Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Continuing an outstanding season, Medina High graduate and University of South Florida sophomore Melanie Green finished just one stroke off the pace at the East Carolina University Ironwood Invitational at Greenville, N.C. this week.

Green posted a one under par score of 215 on rounds of 72, 73, 70 to finish in a five way tie for third place just one stroke behind the co-leaders who shot 214.

One of only seven players to finish under par, she helped lead USF to an eighth place finish in the 13 team field.

It marked Green’s fifth top five finish in nine events this season.

She has now set a new USF record by scoring par of better in 19 of her 25 rounds to date this season. Her average score of 71.16 is also on track to best the Bulls current record of 73.0.

Next up for Green and the Bulls will be the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Brian Spall right, shown here next to his teammate Ben O’Connor  is in route to scoring a win in the 110 hurdles during the Purple Eagles victory over visiting Akron this afternoon.

Albion opened defense of its Niagara-Orleans League boys track championship with a 116-25 victory over visiting Akron this afternoon.

Brendan LeBaron was a triple winner in the High Jump, Shotput and Discus while Brian Spall doubled in the 110 Hurdles and 400 Hurdles, Cencere Lowe in the Long Jump and Triple Jump and Ozzie Matos in the 100 and 200 to lead the way for Albion.

The Purple Eagles also got individual event wins from Sh’kwe Riley (400), Kyle Kuehne (800) and Jr. Morales (Pole Vault).

Akron downed Albion in the girls’ meet 118-23.

Abby Scanlan won the 200 for the Purple Eagles.

Medina opened with a sweep over host Barker winning the boys’ meet 88.5-43.5 and the girls’ competition 74-56.

Bryson Costich was a triple winner in the 100, Triple Jump and Long Jump and Kaedon Cleveland doubled in the 110 Hurdles and 400 Hurdles for the Medina boys squad which also got individual event wins by Ben Griffin (400), Jackson Moreland (200), Arian Cayea (3200) and Roosevelt Mitchell (Shotput).

Maddy Rutledge was a triple winner for the Medina girls squad in the Long Jump, Hugh Jump and 100.

The Mustangs also had Ellie Roach win the 100 Hurdles and 200, Phallon Rivera the Shotput and Hayley Marciniak the 400.

Mikala Woock doubled in the 800 and 1500 for Barker.

Attica scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to edge past host Kendall 5-4 in a Genesee Region League baseball game this afternoon.

The contest marked the return of varsity baseball for Kendall which because of low numbers had joined with Holley’s varsity squad last spring.

The Blue Devils scored the game winner on a double, a stolen base and an error.

Kendall had tied the game at 4-4 by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh inning on a solo home run by Zach Barrett and a passed ball.

The Eagles next visit Pembroke on Wednesday.

Barker trimmed visiting Albion 3-2 1/2 in a Niagara-Orleans League tennis match this afternoon.

Improving to 2-0, Barker got wins from Cameron Kiner at third singles and by the first two doubles teams of Willard Nellist – Aidan Mescall and Eddie Cabrera – Kevin Hadsell Jr.

Carson Bader and Leo Bolton won at first and second singles for Albion which is now 1-1.

Rebounding from an early 3-0 deficit, Roy-Hart rallied to down host Wilson 8-4 in a Niagara-Orleans League softball game this afternoon.

Roy-Hart pulled even on a three-run homer by Reanna Perkins in the third inning.

The Lady Rams then took the lead for good on a two-run triple by Kaitlin Mettler in the fourth frame. Molly Russell followed up with a key two-run single in the fifth.

Mettler finished with three hits as Perkins and Juliana Buscarino each had two.

In the circle, Perkins registered 13 strikeouts.

Roy-Hart is now 2-0 and Wilson 1-1 in N-O action.

Phots by Cheryl Wertman – Medina catcher Baileigh McAdoo tags out Albion’s Maya Knaak to prevent the go ahead run from scoring in the top of the seventh inning. Medina answered with a run in the last of the seventh to claim a 4-3 win at Vets Park.

Opening the league season on a high note, Medina pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip rival Albion 4-3 in a Niagara-Orleans softball game at Vets Park this afternoon.

Lily Carpenter led off the last of the seventh with a single and came home with the winning run on a fielders choice play off the bat of Miriam Fike.

Albion’s Janessa Lindsey slides into third base ahead of a tag by Medina’s Rylee VanNostrand.

Albion had rallied into a 3-3 tie by scoring once in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Kenzi Hapeman and Mackenzie Snook and once in the top of the seventh on a wild pitch. A hit batter, an error and a bunt single by Madison Hughson loaded the bases to set up that threat.

The Purple Eagles left runners stranded at second and third in the sixth as groundouts to pitcher Faith Oberther and to Fike at shortstop ended the uprising.

Medina then got out of further trouble in the seventh by turning a clutch inning ending double play from Oberther to first baseman Lorelei Sanders to catcher Baileigh McAdoo.

Medina had grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run single by Sanders. Leadoff singles by Oberther and McAdoo set up that opportunity.

Oberther went the distance in the circle allowing 5 hits and striking out 4. She retired 12 batters in a row at one stretch from the second inning into the sixth as McAdoo, Fike, Rylee VanNostrand at third and Eva Lacy at second took turns getting outs.

Sanders and Fike both finished with two hits as did Aly Knaak for Albion.

Albion, which is now 0-2 in the league next host Akron on Friday while Medina visits Newfane that same afternoon.

Medina’s Baileigh McAdoo crosses home plate as Albion catcher Cami London awaits the ball.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Jaret Black dives back to first base ahead of a tag by Albion’s Caleb Fox during the Purple Eagles win over the host Raiders this afternoon.

Niagara-Orleans League baseball action got underway this afternoon with a sparkling pitching performance as Albion blanked host Barker 3-0.

Tyler Gibson hurled a one hitter with 13 strikeouts over the fist six innings for Albion. Amari Jones came on to complete the shutout by retiring Barker in order in the bottom of the seventh with two strikeouts.

Albion pitcher Tyler Gibson allowed only one hit and struck out 13 in six innings of work.

Barker starter Aidan Voss also had a strong effort on the mound scattering 5 hits with 12 strikeouts over the first five innings. Andy Hill came on to hurl the final two frames allowing one hit with two strikeouts.

Albion broke away from a scoreless deadlock by scoring twice with two out in the top of the fifth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by pinch  hitter Brendan LeBaron and Javon Jones. A one out single by Chris Sacco ignited the uprising.

The Purple Eagles added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an error, a fielders choice play and a double steal.

Albion next hosts Akron on Thursday and Barker hosts Wilson on Wednesday.

Medina 5, Batavia 4
Medina nipped Batavia 5-4 in a non league game at Vets Park this evening as the Mustangs scored the game winner in the sixth inning on a balk which snapped a 4-4 tie.

The Blue Devils did get the bases loaded with two out in the top of the seventh but the Mustangs got out of the jam on an infield pop out to end the game.

Earlier, the Mustangs scored three times in the first inning as Aidan Paul had a single and Zach Fike and Joe Cecchini doubles.

The Mustangs other run came on a homer by Xander Payne in the third inning.

Wilson 9, Lyndonville 0
Tyler Johnson struck out 20 and Matt Fox belted a pair of two-run homers to power Wilson to a 9-0 non league win over host Lyndonville.

Newfane 11, Tonawanda 0
The trio of Tyler Baes, Brady Harrington and Gehrig Wilson combined to register 12 strikeouts leading Newfane to an 11-0 non league win over Tonawanda.

At the plate, Wilson had 2 hits and Joe Fabiano 3 RBI for the Panthers.

Albion’s Amari Jones slides into second base ahead of a tag by  Barker’s Isaac Monaco.

Barker outlasted host Albion 16-13 in a season opening Niagara-Orleans League softball game this afternoon.

Trailing 4-1, Barker rallied into the lead for good by erupting for nine runs in the third inning. Albion later cut the deficit to one at 14-13 but could not pull even as a two-run single by Natalie Brandel gave Barker two big insurance runs.

Lilly Monthony, Rachel Sutter and Petra Bish each had 3 hits for Barker as Mia Herman and Brandel both had 2.

Aly Knaak had 4 hits, Kenzi Hapeman 3 and Cami London 2 for Albion which also got a two-run triple by Leah Pritchard.

Roy-Hart 11, Akron 7
Reanna Perkins belted a home run, two triples and a double at the plate and also struck out 8 in the circle to lead Roy-Hart to an 11-7 win over defending champion Akron.

Maria Peracciny added 3 singles and a double and Juliana Buscarino 2 singles for the Lady Rams.

Alden 18, Medina 8
Miriam Fike, Baileigh McAdoo and Rylee VanNostrand each had 3 hits and Alayna Smith and Eva Lacy 2 each for Medina in the 18-8 non league loss at Alden. Lacy also turned a double play.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s Carson Bader, right downed Roy-Hart’s Nik Gutierrez in the first singles match as the Purple Eagles bested the host Rams this afternoon in the Niagara-Orleans League season opener.

Albion opened the Niagara-Orleans League tennis season with a 5-1/2 victory at Roy-Hart this afternoon.

Carson Bader, Leo Bolton and James Beach all scored straight set singles wins to lead the way for Albion.

The Purple Eagles also got doubles wins from the duos of Clara Bolton – Charley London and Emily Graham – Aiden Miller.

Roy-Hart’s duo of Isabella Santella and Josiah Rodriguez won at third doubles.

Barker blanked host Medina 51/2-0 as Nathan Meza Ray, Matt Ryan and Cameron Kiner all posted singles wins.

The Raiders also got doubles wins from the duos of Willard Nellist – Aidan Mescall, Kevin Hadsell Jr. – Eddie Cabrera and Keira Wass – Levi Hauser.

Defending champion Akron opened with s 51/2-0 win over Wilson led by singles victories by Will Chubb, Caleb Suckow and Samantha Niescier.

Holley defeated Alexander and Kendall bested Attica by identical 4-1 scores this afternoon in season opening Genesee Region League tennis matches.

Cavan Bennage, Cora Bennage and James Tette scored singles wins for Holley which also got a victory by the second doubles team of Mason Neale and Zander Carpenter.

Devin Edick, Tobias Passer and Joshua Esposito all scored singles victories for Kendall which also had Gabriel Preston and Jonathan Esposito core a win at first doubles.

In another G-R match, Oakfield-Alabama downed Byron-Bergen 5-0.