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Mustangs stampede past Raiders in semifinal
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brian Fry makes a nifty one handed pass interception during the Mustangs sectional final win over Eden/North Collins this evening at Vets Park as Dontae Rhim helps block.
A lightning quick touchdown in the opening seconds ignited No. 2 seed Medina to a 54-6 romp over No. 3 Eden/North Collins in the Section VI Class C semifinals this evening at Vets Park.
It took just two snaps for Medina to get on the scoreboard as Brian Fry swept around end for a 42 yard touchdown run and then tacked on the two-point conversion carry for a 8-0 lead just 43 seconds into the game.
The Mustangs defense then got the ball right back for the offense just two plays later via an interception by Hayden Woodroe at the Eden/North Collins 46.
Medina’s Hayden Woodroe hauls in an interception in front of Eden/North Collins’s Quinn Harrington.
It took just four plays for the Mustang offense to capitalize as a 15 yard run by Corey Saj helped set up a 21 yard touchdown run by Fry who again added the two-point conversion carry to make it 16-0 just 3:32 into the game.
“We had a great week of practice and we came out of the gate strong and played down hill all evening,” said Medina Coach Eric Valley whose Mustangs have advanced to the sectional finals for the first time in 33 years. ” “I’m just really excited for all of them. This is a spring football season and a trip to the sectional finals that they will never forget.”
The Medina advantage soared to 32-0 before the game was 10 minutes old as quarterback Xander Payne hooked up with Tyler Chinn for a 47 yard touchdown pass with 3:48 to go in the quarter and then Chinn returned a pass interception 46 yards for a TD just 52 seconds later. Fry passed to Joe Cecchini for the two-point conversion after the first TD and then ran for the two-pointer himself after the second score.
The Medina lead ballooned to 47-3 at the half as the Mustangs scored two second quarter touchdowns on quick one play drives.
First, Fry broke free for a 61 yard TD run and then Payne completed a 48 yard TD pass to Jarin Rhim. An interception by Chinn at the Eden 46 set up that opportunity. Fry added the two-point conversion run after the first TD and Cole Seefeldt kicked the extra point in the second.
Medina defenders Jarin Rhim (4) and Joe Cecchini (3) strip the ball from Raiders quarterback CJ Sroda.
In all it took the Mustangs a total of only nine snaps to complete the five first half scoring drives.
Medina’s lone second half touchdown came on a one yard run by Saj with 2:56 to go in the third quarter as Seefeldt again added the PAT kick to make it 54-3. Chinn had a 20 yard run and Saj carries of 18 and 26 yard to highlight the drive.
Fry capped off the strong effort by the Mustangs defensive unit with a nifty one handed interception in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders only points came on a pair of field goals by Paul Winiecki of 33 yards in the first quarter and 37 yards in the fourth quarter.
Medina will now face the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between No. 4 Southwestern and No. 1 Clymer/Sherman/Panama in the Class C title contest next weekend.
Medina’s last sectional title appearance came in 1988 when the Mustangs edged past rival Albion 14-7 at then Rich Stadium.
Medina’s Tyler Chinn runs through Raider defenders Jacob Souder and Hunter Stetz for good yardage.
Medina’s Dominic Larabee works to advance the ball near the goal line.
Cole Seefeldt connects on one of his two extra point kicks. The holder is Brian Fry.
Albion Storm wins softball season opener
Contributed Photo – Ava Woolston handled the catching duties for the Albion Storm during this evening’s season opening win over Oakfield.
The Albion Storm fast pitch softball team opened the season with a narrow 9-8 win over the Oakfield Gold this evening that was close right until the final out.
Anna Gillette started on the mound for the Storm striking out 9 and allowing no hits in 3 innings. Kaitlin Bennett came in to close the game, pitching 3 innings with 4 strike outs. She turned a double play and then struck out the last batter of the game to clinch it.
At the plate, the Storm put up 10 hits with Gia Howard leading the game going 3-3 with 3 singles. Meadow Smith went 2-3 with a pair of singles as Anna Grillo, Anna Gillette, Lilly Maynard, and Brooke Doty each had a single and Ava Woolston turned a hard hit to left field into a triple.
Akron spikers cap 10-0 N-O title campaign
Contributed Photo – Akron players celebrate completing an undefeated Niagara-Orleans League volleyball season with a win at Roy-Hart this evening. The Akron lineup includes Giahna LaFromboise, Samantha Bollis, Jessee Jonathan, Hope Cunnings, Lydia Blueye, Mya Thomas, Sydney Hall, Jayni Sundown, Ella Hill, Shea Masse, Marissa Maggiore, Jamie Meyer and Elsie Logan.
Akron completed a perfect 10-0 Niagara-Orleans League volleyball championship season with a 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18 win at Roy-Hart this evening.
Jessee Jonathan had 25 assists, 8 aces and 7 kills, Ella Hill 16 kills and 17 digs, Jayni Sundown 7 kills and 6 aces, Mya Thomas 6 aces and Sydney Hall 6 blocks and 3 kills for Akron which has now won five straight N-O titles.
Roy-Hart finishes at 6-4.
Wilson 25-25-25, Medina 16-16-12
Wilson completed an 8-2 N-O campaign by downing visiting Medina 25-16, 25-16, 25-12.
Devin Griffin had 5 kills, SydneyWatts 4 and Ianah Drisdom 3 for Medina as Evie Schultz and Ki’Maini Poole each had 5 assists and Lorelei Sanders 3.
Newfane 22-25-25-25, Albion 25-21-22-21
Newfane (3-7) posted a come-from-behind four set 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 home court win over Albion (0-10) in the other N-O finale.
Final N-O Standings: Akron 10-0, Wilson 8-2, Roy-Hart 6-4, Medina 3-7, Newfane 3-7, Albion 0-10.
Lyndonville ‘9’ rallies past Alexander
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Alex Barry slides into home during the Tigers home field win over Alexander this afternoon as the ball gets past Jacob Laney of the Trojans. The umpire is Don Grabowski.
Rebounding from a big early deficit, Lyndonville rallied to defeat visiting Alexander 16-8 this afternoon in a Genesee Region League baseball game.
Trailing 6-0 after just one half an inning and 7-3 after three innings, Lyndonville rallied into the lead for good by erupting for six runs in the fourth inning. An RBI triple by Nathan Dillenbeck, an RBI double by Jack Whipple and a two-run single by Alex Barry highlighted that key uprising which rallied the Tigers into a 9-7 lead.
Roman Heinsler, who came on in relief, delivers a pitch for Lyndonville.
Keeping the momentum, the Tigers tacked on four more runs in the fifth frame on RBI singles by Barry, Trenton Muck, Whipple and Roman Heinsler who also picked up the win on the mound in relief. He allowed only 2 hits and struck out 9 over the final five and two-thirds innings.
Alexander scored six quick runs in the top of the first inning on an error, a wild pitch, two bases loaded walks and a two-run single by Hunter Fletcher who also ignited the uprising with a lead-off double.
Lyndonville is now 1-1 in G-R action.
Attica 12, Holley-Kendall 6
Leading by a narrow 6-5 margin, Attica scored five times in the bottom of the fifth inning aided by a couple of errors, to key a 12-6 G-R win over visiting Holley-Kendall.
Holley-Kendall scored twice in the first inning as Braxton Zarpentine had a key hit, three times in the fifth as Jorden Ostrander had an RBI and once in the seventh on an error.
Zarpentine finished with 3 hits and Ostrander 2.
Now at 1-1, Holley next hosts Alexander at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Lady Tigers edge past Lady Trojans; Lady Eagles outlast Lady Lancers in G-R softball
Hits and runs proved a bit hard to come by as Lyndonville edged past host Alexander 3-1 this afternoon in a Genesee Region League softball game.
Lyndonville scored two in the third inning on an error after a walk and a double by Gracie Johnson set up the threat.
The Lady Tigers then added a big insurance run in the fifth frame as Ella Lewis tripled and came home on an error.
Haley Shaffer picked up the win in the circle scattering 4 hits and striking out 9.
Now at 2-0, Lyndonville next hosts Byron-Brgen at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Kendall 16, Elba 15
Kendall pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip visiting Elba 16-15 in anther G-R contest.
Trailing 13-8, Kendall had rallied into a 15-13 lead by scoring seven times in the bottom of the sixth inning highlighted by a bases clearing three-run double by Taigan Guerrero.
Elba retied the game at 15-15 with two runs in the top of the seventh setting the stage of Kendall’s game winner in the home half of the frame on a fielders choice play off the bat of Libby Snyder which drove home Lauren Pilon. Pilon had reached on a single and advanced to third on a hit by Shelby Kruger.
Kendall also had a big seven run first inning scoring uprising on seven hits.
Snyder, Pilon, Kruger and Julie Coble each finished with three hits as Grace Robinson and Guerrero both had two.
In the circle for Kendall, Sara Mattle pitched a compete game registering 13 strikeouts.
Kendall is now 1-2.
Attica 18, Holley 3
AJ Botello had two hits, including a double, as Rachel Howard and Tia Hoffarth each added one for Holley in the G-R loss to Attica.
Week 4 Axe Throwing League results
The Week 4 results of the Meadworks Axe Throwing League are as follows. The scores accumulate weekly throughout the season. Three teams had bye weeks this week.
Total Team (both partners individual scores added together: 1 Mother Chuckers 731, 2. Celtic Bastards 647, 3. Great Axpectations 602, 4. Bustin Axes 548, 5. Davis & Lisa Gnome 546, 6. Axes and Ohs 533, 7. Hack Job Moo Cows 517, 8. Falco’s Mercenaries 476, 9. We Like Big Axes Axe Throwing 460, 10. Wenches 449, 11. Pain in the Axe 446, 12. Bad Axes 424, 13. Lizzie Bordens 417, 14. Swoosh 401, 15. Miskatonic ReCreators 370, 16. Axelorians 337.
Duals (teammates throwing on same target at the same time): 1. Mother Chuckers 326, 2. Celtic Bastards 292, 3. Hack Job Moo Cows 251, 4. Davis & Lisa Gnome 240, 5. Great Axpectations 215, 6. Falco’s Mercenaries 207, 7. Bustin Axes 202, 8. Pain in the Axe Axe Throwing 200, 9. Wenches 199, 10. We Like Big Axes 194, 11. Miskatonic ReCreators 164, 12. Lizzie Bordens 163, 13. Axes and Ohs 162, 14. Axelorians 150, 15. Swoosh 123, 16. Bad Axes 112.
O-A bests Kendall in G-R softball
Completing a home and home series sweep, Oakfield-Alabamaa downed host Kendall 12-3 this afternoon in a Genesee REgion League softball game.
O-A, which also scored a home field 15-12 win over Kendall on Monday, improves to 4-0.
Leading 6-3, the Lady Hornets put a firm lock on the win by erupting for six runs with two out in the top of the seventh inning ignited by a double by Caitlin Ryan.
Julie Coble and Grace Robinson each had two hits for Kendall.
Now at 0-2, Kendall next hosts Elba on Thursday.
Eagles edge Hornets in G-R tennis match
Kendall edged past Oakfield-Alabama 3-2 this afternoon in a Genesee Region League tennis match.
Tory Raufeison won at first singles and Devin Edick at second singles in three set matches for Kendall which also got a victory by the second doubles team of Kari Harrier and Steven Strapp.
Kendall also blanked Elba 5-0.
In another G-R match, Alexander downed Holley 4-1.
Cavan Bennage earned the Hawks point with a win at first singles.
Kendall 3, Oakfield-Alabama 2
First Singles: Tory Raufeison (Kendall) d. Danica Porter 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Second Singles: Devin Edick (Kendall) d. Max DeMare 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(7-3)
Thurd Singles: Preston Tobolski (Oakfield-Alabama) d. Tobias Passer 6-1, 6-0
First Doubles: Jared Graham and Mason Cadieux (Oakfield-Alabama) d. Eric Woodhams and Joshua Esposito 6-2, 7-5
Second Doubles: Kari Harrier and Steven Strapp (Kendall) d. Thomas Costello and Shawn Tobolski 6-4, 6-2
Kendall 5, Elba 0
First Singles: Tory Raufeison (Kendall) d. Emily Rowe 6-1, 6-0
Second Singles: Devin Edick (Kendall) d. Christopher Olguin( 6-0, 6-1
Third Singles: Tobias Passer (Kendall) d. Madison Harrington 7-6(7-4), 6-1
First Doubles: Eric Woodhams and Joshua Esposito (Kendall) d. Lucy LoBello and Amelia Brewer 6-2, 6-2
Second Doubles: Kari Harrier and Steven Strapp( Kendall) d. Donovan Sherman and Jason Rowe 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
Alexander 4, Holley 1
First Singles : Cavan Bennage (Holley) d. Austin Kwitowski 6-3, 6-3
Second Singles: Kyle DeLelys (Alexander) d. Cora Bennage 6-1, 6-1
Third Singles: Owen Dunbar (Alexander) d. Jalen Tette 6-1, 7-5
First Doubles: Andrew Young and Jay Morrison (Alexander) d. James Tette and Mason Neale 6-2, 6-3
Second Doubles : Kelsee Koch and Joseph Rebmann (Alexander) d. Kirsstin-Louisse Althoff & Ashanty Gonzalez 6-0, 6-4
Medina to host Eden in Class C semi Friday
Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Medina quarterback Xander Payne and his Mustang teammates will host Eden/North Collins in the semifinals of the Section VI Class C playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.
Looking to keep the momentum from an undefeated (4-0) C North Division title run, No. 2 seed Medina will host No. 3 Eden/North Collins in the semifinal round of the Section VI Class C football playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Vets Park.
The other semifinal will have No. 4 Southwestern taking on C South Division foe Clymer/Sherman/Panama (CSP) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Clymer.
The two winners will meet in the championship game the following weekend.
Offensively, both Medina and Eden/North Collins have have found the end zone primarily via the air lanes.
Medina quarterback Xander Payne has thrown for 833 yards and 13 touchdowns including five to Tyler Chinn, three to Brian Fry, two to Joe Cecchini and one each to Iverson Poole, Jarin Rhim and Corey Saj. Fry also leads the Mustangs in rushing with 488 yards and four TDs.
Eden/North Collins signal caller CJ Sroda has likewise passed for 820 yards and 11 touchdowns including four to Hunter Stetz, three to Quinn Harrington and two each to Austin Sroda and Trevor Masocco. CJ Sroda also leads the Raiders in rushing with 241 yards and 2 touchdowns and Austin Sroda had picked up 178 yards and one TD.
The Mustangs defensive unit has also proven to be solid having allowed only seven points in four games.
Eden/North Collins won the C Central Division title with a 4-1 record.
The other semi is a matchup of two teams which shared the C South Division title at 4-0 as they did not meet because of a Covid-19 related pause. CSP earned the top seed for the sectionals by a slender margin of a one point edge in power points over Southwestern 80-79.
It is also a matchup of perennial Southern Tier powers as CSP captured the state Class D championship during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons while Southwestern reached the state Class C semifinals in 2019.
Akron spikers top Medina to lock up N-O title
Putting a lock on outright possession of a fifth straight title, Akron downed visiting Medina 25-16, 25-12, 25-8 this evening in a Niagara-Orleans League match.
Jessee Jonathan had 13 assists, 8 aces and 4 kills, Ella Hill and Jayne Sundown 6 kills each and Gianna LaFromboise 5 aces to lead the way for Akron which stays undefeated at 9-0.
Sydney Watts, Devin Griffin and Ki’Mani Poole each had 3 kills for Medina which is now 3-6.
In the other N-O matches, Roy-Hart improved to 6-3 with a four set 25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 25-13 victory over Newfane which slips to 2-7 and Wilson boosted its record to 7-2 with a 25-11, 21-25, 25-17, 25-16 win over visiting Albion (0-9).
Holley-Kendall rallies to nip Lyndonville
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Casey Winiecki gets tagged out a third base by Holley’s Jorden Ostrander during the host Hawks come-from-behind win over the Tigers this afternoon.
Holley-Kendall rallied to nip visiting Lyndonville 3-2 this afternoon giving new Hawks Coach John Warne his first victory in the season opening Genesee Region League baseball game.
“It feels awesome. The kids really played great,” said Warne who is an Albion High graduate.
Holley starter Jayden Gibaud delivers a pitch.
Holley-Kendall grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning on a walk and an error.
Lyndonville quickly answered with a pair of runs in the second inning on an error and a wild pitch but the Tigers, could not cross home plate again. A walk and a single by Roman Heinsler set up that opportunity.
Holley pulled even in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI sacrifice fly by Jorden Ostrander as a double by Miles Lammes and a walk set up the threat.
The Hawks then scored the game winning run with two out in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Ostrander after a walk, an error and another walk had loaded the bases.
Lammes also picked up the win in relief as he struck out five of the six batters he faced over the last two innings.
Lyndonville, which had stranded three in the second inning, also left the bases loaded in the sixth on three walks.
The Tigers next host Alexander and the Hawks visit Attica on Thursday.
Lyndonville’s Rolland Balcerzak gets back to second base just before Holley’s Miles Lammes can put the tag on him.
Lady Tigers roll in G-R softball opener
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville first baseman Gracie Johnson stretches to get the out as Holley’s AJ Botello crosses the bag. The action came during the Lady Tigers win over the visiting Lady Hawks this afternoon.
A huge third inning scoring burst highlighted Lyndonville’s 21-1 win over visiting Holley this afternoon in a season opening Genesee Region League softball game.
Kayleigh Neale bangs out a hit for Holley.
Lyndonville, which scored three times in both the first and second innings without the benefit of a hit, broke the contest wide open by exploding for 13 runs in the third frame.
Winning pitcher Lorelei Dillenbeck had a two-run single, Chloe Stinson a single and a double with two RBIs and Addison Dillenbeck a two-run double to highlight the marathon uprising.
In the circle, Lorelei Dillenbeck allowed two hits and struck out seven.
Rachel Howard and Kayleigh Neale had the hits for Holley.
Lyndonville next visits Alexander and Holley travels to Attica on Thursday.
Lorelei Dillenbeck delivers a pitch for Lyndonville.
Holley golfers win rainy G-R opener
The Holley varsity golf team opened the Genesee Region League season win a 180-184 victory over Pembroke Monday.
The rain and sloppy course conditions didn’t bother Holley’s match medalist Cameron Bates, who turned in the lowest score of the evening at 9 over par. Senior Andrew Drechsel also scored well for the Hawks.
Holley will next take on Elba/Oakfield-Alabama tonight at Batavia Country Club.
N-O and NFL combine for wrestling schedule
With both leagues missing schools due to the Covid-19 restrictions in Erie County the Niagara-Orleans and Niagara-Frontier League are joining together for a joint wrestling schedule this season.
Because of the restrictions in Erie County the N-O League is minus Akron while the NFL is minus Grand Island, Kenmore East and Kenmore West. In addition, Starpoint, which is the only Niagara County school in the Erie County League, is without any league opponents.
So with Wilson of the N-O and Lew-Port of the NFL fielding a combined team that leaves a total of only 10 wrestling teams in Niagara and Orleans counties.
The merged league will give each team a full schedule of dual meets as each team will wrestle each of the other nine teams.
In addition to the merged Lew-Port-Wilson squad, the Niagara and Orleans counties league will include Albion, Medina, Roy-Hart/Barker, Newfane, Lockport, Niagara-Wheatfield, Starpoint, North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls.
The joint schedule is slated to begin on May 18 with Lew-Port-Wilson at Medina, Albion at Roy-Hart/Barker, Lockport at Newfane, Niagara Falls at Starpoint and Niagara-Wheatfield at North Tonawanda. All matches are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Medina will visit Albion on May 20.
NFL Executive Director/President Patrick Burke adds that “if by chance the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) makes a new decision in the very near future we will have to first figure out the plans of Akron, GI and the Kenmore Schools on what they would like to do for the season. Once we have that information we will try to put together a plan that works best for all.”
Section VI wrestling teams, except for those in Erie County, began practicing for the season on Monday.
O-A tops Kendall in G-R softball opener
Oakfield-Alabama downed visiting Kendall 15-12 this afternoon in a season opening Genesee Region League softball game.
Kendall jumped out to an 8-3 lead but O-A rallied into a 10-8 lead by scoring four times in the fourth inning.
The Lady Hornets upped the advantage to 15-9 by tacking on three runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth.
Julie Coble had 4 hits, including three doubles, for Kendall as Libby Snyder added 3 hits and Sara Mattle 2. Katelyn Ryan had 2 hits for O-A.
Kendall will next host O-A in a rematch on Wednesday.
