Rebounding from a loss and a tie, the Puck Hogs of the Bardown High School All-Star League have scored a pair of key wins over the last two weeks to regain first place.

After a 6-3 loss to Orchard Park and a 3-3 tie to the Starpoint Spartans, the Puck Hogs had dropped into second place. However, the Puck Hogs, which has six players from the state runner- up Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina  Club team, bounced back with an 11-2 win over Batavia and an 8-1 victory over the KAW Team from the Southern Tier.

During that four game stretch, Jason Kuchey (R-H) had five goals and 3 assists, Dominic Peracciny (R-H) 2 goals and an assist and Colin Dodge (R-H) 4 assists.  Also, Michael Kuchey (R-H) and Jacob Harris (Barker) had stellar games on defense.  The final RBM player, Andrew Warner (Tonowanda) played every minute in goal compiling the 2-1-1 record.

Now at 6-1-2, the Puck Hogs have three regular season games remaining: July 12 vs. Lamplighters (5-3-1 record), July 19 vs. Orchard Park (6-1-1 record) and July 21 vs. Spartans (6-2-1 record).

Contributed Photo – Milton Smith II is waved home by Batavia Muckdogs manager Tom Lawless. Smith II went 5-for-6 to up his average to .423 on the season.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.  – All season long, Milton Smith II has battled with teammate J.D. Orr for the top spot on the New York-Penn League average leader board.

Monday night, Smith raced out to the lead with a 5-for-6 performance to not only increase his average to .423 but lead the first place Muckdogs to a 14-2 win over the State College Spikes.

Batavia (15-8) pounded out 18 hits led by Smith II, who also had three runs, stole a base and had a RBI. The lefty centerfielder is a 2-18 22nd round draft pick by the parent club Miami Marlins. He is a Starkvile, Mississippi naïve and was drafted out of Meridian CC.

In the fifth, State College was keeping the game close at 5-2 when Batavia manager Tom Lawless started giving runners the green light. Dalvy Rosario and Troy Johnston had RBI singles, then Johnston stole second as Rosario stole home, starting a streak of nine unanswered runs.

Johnston, who is also a lefty outfielder, went 4-for-5, tripped two doubles with 3 RBI’s and three runs. He was taken by the Marlins in the 17th round of the 2019 draft out of Gonzaga and now has a .356 average.

Albert Guaimaro has continued his hot streak, going 3-for-5 with 3 RBI’s and a run for the Muckdogs while catcher Dustin Skelton had three hits including a double and 2 RBI’s. Skelton was drafted this year by Miami a round after Johnston.

Jack Strunc had two hits and a RBI while Rosario had a hit, scored four runs and drove in a run.

Jackson Rose picked up his third win on the season, this time coming out of the pen to throw four scoreless innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts and just one walk.  Rose, 3-1 on the season with a 2.70 ERA, is a 2018 Marlins draft pick out of Minnesota.

Eli  Villalobos started and went four innings with four strikeouts and Tyler Kolek threw a perfect inning with a strikeout.

The Muckdogs have now on 7-of-11 games and play one more game Tuesday night in State College at 7:05 p.m.

The Muckdogs return home to play Lowell on Wednesday as part of a three-game home stand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Abby Scanlan scored three goals in Albion Raptors win.

Equaling a season high goal production effort, the Albion Raptors downed visiting Lakefront 5-2 Sunday evening in a Rochester District Youth Soccer District U17 Division game.

Abby Scanlan scored the three goal hat-trick as Claire Squicciarini and Kenzi Hapeman each netted one as the Raptors improve to 5-2.

Albion jumped out to a 1-0 lead as Scanlan scored off an assist from Mariah Plain who split two defenders to send the ball through to Scanlan.

The Raptors maintained a 1-0 lead at the half as goalie Lauren Wehling came up with two big one on one saves to turn back Lakefront scoring chances.

Lakefront did pull even early in the send half but Albion answered right back to regain the lead for good as Scanlan scored on a rebound off an initial shot by Nikki Creasey. The Raptors got possession on a nice play by defender Aly Knaak and Squicciarini advanced the ball through the midfield area with two nifty headers.

Squicciarini then scored what proved to be the game winning goal off an assist from Scanlan for a 3-1 lead.

Lakefront did cut the deficit to 3-2 on a penalty kick goal but Albion again quickly answered right back as Scanlan completed her hat-trick off an assist from Creasey to a 4-2 lead.

Hapeman rounded out the Raptors scoring with a goal in the final 10 minutes off a free kick by Plain.

Now in third place in the division standings, Albion next visits the Fairport Flash at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – To remain in first place in the New York-Penn League, the Batavia Muckdogs pitching needed a little help.

The offense provided it with a two-out rally and a balk call in the fourth inning as the Muckdogs downed the State College Spikes, 3-2 on Sunday.

The Muckdogs trailed, 2-1 when Jack Strunc walked with two outs, then Andrew Turner blasted a double to the gap and Strung scored all the way from first.

That’s when the luck came through as well. Dustin Skelton struck out, but when the ball got away from the catcher, he made it to first and Turner went to third. Still with two outs, a balk was called and Turner scored the eventual winning run.

From there, the pitching continued to be tremendous for Batavia.

Jeremy Galindez improved to 2-0 with the win, as he threw two perfect innings in relief of Remey Reed. Reed, who is 3-0 on the season, struck out five in four innings and lowered his ERA to 1.73.

Josh Simpson, a 2019 draft pick of the Miami Marlins, got his second hold of the season, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings with a strikeout.

Evan Brabrand, who has developed into a closer for Batavia manager Tom Lawless, picked up his fourth save of the season. Brabrand, a ninth-round draft pick this year, finished the eighth and ninth without allowing a hit or run.

Batavia improved to 14-8 with the win, 1.5 games ahead of State College (13-10) and two games ahead of Mahoning Valley and West Virginia.

The other Batavia run came in the first when Milton Smith II singled and scored on a hit by Troy Johnston, who had two hits on the day.

that scored Milton Smith II. State College answered in the bottom of the inning when Andrew Warner hit a two-run single.

Albert Guaimaro and Sklton had hits while Turner had two hits.

The Muckdogs are at State College tonight and Tuesday, both games at 7:05 p.m.

The Muckdogs return home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game home stand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Contributed Photo – Melanie Green

Looking to continue a very successful season, Melanie Green, who will be a senior at Medina High this fall, will be competing in the 44th annual Girls Junior PGA Championship this coming week at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford, Connecticut.

Green, who earlier this season successfully repeated as both the Section VI and state high school golf champion, qualified for a return trip to the Junior PGA national championship by winning the Western New York Junior PGA championship last weekend for the second year in a row.

Green scored a two stroke victory at the WNY Junior PGA event carding a 141 total which included 8 birdies.

Last summer at the Junior PGA national championships held then at Lexington, Kentucky, Green had a strong final round of 69 to finish the 72 hole event with a one over par total of 289.

The Junior PGA championship will begin on Tuesday and run through Friday.

In a close 7-6 game Barre held on to defeat St Mary’s this morning and remain unbeaten in the Albion Midget League.

Barre jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after a walk and 3 singles in a row by Nathan Gibson, Josh Bovenzi, and Lucas Martin.

St Mary’s was held scoreless until the third inning when Jack Kinter put them on the board with a solo homerun.

Barre responded by scoring 2 more in the third on a double by Bovenzi, an RBI single by Oliver Beach and a double by Jacob Neal.

Barre added 3 more in the fourth inning on a lead off single from Mason Snook, double from Cami London, and a Homerun by Bovenzi.

St Mary’s came back in the top of the sixth to score 4 runs on a couple of walks, single by Kinter and a homerun by Blake Preston.

The game ended on a put out from Martin at second to London at first, the only put out of the game for Barre, as the other 17 outs came via strike outs from Bovenzi.

London and Bovenzi ended the day with 3 hits each and Martin 2 hits for Barre.  St. Mary’s had 2 multi-hit contributions from Kinter and Aaron Sugar with 2 hits each.

Barre 30, Vets 3
Earlier in the week, Barre also defeated Vets 30-3 erupting for an astonishing 28 team hits.

London lead the way at the plate going a perfect 5 for 5 on the night with a triple and 2 doubles.  Bovenzi went 4 for 5 with 3 homeruns and a double. Martin and Neal also added 4 hits each, Beach and Owen Bentley 3 hits, and Mackenzie Snook 2 hits.  Mason Snook, Zach VanCott and Charlie Ward also contributed a hit to the game.

For the Vets, Bryar Dysard lead the way going 3 for 4 with a double and 2 singles.  Peyton Robinson added another hit for the Vets.

AUBURN – The Batavia Muckdogs showed some power to go along with the season-long outstanding pitching to remain in first place with a 4-1 win over the Auburn Doubledays Friday night.

Batavia (13-7) is in first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney  Division.

Edison Suriel picked up in the win in relief of Edgar Martinez (four innings, three strikeouts, two hits one run) by throwing a scoreless fifth with a strikeout. Dakota Bennett had an unconventional save, throwing the final four innings of shut out ball, striking out two and giving up just two hits and no walks.

At the plate, Troy Johnston (double, RBI, run) and Harrison Dinicola (double, RBI) each had two hits while Milton Smith II (run), Nic Ready (RBI double), Andrew Turner and Jack Strunc (RBI double) all had hits.  Albert Guaimaro blasted a triple for the Muckdogs and scored.

Batavia trailed 1-0 in the third when Johnston doubled with two outs and scored on Ready’s double.

In the fourth, Strunc scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. The Muckdogs tacked on insurance with single runs in the seventh and eighth.

The Muckdogs continue to get support from the draft and Miami Marlins signings, as Bennett was an 11th round pick of Miami in 2017, Johnston a 17th round this year, Dinicola went in the 27th round in 2018, Ready was picked in the 23rd round this year, Strunc 25th round this year, Smith II was a 22nd round pick in 2018 and Andrew Turner went in the 39th round in 2018.

The Muckdogs have won four-of-five and the last two on the road.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 4 p.m. as the Muckdogs have five more road games over the next four days before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game home stand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Contributed Photo – Batavia manager Tom Lawless gives a first-bump to Albert Guaimaro

The Batavia Muckdogs stayed half-game ahead of State College with a 3-2 win over the Auburn Doubledays Thursday night in New York-Penn League action.

After a double-steal by Harrison Dinicola and Albert Guaimaro in the top of the sixth, Jack Strunc’s RBI ground out to first broke a 2-2 tie and was the run Batavia (12-7) needed for the win.

Batavia manager Tom Lawless is facing seven games on the road in six days, and he used five pitchers to get the win.

Julio Frias picked up his first win of the season, throwing five innings and striking out six. He has now struck out 26 in 19 innings. The Miami Marlins are seeing immediate returns on 2019 draft picks. Tyler Kolek (two strikeouts in an inning), Josh Simpson (two strikeouts, one innings) and Joey Steele (one strikeout) were all credited with a hold and combined to shut out Auburn.

Evan Brabrand came on in the ninth, gave up a hit and struck out the side for the save, his third of the season.

The first two Batavia runs came in the third. Michael Hernandez led off with a solo home run to left, his first with the team, then Dalvy Rosario tripled in Milton Smith II who had singled.

Auburn falls to 9-9 while Batavia stays half game ahead of State College (12-8) and 1.5 games ahead of Mahoning Valley (11-9). Batavia and Auburn play again today and two on Saturday while State College and Mahoning Valley face off again Friday.

The Muckdogs will play five more games in six days at Auburn and State College before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game home stand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Though there are no local teams or leagues this summer, a number of local high school  baseball players are keeping their skills sharp by competing on area travel and tournament teams.

Medina, which captured league, sectional and regional titles to advance to the state semis this season has shortstop Brian Fry and centerfielder Nate Sherman playing with the Buffalo based Titans team which this week is competing in a tournament in Georgia.

The Mustangs also have pitchers/infielders Chris Goyette and Zach Fike playing with the Lockport based Junior Thunderwolves; pitcher/outfielder Xander Payne, infielder/outfielder Joe Cecchini and pitcher Aidan Paul with the Middleport based Dynamites and second baseman AJ Seefeldt with the Lockport based AnJo Bombers.

Albion catcher Liam Ward is also playing with the Junior Thunderwolves while pitcher Thomas Furmanski is playing with both the Buffalo Braves tournament team and the Hamburg Post 527 Legion squad. Tyler Gibson is also playing with the Dynamites.

Roy-Hart’s Gavyn Boyle is also playing with the Junior Thunderwolves and will be competing in a PBR (Prep Baseball Ratings) national event while Ryan Mettler is with the Dynamites, Hunter Babel the Northtown Wildcats, Noah Draper the Niagara Falls Rapids and Tommy Russo Jr. the Canisius Griffs.

In addition, Lyndonville pitcher Zach Johnson is playing with a Legion team in Buffalo.