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Closing out a big 20 plus win championship season, the Tri County Midget Hockey team placed third in the David Bigelow Memorial Tournament this weekend at SUNY Brpckport.

Tri County opened the tourney with a wild 8-7 win over Monroe County Scottsville.

Tri County jumped out to a 3-2 first period load on goals by John Pilon, Matt Nielson and Chase Froman.

Two more goals by Pilon and one by Jake Esposito in the second period kept Tri County up 6-4.

Third period goals by Patrick Ricker and Josh Gimeli then locked up the victory.

Tri County then dropped a 6-1 decision to the Southtown Stars as Esposito netted the lone goal.

Rebounding, Tri County earned a 4-4 tie with Monroe rallying from a 3-0 deficit.

David Archibald had two goals and Esposito  and Gimeli one each.

However, Tri County’s bid for a spot in the title contest was dashed by an 8-6 loss to Southtown.

Tri County jumped out to a 4-2 first period lead on three goals by Ricker and one by Pilon.

A second period goal by Nielson kept Tri County even at 5-5.

However, Southtown used a 3-1 third period scoring edge to claim the win. Ricker had the lone Tri County goal during that stretch.

Ricker finished the season with a team leading 43 goals as Nielson and Pilon both netted 27, Froman and Esposito 18, Gimeli and Archibald 11 and James Hapeman 10.

Tri County, which captured both the Empire Amateur Hockey League’s division regular season and playoff championships finishes with a 22-8-3 overall record.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading the Kendall baseball squad this season will be this quartet of team captains including Mickey Gardner, John Rath, Mason Kuhn and Hunter Menze.

Last spring Kendall made its return to varsity baseball competition after a two year absence with a youthful, inexperienced team which gained plenty of experience while going 2-8 in the league and 3-10 overall.

Now, with virtually the entire team back and a year of varsity competition experience under their belts, the Eagles are taking aim at moving up in the Genesee Region League standings.

“We’ve got a good core unit back. I’m really optimist and really looking forward to the season,” said Coach Tige Noni who notes that after having only varsity and modified teams last year the Eagles will also be fielding a JV squad this spring.  “The Kendall community is really supporting its baseball program.”

The Eagles lineup includes seniors Mickey Gardner (shortstop/pitcher/catcher), Hunter Menze (first base), John Rath (pitcher/shortstop) and Alec Reed (outfield) along with juniors Mason Kuhn (catcher/pitcher), Riley Hirschman (third base/pitcher), Noah Rath (second base/outfield) and Brian Shaw (outfield); sophomores Emmett Blosenhauer (outfield) and Tyler Schmeer (utility) and freshman Jorden Ostrander (outfield/second base).

Kendall’s graduation loss was third baseman/outfielder Jeremy Browe.

Kendall is scheduled to begin G-R competition on April 9 at Oakfield-Alabama.

Schedule
(Games at 4:30 p.m. unless notes)
March: 27 – at Newfane
April:  9 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 11 – Barker, 12 – Lyndonville, 15 – Elba, 19 – Byron-Bergen, 22 – at Pembroke, 23 – Holley, 24 – at Notre Dame, 26 – Oakfield-Alabama, 29 – Attica.
May: 3 – at Elba, 6 – at Alexander, 7 – at Lyndonville, 11 – at Northstar, 1 p.m., 13 – Notre Dame, 15 – Byron-Bergen.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Looking to help lead Holley into the upcoming season are, in front, Miles Lammes and Tony Farruggia. In back are Cody Tannis, Jake Norman and Matt Skehan.

Hit hard by graduation with the loss of nine seniors, Holley looks to be facing a bit of a rebuilding job heading into the upcoming Genesee Region League baseball season.

Led by the lone returning starter, senior Matt Skehan (pitcher/shortstop), the Hawks are also looking to juniors Cody Tanis (second base/third base), Jake Norman (catcher), Tony Farruggia (outfield), sophomore Jayden Gibaud (pitcher/infield) and eighth grader Miles Lammes (pitcher/shortstop).

“We graduated everyone but one starter so we’re very young,” said Coach Dan Burke. “The kids are working hard and they’re very willing to learn. It will be interesting to see this group develop. By the end of these season it should be a very good group.”

Holley’s graduation losses include Patrick Bower (catcher/pitcher), Sammy Lammes (shortstop/pitcher/catcher), Ryan Andrews (third base/pitcher) and Brandon Dillenbeck (second base)

The Hawks are slated to open the season by competiting in a tournament at Medina on March 30.

Schedule
(Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted)
March: 30 – at Medina Tournament, 9 a.m.
April: 5 – at Barker, 9 – Byron-Bergen, 12 – at Pembroke, 15 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 22 – Notre Dame, 23 – at Kendall, 25 – at Northstar, 26 – Elba, 29 – at Lyndonville, 30 – Attica.
May: 3 – at Byron-Bergen, 7 – Alexander, 13 – at Attica, 15 – Barker, 17 – vs. Alexander at Cooperstown, 1:30 p.m.

Contributed Photo – Albion coaches and players celebrate after recently locking up the Niagara-Orleans League title.

The Albion boys varsity swim team recently completed a record breaking season.

The Purple Eagles finished the regular season as undefeated (10-0) Niagara-Orleans League champions, winning the title for the second year in a row.

Albion then had a tremendous showing at their post-season competitions.

The Purple Eagles won 6 out of 11 events at the All-League Championships.

Then, at the Class C sectional meet, they became the first swim team in school history to win a sectional team title, finishing as co-champions with Frewsburg.

Coached by Carlos Burroughs and Jay Kovaleski, the Purple Eagles team was captained by Matt Kovaleski and Harrison Brown. The team members also included Jayden Allport, DeClan McCue, Dallas Ecker, Jacob Foote, Zac Olles, Presley Smith, Jeff Brown, Bryce Wilson, Ben Hickman, Josh Manning, Zach Kilner, Jacob Coolbaugh, Isaac Neidert, Sam Sanchez, Josh DePoty, Ryan Krenning, Dyllan Beach, Cameron Ecker, Devin Olles, Chase Froman, Omar Peterson, Andrew Slack, Sam Williams, Kyle VanAmeron, Zane Schreier and Thomas Furmanski.

“Congratulations to everyone on a great season!” said Burroughs who is retiring as the Purple Eagles coach.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina softball team include, in front, Ashlee Howell, Morgan Allis, Cora Payne and Brandi Guild. In back are Brooklyn Brown, Abi Neuman, Camri King and Lacey Kenward.

After finishing in the runner-up spot last spring at 10-2, the Medina softball squad boasts a large veteran nucleus with which to make another strong run at the Niagara-Orleans League title.

That returning contingent includes seniors Cora Payne (pitcher), Ashlee Howell (catcher) and Brandi Guild (first base) along with juniors Lacey Kenward (pitcher), Camri King (outfield), Morgan Allis (third base), Abi Neuman (outfield) and sophomore Brooklyn Brown (first base).

Howell and King earned second team N-O All-League honors while Payne, Guild and Kenward all received Honorable Mention.

“We have a lot of returning veterans so we’re hoping to pick up where we left off last year,” said Coach Amber Cleaveland. “Our pitching is solid and overall I think we’re pretty solid. I’m really optimistic and looking forward to the season.

The Mustangs main losses to graduation were shortstop Alisha Scroger and first baseman Ryenn Oliver who both earned first team All-League honors.

Medina, which went 14-5 overall last spring,  is scheduled to begin N-O competition at home on April 10 against Albion.

Schedule
March: 29 – Iroquois, 4:30 p.m.
April: 1 – Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.; 3 – Cleve Hill, 4:30 p.m.; 8 – at Depew, 5 p.m.; 10 – Albion, 4:45 p.m.; 12 – at Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 15 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – at Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 29 – at Barker, 4:45 p.m.
May: 1 – Wilson, 4:45 p.m.; 6 – at Albion, 4:45 p.m.;  8 – Newfane, 4:45 p.m.; 10 – Roy-Hart, 4:45 p.m.; 13 – Akron, 4:45 p.m.; 15 – Barker, 4:45 p.m.; 17 – at Wilson, 4:45 p.m.

The Region 3 champion Niagara County Community College women’s basketball team had a tough trip at the national championship tournament in Arkansas going 0-2.

NCCC, which brought a 31-0 record into the tournament, first dropped a narrow 74-73 decision to Sinclair Community College from Ohio on Wednesday. The Thunderwolves were then eliminated via a 74-59 loss to Moraine Valley from Illinois this afternoon.

Newfane graduate Paige Emborski scored 15 in the first game and 8 in the second. Albion grad Caitlynn Snook also saw action in the second contest.

The NCCC men’s team is still in the hunt for fifth place honors at the national championships.

The Thunderwolves are currently 1-1 in the tourney having defeated Wake Tech from North Carolina 73-61 in the opening round on Tuesday and then dropped an 80-65 decision to Kirkwood from Illinois on Wednesday. Barker grad Nate Luckman scored 3 in the tourney opener.

Contributed Photos – The varsity award winners from the Lyndonville Winter Awards Night included, in front, Alyssa Winder, Rebecca Woodward, Gracie Johnson and Kaylee Nesbitt. In back are Nathan Hydock, Nathan Poler, Zach Johnson, Nathan Dillenbeck, Rodney Davis, Mario Fidanza, Chase Stinson.

Varsity and JV student/athletes were honored this week as Lyndonville held its Winter Sports Awards Night.

For boys varsity basketball, Zach Johnson received the Most Valuable Player Award, Nathan Dillenbeck the Most Improved Player Award, Nathan Hydock the Rookie Award and Nathan Poler the Coaches Award. Johnson and Dillenbeck were also recognized for earning Genesee Region League All-Star honors.

For girls varsity basketball, Alecia Hinkson received the Most Valuable Player Award, Kaylee Nesbitt the Most Improved Player Award, Anna Lewis the Outstanding Defensive Player Award, Gracie Johnson the Coaches Award and Prezil Silversmith the Tough As Nails Award.

For girls varsity cheerleading, Becca Woodward received the Most Valuable Player Award, Mia Dennard the Most Improved Player Award and Alyssa Winder the Coaches Award.

For varsity wrestling, Chase Stinson received the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award, Rodney Davis the Most Improved Wrestler Award and Mario Fidanza the Coaches Award. Stinson, Fidanza and Davis were also all recognized for earning G-R All-Star honors.

For girls JV basketball, Lorelei Dillenbeck received the Most Valuable Player Award, Alexis Hughes the Coaches Award and Karlee Rounds the Most Improved Player Award.

For boys JV basketball, Noah Poler received the Most Valuable Player Award, Anthony Moule the Coaches Award and Haydin Woodward the Most Improved Player Award.

The JV award winners included, from left, Lorelei Dillenbeck, Karlee Rounds, Alexis Hughes, Noah Poler, Anthony Moule and Haydin Woodward.