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Orleans senior athletes are in the spotlight
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The HUB’s series spotlighting Orleans County senior athletes today includes, from left, Even Horn (Lyndonville), Hunter Heil (Medina) and Paige Derisley (Albion). Derisley was a four year member of the Albion soccer team earning Niagara-Orleans All-League honors the last two years. She was also a three year member of the Purple Eagles varsity softball team and a two year member of the basketball squad. Horn was a three year member of the Medina/Lyndonville soccer squad which captured the Niagara-Orleans League title last fall. He was also a two-year member of the Tigers varsity basketball team and has competed in the hurdles and sprint events in track. Heil won the 100 Backstroke and was on Medina’s winning 200 Medley Relay team at the N-O All-League swim meet this past season. He was also a member of the Medina/Lyndonville soccer team which captured the N-O title and competed in the 400, hurdles and jumps for the Mustangs in track.
Carson Major (Holley) and Dawson Custer (Kendall). Major was a three year member of both the Holley varsity soccer and basketball teams. Custer was a four year member of the Holley-Kendall wrestling squad and a two-year member of the Kendall varsity soccer team.
Orleans senior athletes in the spotlight
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The HUB’s week long series spotlighting some of Orleans County’s senior athletes today includes, from left, Danielle Weldon (Lyndonville), Hannah Heil (Medina) and Kendall Derisley (Albion). Weldon has been a three year member of the Lyndonville varsity basketball squad and has also played volleyball. Heil set new Medina school records in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle events during this past swim season in which she captured the 50 Free title at the Niagara-Orleans All-League meet. She has also been a distance runner for the Mustangs in both cross-country and track. Derisley has been a four year member of the Albion varsity soccer team twice earning a spot on the N-O All-league squad. She has played three years of varsity softball and two years of varsity basketball for the Purple Eagles.
Jamel Hildreth (Holley) and Dale Steffen (Kendall). Hildreth has been a thee year regular on the Holley football squad. He also plays baseball. Steffen has been a three year member of the Kendall varsity basketball squad an a two-year regular o the varsity soccer team.
A spotlight on Orleans senior athletes
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The HUB’s series spotlighting some of Orleans County’s senior athletes today features, from left, Kevin Hillman (Albion), Trevor Luthart (Medina) and Oskar Heinsler (Lyndonville). Hillman helped lead the Albion football team to the B3 Division title and a berth in the sectional finals last fall. He has also been a two year starter on the Purple Eagles basketball team and a Long and Triple jumper on the track team. Luthart helped hurl Medina to Niagara-Orleans League, Section VI and Far West Regional baseball titles last spring and a berth in the state semifinals. He also helped lead the Mustangs to three straight N-O golf championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Heinsler helped the Medina/Lyndonville soccer team capture the N-O championship last fall. He has also been a multi year member of the Tigers baseball squad.
Cody Tanis (Holley) and Hailee Mitchell (Kendall). Tanis was a four year member of the Holley varsity football team and has also been a two year player on the Hawks varsity basketball and baseball squads. Mitchell, a five year member of the Kendall varsity soccer squad, helped lead the Lady Eagles to the state championship her junior year. She scored 30 goals that season and earned state Class D Player of the Year honors. She also earned All-State honors this past fall when she netted 20 goals.
When Christy Mathewson pitched in Medina
Contributed Photo – Christy Mathewson
Many no doubt know that Babe Ruth played an exhibition baseball game at Medina’s Oak Orchard Park (now Veterans Memorial Park) in October of 1920 during which he hit one of his famous home runs.
However, probably not too many know that a decade earlier another baseball Hall of Famer, Christy Mathewson, pitched in Medina.
And that appearance was truly an unusual one as Mathewson’s pitching performance was in an indoor baseball exibition game at the Pearl Street Armory (now the home of the Orleans County YMCA) on January 14, 1910.
Mathewson was the star player on New York Giants manager Hall of Famer John McGraw’s barnstorming team of major leaguers which faced off against a Medina squad.
The free scoring indoor baseball contest (a popular sport of that era) saw the Giants win 22-19 out hitting the local squad 28-13.
The Medina Daily Journal’s January 15 1910 report of the game gave Mathewson’s efforts mixed reviews. It stated “Mathewson is a fine big boy, draws a good salary for appearing, gets a fine hand from the crowds and then proceeds to enjoy the game as a real player should – kicks on most everything, makes a few safe hits and keeps himself general conspicuous. Christy is a good ball player, but at the indoor game, he’s rather tame. However, the crowd saw him in action, liked his boyish ways and went home satisfied with the entertainment.”
The report also highlights a Medina rally at the plate against Mathewson early in the game which gave the locals their only lead. It notes “For two innings the visitors made a few safe wallops, and aided by many errors, they corralled seven tallies. Meanwhile, they held the locals to two runs. Then our side went after Mathewson the Great. They took kindly to his offerings and passed them around indiscriminately among the crowd, and when the slaughter was over we led, eight to seven. This was the only time we were in the front of the parade.”
Matthewson was coming off a 1909 major league season in which he posted a 25-6 record on the mound for the Giants. The upcoming 1910 season would see him go 27-9. During his 17 year major league career (1900-1916) he compiled a record of 373-188 with 2507 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.13. He registered three shutouts in the 1905 World Series leading the Giants to the title.
The Journal’s January 13, 1910 story leading up to the game stated that “it is expected that fully 1200 people will be there for the contest.
The article also lists the names of the Medina players on the team including “Con” Bradley at pitcher, Cleary or Bacon at catcher, Reil at first, Eddie Collins at second ,”Crab” Mpontgomery at shortstop and Boyle at third with Tillman, H. Montgomery, Haingrey or Cleary in the outfield.
Spotlighting Orleans senior athletes
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The HUB’s week long series spotlighting some of Orleans senior athletes today includes, from left, Liam Ward (Albion), Olivia Carter (Medina) and Savannah Poler (Lyndonville). Ward has been a four year catcher/pitcher on the Albion varsity baseball team earning first team Niagara-Orleans All-League honors each of the last three years at the key catchers position. He has also been a four year player on the Purple Eagles varsity basketball squad. Carter earned first place honors in the Long Jump at last spring’s N-O All-League track meet. She has also been a multi year starter on the soccer team. Poler has been a three year member of the Lyndonville varsity basketball team and has also competed in track.
Sarah Harrington (Holley) and Mason Kuhn (Kendall). Harrington a four year varsity soccer player earned Genesee Region League All-Star honors last fall. She has also been a multi year player on the Lady Hawks basketball squad. Kuhn, earned G-R All-Star honors in soccer last fall and in baseball last spring. He has also been a multi year starter on the Eagles basketball team.
Orleans senior athletes in the spotlight
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Continuing the HUB’s series spotlighting some of Orleans senior athletes today’s honorees include, from left, Thomas Furmanski (Albion), Chris Goyette (Medina) and Devin Rounds (Lyndonville). A pitcher/infielder Furmanski has been a two-time first team Niagara-Orleans All-League pitcher. Last fall on the gridiron he quarterbacked the Purple Eagles to the B3 Division title and a berth in the sectional finals. He was also a key member of the Albion swim team. Goyette, who is also a pitcher/infielder, helped lead Medina to N-O League, Section VI and Far West Regional titles last spring and a berth in the state semis. He also was on the Mustangs football and swim teams. Rounds has been a multi year player on the soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He helped the Medina/Lyndonville soccer squad claim the N-O title last fall.
Katie Pearson (Kendall) and Jacob Norman (Holley). Pearson has been a thee year starter in goal for the Kendall soccer squad where she helped the Lady Eagles earn a state title her junior year. She has also been a multi year member of the Lady Eagles basketball and softball teams. Norman, a two way starter at quarterback and linebacker for the Holley football team, earned first team All-State honors last fall. He has also been a regular on the Hawks basketball and baseball teams.
Series spotlighting Orleans senior athletes
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The HUB’s series of spotlights on some of Orleans senior athletes today includes, from left, Nate Sherman (Medina), Deyonci Farley (Albion) and Nathan Hydock (Lyndonville). Farley, a two-time first team Niagara-Orleans League basketball honoree, led Albion in both scoring and rebounding this past season. He also helped lead the Purple Eagles football team to the B3 Division title and a berth in the sectional finals this past fall. Sherman likewise earned first team N-O All-Star honors in basketball this past season leading Medina in both scoring and rebounding. He played both soccer (midfielder) and football (placekicker) last fall and helped lead the Mustangs soccer team to the N-O title. He has also been the starting center fielder on the Mustangs baseball team which reached the state semifinals last spring. Hydock, a three year varsity player, earned G-R League basketball All-Star honors this past season as he averaged a double double for the Tigers including a team leading 281 rebounds (14.1 ave.).
Lizzie Sutphen (Kendall) and Olivia Radford (Holley). Sutphen was a two-time G-R soccer All-Star anchoring the Kendall defense and a multi year starter for the Lady Eagles in both basketball and softball. She helped the Lady Eagles capture a state soccer title her junior year. Likewise a two-time Genesee Region League soccer All-Star as both a forward and a defender Radford has also been a multi year starter for the Lady Hawks in basketball.
HUB spotlights Orleans senior athletes
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Kicking off the HUB’s series of photo spotlights on some of our Orleans County’s senior athletes are, from left, Cody Wilson (Albion), Melanie Green (Medina) an Mario Fidanza (Lyndonville). Wilson placed sixth at the state wrestling championships this past season. Last fall he helped the Purple Eagles claim the B3 Division football title and a berth in the sectional finals earning first team Class B All-State honors. Green has captured back-to-back state golf championship in 2018 and 2019. She also claimed three straight Section VI golf championships in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Fidanza placed eighth at the state wrestling championships this past season and second at the Section V state qualifier tournament.
Kohl Morgan (Holley) and Brittney Marks (Kendall). Morgan earned Genesee Region League All-Star honors in both soccer and basketball this past year. He also played baseball for the Hawks. Marks has earned G-R All-Star honors in both volleyball and softball. She was also a starter on the Lady Eagles basketball team.
N-O baseball coaches recognize seniors
Though the season has been cancelled due to the closing of schools because of the Covid 19 pandemic, Niagara-Orleans League baseball coaches have taken the opportunity to recognize the senior members of their teams.
The N-O seniors and their plans for next year are as follows:
Akron – Matt Murzynowski (Alfred State).
Albion – Liam Ward (Niagara University), Thomas Furmanski (St. Bonaventure University), Patrick Ricker (GCC), Michael DiCureia (Alfred State), Michael Harling (Workforce), Ryan Krenning (United States Navy), Kyle Hughson (Law Enforcement Career), Cody Wilson (Sacred Heart University) and James Denoncourt (Workforce).
Barker- David Class (Workforce)
Medina – Trevor Luthart (SUNY Oswego), Chris Goyette (SUNY Cortland) and Nathan Shernan (Canisius College).
Newfane – Garrett Srock (NCCC), David Bunn (Niagara University), Caden Gibson (United States Marine Corps) and Richie Stern (GCC).
Roy-Hart – Reed Albee (Alfred State), Michael Huntington (Alfred State) and Noah Draper (NCCC).
Wilson – Patrick Seeley (St. Bonaventure University), Thomas Baia (St. Bonaventure University), Declan Feary (St. John Fisher College), Bobby Atlas (Hartwick College), Julian Andreola (St. John Fisher College), Brayden Dunlap (Military career path) and Zane Feeley (Workforce).
The N-O coaches include Greg Bell (Akron), Bruce Blanchard (Albion), Rob Mucha (Barker), Jon Sherman (Medina), Chad Gretz (Newfane), Jim Heidman (Roy-Hart) and Mark Kurtz (Wilson).
HUB series to spotlight Orleans seniors
Due to the closing of schools because of the Covid 19 pandemic the high school sports year was cut short with the cancellation of the spring season.
That cancellation, the first such occurrence in local sports history, was a particularly hard blow for our senior student/athletes.
To help wrap up the 2019-20 high school sports year the HUB over the next week will spotlight a number of our Orleans County senior student/athletes.
The series of spotlight photos will begin on Sunday and will feature one senior from each of our five school districts each day through the following Sunday.
Certainly there are many more senior athletes than can be highlighted in this series but it is hoped that it will serve as a tribute to the athletic accomplishments of the class of 2020 at Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina High schools.
