Contributed Photo – Mariachi players and coach celebrate capturing the Medina Women’s Softball League ‘B’ Division playoff championship on Saturday. In front are Krista Polick, Jenn McHugh, Baillie Oberther, Heather DiGiacomo, Brittney Anderson and Katt Battaglia. In the back row are Jessica Demmer, Autumn Holloway, Emily Johnson, Brian Sheehan, Kelsey Matuszak, Mary Jo Polick and Judy Ward.

Rebounding from a big early deficit, Mariachi de Oro defeated Buffalo Bio-Diesel 28-10 in the championship game of the Medina Women’s Softball League ‘B’ Division playoffs on Saturday.

Trailing 10-2 early, Mariachi came storming back to claim the win as a towering home run over the fence by Kelsey Matuszak capped off that big scoring barrage.

Mary Jo Polick had a total of 5 RBIs for Mariachi as Autumn Holloway had 4, Matuszak, Emily Johnson and Krista Polick 3, Heather DiGiacomo, Jessica Demmer, Katt Battaglia and Jenn McHugh 2 and Baillie Oberther 1.

Defensively, Mary Jo Polick made several big plays at shortstop including a jumping snag on a line drive.

Mariachi advanced to the title contest by downing regular season champion Jr Wilson 22-13 in the winners bracket final.

Mariachi jumped out to a big 18-5 lead. Jr Wilson did cut the deficit to 18-13 but could get no closer.

On defense for Mariachi, Matuszak made some great stretches and scoops to get outs at first base, Holloway had a nifty diving stop and throw and Krista Polick made some clutch plays behind the plate.

Krista Polick and Matuszak both had 4 RBIs in the contest as Demmer had 3, Mary Jo Polick, Battaglia and McHugh 2 and DiGiacomo and Holloway 1 each.

For Jr Wilson, Abbey Button had 4 hits and Laura Valley and Julie Tette 3 each.

In the first game, Mariachi bested HoJacks 19-5 as Matuszak had 5 RBIs, Holloway 4, Mary Jo Polick 3 and DiGiacomo, Demmer and Emily Johnson 2.

Defensively, Holloway and Mary Jo Polick both made some key plays and Judy Ward at pitcher registered a clutch strikeout with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to shutdown a HoJacks comeback bid.

Jr. Wilson opened with a 19-7 win over Team Monte.

Photos by Mike Wertman – Mustangs head Coach Eric Valley meets here with several of his players representing the squad’s new tri school look. They include David Newton, Cameron Babcock and Hunter Callen from Barker, Justice Hughes and Jacob Golding from Lyndonville and Brian Fry and William Braswell from Medina.

A new gridiron era began today as the Mustangs opened preseason football practice as a tri school team for the first time comprised of players from Medina, Lyndonville and Barker.

Medina has been merged with Lyndonville for football for the past six years and Barker players joined this season to make it a tri school team.

Following the end of the seven year long Roy-Hart and Barker football merger agreement at the end of last season Barker players were in need of a place to play and with Medina’s low numbers the addition benefits both schools.

“Barker has a core group of players who are definitely excited about football and we’re excited to have them,” said Mustangs head Coach Eric Valley. “With our low numbers they can step in and help us out.”

The preseason practices will be highlighted by a five way scrimmage at Vets Park on August 25 which will include teams from Roy-Hart, Newfane, Wilson and Pembroke.

The Mustangs will open the season at home on August 31 against Depew.

Mustang players work at an agility drill.

Two defenders pursue a Mustang back on a sweep.

Photos by Mike Wertman – New Lyndonville girls varsity soccer Coach Paul Zeppetella meets here with the senior members of the Lady Tigers squad who were at this morning’s first practice session. In front are Hannah Hamilton, Melanie Hibbard and Paige McDonald. In back with Coach Zeppetella are Marguerite Brakenbury, Brianna McMullen, Alana Drewery, Stacy Buckland, Ashley Howell, Grace Hayes and Jarielys Fores-Medina.

Today’s first day of practice was a very special one at Lyndonville as under new Coach Paul Zeppetella girls varsity soccer marked its return after competing as a merged team at Medina last fall.

This year Lyndonville is hosting a merged team with Medina which will be competing in the Genesee Region League and in the Section V playoffs. Last year, the merged team at Medina competed in the Niagara-Orleans League and the Section VI playoffs.

However, because state regulations require that merged teams use 100 percent of the enrollment of the larger school, the Lady Tigers will be in Class B for the sectionals and in Division I of the G-R League.

“I’m just excited and really looking forward to the season,” said Zeppetella. “I’m definitely impressed with the talent we have and they want to win. I’m so looking forward to this. We’re all ready to go.”

The Lady Tigers return a large veteran group including seniors Anna Lewis, Stacy Buckland, Paige McDonald, Grace Hayes, Marguerite Brakenbury, Brianna McMullen, Melanie Hibbard, Haylee Seefeldt, Alana Drewery, Mikayla Albone, Hanna Hamilton, Jarielys Flores-Medina, Ashley Howell and Chloe Adams along with juniors Olivia Carter and Morgan Allis and freshman Ella Lewis.

The Lyndonville/Medina team will open the season with a non league game against Wilson on August 29 at Medina and then begin G-R competition on September 5 at Byron-Bergen.

Schedule
August: 29 – Wilson (at Medina), 6:30 p.m.
September: 5- at Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.; 7 – Attica, 4:30 p.m.; 11 – Holley, 4:30 p.m.; 13 – Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.; 15 – Akron (at Medina), 10 a.m.; 17 – Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 4:30 p.m.; 19 – Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; 22 – Notre Dame (at Medina) 10 a.m.; 25 – at Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.; 27 – at Alexander, 4:30 p.m.; 29 – Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.
October: 3 – at Wheatland-Chili, 6:30 p.m.; 5 – at Holley, 4:30 p.m.; 9 – at Attica, TBA; 11 – Roy-Hart (at Medina), 7:30 p.m.

Lady Tigers players work on a ball control drill.

Photos by Mike Wertman – Roy-Hart quarterbacks in action at this morning’s first practice session. The Rams are fielding their own varsity team this season after playing as a merged squad with Barker the previous seven years.

Fielding a varsity football team on their own for the first time in eight years, Roy-Hart is prepping for the upcoming season under the leadership of new head Coach Marcus Wyche.

For the past seven years Roy-Hart has fielded a merged team with Barker but ended that agreement at the end of last season.

New Rams head Coach Marcus Wyche works with some of the Rams linemen.

“We’re all Rams now,” said Wyche who was an assistant coach last year. “Being just the one school now I think they have more to play for.”

Senior quarterback Charlie Brigham and senior tight end/quarterback Charlie Bruning anchor Roy-Hart’s veteran group which also senior lineman Ian Whitford and senior back Walker Samanka.

The Rams are also counting on junior linemen Jacob Pamler and Ed Hahn along with the versatile trio of seniors Nate Bower and Logan Morgan and junior Mike Huntington.

“We’ve got good numbers and we’ve got a good core group,” said Wyche.

Roy-Hart, which is competing in the C North Division, will open the season at home against Gowanda/Pine Valley on August 31.

Helping to anchor the Roy-Hart lineup is this group of players which includes, in front, Jacob Palmer, Ed Hahn, Walker Samanka and Ian Whitford. In back are Nate Bower, Logan Morgan, Charlie Brigham and Mike Huntington.

Contributed Photo – Jr Wilson players celebrate capturing the Medina Women’s Softball League ‘A’ Division playoff championship Saturday.

Scoring in five of seven innings, No. 3 seed Jr Wilson defeated top seeded Banes Machine Shop/Banes Plumbing 15-8 Saturday to capture the Medina Women’s Softball League playoff championship game.

Battling back out of the losers bracket, Banes had sent the playoffs into a second and final championship round game by downing Jr Wilson 8-2.

However, Jr Wilson rebounded in the finale taking the lead for good in the 15-8 victory by scoring 5 runs in the second inning on hits by Amber Pratt, Michelle Crandall, Bri Guzdek, Molly Huber, Jess Rosenbeck, Butchie Stockwell and Penny Roath.

Jr Wilson quickly boosted its advantage to 9-1 by tallying 4 times in the third as Pratt, Rosenbeck and Roath all banged out singles.

Banes picked up a run in the home half of the frame on singles by Lexi Neuman, Connie Heschke and Sue Seefeldt but Jr Wilson got that one back with interest as hits by Pratt, Crandall and Guzdek  plated a pair of runs in the top of the fourth for a 11-2 lead.

A double by Sarah Surdel, along with singles by Kathy Allen, Robin Blaun and Donna Bane, drove in 2 runs in the home half of the frame for Banes but again Jr Wilson answered right back.

This time Jr Wilson scored 3 times in the top of the fifth on hits by Jaclyn Guzdek, Sharon Korzelius and Pratt to open up a 14-4 advantage.

Banes picked up 2 runs in the fifth as Jen Masse and Surdel both had singles, and 2 in the sixth on hits by Blaun, Grace Masse and Bane but could not cross home plate again.

Pratt finished with a total of 5 hits for Jr Wilson as Rosenbeck and Crandall both had 2.

Surdel had 3 hits for Banes as Blaun, Heschke and Bane each chipped in with 2.

In the opening game of the title round Banes moved on top to stay at the outset by scoring 5 times in the first inning on a triple by Amy Allis and singles by Heschke, Jamie Chatt, Jen Masse, Surdel, Blaun and Kathy Riggs.

Banes then put a lock on the 8-2 victory with 3 runs in the third on hits by Heschke, Surdel, Blaun and Allen.

Jr Wilson advanced to the championship round by defeating Orleans Vets 15-12 and Banes 13-4 in the winners bracket final. A huge 12 run third inning keyed that victory.

Banes rebounded to down Orleans Vets 6-5 in the losers bracket final.

Banes began the day by defeating Medina Vets 8-6 tallying 3 times in the fifth on a double by Jen Masse and singles by Heschke, Seefeldt and Blaun.

Contributed Photo – Kendall grad Maya Rutland will be one of three local players on the Roberts Wesleyan College soccer teams this fall.

Three local players will be competing on the Roberts Wesleyan College soccer squads this fall.

Kendall graduates Maya and Taylor Rutland, both junior forwards, are veteran members of the Roberts women’s squad while Medina grad Ethan Leonard will be a freshman midfielder on the men’s squad.

Taylor Rutland, who is a Homeland Security major, has scored 6 goals and Maya Rutland, who is a History major, has netted 5 goals. Both have added 2 assists.

Leonard, who earned first team Niagara-Orleans League honors last fall, is a Computer Science major.

The Roberts teams will open the season on August 30 with the women playing at LeMoyne and the men at Malone University.

Contributed Photo – Mariah Elsenheimer

A four year standout during her scholastic days at Albion High, Mariah Elsenheimer is now a regular on the front line for the Iona University women’s soccer team.

A junior, Elsenheimer started 14 games a year ago  at attack for the Gaels and had 2 goals and 2 assists.

Coach Sarah Brady stated in her preseason outlook on the team that Elsenheimer and the Gaels two other returning frontliners are “capable goal scorers to arrange the attack.”

A Psychology major, Elsenheimer also had a strong year in the classroom earning a spot on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All Academic team.

A three time first team Niagara-Orleans League selection while at Albion she had career totals of 71 goals and 31 assists for the Purple Eagles.

Iona will open its season at Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Ct. on August 17. The Gaels will visit Canisius on September 29.