Tiger teams seek state diamond berths

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 29 May 2017 at 10:49 am

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Alecia Hinkson and Cody Bentley and their Tiger teammates will be competing in Section V Class D state qualifiers games Tuesday.

One is the magic number for both the Lyndonville baseball and softball squads in their quest to earn a spot in the state playoffs.

Both Lyndonville teams captured Class D1 titles over the weekend to advance to Tuesday’s Section V Class D state qualifier contests at Batavia against the D2 champions.

The Lyndonville softball squad will face Genesee Region League foe Elba at 5 p.m. at Batavia High School.

The Tigers baseball squad will likewise face a familiar foe as they take on Lima Christian at 7 p.m. at Dwyer Stadium.

The Lady Tigers split a pair of G-R meetings with the Lady Lancers this season losing the first 11-2 and winning the second 6-4.

Lyndonville, which is making its second appearance in the state qualifier, defeated Alfred-Almond 10-1 in the D1 championship game while Elba downed Bradford 8-5 for the D2 title. In their previous qualifier appearance in 2013 the Lady Tigers lost to Andover 7-3.

Senior Makenzie Muck and sophomore Stacy Buckland have shared the pitching and first base duties for the Lady Tigers whose lineup also includes junior Miranda Lembcke at catcher, seventh grader Ella Lewis at second base, senior Aubrey Lewis at shortstop and sophomore Cassie Boyce at third with sophomores Alecia Hinkson and Anna Lewis and senior Bri Paniccia manning the outfield positions.

The Lady Tigers bring a 15-3 record into the contest.

The Lyndonville baseball, which is 17-2 , downed Lima Christian 6-4 earlier in the season in a non league game.

Lyndonville, which is making its third appearance in the state qualifier, defeated Fillmore 6-2 to capture the D1 championship while Lima Christian bested Arkport 7-5 in the D2 final. In their two previous appearances the Tigers defeated Webster Christian 10-4 in 2011 and Whitesville 8-3 in 2013.

Seniors Mike Wells and Jake Hoffee have shared the pitching and shortstop duties to date in the postseason for the Tigers whose lineup also includes senior Corey Hydock at catcher, senior Eric Neace at first base, senior Cody Bentley at second and sophomore Kane Flynn at third with seniors Dawson Joy and Nolan Donald and sophomore Zach Johnson in the outfield.

Medina in Section VI qualifier
Medina will face Depew in the Section VI Class B state qualifier softball game at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Williamsville North.

Medina advanced to the qualifier contest by capturing the Class B2 title last week. The No. 3 seeded Mustangs nipped No. 2 Fredonia 1-0 in the semifinals and No. 1 Eden 5-4 in the finals to capture their first ever sectional championship.

Top seeded Depew claimed the B1 title with a 2-0 win over No. 2 Alden.