Purple Eagles prep for title defense

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 26 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – The veteran first team All-League trio of Connor Barleben, Steven Stauss and John Warne leads the way as Albion preps to defend its Niagara-Orleans League baseball title.

Led by a trio of returning first team All-League honorees, Albion is prepping to begin defense of its Niagara-Orleans League baseball title.

Senior All-Leaguers Connor Barleben (pitcher/infield/outfield), John Warne (catcher) and Steven Stauss (first base) anchor the lineup for Albion which went 12-2 last spring to capture the N-O championship for the second year in a row and the fifth time in the last six years. Warne is a four year varsity starter and Barleben a three year regular.

The Purple Eagles also return varsity experience in seniors John Krieger (infield/pitcher), Noah Preston (infield/pitcher) and Zach McMullen (outfield) and sophomore Trey Hart (outfield).

The Albion lineup also includes juniors Austin Loyd (pitcher/outfield), Dominic DiCurea (infield), Andy Ashworth (first base), Aaron Burnside (infield/outfield), Jacoby Miller (infield/outfield) and Matt Howell (pitcher/outfield).

“We should be pretty good defensively and at the plate but the pitching depth is the big question mark,” said Coach Bruce Blanchard. “You can never have enough pitching.”

Albion is scheduled to open its N-O title defense on April 2 at Akron which finished in a tie for second place last spring with Medina at 10-4.

Albion’s schedule is as follows:
April 2 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.
April 4 – Barker, 4:45 p.m.
April 7 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
April 11 – CSAT, 4:45 p.m.
April 14 – at Lockport, 12 p.m.
April 15 – Depew, 12 p.m.
April 17 – Alden, 2 p.m.
April 21 – at Medina, 4:45 p.m.
April 23 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.
April 25 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.
April 28 – Aquinas, 4:45 p.m.
April 30 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.
May 1 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.
May 5 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.
May 7 – at CSAT, 4:45 p.m.
May 9 – Medina, 4:45 p.m.
May 10 – at Batavia Tournament, 1:30 p.m.
May 12 – at Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.
May 14 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.