Mustangs have new coach, youthful squad

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 22 March 2017 at 9:57 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – Veterans Brett Riemer and Quentin Adkins meet here with new Medina varsity baseball Coach Don Baker as the Mustangs prep for the upcoming season.

The accent is on youth as new Medina varsity baseball Coach Don Baker and his Mustangs prepare for the upcoming Niagara-Orleans League season.

Baker, who previous coached the Roy-Hart varsity squad for many years, has guided the Medina JV team the past couple of seasons.

Looking to rebound from last year’s 5-9 N-O record, the Mustangs returning contingent includes seniors Quentin Adkins (pitcher/infield), Matt Hann (outfield/catcher) and Chase McAdoo (infield/outfield); juniors Alex Allis (catcher/infield) and Brett Riemer (infield/pitcher); freshmen Nate Sherman (first base/pitcher) and Trevor Luthart (outfield/pitcher) and eighth grader Brian Fry (second base/shortstop).

The Mustangs roster also includes another freshmen, Chris Goyette (infield/pitcher/catcher) along with juniors Owen Frasier (outfield) and Trenton Jones (outfield).

“We definitely will be a young group but we have good pitching,” said Baker. “We have a good nucleus The key will be to play good defense and get better as the season goes on.”

The Mustangs graduation losses include catcher Justin Morgan, infielder/pitcher Tyler Ames and outfielder Jared Zinkievich. Morgan and Zinkievich were both first team N-O All-League honorees.

The Mustangs are scheduled to host Pembroke in the non league season opener on March 28 and begin N-O competition at home against Barker on April 3.

Schedule

March: 28 – Pembroke, 4:45 p.m.; 30 – Maryvale, 4:45 p.m.; 31 – Williamsville South, 4:45 p.m.

April: 3 – Barker, 7 p.m.; 5 at City Honors, 4:45 p.m.; 7 – Akron, 5 p.m.; 10 – City Honors, 12 p.m.; 12 – Newfane, 7 p.m.; 17 – Batavia, 4:45 p.m.; Roy-Hart, 7:30 p.m.; 21 – Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 22 – Wilson, 7 p.m.; 28 – at Akron, 5 p.m.

May: 1 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 3 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 5 – at Roy-Hart, 7:30 p.m.; 8 – at Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 11 – at Byron-Bergen, 4:45 p.m.; 12 – at Batavia, 4:30 p.m.