A huge seventh inning scoring burst earned Roy-Hart a 13-7 win over host Maryvale in a non league baseball game this afternoon.

Breaking away from a 6-6 deadlock, Roy-Hart erupted for seven runs in the decisive final frame.

An RBI triple by Sean Mettler ignited the big rally which was also highlighted by a two-run triple by John Brigham. A sacrifice bunt by Jared Hy, two passed balls and a steal of home plated the other four runs.

The Flyers scored once in the home half of the seventh.

Mettler had a total of 3 hits on the day and Brigham two.

Earlier the Rams twice rallied from three run deficits to pull even.

Trailing 3-0, Roy-Hart pulled even by scoring three times in the third inning on two passed balls and a fielders choice play.

The Rams later retied the contest at 6-6 with three runs in the sixth inning on two passed balls and an RBI single by John Brigham.

That set the stage for the Rams game winning seventh inning uprising.

Barker 5, Elba 0

Snapping a season opening three game losing streak, Barker blanked visiting Elba 5-0 in a non league contest this afternoon.

JJ Prynn and Drew LaGreca combined to hurl a one hitter for the Bulldogs. Prynn allowed no hits with 10 strikeouts over the first four innings and LaGreca gave up 1 hit and fanned 4 over the last three frames.

Barker took the lead for good by scoring two quick runs in the first inning on a ground out and an RBI single by Grayson Prynn.

The Bulldogs added one run in the second on a bases loaded walk and two in the sixth on a two-run single by Dom Cimato.

Barker will next host Lyndonville at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Randy Hanks

Press Release from Mike Pettinella

Randy Hanks, proprietor of Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, will be honored as the first recipient of the Joe Mortellaro Memorial Award at the annual banquet of the Genesee Region USBC next month.

The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 9 at Batavia Downs Gaming’s Genesee Room on Park Road.

Hanks and his family purchased the 18-lane Oak Orchard Bowl in 2005 and have invested heavily into the bowling center, turning it into a popular league, tournament and entertainment destination.

“Randy consistently goes above and beyond to make bowlers of all ages and skill levels feel welcome and valued,” said GRUSBC President Gary Kuchler. “Without a doubt, Joe Mortellaro would be proud and honored to know that Randy is being recognized as the initial selection of this award.”

Hanks is a founding member of the Youth Bowlers Tour in the Rochester area, is a member of the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association and is a former delegate to the New York State USBC annual meeting. In 2014, he was named “Proprietor of the Year” by the NYS USBC.

Oak Orchard Bowl conducts several fundraising tournaments for worthy causes, including the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion and the Scott Whittier Memorial Scholarships.

The Joe Mortellaro Memorial Award is being presented by the GRUSBC and the Mortellaro family in memory of the association’s “Mr. Bowling,” who passed away on Dec. 27, 2024 at the age of 88. Joe was a two-time Batavia Masters tournament champion and winner of the Autumn Classic at Oak Orchard Bowl in 2000.

A former longtime president of the Batavia Bowling Association, he competed in 50 USBC national tournaments, a remarkable accomplishment.

The GRUSBC annual banquet will honor Hanks, along with tournament and regular league season champions, Hall of Fame inductee(s) and scholarship winner(s). It also will include an election of association officers and directors.

Tickets can be obtained by contacting Tom Fluker, GRUSBC association manager, at 585-354-2199 or at tomfluker@bowlgr.com. Reservations must be made by May 3.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Akron’s Derren Brooks and Wilson’s Aidan Neumann.

Four Niagara-Orleans League players have been named to the All Western New York boys basketball squad.

Akron junior Derren Brooks has been named to the second team and Wilson senior Aidan Neumann to the fourth team.

In addition, Akron’s Blake Gerstung and Ben Gerstung have both earned Honorable Mention.

Brooks scored 451 points (19.1 average) and pulled down 303 rebounds.

Neumann led N-O players in scoring with 518 points (23.5 ave.) and had 120 rebounds.

Blake Gerstung scored 358 points (15.6 ave.) and Ben Gerstung 350 points (15.2 ave.)

Akron’s Blake Gerstung and Ben Gerstung.

Frigid temperatures and more winter like weather has caused the postponement of several baseball and softball games today.

Those postponements include the Albion at Attica, Batavia at Medina and Newfane at Lyndonville baseball games and the Kendall vs. Wheatland-Chili softball contest.

Medina is next scheduled to host JFK at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Albion to entertain Byron-Bergen at noon on Thursday.

Tuesday
Baseball – Newfane at Lyndonville, 1 p.m.; Batavia at Medina ,5 p.m.
Softball – Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, Pembroke at Holley, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Baseball – Roy-Hart at Maryvale, Elba at Barker, 12 p.m.; JFK at Medina, 4:30 p.m.
Softball – Aquinas at Kendall, 5 p.m.

Thursday
Baseball – Byron-Bergen at Albion, Roy-Hart at Gowanda, 12 p.m.; Lyndonville at CSAT, Elba at Kendall, 5 p.m.

Friday
Baseball – Roy-Hart at Kenmore East, 11 a.m.

Saturday
Baseball – Lyndonville at Barker 11 a.m.; Kendall at Albion, 12 p.m.; Alexander at Medina, 2:30 p.m.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Defending Niagara-Orleans League champion Medina’s large veteran group includes, in front, Hadrian Batista, Aidan Papaj, Jimmy Dieter, Carlos Doval and Lathan McEwen Miller. In back are Ryan Pegelow, Kolton Fletcher, Cam Fike, Preston Woodworth and Vinny Gray.

Anchored by a large veteran group, defending champion Medina will prep for the April 13 Niagara-Orleans League home opener against Akron by hosting Batavia on Tuesday at 5 p.m. and JFK on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

The Mustangs went 12-0 in the league and 22-2 overall last spring capturing both the N-O League and Section VI Class B championships for the second year in a row.

Heading the Mustangs veteran contingent is a trio of first team N-O All-League honorees including senior outfielder/pitcher Vinny Gray, junior pitcher/ second baseman Preston Woodworth and junior shortstop/pitcher Aidan Papaj.

Woodworth went 10-0 on the mound last spring with 100 strikeouts and a 0.45 earned run average. He also hit .297 with 33 RBI. Papaj hit .394 with 21 RBI and Gray .309 with 9 RBI.

The Mustangs returnees also include seniors Ryan Pegelow (pitcher/outfield), Jimmy Dieter (outfield) and Kolton Fletcher (outfield) along with juniors Cam Fike (first base/pitcher), Carlos Doval (outfield), Hadrian Batista (catcher/outfield) and Lathan McEwen Miller (infield/outfield).

Medina’s graduation losses included the first team N-O All League trio of pitcher/infielder Brody Fry, third baseman/pitcher Carter Woodworth and outfielder Tyler Kroening along with second team honoree catcher Ryleigh Culver.

“Our pitching and defense are strong,” said Coach Chris Goyette. “The key for us will be to play good situational baseball.”

The Mustangs league opening week will also included trips to Akron on April 15 and Albion on April 17.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The Holley softball team’s veteran group includes, in front, Serenity-Ann Rath and Madison Bonacci. In back are Lily Newman, Skylar Gallagher, Alexis VanAmeron and Alexis Lujan. Missing is Desire McCormack.

A group of seven veterans anchors the lineup for the Holley softball team which is scheduled to open the Genesee Region League season at home on Tuesday against Pembroke at 5 p.m..

New Coach Holley graduate Madison Papaj’s Lady Hawks are led by the veteran grouo of seniors Alexis VanAmeron (shortstop), Lily Newman (outfield/pitcher) and Skylar Gallagher (outfield/oitcher) along with juniors Alexis Lujan, Desiree McCormack and Serenity-Ann Rath and sophomore Madison Bonacci (pitcher).

The Lady Hawks are looking to rebound from last spring’s 0-13 G-R, 1-17 overall campaign.

Three home runs highlighted a 17 hit attack sparking Pembroke to a 23-3 non league baseball win over host Barker this afternoon.

Breaking away from an early 2-2 deadlock, Pembroke regained the lead for good at 6-2 on a pair of two-run second inning home runs by Anthony Abbatiello and Jacob Johnson.

The Dragons then broke the contest wide open by exploding for 13 runs in thr third inning highlighted by a grand slam home run by Mason Wetherbee.

Barker tied the game at 2-2 in the first inning on a two-run double by Grayson Prynn.

The Bulldogs then stayed close at 6-3 on an RBI triple by JJ Prynn in the bottom of the second inning but could not cross home plate again.

Akron 17, Cheektowaga 0
Akron erupted for 7 runs in the third inning and 8 more in the fourth to key a 17-0 non league win over Cheektowaga this afternoon.

Collin Miller had a triple and a home run to highlight the Akron offense which also included 3 hits by Gavin Cottle and 2 each by Hunter Haist and winning pitcher Conlan Luck. Cottle and Haist both had doubles.

Luck allowed 1 hit and struck out 5 in five innings of work on the mound.

One big scoring inning keyed Kendall to a 6-1 victory over Buckeye (Ohio) today at the Cal Ripken Experience at Myrtle Beach.

Leading 1-0, the Eagles broke the game open by erupting for 5 runs in the fourth inning. Three runs came home off a single by winning pitcher Vinnie D’Agostino. A RBI sacrifice fly by Jonny Conte and an error plated the other two tallies.

Singles by Jacob Abrams and Andrew Cole and a walk loaded the bases to set up the threat.

Vinnie D’Agostino also drove in Kendall’s first run of the day with a sacrifice fly in the third inning following singles by Conte and CJ D’Agostino.

Conte, Cole and CJ D’Agostino each finished with a pair of hits.

The Bucks lone run came in the bottom of the fourth on a single, double and wild pitch.

Vinnie D’Agostino pitched the first five innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 5. CJ D’Agostino came on to hurl the final two frames giving up 1 hit and fanning 1.

Kendall improves to 3-0 while Buckeye, which interestingly is from Medina, Ohio, is 3-2.