Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville assistant baseball coach Mark Hughes has been enjoying his 50th and final season with the Tigers by helping to coach his grandson Jack Whipple.

This has been a truly milestone, golden anniversary season for a very special member of the Lyndonville High baseball team family as Mark Hughes, who over the years has served as JV coach and assistant varsity coach, is completing his 50th and final season with the Tigers.

“It’s been great. I’ve really enjoyed it,” said Hughes who also served for over 20 years as Lyndonville’s girls varsity basketball and girls varsity soccer coach.

“When I’m asked why I’ve done it for so long I just tell them it’s because I really love it. I really enjoy it,” he said.

For Hughes his coaching career has enabled him to enjoy a special blending of two things that are most important to him – his personal family and his Tiger family.

Mark Hughes and Lyndonville head coach Shane Price celebrate the Tigers 2011 sectional championship win.

Over the years his coaching the Tiger teams has also given Hughes the opportunity to spend more time with his children and now with his grandson. He coached his son Chris in baseball, his daughters Katie, Megan and Bridget in basketball and soccer and now his grandson Jack Whipple in baseball.

“It’s just been very special. I’m really blessed to have been able to spend that kind of time with my kids and now with my grandson,” he said. “And I’ve had a lot of support from parents and the community over the years which really means a lot to me.”

Over the past five decades Hughes has been on a coaching staff that has seen the Tigers diamond squad win over a dozen Genesee Region League titles, half a dozen Section V championships and an appearance in the state semifinals.

“We’ve had some real good wins and some tough losses over the years but for me it’s not the wins and losses it’s the relationships that I’ve had with the kids over the years that means the most to me,” he said. “When someone asks which one is the most memorable I say the next one is the most exciting one.”

And as for his favorite sport among those he has coaches he simply says “whatever is in season is the one I like.”

To be sure Hughes has not lost any enthusiasm for and love of coaching. “I love it. Putting on that uniform makes me feel like a little leaguer again and that is what I’ll miss,” he said.

And for the past two decades Hughes has coached with a person who loves, appreciates and is dedicated to baseball as much as he is – Tigers varsity baseball Coach Shane Price.

“When I first came here to teach 26 years ago Mark was the first guy I met and he’s been a mentor to me both as a teacher and as a coach,” said Price. “Where does the time go. I’m really going to miss spending time with him. For me Mark is that someone who is always there, someone who you can look to and can look up to. We’ve coached together for 20 years and I couldn’t have done it with anyone else and I would not have wanted to do it with anyone else. It’s been a great time.”

Improving to 10-4, Kendall swept to a pair of baseball victories this afternoon as the Eagles downed Northstar 10-2 and Byron-Bergen 19-2.

A five run fourth inning ,which included a double by James Fox, singles by Colby Hughes, winning pitcher Zach Barrett, Louis Conte and a two-run double by Reuben Marquess, locked up the win over Northstar. Conte had a total of 3 hits and Hughes 2.

On the mound, Barrett scattered 5 hits and struck out 6.

In the victory over Byron-Bergen winning pitcher Nic Cole had 3 hits and Hughes and Fox 2 each. On the mound, Cole struck out 5 hits in earning his first varsity win.

Holley 13, Pembroke 0
Broek Ostron hurled a 3 hit shutout with 8 strikeouts to lead Holley to a 13-0 Genesee Region League win over Pembroke on Friday.

At the plate, Ostrom, Kalen Brady, Brenden Throwbridge, Zach Milner and Nolan Sullivan each had a pair of hits for the Hawks.

Sparked by a pair of six run innings, Lyndonville romped to a 15-0 victory over host Byron-Bergen today in a Genesee Region League softball game.

Improving to 16-0 overall, Lyndonville scored six runs in both the second and seventh innings.

A triple by Gracie Johnson, doubles by Addy Dillenbeck, Lorelei Dillenbeck and Ella Lewis along with RBI singles by Brooke Robinson and Bella Groves highlighted the attack for the Lady Tigers.

Haley Shaffer earned the shutout victory in the circle as she gave up only 2 hits and struck out 8.

In another G-R contest, Attica edged Kendall 8-6.

Medina dropped a narrow 15-13 decision to host Gowanda today in the non league “Little Blue Jug” lacrosse game.

Gananda, which is coached by Medina grad Joe Sidari, jumped out to a 4-2 first quarter lead. Medina though battled back to knot the contest 8-8 at the half and 12-12 after three quarters. Gananda then used a 3-1 fourth quarter scoring edge to claim the win.

Cayden Lilleby scored 5 goals and Zaric Boyce 4 to lead Medina as Dylan Lonnen, Josh Wilson, Will Prest and Jacob Rissew each chipped in with one.

Medina will close out the regular season with a Class D Division game at Newfane on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Contributed Photo – Leah Zastrow in action at the plate for the Albion Storm during Friday’s win over Brockport.

Pounding out 17 hits the Albion Storm rumbled past Brockport 17-7 Friday.

Leah Zastrow had a big hit down the right field line for a double and was 2-3 on the night. Alayna Keirn and Brooke Miller went 3-3, Ella Cole and Izzy D’Agostino went 2-2, Teagan Shaw, Gia Howard, Anna Gillette, Madison Blount and Katelyn Viza all singled.

Zastrow started on the mount and pitched the first two innings and D’Agostino came in to pitch the 3rd and 4th innings. They both had a strikeout and with good defensive help from their teammates allowed no hits.

Gillette had a heads up triple play in the 4th with the bases loaded, she snagged a fly ball playing shortstop then ran to step on third and tagged the runner out heading back to second. She finished the game in the circle n the 5th inning registering 2 strikeouts to end the game.

The Storm will be home on Tuesday against LeRoy Black.

The undefeated Medina Unified Basketball team improved to 3-0 with a 30-21 win over the visiting Lockport Lions Friday.

Malikiah McGill scored a team season high 20 points as Matthew Kennedy had 4 and Brennan Hinckley, Steven Secore and Jackson Tuohey 2 each.

Breaking away from a 4-4 first quarter tie, the Mustangs moved out to leads of 10-6 at the half and 17-12 after three quarters,

Medina put a lock on the win in the final quarter as McGill hit three threes.

Medina’s next game is at Akron on May 19th at 5 p.m.

Improving to 9-2, Holley defeated Attica 4-1 in a Genesee Region League tennis match this afternoon.

Cavan Bennage and James Tette scored wins at first and third singles for Holley.

The Hawks also got doubles victories from the duos of Mason Neale – Drew Carlston and Kirsstin Louise Althoff – Ashanty Gonzalez.

Roy-Hart completed a perfect 12-0 Niagara-Orleans League championship softball season with an 8-0 win over Barker this afternoon.

Reanna Perkins struck out 13 in the circle and also banged out two doubles at the plate, Juliana Buscarino had 4 hits and Marissa Scott a two-run single to lead the way for the Lady Rams.

In the other N-O contest, Albion celebrated Senior Night with a 15-1 win over Newfane under the lights this evening.

Kenzi Hapeman had 3 hits including a three-run home run in the first inning and winning pitcher Leah Pritchard 3 hits including a solo homer in the third inning to lead the way for Albion. Cami London, Maya Knaak, Madison Hughson and Janessa Lindsey each chipped in with 2 hits.

In the circle, Pritchard allowed only 2 hits and stuck out 9 as Albion finishes the N-O season at 5-7.

In a Genesee Region League game Pembroke downed Holley 15-0.