Medina begins state diamond title quest on Saturday against LeRoy in Far West Regional

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – The pitching trio of, from left, Chris Goyette, Trevor Luthart and Zach Fike have led the way this season for Medina which faces LeRoy Saturday in the Class B Far West Regional at Lockport.

For just the second time in program history, Medina will be competing in the state baseball playoffs when the Section VI Class B champion Mustangs face Section V champion LeRoy in the Far West Regional at 3 p.m. Saturday on Lockport’s new turf diamond on Beattie Ave.

Medina, whose only other appearance in the state playoffs was in 2003, advanced by defeating a pair of Niagara-Orleans League foes, The Mustangs first bested rival Albion 10-6 for the Section VI Class B1 title and then by downing Roy-Hart 15-4 for overall Section VI Class B crown.

LeRoy gained a spot in the state playoffs by trimming Batavia 5-3 for the Section V Class B title.

The Mustangs bring a school record 20-2 record into the state playoffs while the Knights are 18-4.

“The key for us is to keep doing what we’ve been doing all season,” said Coach Jon Sherman. “Make all the little plays defensively, stay strong up and down the lineup hitting like we have been doing and have our pitchers continue to throw strikes.”

Medina has been led on the mound by the trio of junior Trevor Luthart who has 9 wins and 89 strikeouts in 60 innings; junior Chris Goyette who has 4 wins with 57 strikeouts in 34 innings and  freshman Zach Fike who also has 4 wins and 45 strikeouts in 25 innings.

At the plate, the Mustangs have been paced by the quintet of sophomore Brian Fry who is hitting .529 with 30 RBI, sophomore AJ Seefeldt (.465 with 35 RBI), Goyette (.394 with 27 RBI), freshman Joe Cecchini (.333 with 20 RBI) and junior Nate Sherman (.324 with 25 RBI).

“It’s a young group but its a veteran squad in terms of game experience,” said Sherman. “They’ve played a lot of games in summer ball in national level tournaments. Our pitchers have pitched in big games all of their lives so they are used to that level of competition.”

LeRoy has been led on the mound by the duo of senior Tim McMullen who has 8 wins with 58 strikeouts in 59 innings and junior Tom Saunders who has 6 wins with 44 strikeouts in 35 innings.

At the plate, the Knights have had a balanced attack with five players who each have between 11 and 14 RBI.

In Medina’s only previous appearance in the state playoffs the Mustangs blanked Sodus 4-0 in the 2003 Far West Regional.

Saturday’s victor will advance to the state semifinals in Binghamton on June 14.