Mustangs set to begin state playoffs Tuesday

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – The opening round of the state tournament is next up for the Medina baseball squad, which is shown here celebrating with the trophy after Saturday’s 3-1 Section VI Class B championship game win over JFK. In front are Jadon Luxon, Vinny Gray, Aidan Papaj, Hadrian Batista, Ryan Pegelow, Carlos Doval and Kolton Fletcher. In back are Mason Berry, Lathan McEwen-Miller, Luke Duffina, Preston Woodworth, Cam Fike, Steven Gobelli and Jimmy Dieter.

Fresh from capturing a third straight Section VI Class B title, Medina will now begin state tournament competition with a Sub Regional contest against the Section V Class B winner (either Bath Haverling or Wellsville) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Frontier High School.

Medina advanced by downing JFK 3-0 for the Section VI Class B title on Saturday at Frontier.

The state tournament appearance is the third in a row and the fifth in the last seven years for the Mustangs.

Bath Haverling defeated Waylnd-Cohocton 1-0 for the Section V Clas B1 title and Wellsville bested East Rochester 10-2 for the B2 championship on Saturday. Bath and Wellsville will now play today for the Section V Class B berth in the state tournament opposite Medina in Tuesday’s Sub Regional.

Medina brings a 19-2 overall record into the state tournament including a perfect 16-0 mark in Niagara-Orleans League games (12-0) and sectional contests (4-0).

The Mustangs pitching trio of Preston Woodworth (7 wins), Aidan Papaj (6 wins) and Vinng Gray (3 wins) has registered 12 shutouts and given up a total of only 4 runs during this current 16-0 run. Those 4 runs were solo tallies which came in 4 different games.

Bath brings a 20-2 record into today’s Section V state qualifier while Wellsville is 14-7.

The winner of Tuesday’s game will advance to Saturday’s West Regional contest also at Frontier High School.