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United booters extend unbeaten streak
The u14 Medina-Lyndonville United soccer team extended their unbeaten streak to five games over the weekend with two games ending in a tie in Epic Center Indoor League action.
United first came back from a 3-1 deficit in the final 3 minutes to tie Amherst Inferno 3-3.
Jackson Moreland scored the first goal just minutes into the game. But it wasn’t until the final 3 minutes of the game where Cole Seefeldt and Jack Whipple netted the next two goals to tie the game at 3-3.
In the second game, United tied Clarence u14 Red 1-1.
Roman Heinsler scored the lone goal for United halfway through the first half and Clarence u14 Red answered by scoring halfway through the 2nd half.
Both teams had a number of chances to score in the final minutes, but neither team could find the net.
United is currently in 4th place with a 4-3-2 record.
Mother Nature is throwing area high school spring sports teams a nasty curve
Photo by Mike Wertman – Monday’s steady rain did nothing to help the playing conditions of area diamonds like this one at Lyndonville.
After a long winter most everyone no doubt looks forward to spring – sunshine, warm temperatures and a chance to enjoy outside activities.
Unfortunately, as is all too often the case in Western New York, Mother Nature doesn’t seem to want to cooperate with the calendar much to the dismay of area high school spring sports teams, and this season has been no exception.
Monday’s steady rain, which washed out over a dozen local baseball and softball games and tennis matches, follows up on last week’s series of rain, snow and wind postponements, all of which has left the early season schedules disrupted to say the least.
Those Monday rainouts included the Albion vs. Roy-Hart, Medina vs. Newfane and Wilson vs. Akron Niagara-Orleans League baseball and softball games as well as the Lyndonville vs. Notre Dame, Kendall vs. Elba and Alexander vs. Holley Genesee Region League softball contests.
And the forecast for the next few days puts a big question mark over the schedule for the rest of the week.
“The weather this spring (as well as last year), has definitely presented many challenges with regards to scheduling contests,” said Medina High Athletic Director Eric Valley. “The number one priority is the safety of our student-athletes. As the spring rolls along that may mean that we will not be rescheduling some of the non-league games in order to get all our league contests completed.”
“I feel the worst for the players and coaches who are left with the uncertainty of what each day has in-store for them, a game or another indoor practice,” said Albion Athletic Director Randy Knaak. “The biggest frustration with this type of Spring is making sure that all of the changes are confirmed with the players, coaches, assignor, umpires, grounds crew, transportation, supervision, parents, and the athletic trainer. Albion is very fortunate to have an outstanding grounds crew who is provided with all the necessary equipment and materials to keep our fields up and running during these difficult times. ”
Unfortunately, ever since the sectionals were expanded to open sectionals and the state playoffs were started the regular season has been condensed and pushed up earlier on the calendar which makes getting games in at a time of spring when the weather is most unpredictable a real challenge.
Now leagues such as the local N-O and G-R are playing league games before April 10 because the seeding meetings for sectionals are in mid May. This season, for example, the cutoff date for playing league baseball games in Section VI is May 17 with the season ending meeting slated for that same day. Sectionals are slated to begin on May 18 with the class finals on May 24 which is the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend.
The situation for baseball teams has become even more critical with the addition of a much needed pitch count rule last year. That certainly compounds the problem for coaches trying to have enough pitching in a compacted regular season. And when coaches have to add fitting in makeup games because of weather postponements the problem is really magnified.
Akron varsity baseball Coach Greg Bell has voiced the opinion that the section should return to a schedule where league games would be played up until the Memorial Day weekend and sectionals held after the holiday.
In light of the combination of a compacted schedule, pitch count requirements and uncertain weather that is certainly a suggestion that it seems would go a long way to easing the situation. It would not only give leagues more days to get their games in but would also allow them the opportunity to start the league season a bit later when the chance for better weather improves.
In addition, returning to the old Section VI rule where teams had to have a .500 league record to qualify for sectionals could also help ease the situation. By decreasing the number of teams involved it would reduce the number of rounds needed and thus reduce the length of the playoffs..
Valley rightly notes that “the league schedules are generated almost a year in advance so it is very difficult to predict when conditions will be ideal to be competing safely outside. As a league there have been many discussions about when the season should be started and when sectional play should begin. The state sets all the dates for the state tournaments, then the section decides when we will begin our play based on that. As a league we are at the mercy of the schedules given to us by the state and section.”
He adds, ” I have not been involved with any of the discussions at the section level, but I know that this has been a concern.”
Area N-O and G-R diamond coaches are no doubt hoping that by the time the next full round of games are scheduled on Wednesday that the weather will be improved enough for those contests to be played.
NCCC is popular with N-O cagers
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – These five Niagara-Orleans League players have signed to play basketball for Niagara County Community College next year. Paige Emborsky is flanked here by, clockwise from top right, Caitlynn Snook, Elisabeth Baker, Ellie Todd and Janae Doty.
The Niagara County Community College women’s basketball team would be able to put a quintet of Niagara-Orleans League graduates on the court next season after a very busy and successful local recruiting season by the Thunderwolves.
The signing this past week of Newfane’s Paige Emborsky, the N-O’s Player of the Year, completed the local quintet which also includes Roy-Hart’s Ellie Todd and the Albion trio of Caitlynn Snook, Janae Doty and Elisabeth Baker.
“Paige is a huge get for our program,” said NCCC Coach Nate Beutel of Emborsky, a three-time first team N-O All-League honorees who poured in 479 points for a 21.8 average in helping to lead the Lady Panthers to a 12-0 N-O championship season.
Snook, who led Albion in both scoring (211 points) and rebounding (146), also earned first team All-League honors.
Todd was a second team All-League honoree while Doty and Baker both received Honorable Mention.!
“Local recruits have always been and will continue to be the lifeblood of our program,” added Beutel. “In my six years here at NCCC, I believe we have made junior college an attractive option to those in the area. We have had dozens of kids utitlize NCCC as a launching pad toward success at the four-year level with several of them earning athletic scholarships including Jesse DeWaters (Roy-Hart), Tanisha Moyer (Albion) Alba Perez (Medina), to name a few.”
In Beutel’s six years at NCCC the Thunderwolves are 133-50 and have made the Region III Division II Championship game for the last 3 years – the only 3 appearances in school history.
Purple Eagles, Lady Rams are road warriors
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Albion pitcher Thomas Furmanski (shown here in action last spring) and his Purple Eagles teammates are playing the season on the road because of delays in field renovation work as is the Roy-Hart softball team.
Because of unexpected delays in completing field renovation work both the Albion baseball and Roy-Hart softball teams are playing all of their games on the road this season.
However, the travel doesn’t seem to be causing any problems to date as the defending tri-champion Lady Rams are off to a 3-0 start and the Purple Eagles are 2-0 after the opening week of Niagara-Orleans League competition.
Weather permitting, and that is certainly the key phrase these days, both Albion and Roy-Hart both face key diamond tests this coming week. The Purple Eagles are slated to visit defending champion Roy-Hart on Monday and then face Wilson on Wednesday and rival Medina on Friday. The Lady Rams will face Albion on Monday and Medina on Wednesday.
On the tennis courts, defending N-O champion Medina has three key home matches upcoming against Roy-Hart on Monday, Wilson on Wednesday and Newfane on Friday.
The Medina lacrosse team, which because of a combination of the Easter break and several weather related postponements has not played a game in three weeks, is slated to host Wilson on Tuesday, visit defending champion Akron Thursday and then entertain Brockport on Saturday.
Weekly Schedule
Monday
Baseball: Lyndonville at Lima Christian, 4:30 p.m.; Medina at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Akron, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Alexander at Holley, Kendall at Elba, Lyndonville at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.; Newfane at Medina, Roy-Hart at Allbion, Akron at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis: Roy-Hart at Medina, Barker at Wilson, Albion at Akron, Holley at Byron-Bergen, Elba at Kendall, 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Baseball: Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, Notre Dame at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Holland, Newfane at Wilson, Albion at Akron, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Barker at Pembroke, Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, Roy-Hart at Grand Island ,4:30 p.m.
Tennis: Akron at Barker, Wilson at Roy-Hart, 4 p.m.
Lacrosse: Wilson at Medina, 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Baseball: Oakfield-Alabama at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, Barker at Akron, Albion at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Lima Christian at Holley, Oakfield-Alabama at Kendall, Pembroke at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.; Wilson at Albion, 4:45 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, 7 p.m.
Tennis: Wilson at Medina, Barker at Newfane, Albion at Roy-Hart, Notre Dame at Kendall, 4 p.m.
Track: Kendall at Holley, Lyndonville at Oakfield-Alabama, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
Baseball: Kendall at Northstar, 4:30 p.m.
Track: Medina at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Albion, Akron at Newfane, 4:15 p.m.
Lacrosse: Medina at Akron, 5 p.m.
Friday
Baseball: Holley at Attica, Kendall at Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Wilson at Barker, Akron at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Kendall at Alexander, Lyndonville at Attica, Holley at Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.; Albion at Medina, Newfane at Akron, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis: Newfane at Medina, Barker at Albion, Roy-Hart at Akron, Oakfield-Alabama at Holley, Kendall at Alexander, 4 p.m.
Saturday
Baseball: Roy-Hart at Alexander Tournament
Softball: Barker at Alexander Tournament
Lacrosse: Brockport at Medina, 7 p.m.
N-O Standings
Baseball: Albion 2-0, Roy-Hart 2-0, Akron 1-0, Medina 1-1, Wilson 0-0, Newfane 0-2, Barker 0-3
Softball: Roy-Hart 3-0, Medina 2-0, Akron 1-1, Wilson 1-1, Albion 1-2, Barker 1-2, Newfane 0-3
Tennis: Medina 1-0, Akron 1-0, Roy-Hart 1-0, Barker 0-0, Albion 1-1, Wilson 0-1, Newfane 0-2
Mustang senior receives Leadership Award
Medina High senior DaRon Bellan received the Athletes in Action of Buffalo’s Western New York High School Football Call To Courage Leadership Award today at the 17th annual Call to Courage Leadership Award Breakfast. Bellan, who received a scholarship with the award, is shown here with former Buffalo Bills receiver Jerry Butler, current Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander, New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis who received the pro players Leadership Award and former Bills quarterback Frank Reich who created the award. Bellan is the second Mustang to earn the award as Charles Beach was the recipient in 2016.
Medina has six Scholar/Athlete teams
Photos by Mike Wertman – GIRLS SWIMMING – Compiling a composite average of 97.9064, members of the Medina High girls swim squad have earned a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Scholar/Athlete Team Award. In front are Corinne Hill, Alyssa Beyer, Madison Kenward, Hannah Kenward and Arella Biessinger. In the middle row are Madison Stewart, Sydney Watts, Rebecca Lunden, Hannah Heil, Grace Cook, Margaret Klotzbach, Carina Kingsbury and Amanda Woodruff. In back are Margeurite Brakenbury, Brooklyn Brown, Emma Schwartzott, Shelby Green, Ashton Laird, Emma Leonard, Margaret Griffin and Emma Roush. Missing from the photo are Brigid Keller and Megan Showler.
BOYS SWIMMING – Members of the Medina boys swim squad have compiled a composite average of 95.4425 to earn a NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team Award. In front are Jaden Pencille, Xander Payne, Isaac Pace and Chris Goyette. In back are Daniel Heil, Jack Hill, Raymond Paull and Dawson Brown. Missing from the photo is August Pietrafesa.
GIRLS BASKETBALL – Compiling a composite average of 92.8514 members of the Medina girls basketball squad have earned a NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team Award. In front are Camri King, Adrianna Johnson and Jerielys Flores-Medina. In back are Shamaria Howard, Hannah Sones, Sarah Cochrane and Divere Brown. Missing from the photo is Madison Williams.
BOYS BASKETBALL – Members of the Medina boys basketball squad have compiled a composite average of 90.85 to earn a NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team Award. In front are Brian Fry, Jalin Cooper, Jorge Phillips, Brendan Luthart and Daemon Shatara. In back are Tim Roy, Trenton Jones, Nate Sherman, Alex Allis and Izaiah Rhim.
BASKETBALL CHEERLEADING – Compiling a composite average of 92.0094 members of the Medina basketball cheerleading squad have earned a NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team Award. In front are Alexis Jones, Natalie Cox, Alexis Hinman and Alexis Hare. In back are Destiny Jones, Devin Griffin, Alexis Maron and Alexandria Strong. Missing from the photo are Morgan Greco and Meadow Washak.
WRESTLING – Members of the Medina wrestling squad have compiled a composite average of 90.5674 to earn a NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team Award. In front are Connor Miller, Jacob Bensley, Travis Wiseman, Alwyn Cayea, Joe Gates and Spencer Rotoli. In back are Christian Silversmith, Colby Petrie, Jeremiah Wiseman and Elijah Sones. Missing from the photo are Judah Barnum, Miles Hartway, Cody Crane and Mitch Silversmith.
Kendall, Lyndonville split in G-R track
Kendall defeated visiting Lyndonville 85-28 this afternoon in a Genesee Region League girls track meet.
Lyndonville gained a split on the day by downing Kendall 59-48 in the boys meet.
Alexander scored a sweep on the day defeating Lyndonville 122-14 and Kendall 98-35 in the girls meet. The Trojans also bested Lyndonville 112-25 and Kendall 107-28 in the boys competition.
The Lyndonville boys were sparked by a pair of double winners as Nathan Poler won the 200 (:27.1) and High Jump (5-3) and Evan Horn the 100 (:12.7) and Long Jump (19-1/4)
For the Kendall boys, Ethan Kuhn won the 110 Hurdles (:19.0) and 400 Hurdles (1:11) and Dylan Spellan took the Shotput (34-4) and Discus (99-1).
The Kendall girls had Madison Jacob double in the 400 Hurdles (1:18.4) and 200 (:30.1) and Brianna Wakefield in the 800 (2:48.9) and 3000 (13:32.9). Jenna Regan also won the Shotput (21-1 1/2) and Lyndsay Wright the 100 Hurdles (:18.5) for the Lady Eagles.
Tennis
Holley 4, Pembroke 1
Holley improved to 2-0 in G-R tennis competition by defeating Pembroke 4-1.
Aaron Strathearn and Cheyan Palmer both earned singles victories for Holley.
The Hawks also took the two doubles matches on wins by the duos of Dalton Thurley-Steve Morgan and Eli Bibby-Jake Peters.
Lady Tigers roll past Lady Lancers; Mustangs, Purple Eagles and Lady Rams post N-O wins
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Stacy Buckland delivers a pitch for Lyndonville during this afternoon’s win over visiting Elba.
Gaining a bit of revenge for a loss in last year’s sectional final, Lyndonville romped past visiting Elba 16-1 this afternoon in a Genesee Region League softball game.
Lyndonville pitcher Stacy Buckland limited Elba to only 4 hits and struck out 4.
Anna Lewis, Cassie Boyce, Natalie Ostrowski, Gracie Johnson and Alecia Hinkson each had 2 hits to lead the Lyndonville offense. Lewis drove in 3 runs and Ostrowski 2 as Johnson banged out a triple and Boyce a double.
The Lady Tigers scored 3 quick runs in the first inning and then added 2 in the second, 5 in the third and 6 in the fourth.
Lyndonville is now 2-0 in the league.
Albion 13, Newfane 1
Snapping a brief two game season opening losing streak, Albion bested host Newfane 13-1 in a Niagara-Orleans League game.
Natalie DiCureia had 4 hits including 3 triples and 3 RBIs to lead the Albion attack as Lexi Wolck, Brylie Hapeman and Janae Doty each had a pair of hits.
Albion broke the game open with 6 runs in the fourth frame which included a triple by DiCureia.
Ella Knaak earned the win in the circle for the Purple Eagles striking out 4.
Albion is now 1-2 and Newfane 0-3.
Medina 25, Barker 1
A huge 13 run first inning ignited Medina to a 25-1 N-O win at Barker.
Ryenn Oliver had a grand slam home run, Morgan Allis and Abby Neuman triples and Cora Payne a double in the decisive opening frame. Allis had a pair of triples on the day and Payne one.
Ashlee Howell had 5 hits and Alisha Scroger 4 for the Mustangs.
Medina is now 2-0 and Barker 1-2.
Roy-Hart 28, Wilson 3
Maddy Glena and Kayla Brown both had 5 hits, Maddie Fry and Jamie Bower 3 and Brianna Perkins a three-run single to highlight the Roy-Hart offense in a 28-3 N-O win at Wilson.
Roy-Hart is now 3-0 and Wilson 1-1.
Kendall makes return to varsity baseball in loss to Lyndonville; Medina, Albion win
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville first baseman Noah Heinsler awaits the throw as Kendall’s Jeremy Browe dives back to the bag. The action took place during the Tigers win over the host Eagles this afternoon at Kendall.
After a two year absence, Kendall made its return to varsity baseball competition this afternoon as the Eagles dropped a 9-2 decision to visiting Lyndonville in a Genesee Region League baseball game.
Bryce Seddon went the distance on the mound for Lyndonville giving up 2 hits and striking out 8.
Zach Johnson had a pair of doubles and Brody Brown a single and double to lead Lyndonville at the plate.
Zach Johnson bangs out a hit for Lyndonville.
Mickey Gardner had both of Kendall’s hits.
Johnson doubled in two runs in the third inning for Lyndonville which then broke the contest open with five tallies in the fifth on a two-run double by Brown, RBI singles by Nathan Dillenbeck and Rolland Balcerzak, and a double by Noah Heinsler.
Lyndonville is now 2-0 overall.
Medina 9, Barker 2
Back-to-back early inning scoring bursts keyed Medina to a 9-2 victory over Barker in a Niagara-Orleans League baseball game at Vets Park.
The Mustangs built up an 8-0 lead after scoring three times in the second inning on three errors and a single by Trevor Luthart and four times in the third frame on a two-run homer by Brian Fry, a single by Nate Sherman and two errors.
Brett Riemer went the distance on the mound for Medina giving up 5 hits and striking out 7.
Preston Harris had a solo home run for Barker which also got a triple from Nick Brandt and a pair of single from Collin Webb.
Medina is now 1-1 and Barker 0-3 in N-O action.
Albion 13, Newfane 2
Erupting for five quick runs in the first inning, Albion went on to defeat host Newfane 13-2 in another N-O contest.
A two-run double by Thomas Furmanski and an RBI single by Addison Christ highlighted the first inning uprising.
The Purple Eagles later locked up the win by tallying four times in both the third and fifth innings. Christ had a two-run single in the third. John DePuy had a two-run single in the fifth as Bryce Pritchard and Furmaski also both singled in a run.
Furmanski had a total of 3 hits as Christ and DePuy both had 2.
Liam Ward picked up the win on the mound allowing 2 hits with 6 strikeouts over the first five innings. Nate Fearby hurled the final two frames allowing no hits and striking out 1.
Albion is now 2-0 and Newfane 0-2.
Roy-Hart, Wilson suspended by darkness
Defending champion Roy-Hart and host Wilson were deadlocked 5-5 after 7 innings when darkness halted play.
Trailing 5-1, Roy-Hart had pulled even by scoring 4 times in the fifth inning as Ben Schwab, Gavyn Boyle and Walker Samanka all had RBI singles.
John Rath delivers a pitch for Kendall.
Leonard to play soccer at Roberts Wesleyan
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina High senior Ethan Leonard signed a Letter of Intent this afternoon to continue his education and his soccer career at Roberts Wesleyan College. Shown here seated with him at the signing are his mother Ellen Eaton and father David Leonard. Standing are Rob Eaton, Mustangs varsity soccer Coach Steve Luksch and Athletic Director Eric Valley. Leonard, a three year varsity player at midfield for the Mustangs, earned Niagara-Orleans All-League honors as both a junior and senior. He had 6 goals and 13 assists as a junior and 4 goals and 8 assists as a senior. He is planning on majoring in Computer Science.
