Contributed Photos – Rolland Balcerzak, left, and Alex Gibson.

Two Orleans County players, Albion High graduate Alex Gibson and Lyndonville High grad Rolland Balcerzak, are freshmen members of the Onondaga Community College baseball team.

Gibson, an outfielder, is hitting .385 with 5 RBI and 6 runs scored.

Balcerzak has made four relief pitching appearances posting a 0.90 era and 4 strikeouts in 10 innings of work on the mound.

During their scholastic days, Balcerzak earned Genesee Region League All-Star honors his senior year and Gibson was named to the Niagara-Orleans All-League squad his senior year.

Onondaga is off to a perfect 10-0 start to the season.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Sam Kingsbury puts a shot on goal during the Mustangs loss to Salamanca this evening at Vets Park. Mannok Jamieson (17) and Takota Armstrong (2) defend for the Warriors.

Jumping out to a five goal first quarter lead, Salamanca went on to defeat Medina 20-9 in a Class D Division lacrosse game this evening at Vets Park.

Up 9-4 after the opening period, the Warriors went on to hold commanding leads of 18-5 at the half and 20-5 after three quarters.

Josh Wilson led Medina with 3 goals as Cayden Lilleby and Zaric Boyce each had 2 and Jacob Rissew and Sam Kingsbury 1 each.

Now at 0-2, Medina next visits Eden at 7 p.m. Monday.

In other D Division action, Akron defeated Wilson 17-3 and Gowanda downed Tonawanda 12-4.

Medina’s Zaric Boyce works to get away from Salamanca defender Jesse Stahlman.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart senior pitcher Reanna Perkins.

Looking to blend a good veteran nucleus with a promising group of young players, Roy-Hart is prepping for a very busy first week of Niagara-Orleans League softball competition.

Roy-Hart, which shared second place in the final N-O standings with Wilson at 8-4 last spring, will open the league campaign at Wilson on April 1. The Lady Rams will then host defending champion Akron on April 4 and Newfane on April 6.

Senior pitcher Reanna Perkins, who earned first team All-League and N-O Player of the Year honors last spring, heads Roy-Hart’s veteran contingent. That group also includes senior outfielder Molly Russell along with juniors Juliana Buscarino (third base/outfield), Emily Scott (infield), Maria Peracciny (first base) and Emmaline Verratti (utility). Russell and Buscarino were both second team All-League selections.

The Lady Rams youthful contingent includes freshmen Katelin Mettler (shortstop) and Lila Brigham (outfield/infield) along with eighth graders Peyton May (catcher) and Abby Fox (pitcher/infield).

“I’m super excited for this season to see how the girls come together,” said Roy-Hart graduate Taylor (Fry) Kneeland who takes over the varsity coaching reins after guiding the JV team last spring. “We’re looking to get our bats going and have a strong defense.”

The Lady Rams main graduation loss was first team All League catcher Shelby Wolf.

Roy-Hart will tune up for the N-O season by visiting Kenmore West on March 31.

Lockport used a 4-1 scoring edge in the final period to earn a 10-7 win over visiting Medina in a season opening non league lacrosse game this afternoon.

Lockport jumped out to a 4-2 first quarter lead but Medina rallied into a 5-5 tie at the half as a goal by Zaric Boyce capped a 3-1 Mustangs scoring edge in the second period.

The contest was deadlocked at 6-6 at the end of the third period but the Lions outscored the Mustangs 4-1 in the decisive final period to claim the win.

Sam Kingsbury and Josh Wilson both scored two goals for Medina as Boyce, Dylan Lonnen and Cayden Lilleby each netted one.

Medina next hosts Salamanca at 6 p.m. Friday in a Class D Division contest.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s veteran quartet of Javon Jones, Mason Bennett, Tyler Gibson and Amari Jones.

A quartet of returning veterans anchors the lineup for Albion which is looking to rebound from a rare sub .500 (3-9) Niagara-Orleans League baseball season.

That foursome includes seniors Tyler Gibson (pitcher/infield) and Mason Bennett (outfield) along with juniors Amari Jones (pitcher/shortstop) and Javon Jones (infield/pitcher/catcher). Gibson and Javon Jones both earned second team N-O All-League honors last spring.

“That group will make us go,” said Coach Bruce Blanchard.

The Purple Eagles roster also includes seniors Cade Wolcott (infield/pitcher) and Brendan LeBaron (outfield) along with juniors Jacob Hughson (outfield), Caleb Fox (first base/pitcher), Dallas Ecker (outfield), Chris Sacco (outfield), Caden Uderitz (catcher/infield), Vince Molisani (infield) and Jason Conn (outfield).

“We’ve got a good group up from the JVs,” said Blanchard. “The key will be our pitching and getting in some more preseason work in. I think having a real short preseason last year hurt us so having more time helps. I think we do have some good pitching. I think we’ll be competitive.”

Albion’s graduation losses included N-O Honorable Mention selections Alex Gibson and Bailey Blanchard along with Damion Lattimer, Kyle Woolston, Shawn Pellegrino and Austin Aman.

The Purple Eagles face a very busy first week of N-O competition visiting Barker on April 4 and Akron on April 8 and hosting Akron on April 6.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s large veteran group includes, in front, Brynn Howell, Gracie Johnson, Ella Lewis and Brooke Robinson. In back are Haley Shaffer, Addison Dillenbeck, Morgan Austin, Lorelei Dillenbeck and Brianna Krisher.

Last spring Lyndonville had a very successful softball season capturing the Genesee Region League Division 1 title with a 14-1 record and advancing to the Section V Class C2 finals finishing with a 17-2 overall record.

Now, with eight of nine starters back, the Lady Tigers veteran laden squad is taking aim at repeating as G-R division champs and making another run deep into the sectional playoffs.

The Lady Tigers only starter  lost to graduation was G-R All-Star catcher Chloe Stinson.

“We’re looking to be a strong team,” said Coach Joe Moore. “I think this is the strongest team I’ve had. We’ve got a great core coming back. I think our sticks are good and we should be solid defensively.

Lyndonville’s returnees include seniors Ella Lewis (shortstop/third base), Gracie Johnson (first base), Brynn Howell (outfield) and Morgan Austin (outfield) along with juniors Haley Shaffer (pitcher/catcher), Lorelei Dillenbeck (pitcher/shortstop), Brianna Krisher (second base), freshman Addison Dillenbeck (outfield/catcher) and eighth grader Brooke Robinson (outfield/pitcher).

Shaffer and Lorelei Dillenbeck both earned G-R All-Star honors last spring while Lewis and Johnson both received Honorable Mention.

The Lady Tigers are scheduled to open the season with a non league game at Barker on April 5 and then begin G-R competition at Wheatland-Chili on April 7. The home opener is slated for April 9 against Notre Dame.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina varsity baseball squad include, in front, Hayden Woodroe, left, and Joe Cecchini. In back are Aidan Paul, Xander Payne and Zach Fike.

A trio of returning starting pitchers anchors the lineup as Medina preps to begin defense of its Niagara-Orleans League title.

That veteran mound threesome includes seniors Zach Fike and Xander Payne, who were both first team N-O All-League honorees, and junior Aidan Paul, who was a second team All-League selection.

Fike went 8-1 with a 0.82 earned run average and 77 strikeouts. Payne went 5-0 with a 1.62 era. and 49 strikeouts and Paul was 2-0 with a 1.02 era. and 37 strikeouts. At the plate, Fike hit .467 with 31 RBIs and Payne .341.

“Our pitching is solid but after that we have some holes to fill,” said Mustangs Coach Jon Sherman.

The Mustangs also return senior third baseman Joe Cecchini, who earned second team All-League honors, and senior outfielder/infielder Hayden Woodroe.

The Mustangs biggest losses come at the middle infield positions with the loss to graduation of shortstop Brian Fry and second baseman AJ Seefeldt, who were both first team All-League honorees.

The other graduation losses include catcher Austin Mosher along with outfielders Alex Doval and Corey Saj. Doval was a second team All-League selection while Mosher and Saj both received Honorable Mention.

Looking to help fill the holes are junior Julio Doval along with freshmen Brody Fry, Riley Culver and Tyler Kroening.

“Right now it’s just a matter of bringing the young kids along and hope they can step up,” said Sherman.

The Mustangs are scheduled to host Livonia on March 30 and Batavia on April 4 beginning the N-O schedule at home on April 6 against Newfane.

Medina claimed the N-O title with a 12-0 record last spring and went on to also captured the Section VI Class B2 championship finishing with a 16-1 overall mark.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Medina lacrosse team’s contingent of veteran upperclassmen includes, in front, Cayden Lilleby, Josh Wilson, Noah Skinner and Ollie Wilson. In back are Lilly Carpenter, Zaric Boyce, Colvin Stalker, Sam Kingsbury and Zach Oliver.

Nine veteran upperclassmen anchor the lineup for the Medina lacrosse team which will open the local high school spring sports season this coming week with a pair of games at Lockport on Wednesday (5 p.m.) and at home against Salamanca on Friday (6 p.m.).

The Mustangs veteran group includes seniors Zaric Boyce, Colvin Stalker, Sam Kingsbury, Lily Carpenter and Zach Oliver along with juniors Josh Wilson, Ollie Wilson, Cayden Lilleby and Noah Skinner.

Josh Wilson scored 20 goals last season while Boyce had 12 goals and 20 assists and Lilleby 7 goals.

The Mustangs also have some varsity experience in sophomores Will Prest, Jacob Rissew, Jackson Clute, Jack Schultz, Dylan Lonnen, Sawyer Kingsbury and Jack Cecchini. Clute and junior Xavier King are vying for the starting goalie position.

The Mustangs key graduation losses included scoring leaders Mitchell Silversmith (38 goals, 8 assists) and Zach Blount (22 goals, 15 assists) along with midfielder Mark Reigle and goalie Robert Morehouse.

“It’s a very young team so our returning junior and senior starters will have to step up real quick,” said Coach Todd Eick. “It will be an interesting season. I think we’ll have some unsung heroes step up for us.”

The Mustangs are competing in the Section VI Class D Division this season along with Akron, Newfane, Wilson, Depew, Tonawanda, Salamanca and Gowanda.

Schedule
March: 23 at Lockport, 5 p.m.; 25 – Salamanca, 6 p.m.; 29 – at Eden, 7 p.m.; 31 – at Depew, 6 p.m.
April: 2 – Brockport, 10 a.m.; 4 – at Grand Island, 7 p.m.; 7 – Tonawanda, 5 p.m.; 20 – Akron, 7 p.m.; 22 – Lockport, 5 p.m.; 23 – Starpoint, 11 a.m.; 26 – Depew, 5:30 p.m.; 28 – Wilson, 5 p.m.
May: 5 at Akron, 5 p.m.; 7 – at Iroquois, 11 a.m.; 12 – at Gowanda, 5 pm.; 17 – at Newfane, 6 p.m.

Albion and Medina will both be opening the high school football season at home over the Labor Day weekend.

Those September 2 openers will have Albion hosting Falconer in a B2 Division game and Medina entertaining Newfane in a C North Division contest.

Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville will also open at home that same evening as the Silverbacks will host Alden in an interdivisional contest at Middleport.

Albion’s other home games will include Maryvale on Sept. 9, Dunkirk on Sept. 30 and Medina on October 21.

Road games for the Purple Eagles will include at Olean on Sept. 16, at Pioneer on Sept. 23, at Cheektowaga on Oct. 7 and at East Aurora on Oct. 13 which is a Thursday.

Medina’s other home game will include Cleveland Hill on Sept. 16, Springville on Oct. 7 and Akron on Oct. 13, a Thursday.

The Mustangs will be on the road at Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville on Sept. 9, at Tonawanda on Sept. 23, at East Aurora on Sept. 30 and at Albion on Oct. 21.

Roy-Hart/Barker/Lyndonville’s other home games will be against Medina on Sept. 9, Newfane on Sept. 23 and Lew-Port on Oct. 14.

On the road, the Silverbacks will be at Lackawanna on Sept. 17, at Cleveland Hill on Oct. 1, at Tonawanda on Oct. 7 and at Akron on Oct 20 which is a Thursday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s All Orleans County representatives Jarin Rhim, left, and Joe Cecchini.

All five schools are represented on the first team of the Hub’s All Orleans County boys basketball squad.

The first team includes Medina’s duo of Joe Cecchini and Jarin Rhim, Albion’s Jahmeek Riley, Holley’s Broek Ostrom, Lyndonville’s Noah Poler and Kendall’s Zach Barrett who is the team’s sixth man. All are seniors except Barrett who is a junior.

Rhim scored 198 points (10.4 average) and had 171 rebounds, 48 assists and 26 steals while Cecchini scored 189 points (9.9 ave.) and had 104 rebounds, 43 steals and 34 assists.

Riley scored 202 points (10.1 ave.) and had 165 rebounds, 35 assists and 23 steals.

Ostrom led all area scorers with 575 points for a 27.3 per game average. His season included a school record 51 point effort against Alexander as well as three other 40 point plus games and four 30 point plus outings.

Poler was the area’s second high scorer with 348 points for a 17.4 average.

Barrett scored 295 points (13.4 ave/). 87 rebounds, 64 assists and 39 steals.

Earning Honorable Mention is the quintet of Albion senior Tyler Gibson, Albion junior Caleb Fox, Lyndonville junior Trenton Muck, Kendall senior Braxton Zarpentine and Kendall sophomore Jacek Kwiatkowski.

Holley’s Broek Ostrom and Albion’s Jahmeek Riley.

Kendall’s Zach Barrett and Lyndonville’s Noah Poler.