstop/pitcher Javon Jones, Honorable Mention picks Jacob Hughson and Dallas Ecker along with Chris Sacco, Jason Conn and Caiden Uderitz.

“We graduated virtually all of our pitching experience so it is going to be pitching by committee for us this season,” said Blanchard.

Albion will prep for the April 15 N-O opener against Newfane with a series of five non league contests beginning at Kenmore East on Monday.

The Purple Eagles went 4-8 in the league and 5-11 overall last spring.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Alea Barrett slides into second base as Medina shortstop Iyla Lilleby covers the bag during the Lady Eagles win over the host Mustangs at Vets Park this afternoon.

Scoring in five of six innings, Kendall downed Medina 20-5 in a season opening non league softball game at Vets Park this afternoon.

Brooke Rodas led the Kendall attack going 4 for 4 with a three-run home run, a double, two singles and 9 RBI. Teagan Shaw and Sophia Picardo both had doubles, Isabella D’Agostino 2 hits and Alea Barrett a single and 5 runs scored.

Danielle Offhaus scattered 6 hits and struck out 5 to pick up the win in the circle.

Sophia Goyette had a two-run double and Iyla Lilleby 2 hits for Medina as Sam Heschke registered 8 strikeouts in four innings of work in the circle.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Mikey Colucci dives back to first base ahead of a tag by Barker’s Logan Flint during the Eagles season opening non league win over the Bulldogs at Lyndonville this afternoon.

A trio of pitchers combined to hurl a no hitter as Kendall blanked Barker 7-0 in a non league season opening baseball game at Lyndonville this afternoon.

Nic Cole, Jimmie Swift and Gavin Braun shared in achieving the no hitter registering a total of 14 strikeouts. Cole had 7 strikeouts over the first four innings while Swift had 5 over two innings and Braun 2 in the final frame.

James Fox had a pair of hits and Colby Hughes a two-run double to lead Kendall at the plate.

Kendall moved on top to stay by scoring two quick runs in the first inning on hits by Fox, Louie Conte and Vinny D’Agostino.

The Eagles will next have three scrimmages and two games at the Ripken Experience complex in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina over the Easter week break.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s large veteran group includes, in front, Madelina Pavlock, Kaylee Stoll, Mady Flint, Arnie Sturtevant and Macie May. In back are Rachel Sutter, Anna Bowerman, Natalie Brandel, Peyton Bradley, Samantha Murphy and Petra Bish.

Having finished in the runner-up spot last spring, Barker returns a veteran laden squad with which to again challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League softball honors.

That large veteran group includes seniors Petra Bish (Outfield), Anna Bowerman (Infield), Natalie Brandel (Pitcher/Inf.), Macie May (OF), Samantha Murphy (OF) and Rachel Sutter (Utility) along with sophomores Peyton Bradley (P/Inf.), Madelina Pavlock (U), Kaylee Stoll (Inf.) and eighth graders Mady Flint (P/Inf.) and Arnie Sturtevant ((P/U).

Brandell and Bradley both earned first team N-O All-League honors last spring while Bowerman and Stoll were second team selections.

“We have a real good group back with three pitchers which is big for us,” said Aileen Gilbert who is co-coaching the team with Bill Moeller.

Barker’s graduation loses included first team All-League infielder Mia Herman along with Honorable Mention selections Lilly Monthony and Aaliyah Wheat.

Barker, which went 9-3 in N-O competition and 14-4 overall last spring, is scheduled to open the league campaign against defending champion Akron on April 10. The Lady Bulldogs have five non league games scheduled prior to that beginning at home against Pembroke on Thursday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Dylan Lonnen puts a shot on the goal during the Mustangs season opening win over Wilson at Vets Park this evening.

Rebounding from an early four goal deficit, Medina rallied to down Wilson 11-8 in a season opening Class D Division lacrosse game at Vets Park this evening.

Dylan Lonnen and Lucius Wagner each scored 3 goals and Jacob Rissew 2 to lead the Medina attack as Will Prest, Cole Callard and Liam Castricone each netted 1.

Wilson built up a 5-1 lead early in the second quarter, including 3 goals by Connor Peck.

However, Medina came battling back to score 4 of the next 5 goals and slice the deficit to 6-5 at the half. Lonnen scored 2 goals during that stretch as Prest and Wagner both had 1.

The Mustangs stayed within one, 8-7, at the end of the third period on goals by Callard and Wagner.

That set the stage for a strong Medina finish as the Mustangs erupted for four unanswered goals in the decisive final period to claim the win.

Lonnen scored the equalizer just 1:32 into the period.

Rissew followed up with the go ahead and what proved to be the game winning goal on a power play with 6:26 remaining.

Wagner and Castricone then tacked on insurance goals to lock up the win.

Medina next hosts Depew at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Medina’s Will Prest works between a pair of Wilson defenders to advance the ball.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Helping to lead the Holley varsity softball team into the upcoming season are returnees Layne Walker, Leigha Walker, Gabriella Houseknecht and Natalie Foose. Missing are Teanna Church and Ryleigh Weader.

Looking to rebound from last spring’s winless league campaign, Holley is scheduled to begin tuning up for the Genesee Region softball season by visiting Geneseo on Thursday for a non league contest.

Holley returns a veteran nucleus of six players including seniors Teanna Church (Outfield), Ryleigh Weader (Infield), Layne Walker (First base), Leigha Walker (Catcher), Gabriella Houseknecht (Pitcher/OF) and junior Natalie Foose (Third base). Leigha Walker earned G-R All-Star honors last spring.

Sophomores Skylar Gallagher and Lily Newman look to help out with the key pitching duties.

The Lady Hawks roster also includes juniors Kylee Dann (Inf.) and Alyssa Armstrong (Inf), sophomores Alexa VanAmeron (Shortstop) and Cadence Lujan (Inf/Of) and freshman Serenity-Ann Rath (Utility).

Holley’s graduation losses included G-R All-Star pitcher Tia Hoffarth.

Holley is slated to open the G-R season at Pembroke on April 10.

The just released Section VI 2024 high school football schedule will have Medina visiting neighboring Roy-Hart/Barker and Albion making the long trip to the Southern Tier to face Olean to open the season on Friday September 6.

It is a season schedule filled with a sizeable number of Thursday night and Saturday afternoon contests.

The Mustangs and Purple Eagles will then both have their home openers the following Friday, Sept. 13, as Albion hosts Depew and Medina entertains Newfane.

Albion will also host Maryvale on Friday Sept. 20, Dunkirk on Thursday October 3 and Medina on Friday Oct. 25.

The Purple Eagles will visit Lackawanna on Saturday Sept. 28, Springville on Friday Oct. 11 and Lew-Port on Thursday Oct. 17.

Medina will also host Tonawanda on Friday Sept. 27, Akron on Thursday Oct. 3 and Alden on Friday Oct. 11.

The Mustangs will also visit Cleveland Hill on Saturday Sept. 21 and Maritime on Saturday Oct. 19.

Roy-Hart/Barker will also host Newfane on Thursday Sept. 19, Maritime on Friday, Oct. 11 and Franklinville on Oct. 25.

The road games for Roy-Hart/Barker will include Friday Sept. 13 at Akron, Thursday Sept. 26 at Alden, Saturday Oct. 5 at Cleveland Hill and Friday Oct. 18 at Tonawanda.

Albion’s Schedule
Fri. Sept. 6 at Olean
Fri. Sept 13 Depew
Fri. Sept. 20 Maryvale
Sat. Sept. 28 at Lackawanna
Thurs. Oct. 3 Dunkirk
Fri. Oct. 11 at Springville
Thurs. Oct. 17 at Lew-Port
Fri. Oct. 25 Medina

Medina’s Schedule
Fri. Sept. 6 at Roy-Hart/Barker
Fri. Sept. 13 Newfane
Sat. Sept. 21 at Cleve Hill
Fri. Sept. 27 Tonawanda
Thurs. Oct. 3 Akron
Fri, Oct. 11 Alden
Sat. Oct. 19 at Maritime
Fri. Oct. 25 at Albion

Roy-Hart/Barker’s Schedule
Fri. Sept. 6 Medina
Fri. Sept. 13 at Akron
Thur. Sept. 19 – Newfane
Thurs. Sept. 26 at Alden
Sat. Oct. 5 at Cleve Hill
Fri. Oct. 11 Maritime
Fri. Oct. 18 at Tonawanda
Fri. Oct. 25 Franklinville