Medina softball looks to keep momentum

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 March 2018 at 9:24 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – The Medina softball team’s veterans include, in front, Ryenn Oliver, Cora Payne and Destiny Satkowski. In back are Brandi Guild, Alisha Scroger and Alyssa Beyer. Missing from the photo are Morgan Allis, Ashlee Howell and Lacey Kenward.

Last spring was a real turning point season for the Medina softball team as not only did the Mustangs end a 12 year Niagara-Orleans League title drought but also captured the first Section VI championship in the program’s 43 year history.

“We peaked at the right time last year and we’re hoping to continue that this season,” said Medina Coach Amber Cleaveland whose Mustangs earned a one-third share of the N-O crown with Roy-Hart and Akron at 9-3 and then nipped the top two seeds (No. 2 Fredonia 1-0 in the semis and No. 1 Eden 5-4 in the finals) to capture the Section VI Class B2 title.

The majority of that title squad returns including seniors Alisha Scroger (shortstop), Destiny Satkowski (outfield) and Alyssa Beyer (outfield) along with juniors Cora Payne (pitcher), Ashlee Howell (catcher), Ryan Oliver (outfield), Brandi Guild (infield) and sophomores Morgan Allis (infield) and Lacey Kenward (pitcher).

Scroger and Satkowski, who will miss part of the season due to off season knee surgery, both earned first team N-O All-League honors last season while Howell and Guild were both second team honorees.

The Mustangs chief loss to graduation was first team All-League pitcher Emily Kams.

Medina, which is scheduled to begin its N-O title defense at home against Akron on April 11 has several scrimmages slated during the Easer break at Disney World in Florida.

Schedule
March: 28 – Iroquois 4:45
April: 9 – Cleveland Hill, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – Starpoint, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 13 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 14 – at Lyndonville, 3 p.m.; 16 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 18 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 20 – Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 23 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 26 – at Maryvale, 5 pm.; 28 – at Depew Tournament; 30 – Barker, 4:45 p.m.
May: 1 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 2 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 4 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 5 – CSAT, 6 p.m.; 7 – at Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 9 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.