Tigers return veteran diamond lineup

Photo by Mike Wertman – Lyndonville varsity baseball coach Shane Price meets here with several of his veteran players as the Tigers get set for the season. In front are Price, Chris Scroger and Justin Edwards. In back are Brandon Schoolcraft, AJ Buckland, Evan Milleville and Ty Hrovat. Missing from the photo is James Ianni.

A year ago with an underclassmen dominated lineup Lyndonville captured its second Section V baseball championship in the last three years. Now, with seven of the starters from that title squad back, the Tigers are again looking to challenge for top Genesee Region League and Section V Class D baseball honors this spring.

Seniors Justin Edwards (pitcher/outfield) and Evan Milleville (third base/pitcher) head that veteran contingent which also includes juniors Ty Hrovvat (pitcher/shortstop), Brandon Schoolcraft (first base), Chris Scroger (second base/pitcher), James Ianni (catcher) and AJ Buckland (catcher/outfield). Ianni though is recovering from knee surgery and may not be available until midway through the season.

Edwards earned first team G-R All-Star honors last spring while Ianni was an honorable mention selection.

The Tigers roster also includes senior Alex Murphy (outfield), juniors Jonathan Amsdill (outfield) and Trevor Bentley (outfield/infield) along with freshmen Michael Wells (catcher/second base), Jacob Hoffee (outfield/infield), Ed Schildt (pitcher/outfield/infield) and Eric Neace (first base/outfield).

“We’ve got a strong pitching corps but right now we have a big hole to fill at catcher so we’re hoping James gets back,” said Coach Shane Price. “Right now AJ and Michael are working hard at catcher.”

The seven returning starters played key roles in Lyndonville’s big post season run last spring which saw the Tigers nip Fillmore 1-0 for the Class DD title and Whitesville 8-3 for the Section V Class D berth to the state playoffs before bowing to Pine Valley 3-2 in the West Regional.

“We know we’re a marked team as sectional champs but this group works well as a team and plays for each other,” said Price. “Our pitching is strong, defensively our infield should be strong and we’ve got some god bats. The catching spot and filling in the outfield are the question marks. It’s going to be an interesting season and our goal is to get back to the sectional title. The key is doing the little things to get it right.”

The Tigers have three non league games scheduled beginning at CG Finney on April 1 before opening the G-R campaign at Oakfield-Alabama on April 10.

Lyndonville’s schedule is as follows:
April 1 – at CG Finney, 4:30 p.m.
April 4 – Lima Christian, 4:45 p.m.
April 8 – Barker, 4:30 p.m.
April 10 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 4:30 p.m.
April 11 – Webster Christian, 1 p.m.
April 14 – CSAT, 1 p.m.
April 15 – Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.
April 17 – Wheatland-Chil, 4:30 p.m.
April 21 – at Kendall, 4:30 p.m.
April 23 – Holley, 4:30 p.m.
April 25 – Byron-Bergen, 4:30 p.m.
April 28 – Attica, 4:30 p.m.
April 30 – at Pembroke, 4:30 p.m.
May 1 – at Alexander, 4:30 p.m.
May 5 – Northstar, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 – Oakfield-Alabama, 4:30 p.m.
May 9 – at Notre Dame, 4:30 p.m.
May 12 – Kendall, 4:30 p.m.
May 13 – at Wheatland-Chili, 4:30 p.m.
May 14 – at Webster Christian, 4:30 p.m.