AUBURN – When Labor Day started, the Batavia Muckdogs knew a win would get the team in the playoffs, but they needed help from Mahoning Valley.

As the Muckdogs were taking care of business in Auburn, Mahoning Valley in Ohio took a 2-0 lead over West Virginia, the team tied with Batavia on top of the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

The first subdued celebration took place when the Muckdogs realized West Virginia lost, 2-0. A few minutes later, a fly ball harmlessly fell in the glove of Troy Johnston, Batavia had a 7-0 win over Auburn and won the division, the first title in nine years.

Batavia will host Lowell in a best-of-three playoff series beginning on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.

The pressure to win was off the offense on Monday thanks to the pitching of Edgar Martinez. The hard-throwng 22-year-old righty was signed by the Miami Marlins out of the Dominican Republic. He went a season-high six innings throwing shut out baseball giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out six.

When he left the game, Batavia had a 5-0 lead thanks to home runs from Nic Ready and Troy Johnston plus a triple from Dalvy Rosario.

Brock Love tossed a perfect seventh then Joey Steele shut down Auburn the eighth and got a strikeout then Evan Brabrand retired all three batters in a row in the ninth. Brabrand, the closer, has a 1.29 ERA this season.

J.D. Orr had a 2-RBI double for Batava, his ninth of the season while the home run was Ready’s 10th of the season and he has 47 RBI’s. Johnston’s HR was his third while Rosario hit his 15th double and Andres Sthormes had his second double. Albert Guaimaro continued his hot streak with a single.

Contributed Photos – The local group of GCC women’s soccer team players includes, Sarah Gregori, Madison Papaj and Peyton Sargent.

This season’s Genesee Community College women’s soccer team has a large contingent of Orleans area players.

That group includes sophomores Khiva Huxhold, a midfielder from Holley, and Mackenzie O’Brien, a defender from Akron, along with freshmen Madison Papaj, a goalie from Holley; Brianna McMullen, a forward from Medina; Alana Wilson-Drewery, a forward from Medina; Peyton Sargent, a defender from Holley; Grace Hayes, a defender from Lyndonville and Sarah Gregori, a defender from Albion.

Papaj has played in goal in all three games to date for the Cougars registering two shutouts.

GCC is 2-1 overall on the young season.

The local GCC group also includes Mackenzie O’Brien, Brianna McMullen, Grace Hayes and Alana Wilson-Drewery. No photo was available for Khiva Huxhold.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading Roy-Hart into the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League field hockey season will be this group of veterans. In front are Stephanie Flowers, Justine Lavery, Jazmine Michel, Samantha Choate and Sophie DiCenso. In back are Miah Glena, Ellery Brown, Jenna Gioeli and Maddy Brown. Missing from the photo is Abby Ander.

Having finished in the runner-up spot at 10-2 last fall, Roy-Hart returns a large group of 10 veterans with which to again challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League field hockey honors.

That veteran contingent includes seniors Ellery Brown, Jenna Gioeli, Maddie Brown, Stephanie Flowers, Jazmine Michel, Samantha Choate, Sophie DiCenso and Abby Ander along with junior Miah Glena and sophomore Justine Lavery.

“We’re strong on defense and at midfield but we have to rebuild up front and at the goalie position,” said Coach Colleen Albee.

The Lady Rams graduation losses included first team All-League honorees Alexis Lovewell (Forward) and Raylynn Chraston (Midfield) along with second team selection Jamie Bower (Goalie) and Honorable Mention picks Holly DiMayo (Defender/Midfield), Ashley Hill (Forward) and Jenna Heiser (Defender). Lovewell led the Lady Rams in scoring with 14 goals.

Roy-Hart opens the N-O season at home on Tuesday against Kenmore.

Schedule
September: 3 – Kenmore, 5 p.m.; 5 – Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 9 – at Sacred Heart, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – at Buffalo Seminary, 4:45 p.m.; 12 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 19 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 20 – Sacred Heart, 4:45 p.m.; 24 – at Barker, 4:45 pm.; 30 – at Kenmore, 6:30 p.m.
October: 1 – at Medina, 7 p.m.; 3 – Buffalo Seminary, 4:45 p.m.; 7 – at Hamburg, 5:30 p.m.; 8 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 15 – at Wilson, 4:45 pm.; 17 – Barker, 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Anchoring the lineup for the Kendall volleyball team this season will be this quartet of, from left, Autumn Woodward, Brittney Marks, Brianna Drennan and Olivia Caldwell.

A quartet of senior veterans anchors the lineup for the Kendall volleyball team which opens the season with a non league home match against Rochester Academy on Tuesday.

Setter Brittney Marks, who earned Genesee Region League All-Star honors, heads that veteran foursome which also includes outside hitters Autumn Woodward and Olivia Caldwell along with Brianna Drennan who looks to anchor the defense from her libero position.

Newcomers include middle hitters Karlee Robb (junior) and Sara Mattle (sophomore), outside hitters Madison Nardi and Nicolette Buzzard (juniors), and freshman setter Madison Shonitsky.

” These girls will all look to make a quick impact up from JV last year,” said Coach Morgan Marcello. “We lost some great players to graduation last year but this gives the younger kids an opportunity to step into roles this year. Experienced players in Brittney and Autumn will look to help quickly transition the younger girls to the Varsity game. This is a team of hard working and dedicated individuals and I’m excited to see what they can do!”

Schedule
September: 4 – Rochester Academy, 4:30 p.m.; 6 – Northstar, 4:30 p.m.; 9 – at Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.; 11 – Alexander, 6:30 p.m.; 13 – Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.; 17 – Oakfield-Alabama, 6:30 p.m.; 20 – Rochester Prep, 4:30 p.m.; 23 – at Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.; 25 – at Attica, 6:30 p.m.; 28 – Pembroke ,12:30 p.m.
October: 1 – at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.; 3 – Holley, 6:30 p.m.;  5 – at Cal-Mum, 11:30 a.m.; 7 – at Rochester Academy, 4:30 p.m.; 9 – Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.; 11 – at Alexander, 6:30 p.m.; 15 – at Lyndonville, 6:30 p.m.; 16 – at Medina, 6:30 p.m.; 17 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 6:30 p.m.; 18 – Albion, 6:30 p.m.

BATAVIA – It was a wild Sunday in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division as the first-place Batavia Muckdogs fell to Auburn, 3-1 and West Virginia, who is tied with Batavia for first, lost to Mahoning Valley, 11-1.

As a result the teams are tied with 40-35 records. Batavia is at Auburn  at 1:05 p.m. today and West Virginia is at Mahoning Valley at the same time.

Auburn took a 3-0 as Pedro Gonzalez tossed five innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts.

Batavia scored as Dalvy Rosario doubled and scored on a J.D. Orr RBI.

But that was all the Muckdogs could muster. The pitching staff was solid as Jackson Rose took the hard-luck loss, going 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, no walks and a hit.

Josh Simpson went 2.1 innings with a strikeout and Jonakier Villalobos went two innings with a strikeout.

Orr stole two bases to give him 29 on the season while Milton Smith II stole his 20th base.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Veteran senior members of the Medina field hockey squad include, in front, Gracie Cook, Mary Flores and Layna Viloria. In back are Tessa Pecoraro, Abi Neuman, Micaela Erway and Lacey Kenward.

Looking to keep the momentum from their best Niagara-Orleans League season in over a decade, a 7-5 record last fall,  the Medina field hockey team returns a good nucleus of 10 veterans.

That contingent includes seniors Gracie Cook, Lacey Kenward, Layna Viloria, Mary Flores, Abby Blount, Micaela Erway, Abi Neuman and Tessa Pecoraro along with juniors Sophia Cardone, Abby Blount and Hannah Kenward.

Cook, Lacey Kenward and Flores all earned N-O All-League Honorable Mention.

The Mustangs graduation losses included first team All-League honoree Guin Schalck (Midfield), second team selection Sarah Cochrane (Forward) along with Honorable Mention picks Alissa Blount (Goalie), Libby Cook (Forward) and Jessica Granchelli (Defender). Schalck and Cochrane were the Mustangs top two scorers with 13 and 10 goals respectively.

“We had some graduation losses but the kids we have returning and the new kids are really stepping up to fill those voids,” said Coach Amber Clevealand “We’re looking to build on last year.”

Medina will open the N-O season at home against defending champion Barker on Tuesday and then visit Roy-Hart on Thursday.

Schedule
September: 3 – Barker, 7 p.m.; 5 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – Newfane, 7 p.m.; 12 – at Kenmore East, 7 p.m.; 19 – Akron, 7 p.m.; 24 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 26 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.
October: 1 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 3 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 8 – Kenmore East, 7 p.m.; 9 – Buffalo Seminary, 7 p.m.; 10 – at Sacred Heart, 4:45 p.m.; 15 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – Wilson, 7 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – The Roy-Hart volleyball team’s veteran group includes, in front, Allie Dent, Samantha Capen, Jamie Seib and Marissa Scott. In back are Alexis Connolly, Jamie Coons, Kaley Sharping, Lauryn Krieger and Maddie Ciemny.

Having lost five starters to graduation, the Roy-Hart volleyball squad faces a bit of a rebuilding task heading into the Niagara-Orleans League season.

Senior Maddie Ciemny and sophomore Marissa Scott head Roy-Hart’s veteran contingent which also includes seniors Jamie Seib, Alexis Connolly, Jamie Coons, Kaley Sharping and Lauryn Krieger along with junior Samantha Capen and sophomore Allie Dent.

“It’s a classic rebuild,” said Coach Bill Holahan. “We’re looking to be competitive and be better by the end of the season.”

The Lady Rams key graduation losses included first team N-O All-League honoree Aspen Moore, second team selection Paige Dent and Honorable Mention picks Alyssa Kubas, Kristina Burdick and Ella Brown.

Roy-Hart will open the N-O season at home on Wednesday against Albion.

N-O Schedule
(Matches at 6 p.m.)
September: 4 – Albion, 10 – at Wilson, 12 – at Medina, 16 – Newfane, 18 – Akron.
October: 2 – Wilson, 4 – Medina, 7 – at Albion, 11 – at Newfane, 15 – at Akron.

BATAVIA – The wild 2019 New York-Penn League season will come down to the last day for division winners and the wild card as seven teams fighting for two spots are separated by one game.

Batavia and West Virginia each have a 40-34 record in the Pinckney Division while Hudson Valley, Aberdeen, Brooklyn and Staten Island are in the mix as well.

Batavia lost, 12-5 to Auburn on Saturday night while West Virginia swept Mahoning Valley.

A crowd of 2,133 packed Dwyer Stadium Saturday for Fan Appreciation Night as the Muckdogs attendance has reached 42,101 (average of 1,169) for the season with today’s game left at 5:05 p.m. in 2018, 29,005 fans attended games in Batavia.

Nic Ready hit his 30th double of the season for Batavia while Troy Johnston singled and drove in his 33rd run of the year. Jack Strunc (RBI, his 17th), Albert Guaimaro (RBI, his 16th), J.D. Orr and Dalvy Rosario had hits. Harrison Dinicola drove in his 12th run of the season.

Edison Suriel tossed a perfect inning with a strikeout and newest Muckdog, lefty Andrew Nardi threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts. Nerd was a 16th round draft pick of the Miami Marlins this year out of Arizona. The 21-year-old is from West Hills, Ca. The Muckdogs also added the second round pick of the draft by the Marlins, Nasim Nunez to the roster. Nunez,19, was drafted out of Collins Hill High in Georgia. He is a switch hitter.

The gates open at 4:05 p.m. today and there will be autograph alley. It is the final home game of the regular season. The Muckdogs end the season on Labor Day in Auburn at 1 p.m.