Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Barker into the upcoming field hockey season are these senior members of the Lady Raiders squad. In front are Mia Herman, Lilly Monthony, Alexa Zglinicki and Miya Goodale. In back are Alexis Weeks, Mackenzie Dodge, Ashlin Cole and Aaliyah Wheat.

Having lost just one player to graduation from last fall’s second place team, the Barker field hockey team is again taking aim at competing for top honors in the Niagara-Orleans League.

Leading Barker’s veteran laden squad are midfielder Mia Herman and defender Ashlin Cole, both seniors who earned first team N-O All-League honors, along with midfielder Alexis Weeks and defender Aaliyah Wheat, both seniors who were both second team picks, and senior defender/goalie Lilly Monthony who was an Honorable Mention selection.

The Lady Raiders also return seniors Alexa Zglinicki, Mackinzie Dodge and Miya Goodale along with juniors Addison Szafranski, Keira Dalton, Rachel Sutter, Cole Carnes, Macie May, Petra Bish and Anna Bowerman.

That large group includes the Lady Raiders top five scorers including Zglinicki with 10, Herman and Sutter 9, Weeks 7 and Goodale 6.

“We’re very encouraged with everyone back but one. The girls are very excited and ready to go.” said Karen Metz who co-coaches the Lady Raiders with Aileen Hinton.

Barker, which went 9-3 in N-O action last fall, will open the N-O season at home next Tuesday against Kenmore.

Fall is coming and the summer leagues are winding down at Hickory Ridge. The Tuesday Night Ladies Night Out League will be finished next week after their position round and its close in the standings.

Deb Wood and Aleta Martin lead with 103 points. Marcia Zambito and Margie Page are in second with 100.5 points with Laurie Freeman and Linda Chrzan close with 100 points.

This week Wood had low gross with 38. Martin and Freeman both had 43. Freeman led low net with a 32 while Brenda Powers and Diane Abel both had a 33. Freeman and Powers both recorded birdies.

It is also close in the standings for the Men’s Wednesday Night League. Clark Brooks and Dick Taylor are tied for first with the team of Jim Zambito and Owen Toale (sub). Each team has 92 points. Bob and Craig Wyant have moved up to third with 88.5 points.

Tim Hendrickson and AJ Gifaldi shared low gross with a 39 with Bob Wyant one behind with a 40. Gifaldi had low net with a 30. There were a bunch of birdies last week which is unusual for the back nine that was played. Loyd Denniston led the birdie count with three followed closely by Hendrickson who had two. Gifaldi, Craig Hazen, Raymont Daniels, Bob Wyant and Jim Zambito had one each.

The Men’s Traveling League on Thursday had Jake Cotter leading low gross with a 40. Zack Burgess had low net with a 29. Brian Payne had two birdies.

Jake Cotter and Tyler Root continue to leading the standings with 290 points. Dave Cotter and Randy Knaak are in second 2ith 284 points and Jim Peglow and Bud Peglow hold third place with 248 points.

The next Hickory Ridge Golf Association tournament is a Two Person Scramble and is scheduled for Monday, September 12 with tee times beginning at 9am. Players can sign up as a two some or as a single and the board will attempt to place you with another single. The tournament is open to HRGA members, non-members or social golfers who have either a GHIN handicap or a league handicap. This fun tournament signup is in the pro shop and you must signup by Thursday, September 1.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Returning starters Cami London, left, and Olivia Krenning will lead Albion into the upcoming girls varsity soccer season.

It will be tourney time for the Albion girls varsity soccer team to open the season next week.

The Purple Eagles will host Alexander at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday in the opening round. Kendall will face Newfane at 4:30 in the other semifinal. The consolation and championship games will be at 2 and 4:30 on Friday.

Senior midfielder Olivia Krenning and sophomore forward/midfielder Cami London are the only returning starters for Albion which lost a dozen players to graduation 8 of whom earned spots on the Niagara-Orleans All-League squad.

Albion also returns some varsity experience in seniors Jessica Penna, Taylor Soule, Samantha Basinait, Jamie Penna, Lisa Beam and Iris Rosario Reyes and junior Alison Gibson.

The Purple Eagles graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honorees forward Abby Scanlan, midfielder Nikki Creasey, defender Leah Pritchard and goalie Sydney Mulka; second team selection defender Aly Knaak and Honorable Mention picks midfielder Kenzi Hapeman, defender Charley London and defender Aurora Serafin.

“We knew we were going to be young,” said Coach Maggie Orbaker. “It is a real good group though and they just work so hard.”

Albion will open the N-O season at Medina on September 9.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Medina into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League field hockey season is this large group of returnees. In front are Iyla Lilleby, Brooke Moden, Lydia Fox, Paige Dix and Rachel Hill. In back are Addison Taylor, Arianna Bloom, Baileigh McAdoo, Addy Castricone, Penelope Schalck and Taylor Frentz.

Anchored by a large contingent of returnees the Medina field hockey team is looking to keep the momentum generated last fall by the Mustangs 8-4 Niagara-Orleans League season.

The Mustangs return 11 players from that squad led by junior midfielder Iyla Lilleby who earned first team N-O All-League honors, senior forward Lydia Fox and freshman forward Penelope Schalck who were second team selections and junior goalie Arianna Bloom and junior midfielder Addy Castricone who were both Honorable Mention picks.

Those honorees include the Mustangs top three scorers as Lilleby had 23 goals and 8 assists, Fox 15 goals and 6 assists and Schalck 12 goals and 18 assists.

The Mustangs also return seniors Paige Dix and Rachel Hill along with juniors Addison Taylor, Baileigh McAdoo, Brooke Moden and Taylor Frentz.

“We definitely have a lot of returnees who have a lot of experience,” said Coach Amber Cleaveland. “We’re really looking to keep the momentum from last season.”

Medina will open the N-O season at home against Wilson on August 31.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Getting set to lead Roy-Hart into the defense of its Niagara-Orleans League girls soccer title is this large group of veterans. In front are Allie Trombley, Alexis Seib, Kaitlyn Mettler, Maddie Dineiri and Kaylie Churchill. In back are Grace Trombley, Amelia Konstanty, Grace Parker, Nadia White, Sophia Santella, Ada Livergood, Hanna Giroux and Sophea Allee.

Boasting strong contingents of veterans both the Roy-Hart boys and girls soccer teams are setting their sights on capturing a third straight Niagara-Orleans League championship this season.

The Roy-Hart girls went 7-1 and the boys 9-1 last fall to claim the N-O crown for the second year in a row.

The Lady Rams title quest is led by a large group of 13 veterans including seniors Nadia White, Amelia Konstanty, Grace Parker, Ada Livergood, Grace Trombley, Hanna Giroux and Alexis Seib along with juniors Maddie Dineiri and Sophia Santella, sophomores Kaitlyn Mettler and Allie Trombley and freshmen Kaylie Churchill and Sophea Allee.

Midfielders White (6 goals, 7 assists) and Mettler (8 goals, 13 assists) and Konstanty, a defender, all earned first team N-O All-League honors while Parker, a defender, was a second team honoree and Trombley, a midfielder, an Honorable Mention pick.

The Lady Rams main graduation losses were forward Kara Choate, who scored 38 goals and earned N-O Player of the Year honors, along with goalie Reanna Perkins and defender Brooke Livergood who were second team honorees and midfielder Ava Owens who was an Honorable Mention selection.

“We’ve got quite a few returners. The girls are looking forward to the season and we’re hoping to build on the success we’ve had,” said Coach Rich Jennings. “We did lose some key players but we have the girls who can do it. We’re looking to have a more balanced attack this season.”

The Lady Rams will open defense of their N-O title at home on September 7 against Akron.

Anchoring the lineup for the defending N-O champion Roy-Hart boys soccer team is this contingent of veterans. In front are Ethan Kuzma, Caleb Verratti, Brayden Hy and Tyler Stewart. In back are Aiden Guild, Andrew Waters, Rem Albee, Quinn Brown, Peter Martillotta, Landen Guild, Zack Walker and Jayden Swygert.

The Roy-Hart boys squad is likewise anchored by a sizeable group of 12 veterans including seniors Peter Martillotta (midfield), Aiden Guild (midfield), Quinn Brown (midfield), Tyler Stewart (midfield), Zack Walker (goalie) and Andrew Waters (defender) along juniors Rem Albee (midfield), Landen Guild (midfield), Ethan Kuzma (defender), Caleb Verratti (defender), Brayden Hy (defender)and Jayden Swygert (midfield).

Martillotta, who was named N-O Player of the Year, had 21 goals and 10 assists and Aiden Guild were both first team All-League selections and Landen Guild was an Honorable Mention pick.

The Rams graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honorees Elijah Giroux, a midfielder, (10 goals) and Trent Choate, a forward, (8 goals) along with second team selection Christian Lates, a defender, and Honorable Mention picks, Zach Livergood (defender) and Brandin Masters (midfield).

“We’ve got a large group of starters back and experience is always helpful. We’ll lean on them,” said Coach Greg Martillotta. “It’s a good, hard working group and we’re excited about the season.”

The Rams will begin defense of their N-O title at Akron on September 9.

Medina opened the NOFA youth football season Saturday by winning three of four games at Newfane.

Beginners
Medina 39, Newfane 12

The Medina Ponys had a great start to the season with a big 39-12 win at the Newfane Hurricanes.

After giving up an early TD to the Canes, Zack Allen took the first play from scrimmage 60 yards for the tying TD and Kaydence Russaw got the extra point for a 7-6 Ponys lead.

The second quarter was more Ponys as Cayden Dubois rumbled 40 yards for a TD with Russaw again adding the extra point to make it 14-6. Allen wasn’t done yet though as he finished off a 35 yard TD run late in the second with Russaw capping things off for the 21-6 half time lead.

The third quarter was a bit tighter but Lyric Chinn gets the first TD of her career from 60 yards out. Newfane did get one score back to make it 27-12, but Easton Hodgins scores on a long TD run and Zack Allen capped off the hat trick with another 60 yard TD run.

Minis
Medina 29, Newfane 0
It was a much slower start for the Colts as they had a defensive battle in the first quarter with the Thunder and the game was scoreless after 10 minutes.

That changed on the first play of the second quarter as Luke Hungerford twisted and turned for 32 yards and the first TD of the game. On the next possession Austin Harper found Ja’Kier Taylor who took it 61 yards for the TD and Harper ran it in for the extra point and a 13-0 half time lead.

After a tough injury to Harper, the defenses stood up again and in a scoreless third quarter. The fourth quarter had backup QB Wyatt Szatkowski at the helm and he handed off to Damareon Shine who took it 54 yards for the TD. Szatkowski hit Taylor in the endzone for the 2 point conversion and a 21-0 lead. On their final possession Szatkowski found Taylor on a screen pass that went 44 yards for the final score with Hungerford running in the extra point for the 28-0 final.

JV
Medina 36, Newfane 0
It was a great start to the season for the Broncos as they took a 36-0 decision from the Newfane Lightning. The defense was stand out all the way with the shutout in this one and the offense was firing on all cylinders from the start to finish.

Tavarias Griffin opened the scoring as he ran 65 yards around the right end the TD. Zia Dix then  hit Kendrick Russaw for the 2 point conversion and an 8-0 lead. Russaw got a score of his own with a 56 yard TD run and then got his own extra point to make it 15-0. He then had runs of 80 yards before half time for another TD and Darrell Shine III scored the extra point run for a 22-0 halftime lead.

In the third quarter Dix found Caliyah St. Louis for a 61 yard TD pass and Dix put up the extra point himself to make it 29-0. Jude Lacy got in the act in the fourth quarter running 40 yards for the final score and Liam Skowneski ran in the extra point to set the final score.

Varsity
Newfane 32,  Medina 0
It was a tough day for the Stallions as the offense couldn’t get untracked and the defense gave up a couple of big plays that helped Newfane get out to a big lead.

Overall the team struggled on offense in the first half, but in the second half were able to find some gains on the ground from MacKoy Hall, Malik Lamar, Will Ribbeck, Trey Rhim and QB Hadrian Batista. The defense stiffened in the second half and did their best to slow the Storm down.

Albion earned a split of four games at Batavia Saturday to open the Niagara Orleans Football Association (NOFA) season.

Albion won the Beginners game 19-6 and the Mini contest 36-0 while Batavia took the JV (6-0) and Varsity (26-6) games.

Beginners
Albion 19 Batavia 6
Jayce Torres took the third play of the game 68 yards for a TD and Albion never looked back. Cayden Farrell added a 39 yard TD for the offense.

On defense, Zion O’Neal picked up a fumble and ran 34 yards for a TD. Torres had 6 tackles, a sack and forced the fumble on the. TD. O’Neal had 4 tackles and Farrell 3.

Mini
Albion 36 Batavia 0
Heyden Almonte capped the Eagles opening drive with a 27 yd TD run. Almonte finished the day with 120 yards and 3 TD’s. Giovanni LaMartina had 70 yards rushing and a TD. Ethan Olles added 27 yards rushing and Camden Holt 11.

Almonte, Landon Farrell, Connor Hinkley and Liam Saporito each had 4 tackles to lead the defense.

JV
Batavia 6 Albion 0
In a tough defensive battle, Batavia scored the lone TD with 2 minutes left in the game. Parker Roberts led the Albion defense with 8 tackles. Rocco Sidari and Colin Smith had 3 tackles and Brayden LaMartina had 2.

LaMartina had 50 yards on the ground and Sidari added 41.

Varsity
Batavia 26 Albion 6
Jonah Elsenheimer hit Noah Harrison on a 20 yard pass for the Albion TD. Elijah Doxey had 35 yards on the ground.

Harrison had 5 tackles, Doxey and Christopher Almonte added 3 each for the defense.

Two local incoming high school seniors have announced their plans to play collegiate baseball.

Roy-Hart pitcher/shortstop Thomas Russo, who earned first team All-Western New York honors this past spring, has given a non binding verbal commitment to play at Canisius College.

Medina pitcher/first baseman Aidan Paul, who was an Honorable Mention All-WNY selection, has likewise given a verbal commitment to play at Niagara County Community College.

Medina will be represented on the NCCC baseball roster this coming school year by pitcher/first baseman Zach Fike who graduated in June. He was a second team All-WNY honoree.

A trio of players who helped Medina capture both Class C Division and Section VI football championships last fall are set to begin their freshman year of competition on the collegiate gridiron. That threesome includes Joe Cecchini who is playing at SUNY Maritime, Iverson Poole at Alfred State and Greg Thompson at Hilbert College.

On the collegiate soccer scene Ella Lewis, who graduated from Lyndonville in June, will be playing for Finger Lakes Community College. One of her teammates will be Holley grad Halee Passarell.