Veteran pitching staff anchors Medina lineup

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Veteran members of the Medina varsity baseball squad include, in front, Hayden Woodroe, left, and Joe Cecchini. In back are Aidan Paul, Xander Payne and Zach Fike.

A trio of returning starting pitchers anchors the lineup as Medina preps to begin defense of its Niagara-Orleans League title.

That veteran mound threesome includes seniors Zach Fike and Xander Payne, who were both first team N-O All-League honorees, and junior Aidan Paul, who was a second team All-League selection.

Fike went 8-1 with a 0.82 earned run average and 77 strikeouts. Payne went 5-0 with a 1.62 era. and 49 strikeouts and Paul was 2-0 with a 1.02 era. and 37 strikeouts. At the plate, Fike hit .467 with 31 RBIs and Payne .341.

“Our pitching is solid but after that we have some holes to fill,” said Mustangs Coach Jon Sherman.

The Mustangs also return senior third baseman Joe Cecchini, who earned second team All-League honors, and senior outfielder/infielder Hayden Woodroe.

The Mustangs biggest losses come at the middle infield positions with the loss to graduation of shortstop Brian Fry and second baseman AJ Seefeldt, who were both first team All-League honorees.

The other graduation losses include catcher Austin Mosher along with outfielders Alex Doval and Corey Saj. Doval was a second team All-League selection while Mosher and Saj both received Honorable Mention.

Looking to help fill the holes are junior Julio Doval along with freshmen Brody Fry, Riley Culver and Tyler Kroening.

“Right now it’s just a matter of bringing the young kids along and hope they can step up,” said Sherman.

The Mustangs are scheduled to host Livonia on March 30 and Batavia on April 4 beginning the N-O schedule at home on April 6 against Newfane.

Medina claimed the N-O title with a 12-0 record last spring and went on to also captured the Section VI Class B2 championship finishing with a 16-1 overall mark.