Since Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced that youth baseball, softball and also now soccer teams can begin play on July 6 as Covid-19 restrictions ease plans are now being put together to get some local baseball games in this summer.

Those plans include attempting to set up a schedule of games for teams from the Medina, Lyndonville and Albion Leagues.

Medina LOYAL Baseball President Chris Goyette stated in a Facebook post Saturday that  “with the state now setting July 6th as the date to open up for baseball, we would like to get the word out to everyone and gauge level of interest in playing some organized baseball.

“Right now we are planning to set up a schedule of games with the  Albion and Lyndonville youth baseball leagues. The ages for which we are offering this for is going to be 7-12 based off May 1st birthdate.

“We are looking to run the program from July 6th  till end of August, with the potential to go well into September based on if LOYAL football proceeds with their season this year.

“If anyone has any questions regarding this potential baseball season feel free to reach out to me using my email. Also if you are definitely interested and would like your child  to participate please email me with you and your child name, child birthdate, and jersey size. My email is cgoyette2113@gmail.com.”

Soccer also hoping to get some competition in

Although the regions’ two main youth soccer leagues, the Buffalo and Western New York Youth soccer League and the Rochester District Youth Soccer League, both cancelled their seasons last month due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the Governor’s easing of restrictions as of July 6 now opens the door for some local competition.

“I think we can go out and do something to get the kids some competition,” said Carl Creasey who coaches the Albion Raptors girls soccer team which competes in the RDYSL. “We certainly need to be careful of everyone’s health and safety and the New York State West Soccer Association has issued guidance for teams. There are plenty of things in the guidance that are really easy to follow.”

“Practice and scrimmages are what we are looking to try to do at the start,” added Creasey whose is hopefull of being able to work with some other local teams to get in scrimmages or practice games.

“I think it is a possibility to get in some competition for the kids,” added Creasey who notes that getting insurance coverage and connecting with other local teams that might also be able play are the first steps for teams like the Raptors to take in order to be able to begin to practice and scrimmage.

Contributed Photo – The Medina Mustangs celebrating after capturing their first Section VI baseball championship, a 7-3 win over Grover Cleveland in the 1989 Class B2 title contest. In front are Coach Larry Schrader and Mark Greene. Standing are Eric Valley, Rick Majeski, Brian Fuller, Jerry Shaffer, Kyle Jones, Ryan Wilkins, Todd Bensley, Jim Snyder, Mason Moore, Jody Sargent, Russ Beyer, Shad Froman and Charlie Leonard.

A year ago Medina trimmed rival Albion 10-6 to capture the Section VI Class B1 baseball championship. The Section VI title was the third for the Mustangs the first of which came in 1989.

That spring the Mustangs downed Grover Cleveland of Buffalo 7-3 to capture the Section VI Class B2 championship.

That victory ended a 38 year postseason title drought for Medina whose only previous sectional title was a 2-2 co-championship with Geneseo in the 1951 Section V Class A final.

Mark Greene went the distance on the mound for the Mustangs against Grover Cleveland scattering six hits with seven strikeouts in the contest played at Hamburg.

At the plate, Greene, Mason Moore, Jim Snyder, Shad Froman and Brian Fuller each banged out a pair of hits.

Leading all the way, Medina jumped out to a quick first inning lead on a two run homer by Moore which followed a single by Snyder.

Medina upped the advantage to 5-0 by scoring three times in the third inning. Greene’s second double of the day ignited that uprising as the runs came home on an error and a pair of steal plays.

Grover did break onto the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the fifth inning on back-to-back singles and a two-run error. However, Greene bore down to get out of further trouble by retiring the next three batters on a strikeout, a pop out to Moore at shortstop and another strikeout.

The Mustangs though got those two tallies right back in the home half of the frame on an RBI single by Moore and an RBI double Froman.

However, Medina’s post season run came to an end in the next round as Dunkirk defeated the Mustangs 13-8 in the Section VI Class B title contest at Pilot Field (now Salen’s Field) in Buffalo.

Top seeded Medina advanced to the B2 title contest by downing Newfane 6-2 in the quarterfinals and Fredonia 4-3 in the semifinals, both at Vets Park.

Greene hurled Medina past Newfane limiting the Panthers to three hits and striking out five.

Medina again took the lead for good in the first inning on a two-out, two-run single by Ryan Wilkins.

The Mustangs doubled the lead with two runs in the fourth inning on a wild pitch and an error.

Newfane did cut the deficit to 4-2 with two runs in the sixth but Medina got those right back in the home half of the frame on an RBI double by Russ Beyer and an RBI single by Rick Majeski.

Medina then had a very close call in the semifinals surviving a half a dozen errors to nip Fredonia 4-3.

Snyder went the distance on the mound allowing only one hit and striking to 10.

Just as was the case in the quarterfinals Medina jumped out to a quick first inning lead on a two-run single by Moore.

The Mustangs added a solo run in the second inning on a fielders choice play off the bat of Charlie Leonard.

Fredonia picked up an unearned run in the fourth but Medina got that one back in the fifth on a well executed double steal play for what proved to be the game winning run and a 4-1 lead. Moore reached on a fielders choice and Brian Fuller with a double to key the threat.

Fredonia did cut the deficit to 4-3 by scoring a pair of unearned runs in the sixth off three Medina errors.

However, Snyder bore down to get the final out with a strikeout leaving two Fredonia runners stranded on base.

Fredonia did get the leadoff batter on in the seventh via a walk but Snyder retired the next three batters in a row on grounders back to the mound to lock up the victory.

Since that 1989 title campaign, Medina has captured the Section VI Class B championship two more times in 2003 and 2019.

Capping off what has been unusual finish to the high school sports year,  Lyndonville High presented its annual athletic awards program today via a video.

Click the link to view the program:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CUtUlN41CSI&feature=youtu.be

The Coaches Award was presented to Evan Horn and Savannah Poler.

Mario Fidanza and Megan Krisher received the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award.

Krisher also received the “Bub” Meland Award and Horn the “Doc” Layer Award.

The Alfred L. Schmitt Memorial Award was presented to Oskar Heinsler and the Harold Dix Jr. Memorial Award to Nathan Dillenbeck and Ella Lewis,

The Mike Fuller Memorial Award was presented to Rodney Davis and the Paul Howell Memorial Award to Dillenbeck and Karlee Rounds.

The Trevor T. Cook “Unsung Hero Award” was presented to Jonathan Slingerland and Jenahlee Reimer.

The Lyndonville Varsity Club’s Tri-Athlete Award went to Horn, Devin Rounds and Slingerland.

The Lyndonville Sports Boosters “Unsung Hero” Award went to Heinsler and Krisher.

The U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award went to Nathan Hydock and Danielle Weldon and the U.S. Air Force Scholar-Athlete Award went to Devin Rounds and Faith Chaffee.

Senior Recognition Awards were presented to Madison Austin, Ethan Bowie, Faith Chaffee, Mia Dennard, Allyson Deslatte, Mario Fidanza, Morgan Forder, Nicholas Hartwig, Oskar Heinsler, Evan Horn, Nathan Hydock, Megan Krisher, Nathan Neace, Savannah Poler, Jenahlee Reimer, Devin Rounds, Riley Schmitt, Jonathan Slingerland, Cal Stinson, Trey Vercruysee, Adia Wachob, Danielle Weldon, Alyssa Winder and Kaci Wittmeyer

Section VI officials are saluting the section’s senior baseball players in recognition of the season that was lost to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

“The Section VI Baseball Committee decided to put together a list that would honor our senior athletes. Our goal was to give our players something to remember, since they never got the opportunity to swing the bat one final time”, said Section VI Baseball Chairman Robert Parry.

In a message to the seniors Parry said, “success in athletics is measured in many ways. One is easy to see, it includes state championships, rivalry wins, and trophies in the case. But there is another measure of success, that is harder to count, but much more important — it is the person you have become. This will never be taken from you. Your training, your teammates and coaches and the years of dedication to your sport have changed you, they have made you men of character who stand ready to make a difference in the world. Hold on to that. Use this to fuel your fire – not put it out.”

The following is a list of the Niagara-Orleans League seniors by school with their future athletic plans.

Akron – Matt Murzynowski, Alfred State

Albion – Liam Ward, Niagara University; Thomas Furmanski, St. Bonaventure University; Patrick Ricker, GCC; Michael DiCureia, Alfred State; Michael Harling; Ryan Krenning; Kyle Hughson; Cody Wilson, Sacred Heart University; James Denoncourt

Barker – David Class

Medina – Trevor Luthart, SUNY Oswego; Chris Goyette, SUNY Cortland; Nathan Sherman, Canisius College

Newfane – Garrett Srock,: NCCC; David Bunn, Niagara University; Caden Gibson; Richie Stern, GCC

Roy-Hart – Reed Albee, Alfred State; Michael Huntington,  Alfred State; Noah Draper, NCCC

Wilson – Patrick Seeley, St. Bonaventure University; Thomas Baia, St. Bonaventure University; Declan Faery, St. John Fisher College; Bobby Atlas, Hartwick College; Julian Andreola, St. John Fisher College; Brayden Dunlap; Zane Feeley

Contributed Photo – John Colsanti

Hickory Ridge recorded the first hole in one of the year on Saturday, June 13.  John Colsanti accomplished the feat when he aced the 18th hole using an 8 iron on the 148 yard hole.

It was Colsanti’s second hole in one at Hickory Ridge and third overall.

League Results

The weather has been cooperating and Hickory Ridge Leagues are playing their schedules on time.  While the men’s leagues are still establishing handicaps, the women’s league is going full steam ahead.

Taking low gross honors this week is Deb Wood with 46 with Brenda Powers close behind with 48.  Low net honors went to Jan Palmer with a 37.  Vicki Brawn had second low net with a 38.  Birdies were recorded by Brawn, Wood and Karen Berlew.

Standings for the ladies have Cheryl Ferguson and Vicki Brawn in first with 22.5 points,  Second place is held down by Deb Berkins and Patty Pfister close behind the leaders with 22 points.  Judy Schuth and Dianne Hennecky are in third place with 20 points.

Besides open play and the five leagues playing it will be a busy week at Hickory Ridge.  A new league kicks off this week on Friday Nights.  A mixed couples league will start the season with ten teams.  On Saturday a members’ tournament takes place with a scramble format.  Results from the new league and the tournament will be shared when available.

Medina will open the 2020 football season the same way it finished the 2019 campaign – by hosting East Aurora.

Medina Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach Eric Valley has announced that the Mustangs will host East Aurora as the new eighth game on the regular season schedule. The game will be played on Saturday September 5.

That weekend had in previous years by used for scrimmages. However this spring the New York State Public High School Athletic Association voted to give schools the option to add an eighth game or to scrimmage on that weekend.

Last fall East Aurora nipped Medina 21-19 in the season finale at Vets Park.

Albion will also be playing an eighth game that weekend as the Purple Eagles will visit Batavia on September 4.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Caitlyn Mason and Casey Webb both scored All-League meet wins in 2015 when the Raiders captured both the Niagara-Orleans League boys and girls track titles.

It was just five years ago that the 2015 Barker track teams enjoyed a most memorable season as the Raiders swept both the Niagara-Orleans League boys and girls championships for the first time in school history.

The N-O title was the fifth in a row for the Barker boys and the historic first ever for the Lady Raiders.

Both teams went 6-0 in N-O dual meet competition.

Narrow wins of 74-67 over Medina and 72-65 over Wilson were the Barker boys squads’ closest calls.

A season opening 75-65 victory over defending champion Akron and a closing 75-66 win over Albion were the Lady Raiders closest calls.

The Barker boys scored a trio of wins at the All-League meet as Casey Webb capured the 400 Hurdles and Brett Holland the Discus. Webb also teamed up with Carter Pisarski, Jacob Arnold and Chris Sweeney to win the 3200 Relay.

The Lady Raiders likewise captured three events at the All-League meet. Caitlyn Mason won the Long Jump, Gabby Clare the 400 Hurdles and Kellsi Flegal the 200.

Lyndonville’s annual Athletic Awards program will be presented virtually this Friday.

The link to the video will be available on the Lyndonville Facebook page, Twitter and LiveFeed.

Athletic Director Jim Zeliff notes that among the awards that will be presented will be  the “Doc” Layer Award, The “Bub” Meland Award, the Babe Ruth Sportsmanship Award, the Trevor T. Cook “Unsung” Hero Award as well as many others.

He added that Individual awards will be handed out with other school awards early next week.  A specific date and time for award handouts will be posted in the near future.

Contributed Photos – Holley’s Valedictorian Tyra Shepherd and Salutatorian Ally Benson.

In addition to enjoying very successful careers in the classroom, Holley Valedictorian Tyra Shepherd and Salutatorian Ally Benson were both very active on the Hawks cheerleading squad and the Unified Basketball team.

Shepherd lettered in both fall and winter Cheerleading and also in Unified Basketball. She was the recipient of the fall and Winter Scholar Athlete award having the highest average, and was named Most Valuable Cheerleader.She was also named to the Genesee Region All Star Cheerleading team this year.

She was a member of National Honor Society; where she serves as Treasurer, Rotary Interact Club, and Concert Choir where she is the Co-President, Woman’s Choir, Art Club, and the school musical.

The daughter of Michael and Corrinda Shepherd, she has a 99.44 grade point average and will be graduating a year early. She will be attending Brown University in the fall to pursue a degree in Cognitive Science.

Benson competed in fall and winter Cheerleading, Unified Basketball and JV Soccer. A Scholar Athlete award recipient for all three seasons she was the MOST Improved Cheerleader last fall.

A member of the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society and Concert Choir, her Academic Excellence Awards were in Algebra 2, Sports and Fitness, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Geometry, and Global 1.

The daughter of Raymond and Mary Benson she had a 99.07 grade point average and will be attending Nazareth College in the fall to major in Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

Contributed Photos – Orleans players who have appeared on Minor League baseball cards include, from left, Aaron Bouie shown here on a 2000 Bluefield Orioles Grandstand card; Daryl Bailey on a 1979 Holyoke Millers TCMA card and Brian Fry on a 1989 Billings ProCards card. Bailey and Fry each appeared on cards in two different years.

Tim Riemer, left,  shown here on a 1989 Star card, and Rob Riemer on a  1986 Pacific card.

For well over a century baseball cards have been a key part of the major leagues diamond sport and since the 1970’s minor league players have also gained recognition on these cardboard collectables.

Andre Kinder on a 2012 Williamsport Choice card.

No less than six Orleans County players have been pictured on baseball cards during their Minor League careers including Daryl Bailey, Aaron Bouie and Andre Kinder from Albion, Brian Fry from Medina and Rob and Tim Riemer from Lyndonville.

Bailey, a pitcher who played two years at Monroe Community College after graduating from Albion was the Milwaukee Brewers first pick in the 1977 winter free-agent draft and the third overall selection.

He played three years in the Brewers minor league system at Burlington in the Midwest Class A League in 1977, at Burlington and Holyoke in the AA Eastern League in 1978 and at Stockton in the California A League and at Holyoke in 1979. He compiled a career record on the mound of 13-11 with 15 saves.

Bouie, who was also a pitcher, played four years at St. Bonaventure after graduating from Albion and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 22nd round of the 2000 draft.

He played for the Bluefield Orioles in the Appalachian Rookie League and for the Orioles Gulf Coast Rookie League team in 2000 and for the Tennessee T’s in the All American Association in 2001.

Kinder, who attended Peru State College after graduating from Albion, was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 42nd round of the June 2011 draft.

He pitched for the Phillies Gulf Coast League rookie league in 2011. He then played for three teams in 2012, the Phillies Gulf Coast team, Clearwater of the Florida League and Williamsport of the New York-Penn League. Over the two years he had a 2-3 record on the mound and two saves.

Fry, a pitcher who played at Monroe Community College after graduating from Medina, was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 32nd round of the June 1989 draft.

He played for the Reds Billings, Montana team in the Pioneer League in 1989 and 1990. He compiled a 5-4 record on the mound with 2 saves.

Rob Riemer, likewise a pitcher, played at Monroe Community College after graduating from Lyndonville and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 33 round of the 1986 June draft.

He played for the Giants, Everett Washington team in the Northwest League in 1986.

Tim Riemer, a catcher who also played for Monroe Community College, was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1989 and played for Watertown in the New York-Penn League that season. He also managed the Newark team in the Independent North Atlantic League in 1995.