N-O, G-R diamond, tennis openers this week

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Jake Bruning and his Roy-Hart teammates are scheduled to begin defense of their Niagara-Orleans League title at home against Barker on Monday.

Weather permitting Niagara-Orleans League baseball, softball and tennis competition will get underway this coming week.

On the baseball diamond, Roy-Hart begins defense of its N-O title by hosting Barker on Monday.  Albion will visit Akron and Newfane will visit rival Wilson in the other openers as Medina draws the bye. The Mustangs will begin league action at Akron on Thursday.

Last spring Roy-Hart captured a second straight league title by going 9-3 to edge out the trio of Albion, Barker and Wilson, which all finished just a game off the pace at 8-4.

New Coach Mike Tarnowski’s Rams return a good nucleus led by the first team All-League trio of seniors Jacob Bruning (pitcher/outfield) and Al Xapsos (infield/pitcher) along with junior Charlie Bruning (pitcher/first base). Also returning are senior Ben Schwab (pitcher/first base) and junior Charlie Brigham (infield/outfield).

The opening week’s softball schedule will be highlighted by a Wednesday matchup of Akron at Medina. Last season, Akron and Medina finished as N-O tri-champions along with Roy-Hart all at 9-3 with Newfane just a game off the pace at 8-4.

Akron, which is led by the returning first team All-League battery of pitcher Mattie Klein and catcher Abby Stone, both seniors, will open the N-O season at home on Monday against Albion as Roy-Hart visits Barker and Newfane hosts Wilson.

On the tennis courts, defending champion Medina will host rival Albion on Tuesday as the other openers will have Newfane at Roy-Hart and Akron at Wilson.

Medina went 12-0 last season to capture the N-O title for the fifth time in the last six years. Akron finished in the runner-up spot at 9-3 while Albion placed third at 8-4.

Genesee Region League baseball competition also begins on Tuesday with Lyndonville at Notre Dame, Kendall at Oakfield-Alabama/Elba and Holley at Byron-Bergen. The contest will mark Kendall’s return to varsity competition after a two year absence..

G-R softball openers will have Lyndonville hosting Wheatland-Chili on Monday and Holley at Oakfield-Alabama and Notre Dame at Kendall on Tuesday. Lyndonville will also host Elba on Wednesday in a rematch of last year’s Section VI Class D title contest.

G-R tennis action begins Monday with Holley hosting Attica and Kendall at Wheatland-Chili while Tuesday’s opening track meets will have Lyndonvlle at Holley and Kendall at Wheatland-Chili.

Weekly Schedule
Monday
Baseball: Albion at Akron, Barker at Roy-Hart, Newfane at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Wheatland-Chili at Lyndonville, East at Holley, 4:30 p.m.; Cleve Hill at Medina, Albion at Akron, Roy-Hart at Barker, Wilson at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis: Attica at Holley, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, 4 p.m.

Tuesday
Baseball: Holley at Byron-Bergen, Kendall at Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Lyndonville at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.; Pembroke at Medina, 7 p.m.
Softball: Holley at Oakfield-Alabama, Notre Dame at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Starpoint at Medina, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis: Albion at Medina, Akron at Wilson, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 4 p.m.
Track: Lyndonville at Holley, Kendall at Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.
Lacrosse: Medina at Lockport, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
Baseball: Albion at Barker, Roy-Hart at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Elba at Lyndonville, Monroe at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Akron at Medina, Barker at Albion, Newfane at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis: Alexander at Holley, Kendall at Oakfield-Alabama, 4 p.m.

Thursday
Baseball: Pembroke at Holley, Lyndonville at CG Finney, 4:30 p.m.; Medina at Akron, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Holley at Attica, Lyndonville at Kendall, CCA at Barker, 4:30 p.m.
Tennis: Newfane at Albion, Akron at Barker, Wilson at Roy-Hart, 4 p.m.

Friday
Baseball: Lyndonville at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.; Barker at Medina, Newfane at Albion, Roy-Hart at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
Softball: Pembroke at Holley, 4:30 p.m.; Medina at Barker, Albion at Newfane, Wilson at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.
Tennis: Pembroke at Holley, Elba at Kendall, 4 p.m.
Track: Holley at Pembroke, Lyndonville at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday
Baseball: CSAT at Barker, 1 p.m.; Holley vs. Alexander, 1:30 p.m. at Cooperstown
Softball: Medina at Lyndonville, 3 p.m.
Lacrosse: Eden at Medina, 12 p.m.