With both leagues missing schools due to the Covid-19 restrictions in Erie County the Niagara-Orleans and Niagara-Frontier League are joining together for a joint wrestling schedule this season.

Because of the restrictions in Erie County the N-O League is minus Akron while the NFL is minus Grand Island, Kenmore East and Kenmore West. In addition, Starpoint, which is the only Niagara County school in the Erie County League, is without any league opponents.

So with Wilson of the N-O and Lew-Port of the NFL fielding a combined team that leaves a total of only 10 wrestling teams in Niagara and Orleans counties.

The merged league will give each team a full schedule of dual meets as each team will wrestle each of the other nine teams.

In addition to the merged Lew-Port-Wilson squad, the Niagara and Orleans counties league will include Albion, Medina, Roy-Hart/Barker, Newfane, Lockport, Niagara-Wheatfield, Starpoint, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls.

The joint schedule is slated to begin on May 18 with Lew-Port-Wilson at Medina, Albion at Roy-Hart/Barker, Lockport at Newfane, Niagara Falls at Starpoint and Niagara-Wheatfield at North Tonawanda. All matches are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

Medina will visit Albion on May 20.

NFL Executive Director/President Patrick Burke adds that “if by chance the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) makes a new decision in the very near future we will have to first figure out the plans of Akron, GI and the Kenmore Schools on what they would like to do for the season.  Once we have that information we will try to put together a plan that works best for all.”

Section VI wrestling teams, except for those in Erie County, began practicing for the season on Monday.

Oakfield-Alabama downed visiting Kendall 15-12 this afternoon in a season opening Genesee Region League softball game.

Kendall jumped out to an 8-3 lead but O-A rallied into a 10-8 lead by scoring four times in the fourth inning.

The Lady Hornets upped the advantage to 15-9 by tacking on three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth.

Julie Coble had 4 hits, including three doubles, for Kendall as Libby Snyder added 3 hits and Sara Mattle 2. Katelyn Ryan had 2 hits for O-A.

Kendall will next host O-A in a rematch on Wednesday.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Roy-Hart’s Alex Stern spikes as Medina’s Amaya Cleveland goes up to try and block during the visiting Lady Rams win over the Mustangs this evening.

Improving to 5-3, Roy-Hart scored a straight set 25-13, 25-22, 25-16 win over host Medina this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League make-up volleyball match.

Roy-Hart’s Samantha Albright blocks a return as Medina’s Evie Schultz readies  for the the return.

Samantha Capen served up points 4-7, Samantha Albright 11-14, Samantha McIntyre 16-19 and Allie Dent 21-25 to lead Roy-Hart in the opening set which also included three spiking kills by Albright.

Medina had pulled into a 9-9 tie early in the set after a six point run of service points by Evie Schultz, a run which included two kills by Sydney Watts. However, the Mustangs could not grab the lead.

Roy-Hart then took a closer second set 25-22 as Alex Stern, Ava Brigham and Marissa Scott each had two kills for points.

Roy-Hart closed out the match by taking the third set 25-16 as Albright had four kills, Stern three and Brigham two.

Albright finished with a total of 8 kills, Stern 6, Brigham 5 and Scott 3.

Watts had 3 kills and Ianah Drisdom 2 for Medina which is now 3-5.

Medina’s Sydney Watts spikes over the Roy-Hart duo of Ava Brigham (2) and Samantha McIntyre (14).

Holley defeated host Pembroke 4-1 this afternoon in a season opening Genesee Region League tennis match.

Straight set wins at the first two singles positions by Cavan Bennage and Cora Bennage led the way for the Hawks.

James Tette and Mason Neale also posted a straight set win at first doubles for Holley which took the second doubles match by forfeit.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Anchoring Lyndonville’s line up is this veteran trio of Nathan Dillenbeck, Rolland Balcerzak and Casey Winiecki as the Tigers get set to open the season against Holley-Kendall on Tuesday.

Weather permitting Lyndonville will open the Genesee Region League baseball season against Holley-Kendall at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holley.

This marks the second time in the last few years that Kendall, because of a shortage of players at the varsity level, has merged with Holley. This season five Kendall players have joined the Holley squad.

The contest will be the first local high school baseball game in two years as the Covid-19 Pandemic wiped out last spring’s season after just one week of practice.

Lyndonville is led by a trio of returning regulars from the 2019 squad including catcher/pitcher Rolland Balcerzak, shortstop/pitcher Nathan Dillenbeck and outfielder/pitcher Casey Winiecki, all seniors.

The Tigers roster also includes seniors Anthony Moule (first base), Alex Barry (infield), Dylan Burt-Hodgins (outfield/pitcher), Jacob Corser (infield) and Hayden Woodward (outfeld/infield) along with juniors Roman Heinsler (infield/pitcher), Jack Whipple (catcher/outfield), Maddox Stirk (first base) and sophomore Trenton Muck (outfield/pitcher).

“It’s definitely exciting to be back,” said Coach Shane Price. “Our pitching has to be strong early and our hitting will come around.”

That last campaign in 2019 saw the Tigers compile a 17-2 record.

Albion High graduate John Warne has taken over coaching reins for the Holley-Kendall squad.

“I’m excited and the kids are meshing well together,” said Warne. ” And that is key for us for everyone to come together as a team.”

Anchoring the lineup looks to be sophomore Miles Lammes (pitcher//shortstop) who played on Holley’s 2019 team, junior Broek Ostrom (pitcher/second base), senior Jared Strather (catcher), junior Calen Brady (centerfield) and junior Jorden Ostrander (third base/pitcher).

Lyndonville High held its Winter and Fall II Athletic Awards ceremony on Saturday and the list of honorees is as follows.

JV Boys Basketball – Ian Mank (MVP), Kevin Travis (MIP), Jimmy Poler (Coach’s Award).

Varsity Boys Basketball – Casey Winiecki (MVP), Nathan Dillenbeck (Offensive MVP and GR Player of the Year), Russell Stephens (Defensive MVP), Noah Poler (Hustle Award).

JV Girls Basketball – Addison Dillenbeck and Haley Shaffer (MVP), Shelby Boring (MIP), Annabelle Follman (Coach’s Award).

Varsity Girls Basketball (NYS Scholar Athlete Team) – Ella Lewis (MVP), Ashlee Stephens (MIP), Alexis Hughes (Coach’s Award).

JV Volleyball – Addison Dillenbeck (MVP), Haley Shaffer (MIP), Kelsey Lemoi (Coach’s Award).

Varsity Volleyball (NYS Scholar Athlete Team) – Lorelei Dillenbeck (MVP), Cianna Button (MIP), Tessa Heideman (Coach’s Award).

Wrestling – Rodney Davis (Most Outstanding Wrestler), Avery Wilcox (Most Improved), Payton Grabowski (Coach’s Award).

Football – Aiden Mescall (Offensive MVP – Barker), Rodney Davis (Defensive MVP – Lyndonville), Ethan Creig (Special Teams MVP – Lyndonville), Mikey Burrows (Most Improved Player – Roy-Hart).

Contributed Photo – Medina’s Jimmy Dieter leads off first base during Saturday’s win at Amherst.

The Medina Mustang 13U Travel baseball team outlasted the Lou Gehrig White 13U Travel Team 5 – 4 on Saturday in Amherst.

Tyler Kroening started on the mound, striking out 6 and pitching 4 scoreless innings.

 Ryleigh Culver came in pitching at the end of the 5th and threw 6 strikeouts through the 6th and  7th  innings to seal the victory.

Carter Woodworth led batting going 3 for 3 with 1 RBI and scoring the winning run by stealing home.

 Brody Fry had 2 hits and had a nice sacrifice bunt that scored Jimmy Dieter from first on a few throwing errors and heads up running.

 Tyler Kroening had a single, a double and 2 RBI’s.  Colton Smith, Lukas Grimes, and Brady Christiaansen each added a hit.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – This veteran quartet of from left, Lorelei Dillenbeck, Ella Lewis, Chloe Stinson and Gracie Johnson will lead Lyndonville into the up coming Genesee Region League softball season.

Last spring the Covid-19 Pandemic hit just a week into practice resulting in the cancellation of the season so it has been two years since area high school baseball and softball teams have taken to the diamond for games. Weather permitting that long drought will end this coming week as the Genesee Region League season gets underway.

Lyndonville will host Holley at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Kendall will visit Oakfield-Alabama at 4:30 p.m. Monday to get the G-R softball season underway.

Lyndonville returns four regulars from the 2019 squad including senior catcher Chloe Stinson, junior infielder/outfielder Ella Lewis, junior first baseman Gracie Johnson and sophomore pitcher/shortstop Lorelei Dillenbeck.

The Lady Tigers very youthful squad also looks to have sophomores Haley Shaffer (infield/pitcher) and Brianna Krisher (third base) along with eighth grader Addison Dillenbeck (outfield) and seventh grader Brooke Robinson (outfield) in the starting lineup.

“We have a real young team,” said Coach Joe Moore. “Our bats look to be our best asset and our infield looks pretty solid.”

Holley likewise returns a quartet of regulars from the 2019 team including seniors Halee Passarell (catcher), Rachel Howard (infield) and Julia Buck (outfield) and Tia Hoffarth (pitcher).

The Lady Hawks have two other players who saw some action that season, senior Hayley Skidmore (catcher) and junior AJ Botello (infield).

“It’s exciting to get back on the diamond,” said Coach Amy Ostrom. “We’ve got a small squad so we want to play as a team.”

Kendall also returns a good nucleus from the 2019 season including junior pitcher Sara Mattle, sophomore shortstop Madison Shonitsky, senior catcher/outfielder Ciera Kupferschaid and junior outfielder/catcher Julie Coble. Senior third baseman Carley Robb along with junior infielders Grace Levett and Grace Robinson also saw some varsity action that season. Sophomore Lauren Pilon looks to play first base.

“We have the pitcher-catcher battery back and that is a big thing,” said Coach Jeff Parizek. “We  will be a little young in the outfield but I’m optimistic. It’s exciting for the kids to get a season in.”

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Jarin Rhim and his Mustang teammates will host Eden/North Collins in the Class C semifinals on Friday.

Seeded No. 2, Medina will host No. 3 Eden/North Collins at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Section VI Class C football playoffs.

The other semifinal will be a matchup of C South Division foes as No. 4 Southwestern visits top seeded Clymer/Sherman/Panama (CSP) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Medina captured the C North Division title with a 4-0 record while Eden/North Collins took the C Central Division crown with a 4-1 mark.

CSP, which won the state Class D championship during both the 2018 and 2019 season, won the C South Division title with a 4-0 record (6-0 overall).

CSP and Southwestern, which also went 4-0 in the C South Division, did not meet during the regular season due to a Covid-19 related pause.  CSP earned the top seed by a narrow margin garnering 80 power points to Southwestern’s 79.

Medina and CSP both finished the regular season with 80 power points but the Wolfpack edged out the Mustangs for the No. 1 seed by virtue of a narrow edge in the first tie-breaker of fewest points allowed. The Wolfpack gave up just 7 points and the Mustangs 13.

The Class C championship game will be played the following week at the highest remaining seed.

Contributed Photos – Chanyce Powell, left, and Ashley Hill

Tuning up for next weekend’s conference championships, Albion High graduate and SUNY Brockport senior Chanyce Powell scored a pair of victories in the jumps Saturday at the host Golden Eagles Invitational.

Posting season best efforts in both events, Powell won the Long Jump with a leap of 5.42 meters and the Triple Jump with a leap of 11.65 meters.

Powell and her Brockport teammates will now compete at the SUNY Athletic Conference championships beginning Friday at SUNY Cortland.

Roy-Hart graduate and Niagara Community College freshman Ashley Hill had a big day at the plate Saturday in helping the Thunderwolves softball team earn the split of a doubleheader with Jamestown Community College.

Hill had a perfect 4 for 4 effort at the plate including two doubles, a triple, two RBI and two runs scored in the opener as NCCC posted a 7-2 win.

Jamestown took the nightcap 11-7 but Hill again had a good game at the plate going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.