Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s veteran group includes, in front, Jessalynn Coen, Sydnie Luckman and Ella Fox. In back are Emily Wagner, Holly Wasnock and Kylie Annable.

Six returnees anchor the lineup for the Barker softball team which is prepping for the Niagara-Orleans League opener at Albion on April 8.

Barker’s veteran group includes senior Holly Wasnock (outfield); juniors Ella Fox (catcher), Emily Wagner (pitcher) and Kylie Annable (first base) along with sophomores Jessalynn Coen (pitcher) and Sydnie Luckman (shortstop). Luckman earned second team N-O All-League honors.

The Lady Raider also also looking to junior Rachel Parfinski (third base) and Chloe Lee (utility).

“We have a decent group back but we’re still young,” said Coach Aileen Hinton.  “We have two pitchers which is big and a strong offense which should carry us.

Barker went 4-8 in N-O action last spring.

Schedule
(Games at 4:45 p.m. unless noted)
April: 2 – CCA; 6 – Pembroke, 2 p.m.; 8 – at Albion; 10 – at Akron; 12 – Wilson; 13 – at Lyndonville, 10 a.m.; 17 – Newfane, 29 – Medina, 30 – at CCA, 4:30 p.m.
May: 1 – at Roy-Hart; 3 – Albion; 4 – at Alexander Tournament, 2 and 4:30 p.m.; 6 – Akron; 8 – at Wilson; 9 – Elba, 4:30 p.m.; 13 – at Newfane; 15 – at Medina; 17 – Roy-Hart.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Albion’s veteran group includes, from left, Michael DCureia, Thomas Furmanski, Vincent Zona and Liam Ward.

After finishing in a share of the runner-up spot last year at 8-4, Albion returns a large veteran contingent with which to challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League baseball honors this spring.

The Purple Eagles veteran contingent includes seniors Bryce Pritchard (pitcher), Vincent Zona (outfield/pitcher), Isiah Callicutt (outfield),  Addison Christ (infield/pitcher) and John DePuy (outfield) along with juniors Thomas Furmanski (pitcher/infield), Liam Ward (catcher/pitcher) and Michael DiCureia (outfield/pitcher).

Furmanski, Ward and Pritchard all earned first team N-O All-League honors last spring.

The Purple Eagles are also looking to junior Patrick Ricker (infield/catcher) and sophomore Alex Gibson (outfield).

“Our expectations are high. This is the year we’ve been waiting for,” said Coach Bruce Blanchard. “We’ve got eight legit pitchers so we’ve got a lot of depth on the hill. Pitching is our strength and our defense should be strong. The key is on offense if we can get the timely hits.”

Albion, which went 13-5 overall last spring, is scheduled to begin N-O competition on April 8 at Barker.

Schedule
(Games at 4:45 unless noted)
April: 2 – Oakfield-Alabama, 4:30 p.m.; 3 – Holley, 5 –  Elba, 8 – at Barker, 10 – Medina, 12 – at Akron, 15 – Wilson, 23 – Aquinas, 25 – Kenmore East, 12 p.m.; 27 – at Notre Dame, 12 p.m.; 29 – at Roy-Hart.
May: 1 – Newfane; 3 – Barker; 6 – at Medina; 8 – at Akron; 10 – at Wilson, 14 – at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.; 15 – Roy-Hart; 17 – at Newfane; 18 – Pembroke, 2 p.m. at Medina’s Vets Park.

The Purple Eagles veteran group also includes John DePuy, Isaih Callicutt, Addison Christ and Bryce Pritchard.

Legion edged runner-up Sacred Heart 36-34 Monday to maintain a hold of the Medina Euchre League lead.

JR Wilson downed Vets Club 46-24 in the other game.

Now on top by eight points, Legion is 862-748 on the season followed by Sacred Heart at 854-756, JR Wilson 851-759 and Vets Club 653-957.

League competition continues on April 1 with JR Wilson at Sacred Heart and Vets Club at Legion.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Cayden Lilleby works behind the net during the Mustangs home field loss to Iroquois this afternoon.

Jumping out to a 5-0 first quarter lead, Iroquois went on to defeat host Medina 11-3 this afternoon in a non league season opening lacrosse game.

The Chiefs went on to hold leads of 8-0 at the half and 10-1 after three quarters.

In the second half Medina got two goals from Thomas Vasquez and one from Mitchell Silversmith.

Medina next hosts Salamanca at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Class D Division opener.

Medina’s Thomas Vasquez looks to pass.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – New Medina Coach Jon Sherman meets here with the Mustangs veterans. In front are Zach Fike, Trevor Luthart and Nate Sherman. In back are Coach Sherman, AJ Seefeldt, Brian Fry and Chris Goyette. Missing from the photo is Matt Saj.

Returning a large but still underclassmen dominated veteran group, including seven starters, Medina is looking to challenge for top Niagara-Orleans League baseball honors this spring.

“We’re still young but we’ve got some good experience,” said new Mustangs Coach Jon Sherman.

Medina’s returning starting contingent includes senior Matt Saj (outfield); juniors Nate Sherman (centerfield),Chris Goyette (pitcher/third base), Trevor Luthart (pitcher/first base); sophomores AJ Seefeldt (second base) and Brian Fry (shortstop/pitcher) and freshman Zach Fike (pitcher/outfield).

Seefeldt, Goyette, Luthart and Fry all earned second team N-O All-League honors last spring and Sherman received Honorable Mention.

The Mustangs roster also includes seniors Rickie Pitts (outfield) and Tavion Rhim (outfield) along with sophomore Austin Mosher (catcher) and freshmen Joe Cecchini (first base/outfield) and Zander Payne (catcher/pitcher).

“Our pitching is solid led by Chris, Trevor and Zach,” said Sherman. “We’re solid up the middle defensively with AJ, Brian and Nate and our offense looks to be stronger.”

The Mustangs graduation losses include Brett Riemer (pitcher/third base) and Alex Allis (catcher/third base).

Medina, which went 8-4 in the league and 13-6 overall last year, is scheduled to open N-O competition at Newfane on April 8.

Schedule
(Games at 4:45 p.m. unless noted)
March: 27 – CCA, 30 – Holley, 9 a.m.
April: 2 – Batavia, 4:30 p.m., 5 – Pembroke; 8 – at Newfane, 10 – at Albion, 12 – Newfane, 15 – at Roy-Hart, 17 – Akron, 29 – Barker.
May: 1 – at Wilson, 6 – Albion, 10 – Roy-Hart, 13 – at Akron, 15 – at Barker, 18 – Wilson, 5 p.m.

Closing out a big 20 plus win championship season, the Tri County Midget Hockey team placed third in the David Bigelow Memorial Tournament this weekend at SUNY Brpckport.

Tri County opened the tourney with a wild 8-7 win over Monroe County Scottsville.

Tri County jumped out to a 3-2 first period load on goals by John Pilon, Matt Nielson and Chase Froman.

Two more goals by Pilon and one by Jake Esposito in the second period kept Tri County up 6-4.

Third period goals by Patrick Ricker and Josh Gimeli then locked up the victory.

Tri County then dropped a 6-1 decision to the Southtown Stars as Esposito netted the lone goal.

Rebounding, Tri County earned a 4-4 tie with Monroe rallying from a 3-0 deficit.

David Archibald had two goals and Esposito  and Gimeli one each.

However, Tri County’s bid for a spot in the title contest was dashed by an 8-6 loss to Southtown.

Tri County jumped out to a 4-2 first period lead on three goals by Ricker and one by Pilon.

A second period goal by Nielson kept Tri County even at 5-5.

However, Southtown used a 3-1 third period scoring edge to claim the win. Ricker had the lone Tri County goal during that stretch.

Ricker finished the season with a team leading 43 goals as Nielson and Pilon both netted 27, Froman and Esposito 18, Gimeli and Archibald 11 and James Hapeman 10.

Tri County, which captured both the Empire Amateur Hockey League’s division regular season and playoff championships finishes with a 22-8-3 overall record.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading the Kendall baseball squad this season will be this quartet of team captains including Mickey Gardner, John Rath, Mason Kuhn and Hunter Menze.

Last spring Kendall made its return to varsity baseball competition after a two year absence with a youthful, inexperienced team which gained plenty of experience while going 2-8 in the league and 3-10 overall.

Now, with virtually the entire team back and a year of varsity competition experience under their belts, the Eagles are taking aim at moving up in the Genesee Region League standings.

“We’ve got a good core unit back. I’m really optimist and really looking forward to the season,” said Coach Tige Noni who notes that after having only varsity and modified teams last year the Eagles will also be fielding a JV squad this spring.  “The Kendall community is really supporting its baseball program.”

The Eagles lineup includes seniors Mickey Gardner (shortstop/pitcher/catcher), Hunter Menze (first base), John Rath (pitcher/shortstop) and Alec Reed (outfield) along with juniors Mason Kuhn (catcher/pitcher), Riley Hirschman (third base/pitcher), Noah Rath (second base/outfield) and Brian Shaw (outfield); sophomores Emmett Blosenhauer (outfield) and Tyler Schmeer (utility) and freshman Jorden Ostrander (outfield/second base).

Kendall’s graduation loss was third baseman/outfielder Jeremy Browe.

Kendall is scheduled to begin G-R competition on April 9 at Oakfield-Alabama.

Schedule
(Games at 4:30 p.m. unless notes)
March: 27 – at Newfane
April:  9 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 11 – Barker, 12 – Lyndonville, 15 – Elba, 19 – Byron-Bergen, 22 – at Pembroke, 23 – Holley, 24 – at Notre Dame, 26 – Oakfield-Alabama, 29 – Attica.
May: 3 – at Elba, 6 – at Alexander, 7 – at Lyndonville, 11 – at Northstar, 1 p.m., 13 – Notre Dame, 15 – Byron-Bergen.