Medina bests LeRoy to capture Far West Regional title – next stop the state semifinals

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 8 June 2019 at 6:28 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina players hoist the championship plaque high after downing LeRoy 10-2 for the Far West Regional title this afternoon at Lockport.

Back-to-back big scoring innings powered Medina to a 10-2 victory over LeRoy in the Class B Far West Regional this afternoon at Lockport.

The victory propels the Mustangs into the state semifinals at 2 p.m. next Friday afternoon at Binghamton against Schuylerville which blanked Ogdensburg 4-0 this afternoon to win the Capital Region.

Trevor Luthart delivers a pitch for the Mustangs.

“It’s pretty exciting, Trevor pitched well, we played good defense and everyone hit the ball pretty well,” said AJ Seefledt who banged out 3 hits and drove in 4 runs to help lead the Medina attack which also got 2 hits each from Brian Fry, Chris Goyette and winning pitcher Trevor Luthart.

“All the hard work paid off but we’re not done. We’ve got two to go,” said Luthart who went the distance on the mound scattering 6 hits, striking out 7 and didn’t issue a walk.

“Trevor does what he does. He puts the ball in play and he throws strikes,” said Coach Jon Sherman.

Breaking away from a 1-1 deadlock, Medina moved on top to stay by scoring four times in the bottom of the third inning on two-run singles by Seefeldt and Luthart. Singles by Corey Saj and Fry and a walk to Nate Sherman loaded the bases to set up the opportunity.

Keeping the momentum, the Mustangs quickly boosted their advantage to 10-1 by erupting for five runs in the fourth frame on a two-run single by Goyette, RBI singles by Seefeldt and Fike and a double steal play.

Chris Goyette bangs out a two-run single for Medina.

The Mustangs also got off to a quick start scoring a run in the bottom of the first as Fry led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Sherman and came home on an RBI single by Seefeldt.

However, LeRoy pulled even in the top of the third on a bases loaded single by Reece Tresco.

That set the stage for the defensive play of the game as with the bases still loaded the Mustangs turned a clutch inning ending double play from Goyette at third to Seefeldt at second to Fike at first.”

“That was huge,” said Sherman of the play,” That was a really nice turn.”

Bolstered by that big defensive play, the Mustangs offense then took control by answering right back with the decisive four and five run scoring bursts in the third and fourth innings

“We knew we could do that,” said Sherman.”These kids have been in big games like this since they were nine.”

LeRoy’s only other run came in the sixth inning as Luthart retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth frames and faced only four batters in the seventh as Fry at shortstop got the final out with a nifty diving stop and flip to Seefeldt to get the force out at second.

Medina advanced to the regional by defeating Roy-Hart 15-4 for the Section VI Class B crown while LeRoy trimmed Batavia 5-3 for the Section V title.

The Mustangs will take a school record 21-2 season mark into the state semis.