Contributed Photo – The 1983 season was one of several outstanding ones for the Bailey’s Drillettes softball team which captured both the Medina League regular season and playoff titles that summer and also earned a berth in the World championship Tournament. In all the Drillettes won four regular season and six Medina League playoff titles during the decade of 1976 to 1986. In front are Ann Hyndman, Cheryl Nudd, Tinker Romanowski, Karen Bezon, Judy Hapeman, Mary Guzik and Darcy Merle. In back are Coach Annette Finch, Lou Ann Gavenda, Karen Burns, Marian Gerhardy, Carol Corser, Debbie Butzback, Ellie Smith, Pat Mitchell, Karen Harclerode, Kate Dydo and team sponsor Paul Bailey.

Albion’s Bailey’s Drillettes softball team enjoyed an outstanding decade long Medina Women’s League title run from 1976 to 1986 capturing six playoff and four regular season division championships during that stretch.

Bailey’s captured both the regular season and playoff titles during the 1976, 1981, 1983 and 1986 seasons. The Drillettes also claimed the playoff crown in 1977 and 1980.

The 1983 season proved to be a most special one for Bailey’s as the Drillettes also placed second at the USSSA state tournament to earn a berth in the USSSA World Championships which were held that year n Peabody, Massachusetts. Bailey’s won a USSSA tournament at Batavia to advance to the state tourney.

The Drillettes shared the 1976 regular season title with Apple Depot with identical 9-1 records but went on to claim the playoff crown with a 17-7 win over Apple Depot. Home runs by Linda Chrzan, Ann Capacci and Cheryl Nudd along with triples by Annette Finch and Terry Condulucci highlighted the Bailey’s offense in the playoff title contest.

Bailey’s retained the playoff championship in 1977 by besting Sacred Heart 20-2 in the finals as Mary Ann O’Kussick had a home run, Capacci three hits and Chrzan and Donna Pinson two each.

Rival Apple Depot interrupted Bailey’s run by capturing both the regular season and playoff championship in both 1978 and 1979.

In 1978, Apple Depot nipped Bailey’s 7-5 in a special playoff game for the regular season title after the teams finished with identical 13-1 records. Apple Depot then took two in a row from Bailey’s by scores of 8-4 and 14- to claim the playoff crown.

The 1979 season was a virtual instant replay. First Apple Deport downed Bailey’s 11-2 in a special playoff game to decide the regular season title after the two teams again finished with identical 13-1 records. Then Apple Depot bested Bailey’s 10-4 in the playoff finals.

Bailey’s regained the playoff championship in 1980 downing Varley’s 17-6 in the finals as Marian Gerhardt had four hits, winning pitcher Pat Mitchell three and Finch two. Ann Hyndman and Finch both had triples and Lou Ann Watkins a double.

In 1981, Bailey’s went 14-1 to claim the regular season title and then downed Dave’s Ice Cream 18-6 to take the playoff crown as winning pitcher Tinker Eddy and Mary Guzik both had three hits and Gerhardy, Watkins and Carol Corser two each.

In 1982 Village Sports first bested Bailey’s 13-10 in a special playoff game for the regular season title and then took two in a row from the Drillettes in the finals by scores of 8-7 and 12-2 to claim the playoff championship.

Bailey’s got back into the winners circle in 1983 again claiming both the regular season and playoff titles.  The Drillettes went 16-2 during the regular season and then took two in a row in the finals from Village Sports by scores of 8-6 and 6-5 to claim the playoff crown. Guzik and Gerhady both had three hits and Kate Dydo two in the second and deciding contest.

Village Sports, which emerged as Bailey’s top rival in the early 1980’s, captured both the regular season and playoff titles in both 1984 and 1985.

Bailey’s regained top honors one more time by again claiming both the regular season and playoff titles in 1986. The Drillettes went 15-1 during the regular season and then downed Ranallo’s 17-13 in the finals to capture the playoff crown. A three- run first inning home run by Guzik put Bailey’s on top to stay in the second and deciding title round contest. The Drillettes quickly made it 7-0 in the second inning as Finch had a two-run single, Cheryl Nudd an RBI double and Karen Spiotta an RBI single.

LATHAM – The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) at its annual summer meeting of the Central Committee today approved utilizing 13 weight classes in the sport of wrestling as a two-year pilot beginning in the 2020-21 school year.

The proposal reduces the number of weight classes from 15 to 13.

It eliminates one weight class at the lower weights and one at the higher weights. The four current weight classes from 99 to 120 will be reduced to three (102, 110 and 118). The four weight classes from 170 to 220 would likewise be reduced to three (172, 189 and 215).

“I think the proposal can be better for wrestling, Medina Wrestling Coach Eric Gross said when the proposal was announced this spring. “Right now there are a lot of forfeits. Overall I think it will help programs all over that are struggling with numbers. I think it’s in the right direction. Hopefully it will make for more competitive dual matches.”

“If it helps programs be better and be more competitive I’m 100 percent behind it,” concurred Albion Wrestling Coach Pat Uveino when the proposal was announced.

The committee’s other decisions included approving a field hockey proposal to allow the game clock to run when a five-goal differential is reached.

A waiver for the nights rest rule and maximum number of contests for JV football players was also approved as were new baseball pitch count restrictions  for the 2021 season.

Contributed Photo – Vinny Gray bangs out a hit for the Medina U12 team during Tuesday’s extra inning win.

The Medina Mustang 12U Travel team outlasted the Anjo Bombers Blue team 6-5 last night in extra innings.

In the tight contest the Mustangs and Bombers exchanged leads throughout the game.

The Mustangs gained a one run lead off a two run double by Vinny Gray in the top of the seventh.

However, the Bombers tied it up in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

Colton Smith started of the 8th inning for the Mustangs with a double, and advanced to third with a stolen base. Lukas Grimes hit him in to home to break the tie and earn the victory.

Tyler Kroening then finished off the bottom of the inning hurling 2 strikeouts to end the game.

Brody Fry pitched 5 strikeouts over 3 innings,  Grimes added 2 strikeouts over 2 innings, and Kroening pitched final 3 innings and had 6 strikeouts.

At the plate, Vinny Gray had a single and a double with 2 RBI’s, Preston Woodworth  2 singles, 1 RBI and scored 2 runs, Carter Woodworth  2 singles, RBI, and one run scored, Smith a double and scored winning run and Kroening a double and scored a run. Fry also scored a run while Grimes had game winning RBI, and Luke Duffina added a hit.

Next up for the Mustangs is a tournament this weekend in Canandaigua.

The Medina Mustangs FC bested the NY Hurricanes 4-1 Sunday in a Sahlens Cup 2nd/3rd Division soccer game at Sahlens Sportspark.

Carson Zgoda, Jose Perez, Kristin Snyder and Andrew Giacobbe took turns scoring the goals for the Mustangs. Zgoda also had two assists and Greg Husung and Jesse Fergen one each.

The Mustangs are now 2-1 in the league having also defeated the Westside Blitz 3-1 and lost to Meerkats 7-0.

Snyder, Vassilios Bitsas and Ethan Leonard each scored a goal against the Blitz as Husung chipped in with two assists.

Contributed Photo – James Tee

A strong finishing round powered James Tee to the Shelridge Club championship on Sunday.

Trailing by two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round, Tee fired a 73 to capture his first Club championship by a six stroke margin over Ray Neuman, who holds the Shelridge record with eight Club championship victories.

Tee finished with a total score of 227 and Neuman 233.

In all the tourney saw a total of four former champions finish in the top eight as in addition to Neuman, Alex Misitii placed third, Tom Hungerford fourth and Brett Decker eighth.

Following Tee and Neuman, the top 10 finishers in order were Alex Misiti 234, Hungerford 240, Andrew Misiti 244, Ian Wagner 246, Darren Dubai 247, Decker 250, Chris Trapasso 253 and Mark Doel and Tim Moriarty, both at 254.

The opening round saw Hungerford shoot a 73 to jump out to a three stroke lead over Tee and Alex Misiti, who both carded rounds of 76.

The second round saw Alex Misiti fire another round of 76 to hold a two shot lead (152 to 154) over Tee who had a 78. Rounds in the 80’s put both Hungerford and Neuman five shots off the pace.

That set the stage for Tee’s big charge on Sunday as he posted a 73 to claim the title as Neuman also came in strong with a 76 to finish in the runner-up spot.

The tourney also had five Flight winners. Rod Hamilton captured the A Flight, Dennis Higgins the B Flight, Butch Stupnick the C Flight, Tom Valley the D Flight and Terry Biernacki the E Flight.

A total of 13 teams are set to begin competing in the new Orleans County Short Season Baseball League beginning next week.

The six team U12 Division, which will begin play on August 4, will include the Sandstone, Barre/St. Mary’s, Rotary, Carlton, Medina and Elba teams.

The seven team U10 Division, which will begin competition on August 3, will include the Sandstone, Carlton, Barre, Rotary/St. Mary’s, Elba, Medina Blue and Medina Red teams.

Both divisions are looking to play a 10 game regular season followed by playoffs.

The August 4 U12 Division openers will have Rotary vs. Barre/St. Mary’s at St. Mary’s, Sandstone vs. Carlton at Carlton and Elba vs. Medina at Medina’s Butts Park. All games are 6 p.m. starts.

The first week of the U12 season will conclude on August 6 with Medina vs. Rotary at the Midget League Field, St. Mary’s/Barre vs. Carlton at Carlton and Elba vs. Sandstone at Sandstone.

The August 3 U10 Division openers will have Medina Red vs. Carlton at Carlton, Barre vs. Rotary/St. Mary’s at St. Mary’s and Elba vs. Medina Blue at Butts Park as Sandstone draws the bye. Games will begin at 6 p.m.

Rounding ut the U10 Division’s opening week on August 5 it will be Rotary/St. Mary’s vs. Carlton at Carlton, Medina Red vs. Medina Blue at Butts Park and Barre vs. Sandstone at Sandstone as Elba draws the bye.

The Short Season League was formed to give local youth some kind of a season after restrictions imposed early this spring due to the Covid-19 Pandemic wiped out the Albion Midget League and the Niagara-Orleans Youth Baseball League seasons which normally play from May through June.

Last week was another busy one for the leagues at Hickory Ridge.  Results were reported for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday leagues.  No results reported this week for Wednesday or Friday night leagues.

The Monday NIght Men’s League has the team of Todd Cappotelli and Ryan Keller leading with 140.5 points.  Second place is held down by Jim Carlson and Frank Heinlein with 120 points and Ron Hering and Gerald Furness in third place with 116 points.  Sal Deluca and Wayne Schiavone with 109.5 points and Butch Barber and Scott Brooks with 103.5 round out the top five teams.  Barber and Don Young each shot a 40 to share low gross honors while Barber’s 28 was low net for the night.

The Monday Nite Bar Guys league reported in for the first time this year.  First place in the league is held by Dave Petta and Mark Condolucci with the team of AJ Gifaldi and Darryl Szklany in second.  In the Senior Division the low gross was Szklany and Nick Penna each with a 42.  Penna recorded the only birdie in that division.  Al Lackey was low net with a 30.  The Junior Division had Spanky Christ shooting a 40 for low gross.  Mike Penna had a low net of 30.  Bruce Neary, Mike Penna and Paul Gifaldi each recorded birdies.

Tuesday Night Ladies League saw Deb Wood shoot a stellar one under par 34 for low gross honors.  Teammates Melissa Cotter and Paula Knaak  shared low net with a 32.  Wood recorded three birdies while Cotter, Jan Palmer, Sue Gay and Diane Hennecky each had one.  Hennecky and Judy Schuth are in first place with 47 points.  Cheryl Ferguson and Vicki Brawn are in second  with 44 points and Deb Birkins and Patty Pfister are close behind in third with 43.5 points.

Ray Daniels had low gross of 38 for the Thursday Night Mens League.  John Foos recorded a 27 for low net.  AJ Gifaldi and Jeff Hillabush had two birdies each.  The standings tightened up a bit this week but still have the team of Dresser and Flansberg leading with 140 points.  Bedford and Burgess keep moving up the leaderboard and are now in second with 138 points.  Dibley and Flansberg are in third with 132 points while Drury and Nagy with 130 points and Bennett and Budde with 126 points round out the top five.

The Senior and Super Senior Club Championship will be played on Monday, August 3.  Signups must be made by July 29 in the pro shop.  If you are unsure if you meet the criteria to play in the tournament contact the pro shop for eligibility requirements.

Section VI officials are spotlighting members of the section’s Athletic Council and the most recent member spotlighted in this series is Roy-Hart Athletic Director John Grzymala who is the Niagara-Orleans League boys sports representative on the Council.

Contributed Photo – John Grzymala

Signatures are like snowflakes. No two match exactly. Many are extraordinary and several are significant. For John Grzymala, each piece of sport memorabilia is important and tells a unique story. Every autograph he has been able to collect over the years rekindles a love for sports and takes him back to a moment.

Grzymala grew up in Cheektowaga, eventually moving to West Seneca where he attended West Seneca East High School and wore the green and gold. The 2002 graduate was a two-sport athlete for the Trojans, competing in both basketball and baseball. He continued on at Canisius College, majoring in Physical Education/Health where he also earned his Master’s in 2010 in Sports Administration.

Grzymala credits WSE physical education teacher and basketball coach, Sam Sebastian for having a large impact on his life and making it apparent what direction John should consider for his profession. One of his special, unique professional moments came when while coaching softball for Roy-Hart, John coached against Sebastian.

The father of two, daughter Madelynn, 3 years old, and son Luca, 10 months, Grzymala has now been at Royalton-Hartland for 11 years.

He began his career with the Rams as a high school physical educator, added athletic director duties five years ago and melds both in his new role as Dean of Students. As R-H Athletic Director, John is most proud of the annual increase in participation numbers. He loves watching the Ram athletes compete in the Niagara Orleans League and through post-season play. He and wife, Danielle, Madelynn and Luca, live in the Town of Lockport within the Starpoint CSD boundaries.

Grzymala loves the game of baseball. He has coached at the Modified, JV, Varsity and JUCO levels for over 15 years. He enjoyed working with the elite, coaching at the Empire State Games when NYS still held its Olympic-style competition. During his time coaching the WNY Team, he coached over 50 players that went on to play Division I baseball. Ten of those players were drafted out of high school into professional baseball and John remains in contact with several as those players continue to play or coach.

Not surprisingly, his throat still catches when he watches his favorite movie, Field of Dreams. His love of baseball is reflected in the legends he targets for autographs. Each opportunity to meet his heroes elicits a return to that boyhood fascination. As he looks at his collection, he recalls how they came to be. John has had in person experiences with the rarities of Cal Ripken Jr., Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, Bob Gibson, Curt Schilling, Frank Thomas and Wade Boggs. Even beyond baseball, he recalls the moments he experienced with Jerry Rice and Dominik Hasek. Each elongated signature, each long stroke kindles a specific time, a place. Each extraordinary moment captured, different stories all. Moments that still tie him to his first love.