Runner-up Legion snapped front-running Sacred Heart’s lengthy win streak by a 38-32 score in Medina Euchre League action Monday.

Vets Club edged JR Wilson 36-34 in the other match.

Sacred Heart is now 919-761 on the season, Legion 860-820, JR Wilson 812-868 and Vets Club 769-911.

League competition continues on April 2 with Legion at Sacred Heart and Vets Club at JR Wilson in position round matches.

Medina-Lyndonville United has earned a split of a pair of games during recent EPIC Center indoor soccer league action.

Medina-Lyndonville United romped past Clarence 10-0 but lost 3-1 to GPS.

Roman Heinsler and Bryson Costich both score two goals in the romp over Clarence as Sam Kingsbury, Jack Whipple, Zaric Boyce, Zach Fike, Mason Moreland and Wyatt Zelazny each chipped in with one.

United scored five goals in each half.

Fike and Jackson Moreland split earning the shutout in goal with the help of strong defensive efforts by Cole Seefeldt and Will Roush.

In the other game, GPS scored three goals in the final five minutes of the first half to break away from a scoreless deadlock including on a free kick, an own goal and a breakaway.

Costich scored United’s lone goal in the second half.

United is now 2-3 on the season.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Ian Joseph battles for control of the ball during the Mustangs league opening win over Salamanca this afternoon at Vets Park.

Leading from wire to wire, Medina edged past Salamanca 13-11 in the Class D Division lacrosse opener this afternoon at Vets Park.

Brendan Luthart and Christian Silversmith both scored 4 goals, Mason Lewis 3 and Zach Blount 2 to spark the attack for Medina.

Medina jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first three and a half minutes on two goals by Luthart and one by Blount.

A goal by Lewis made it 4-1 but Salamanca answered right back with a pair of tallies to cut the deficit to one.

However, the Warriors could not pull even as another goal by Luthart kept the Mustangs up 5-3 at the end of the period.

The Mustangs extended the lead to 9-5 af the half as Silversmith netted two goals in the second period as Luhart and Blount both tallied once.

Salamanca did pull back to within two, 9-7, early in the third period but Lewis and Silversmith answered back two two quick tallies midway through the period to help keep Medina up 11-8 at the three-quarter mark.

The Warriors did rally back to within two three times in the final period but could get no closer.

Lewis scored what proved to be the game winner with 6:40 remaining which put Medina up 12-9.

Silversmith then added what proved to be a big insurance tally two minutes later giving the Mustangs a 13-10 lead with 4:21 remaining.

Now at 1-1 overall, Medina next visits Lockport in a non league contest on April 10.

Medina’s Christian Silversmith looks to take a shot on goal.

Photo by Mike Wertman – This veteran duo of Zach Johnson and Kane Flynn will anchor the lineup for the Lyndonville baseball squad this season.

Having lost seven starters to graduation, Lyndonville faces a rebuilding job this season as the Tigers prep to defend their Genesee Region League Division II and Section V Class D1 championships.

Two returning starters, Zach Johnson (pitcher/outfield/first base) and Kane Flynn (infield/pitcher/catcher), both juniors, anchor Lyndonville’s underclassmen dominated lineup. Johnson earned G-R All-Star honors last year.

The Tigers roster also includes seniors Brody Brown (infield/outfield), Cullen Heveron (pitcher/infield/outfield) and Luke Isaacson (outfield); juniors Bryce Seddon (infield/pitcher), Chase Stinson (oufield/infield) and Noah Heinsler (utility); sophomores Oscar Heinsler (infield/pitcher) and Nathan Neace (outfield) along with freshmen Nathan Dillenbeck (infield/pitcher/catcher) and Rolland Balcerzak (catcher/pitcher).

“We’re young but it’s an exciting group of kids to work with as there is a lot of good young talent,” said Coach Shane Price. “It will be a fun year to see how they grow.”

The Tigers graduation losses included G-R All-Stars Jacob Hoffee (pitcher/shortstop), Mike Wells (pitcher/shortstop) and Eric Neace (first base) along with Corey Hydock (catcher), Cody Bentley (second base), Nolan Donald (centerfield) and Dawson Joy (third base/DH).

The Tigers are slated to visit Roy-Hart on April 5 in the non league opener and begin G-R competition at Notre Dame on April 10.

Schedule
April: 5 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 7 – Barker, 1 p.m.; 10 – at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.; 12 – at CG Finney, 4:30 p.m.; 13 – Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; 16 – at Lima Christian, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – at Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.; 20 – Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 4:30 p.m.; 23 – Alexander, 4:30 p.m.; 24 – at Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.; 26 – Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.; 30 – at Holley, 4:30 p.m.
May: 1 – Attica, 4:30 p.m.; 4 – Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.; 7 – at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; 8 – Albion, 4:30 p.m.; 10 – CG Finney, 4:30 p.m.; 11 – Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.; 14 – at Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 4:30 p.m.; 15 – Northstar, 4:30 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – The Roy-Hart softball team’s large veteran group includes, in front, Delaney Draper, Maddie Fry, Ashley Hill and Lexie Lovewell. In back are Maddy Glena, Jamie Bower, Jayden Townsend, Emily Metz and Kayla Brown. Missing from the photo is Sam Choate.

Bolstered by a strong contingent of 10 returnees, the defending tri-champion Roy-Hart softball squad is prepping for the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League season with new Coach John Grzymala at the helm.

The Lady Rams veterans include seniors Delaney Draper (infield), Maddy Glena (infield) and Kayla Brown (infield); juniors Maddie Fry (catcher), Ashley Hill (infield), Lexie Lovewell (pitcher), Jamie Bower (infield), Jayden Townsend (catcher), Emily Metz (infield) and sophomore Sam Choate (pitcher).

Brown, Lovewell and Fry all earned first team N-O All-League honors last year as the Lady Rams shared the league title with Akron and Medina at 9-3. Draper and Choate were both second team honorees as Glena was an Honorable Mention selection.

“The girls are excited and motivated for the upcoming season,” said Grzymala. “It’s go time. Every play is important. Every team practice, every team rep is important for our team to be successful.”

The Lady Rams are schedule to open N-O play on April 9 at Barker.

Schedule
April: 6 – at Lyndonville, 11 a.m.; 9 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 13 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 16 – at Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – at Grand Island, 4:30 p.m.; 18 – Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 23 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 25 – Barker ,4:45 p.m.; 27 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 28 – CCA, 11 a.m.; 30 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
May: 2 – Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 4 – at Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 8 – at Cleve Hill, 4:45 p.m.; 9 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – Mt. Mercy, 5 p.m.; 15 – Oakfield-Alabama, 4:45 p.m.

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Mason Lewis has the ball knocked off his stick by a Greece Storm defender during the Mustangs season opening loss this afternoon at Vets Park.

Erupting for five goals in each of the first three periods, the Greece Storm romped to an 18-2 victory over Medina in a season opening non league lacrosse game this afternoon at Vets Park.

Medina did score first as Mason Lewis found the net just 59 seconds into the game.

However, the Storm answered back with a barrage of 10 straight goals to take control.

Dominating throughout at the all important face-off, Greece built up leads of 5-1 after one period, 10-2 at the half and 15-2 at the three-quarter mark.

Medina’s only other goal was scored by Christian Silversmith with 2:40 remaining in the second quarter.

The Mustangs next open Class D Division competition by hosting Salamanca a 5 p.m. Monday at Vets Park.

Brendan Luthart looks to put a shot on goal for Medina as two Greece defenders come in to stop.

Photo by Mike Wertman – New Barker varsity softball Coach Aileen Hinton meets here with veteran senior members of the Lady Raiders squad. In front are Morgan Szczepaniak and Alexis Stratton. In back are Kira Wheat, Abby Harris and Kylie Miller.

With Barker alum Aileen Hinton taking over the coaching helm, the Lady Raiders are prepping for the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League softball season led by a group of five veteran seniors.

That quintet includes Kylie Miller (catcher), Abby Harris (outfield), Kira Wheat (infield), Alexis Stratton (infield) and Morgan Szczepaniak (pitcher/infield).

Miller earned first team N-O All-League honors last year while Stratton was an Honorable Mention selection.

The Lady Raiders roster also includes freshmen Jessalynn Coen (pitcher) and Sydnie Luckman (shortstop), sophomores Emily Wagner (pitcher/infield), Ella Fox (second base/catcher), Kylie Annable (infield) and junior Holly Wasnock (outfield).

“They’re young but I think we’ve got some strong hitters and we have a lot of pitching,” said Hinton.

Looking to improve on last year’s 1-11 N-O record, the Lady Raiders are scheduled to begin league competition at home against Roy-Hart on April 9.

Schedule
April: 9 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – at Albion, 4:45 p.m.;12 – at CCA, 4:30 p.m.; 13 – Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – at Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.; 21 – at Alexander Tournament, 10 a.m.; 23 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 25 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 27 – Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 28 – at Kendall, 11 a.m.; 30 – at Medina ,4:45 p.m.
May: 1 – at Elba, 4:30 p.m.; 2 – CCA, 4:45 p.m.; 3 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 7 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 8 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 9 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – at Lyndonville, 4:30 p.m.;

Albion and Medina will both open the 2018 football season against B2 Division foes on August 31 according to the Section VI Football Federation Schedule which was released today.

Albion will visit Olean while Medina/Lyndonville/Barker will host Depew.

Albion’s home opener will be on September 7 against B2 foe Lackawanna.  The Purple Eagles other home games will be September 15 against Burgard , September 21 against Depew and October 5 against Iroquois. The Burgard and Iroquois games are interdivisional contests.

The Purple Eagles other road games will B2 contests at Springville on September 28 and at rival Medina on October 12.

In addition to the Albion, game, Medina’s other home games will be September 15 against Lew-Port and September 21 against Olean. The Lew-Port game is an interdivisional contest.

The Mustangs road games will be September 7 at Springvile, September 29 at Maritime/Health Sciences and October 6 at Lackawanna. The Maritime/Heath Sciences is an interdivisional game.

Roy-Hart, which will compete in the C North Division, will have home games on August 31 against Gowanda/Pine Valley, September 14 against Silver Creek/Forestville and October 5 against JFK.

The Rams road contests will be September 7 at Cattaraugus/Little Valley, September 22 at Cleveland Hill, September 28 at Akron and October 12 at Wilson. The Cattaraugus/Little Valley game is an interdivisional contest.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Veteran members of the Albion baseball squad include Thomas Furmanski, Addison Christ, Bryce Pritchard and Liam Ward. Missing from the photo are Austin Dugan, Harrison Brown and Vincent Zona.

A year ago with a largely underclassmen dominated team Albion fell just one game short of its quest to claim the Niagara-Orleans League baseball title.

Now, with no less than seven regulars from that squad back, the Purple Eagles are again looking to challenge for top N-O honors.

That veteran group includes senior Austin Dugan (outfield), juniors Harrison Brown (first base), Addison Christ (pitcher/infield), Bryce Pritchard (pitcher/first base) and Vincent Zona (outfield/pitcher) along with sophomores Thomas Furmaski (pitcher/third base) and Liam Ward (pitcher/infield/catcher).

Ward earned first team N-O All-League honors last season while Pritchard was a second team honoree. Furmanski and Zona both received Honorable Mention.

One other regular, senior pitcher/infielder JaQuess Harrison, is not playing this year.

The Purple Eagles lineup also includes seniors Nate Fearby (outfield/pitcher), Tony Vallejo-Miller (outfield) and Bryan VanWycke (outfield); juniors Izaiah Callicutt (outfield), Zach Evans (outfield) and John DePui (first base) and sophomore Michael DiCureia (outfield).

“We should be strong pitching wise and defensively,” said Coach Bruce Blanchard. “The big thing is we have to hit better than we did last year. We’ve got to put the ball in play. Last year we just couldn’t get the big hit with guys on base. We definitely have the talent to have a good year if we can do it offensively.”

Albion is scheduled to begin N-O competition at home on April 9 against Akron.

Last season the Purple Eagles finished  the N-O campaign locked in a three way tie for second place with Barker and Wilson at 8-4 a game behind champion Roy-Hart (9-3).

Schedule
April: 3 – Kenmore East, 12 p.m.; 4 – Pembroke, 12 p.m.; 5 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 11 a.m.; 6 – Alden, 12 p.m.; 9 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 13 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 16 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 18 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 20 – Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 25 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 27 – Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 28 – vs. Pembroke, 4 pm. at Medina; 30 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.
May: 2 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 4 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 7 – at Medina, 4:45 p.m.; 9  at Aquinas, 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Mike Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina baseball squad include, in front, Trevor Luthart, Nate Sherman and Zach Fike. In back are Matt Saj, Brett Riemer, Alex Allis and Brian Fry. Missing from the photo is Chris Goyette.

Last year was truly a learning and a rebuilding one for the Medina varsity baseball squad which grade wise more resembled a JV team as it included one seventh grader, one eighth grader, three freshman and a sophomore.

Now, with that still very youthful lineup returning virtually intact, the Mustangs look to continue that building process and the climb back up the ladder of the Niagara-Orleans League standings.

The Mustangs veteran contingent includes eighth grader Zach Fike (outfield/pitcher), freshman Brian Fry (shortstop/pitcher), sophomores Trevor Luthart (first base/pitcher), Chris Goyette (pitcher/infield) and Nate Sherman (infield/outfield) along with junior Matt Saj (outfield) and seniors Alex Allis (catcher) and Brett Riemer (pitcher/third base).

Riemer earned first team N-O All-League honors last year while Allis and Luthart were both second team honorees and Fry and Goyette Honorable Mention selections.

Medina’s roster also includes senior Ethan Kujawa (outfield), juniors Taviah Rhim (utility) and Brandon Heschke (utility) and sophomore AJ Seefeldt (utility).

“We’re still awfully young on paper but we have a lot of field experience,” said Coach Don Baker. “We definitely have a lot of pitching and that will keep us in games. The big key is we will have to play good defense.”

Medina, which went 4-8 in N-O action last season, is slated to open the league campaign at Akron on April 12.  The Mustangs have five non league games slated before that beginning with a home contest against Pembroke on March 27.

Schedule
March: 27 – Pembroke, 4:45 p.m.; 29 – Batavia, 4:30 p.m.
April: 2 – Holley, 4 p.m.; 4 – JFK, 12 p.m.; 6 – Maryvale, 4 p.m.; 12 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 13 – Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 16 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 18 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 20 – at Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 27 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 28 – Wilson, 7 p.m.; 30 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.
May: 2 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 4 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 5 – at Attica, 11 a.m.; 7 – Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 9 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – at Batavia, 4:30 p.m.