Kuehlewind takes shot put title at state championships

June 6, 2014, 9:01 pm

≫ Next: For Maple Grove’s Wefing, mom knows best

≪ Previous: Pine Valley, Catt/LV softball fall in regionals

CICERO – Lancaster’s McKenzie Kuehlewind and Grand Island’s Jess Dhaliwall stood atop the winner’s podium together for the last time as high school athletes on Friday.

The future college roommates and track athletes for the Class of 2018 at the University at Buffalo finished first and second in Division I for the shot put in the New York State High School Track and Field Championships at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Kuehlewind avenged a close loss to Dhaliwall at sectionals last week with an effort of 44 feet, 4¼ inches to win by just over 2 inches.

Each girl attributed her own success to the other’s efforts.

“We’ve been going back and forth the past two years,” Kuehlewind said. “It’s easier with her, she pushes me because she’s right at the same point. It’s nice to beat someone who’s beaten me before.”

According to Dhaliwall, the friendship ends and the rivalry begins as soon as they step into the throwing circle.

“We know that once we step into the circle, we can have that rivalry,” Dhaliwall said. “We’re comfortable with it. We love it. We push each other so much but, at the same time, we’re really good friends. It’s nice to have someone so close to you pushing you. That’s why we chose to be roommates.”

Dhaliwall’s day was not over after the second-place finish, however. She competed in – and won – the discus throw, earning a state championship just a year after fouling out of the same event.

Dhaliwall’s longest throw went 153-9, more than 11 feet longer than the closest competition. Yet, she missed her personal best by nearly 8 inches.

“I didn’t do my best today, so I’m not too happy,” Dhaliwall said. “But I’m excited to finally have a state championship under my belt.”

In other Section VI throwing action, Stephanie Lombardo of Cheektowaga had a fantastic day, finishing first in both the Division II shot put and discus throw. In the shot put, which she also won last year, Lombardo threw 42-3 and in the discus she threw it 134-5.

Frontier’s McKyla Brooks had quite a day jumping but couldn’t retain her state title in the triple jump. She finished second with a jump of 38 feet, 6ß inches.

The four-time state meet veteran followed that with a leap of 19-1¼ in the long jump, good for third in Division I.

The junior is verbally committed to Stony Brook for both volleyball and track and field.

Section VI’s success was not limited to the field events on Friday.

Sophia Tasselmyer of East Aurora won the Division II 3,000-meter run, coming in at 10:02.69.

Tasselmyer, a sophomore, made the state meet as a freshman in 2013 but finished the 3,000 in 22nd place. She considered the race a disappointment and used it as motivation this year.

“Coming back this year, it was exciting because I finally got redemption for how poorly I did last year,” Tasselmyer said, adding that motivation “was definitely a big factor.”

For Division II 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Hannah Seiders of Silver Creek finished second at 1:04.65.

The meet continues today.

One Section VI athlete to keep an eye on is Mckenna Maycock of Randolph. The junior, who’s verbally committed to play basketball at St. Bonaventure, is third in the pentathlon after three events.

email tnigrelli@buffnews.com

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For Maple Grove’s Wefing, mom knows best

June 6, 2014, 9:02 pm

≫ Next: Buczkowski’s perfecto caps fine day by Clarence, Eden and Will South softball

≪ Previous: Kuehlewind takes shot put title at state championships

CICERO – After all the coaching Cory Wefing has had in his running career, the best piece of advice he got at Friday’s New York State Track and Field Championships came from his mom.

“Right before the gun I heard my mom yell, ‘be aggressive at the start.’ She sure wasn’t kidding,” said Wefing.

The Maple Grove senior took her words to heart, breaking from the tight field just enough to win the Division II state title in the 800 meters in 1:54.60. Wefing and thrower Phil Zobrest of Alden claimed state titles for Section VI on the first day of competition being held at Cicero-North Syracuse High.

A field of 1,559 track and field athletes representing 414 schools from across the state are competing. Day Two begins today at 10 a.m.

Wefing admitted he caught a couple of breaks in his race.

“It was a tough start. I just kind of clawed my way through as much as I could,” he said. “I was lucky to find a hole and then I just stayed in that lane. I felt like I had one of the best paths in the race right there.”

By the second lap the field was closing in on him so he made a move to the outside, and sure enough, found some running room.

“I was blessed, it was just great timing,” he said.

Not all Section VI runners in the race were as fortunate.

T.J. Hornberger of Lake Shore, coming off spectacular runs at last week’s Section VI meet got boxed in at the start and saw his intended path close down quickly. He settled for third place in Division I in 1:54.84.

He will be a man on a mission in today’s 1,600 meters.

Zobrest’s early interest in the throws came from an older brother, but he took it to the ultimate, winning the Division II discus in a personal record 163 feet, 3 inches. His effort came on his second-last throw and came right after the eventual runner-up up threw 161-1.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Zobrest will play football in college at Holy Cross. Zobrest was quick to recognize his coach Ken Partell, who has coached him in a variety of sports over the past seven years.

“He’s probably my favorite person ever,” he said.

Chris Doubek of Randolph put the finishing touches on an impressive high school career, earning second place in the Division II pole vault. He was third a year ago. He cleared 14-0, four inches shy of his school record. Doubek said he chose the pole vault early in his career wanting to surpass his father’s career-best jump of 13-0.

The Cardinal senior will also be remembered for leading his football team to back-to-back state titles in Class D. At halfback last fall, he rushed for 2,563 yards, earning All-Western New York.

Owen Barber of Allegany-Limestone was state runner-up in the Division II 3,200. The sophomore sensation used a push from the fast field to finish in a personal record 9:33.17.

Bennett freshman Alex Dildy made today’s final in the Division II 100 meters with a time of 10.98; Orchard Park senior Dawson Hillis finished third in the Division I discus in 182-6. Just 15 inches separated the top three finishers. … East Aurora’s 4x400 of Mike Coatsworth, Mike Durant, Matt McLaughlin and Zack Zagrobelny enjoyed a third-place finish in 3:24.10. … In the closest race of the day, the Dunkirk 4x100 relay finished seventh in 43.996 while Tonawanda’s foursome crossed in 43:998.

email mmonnin@buffnews.com

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Buczkowski’s perfecto caps fine day by Clarence, Eden and Will South softball

June 6, 2014, 9:04 pm

≫ Next: Section V defeats Albion, Cassadaga Valley, North Collins

≪ Previous: For Maple Grove’s Wefing, mom knows best

SANBORN – Friday was a great day for Section VI softball at Niagara-Wheatfield.

And the ending was just perfect.

Clarence senior Katrina Buczkowski threw her first career perfect game to lead the Red Devils to a 5-0 victory over Brockport in the Class AA Far West Regional playoff, one of three games won by Section VI against their counterparts from Section V (Rochester area) before an estimated combined crowd of 1,000.

Buczkowski struck out 13 and did not allow a ball to leave the infield. She also added a key RBI single during the Red Devils’ five-run sixth inning against Brockport senior Julia DiMartino, who this week was named the Gatorade New York State Player of the Year for softball and who beat Clarence in last year’s regional.

“I’ve never felt this good in my entire life,” Buczkowski said after the Red Devils earned the program’s second state final four trip in three years, and its fourth in the last seven years. “It was a huge, huge team effort. … Even though I can pitch a perfect game, that doesn’t put runs on the board. We worked so hard, so hard. We’re going to do everything we can to get to that championship.”

Clarence will be joined by Williamsville South and Eden at next Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships at Moreau Recreational Park in South Glens Falls.

Williamsville South continued to be the drama queens of the softball postseason as the Billies surrendered a 6-0 lead to Geneva in the bottom of the seventh before coming back to win, 8-7, in eight innings.

South, which scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to win its Section VI Class A final against Starpoint, 6-4, will play at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday. The Billies’ state semifinal opponent will be the winner of today’s regional between Section III (Syracuse area) champion Oneida and Section II (Albany area) champion Troy.

Eden was utterly dominating in winning the Class B game, 14-0, over Wayland-Cohocton to earn the program’s first trip to the state final four. Junior Carly Nasca pitched the shutout as the Raiders showed off their two-armed starting staff (sophomore standout Jill Murray won the Section VI final).

The Raiders will play at 11 a.m. next Saturday; their opponent will be the winner of today’s regional between Section IX (Orange, Sullivan, Ulster counties) champion Highland and Section XI (Suffolk County, L.I.) champion Center Moriches,

Clarence (18-1), which won its first state title two seasons ago, will play at 9 a.m. next Saturday against Section VIII (Nassau County) champion East Meadow, which won the Long Island regional Friday.

While DiMartino was strong in the middle of the game, Buczkowski had the bleachers murmuring from the start as she struck out the first eight batters she faced, as well as 11 of the first 12.

Clarence took ownership of the game when it sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run sixth. Two runs scored on wild pitches, Buczkowski knocked one in with a single, and senior Corrie Colf clobbered a two-run triple to left. Buczkowski got two ground outs before finishing the game with her 13th strikeout.

Williamsville South cruised early in its Class A regional, pounding out 12 hits as it built it 6-0 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh. Eerily, the Billies were then on the opposite side of the same kind of comeback they had authored in the sectional final on the same field two days earlier.

Geneva had 11 batters go to the plate, getting three hits and taking advantage of four South errors to tie the game. With two out and the winning run on third base, South coach Julie Murphy replaced senior starter Sam Moon with senior Courtney Gracz, who got a ground out to send the game to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, South rebounded with two runs on RBI singles by senior Stephanie Tirone and junior Nicole Rice. Gracz got out of a two-on, one-out jam to give South the win and its first trip to the state final four since 2006.

“We have seven seniors and I said, ‘this is not our last game,’ ” said Murphy. “I’m not a real screamer, but I said, this is not the way we go out. Our main goal is that I want the seniors to win their last game. One step at a time.”

Eden steadily built a lead against Wayland-Cohocton, scoring in the first three innings to go up, 5-0. Entering the seventh it had a 6-0 advantage, as Hayley Kobie belted a three-run homer to highlight an eight-run inning by the Raiders.

“These girls don’t stop,” said Eden coach Marisa Fallacaro. “Other schools have great pitchers, but I really think I have the best 1-2 combination. “Carly knew today that Jill may come in. She did great today. Jill is more strike-strike-strike, and Carly works her way around. We’ll take those ground balls all day long.”

Nasca threw a three-hitter with five strikeouts and retired the side in order the last four innings.

“We had expectations – we knew that we were going to go far, but this is still a surprise,” said Nasca. “I had no idea I’d ever feel the feeling of going to states. It’s really awesome.”

email kmcshea@buffnews.com

↧

Section V defeats Albion, Cassadaga Valley, North Collins

June 7, 2014, 8:30 pm

≫ Next: Fredonia loses to Livonia 3-1 in Class B Far West Regional

≪ Previous: Buczkowski’s perfecto caps fine day by Clarence, Eden and Will South softball

One was a close call, two others were one-sided. All three added up to defeat for Section VI baseball teams Saturday in the Far West Regional playoffs against Section V teams from the Rochester area.

Pittsford Sutherland rallied for three runs in the seventh innings for a 3-2 win over Niagara Orleans League champion Albion in Class A at Diethrick Stadium in Jamestown. The Knights took advantage of three Albion errors in the inning, but the key blow was a two-run double by Drew Reddish which sent home the tying and go-ahead runs. Winning pitcher Micjhael VanderZwaag allowed the Purple Eagles only three hits and one earned run.

Albion finished the season finished the season with a 16-3 record.

In Class C, Cassadaga Valley fell to Bolivar-Richburg, 11-1, in the regional played in Wellsville. Senior Reston Pettit, who is headed for St. Bonaventure, pitched five innings with eight strikeouts and two walks, and also went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and three RBI to power Bolivar-Richburg (21-3). Gary Burdick also went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs in the win. B-R batted around in the first inning to take a 5-0 lead.

In Class D, Batavia Notre Dame ended the season for North Collins, 9-2. The Eagles (11-8) made a game of it for a while, rallying for two runs in the fourth for a 2-all tie. North Collins got their runs on a hit baseman, a walk, two throwing errors on one play and an infield out.

Jake Jasinski had the lone North Collins hit, a single in the fifth. Otherwise the Eagles did little against Notre Dame right-hander Alex Covel, who struck out 11.

“He was throwing harder than anybody we’ve seen all year,” said North Collins coach Paul Kellner.

ROWING: Four crews from St. Joe’s and two from Mount St. Mary and the Canisius senior eight qualified for the today’s finals of the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Championships in St. Catharine’s, Ont.

The Canisius senior eight won its heat in 6:17.57 to make today’s grand finals. One eight and three four-oared boats from St. Joe’s made it to today’s grand finals.

The St. Joe’s junior men’s eight was second in its heat to Upper Canada College. The Marauders also qualified for the finals with a lightweight four with coxswain, a junior four with coxswain and a lightweight junior four with cox. The lightweight juniors won their heat in 7:49.43.

Mount St. Mary junior eight was second in its heat, while the Thunder’s junior four of Alissa Miller-Gonzalez, Maureen Frauenheim, Theresa Rusch and Olivia Cianchetti and coxswain Emily Ngo won in 8:07.02.

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Fredonia loses to Livonia 3-1 in Class B Far West Regional

June 7, 2014, 8:34 pm

≫ Next: Victor tops Lancaster in baseball

≪ Previous: Section V defeats Albion, Cassadaga Valley, North Collins

BATAVIA — It’s not too often the opposing pitcher steals the show from Cam Voss, when the hard-throwing, left-hander is on the mound for Fredonia.

Livonia’s Zack Kolodziejski is one exception.

The Niagara University-bound Kolodziejski tossed a three-hitter to outduel Voss, as Section V Livonia defeated Fredonia, 3-1, in the Far West Regional at Dwyer Stadium Saturday night.

“He’s a very good pitcher, there’s no doubting that,” Voss said. “He kept us off balance all day. He had a quick fastball, that got on us quick and he had a really good curve ball.”

Kolodziejski pitched a complete game, surrendering just one unearned run in the second inning and striking out five to earn the win and send Livonia, the No. 1 Class B team in the New York Sportswriters Association baseball poll, to the state final four at Binghamton University.

“They made some plays and he was tough,” Fredonia coach Vince Gullo said. “He had a lot of velocity. We were pretty fortunate he wasn’t getting the curve ball over too much.

We had some good at-bats, but we didn’t hit the ball.”

Voss, a junior, entered the game with a sparkling 21-0 record that spans three varsity seasons. Livonia snapped Voss’ unbeaten streak with two runs in the third inning and an insurance run in fifth.

Voss had far from a bad outing — pitching six strong innings and allowing three runs on six hits, two of which were bloopers and another was an infield single.

With no outs and a runner aboard in the third, Livonia’s Mike English hit a blooper into left-center field, but Fredonia’s Mike Pucci couldn’t make the sliding catch and the ball got away, allowing Derek Demartinis to score from first. Three batters later, it was deja vu.

Livonia squeaked another blooper into shallow left-center, this time, it was center fielder Tyler DiRusso who couldn’t make the diving catch and the ball got away from him, allowing another run to score.

“We made a couple mistakes in the field and we lost a close one,” senior second baseman Weston Ley said.

“You can’t make those mistakes in close games like this … That’s what baseball is – little hit there, little bloop there and that’s what wins it. If we made the plays, it probably would have been a different outcome.”

Fredonia stranded a runner at third base three times and left eight runners on base altogether. Despite having just three hits, the Hillbillies drew four walks and reached base three times because of errors.

“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” Lee said. “That’s how you win games. You have to step up in those moments and we just didn’t do that today.”

Fredonia, the reigning Class B state champion, made its third-straight appearance in the Far West Regional and finished the season 20-4.

Not too shabby for a team that started two freshmen and four sophomores.

“We’ve had a great season getting this far,” Gullo said. “We’re a young team, and our seniors gave it everything they had.”

↧

Victor tops Lancaster in baseball

June 7, 2014, 8:34 pm

≫ Next: Alden’s Rospierski jumps for joy after winning state title

≪ Previous: Fredonia loses to Livonia 3-1 in Class B Far West Regional

NEWARK – After winning the Section VI baseball championship two years ago, Lancaster got crushed by Victor in the Far West Regional, 15-1.

If Lancaster was searching for redemption in Saturday’s rematch, it never came.

Victor’s offense was again too hot to handle, exploding for five runs in a momentum-swinging fourth inning that was the difference in the Blue Devils’ 8-3 win at Colburn Park.

Lancaster’s season ended at 18-5 while Victor – which has won four straight Section V Class AA titles – advanced to next weekend’s state championships at Maine-Endwell High School.

“Both teams played a really good game and our pitcher just got a little bit tired in one inning and we had to make a change. That inning killed us right there,” Lancaster coach Mark Dalfonso said.

It was the bottom of the Blue Devils’ order that started the rally in the fourth inning. After their sixth, seventh and eighth hitters all reached base,

Lancaster’s Ryan Stekl walked the ninth-place hitter, Pete Sobraske, to bring in the first run.

Stekl’s pitch count neared triple digits as Victor’s next three hitters all drove in runs, and he was replaced before he could get out of the inning.

“It was just location. I wasn’t finding my fastball,” Stekl said. “My off-speed pitches were on, but if you’re not throwing a strike with your fastball, you’re not going to be successful. I just didn’t have it in the fourth with my location. That was my downfall.”

Although Lancaster’s starting pitcher from two years ago, Joe Preziuso, is still on the team, Dalfonso was confident starting Stekl Saturday.

“We had an extensive scouting report on these guys and they tee off on fastballs,” Dalfonso said. “Stekl’s the best off-speed and change-up pitcher that we have, so that’s what we went with.”

That was fine with Preziuso.

“I’d give it to Stekl any day,” he said. “I think he’s a better pitcher than me. I’d rather play shortstop anyway.”

While the end result was the same, early on it looked like it might have been Lancaster’s day. Preziuso opened the game with a single and scored from third two batters later when Stekl hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield.

In the third, Lancaster had first and second with no one out but stranded the runners when the next three hitters all flew out.

In the top of the fourth, Lancaster increased its lead to 3-0 after LG Castillo and JD Andreessen led off the inning with doubles and Griffin O’Brien put down a nice squeeze bunt. However, a double play ended the inning.

Even in the fifth, after Victor had taken the lead, Lancaster put runners on first and second but couldn’t bring them around.

“Any time a team beats you 15-1, you want to get back at them,” Preziuso said. “We put them on the ropes, we just couldn’t finish it off.”

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Alden’s Rospierski jumps for joy after winning state title

June 7, 2014, 8:44 pm

≫ Next: Close-knit Cheektowaga relay wins state title in Division II 4x800

≪ Previous: Victor tops Lancaster in baseball

CICERO – Alden’s Hailey Rospierski ran and jumped her way to Section VI’s only girls New York State Public High School State Championship on the final day of the meet Saturday.

After a third-place finish in the Division II 100-meter hurdles, the sophomore experienced that championship feeling in the high jump – claiming the title with a leap of 5 feet, 7 inches, tying her personal best.

Rospierski admits it’s difficult to train at such a high level for sports that require two entirely different skill sets, but she was thrilled to come home with a state title as a reward for her hard work.

“It’s a little stressful because you have to go back and forth so much,” she said. “It’s hard, but I did it.”

It’s not uncommon for top finishers in any event to be participating in the state meet for at least the second time in their career.

Holland’s Megan Caltagirone is ahead of that curve, as it only took her three weeks of preparation to earn a second-place finish in Division II steeplechase.

“It’s awesome,” Caltagirone said. “I can’t believe it. It’s amazing.”

Caltagirone usually runs the 3,000- or 1,500-meter races, but decided she needed to pick up steeplechase to have a chance at qualifying for state finals this year.

“There were some girls in my section who were just so much faster than me, so I figured I might as well try steeple.”

Caltagirone picked up the event at ECIC finals, where she won, and continued the success at the sectional championships.

Caltagirone’s coach, Matt Adams, ran throughout the stands and spectator area screaming words of advice and encouragement throughout the race. It was Adams, who encouraged her to try the steeplechase before the ECIC meet.

The event consists of shot put, an 800-meter run, high jump, long jump and 100-meter hurdles. Maycock was most successful in the 800 meter run, which she won with a time of 2:12.

Christina Walter of Maple Grove finished second in the 100-meter dash after winning the Division II title the previous two years.

“I didn’t PR so I’m a little upset,” Walters said.

Sophia Tasselmyer of East Aurora finished third in the Division II 1,500 (4:41.88). Hutch-Tech’s Lynda Brundige took third in the Division I 100 (12.29) and fifth in the 200 (25.21). Julia Ziaja of City Honors took fifth for Division II in the 100 and 200.

email tnigrelli@buffnews.com

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Close-knit Cheektowaga relay wins state title in Division II 4x800

June 7, 2014, 8:44 pm

≫ Next: High School Scoreboard for June 9

≪ Previous: Alden’s Rospierski jumps for joy after winning state title

CICERO – There isn’t anything the Cheektowaga boys 4x800 relay wouldn’t do for each other. On Saturday they took that to the ultimate, winning the Division II title at the New York State Track and Field Championships.

Their time of 7:52.01 not only destroyed their school record, it came within .95 of the Section VI record. Kobe Walenka, Jack Behlmaier, Noah McGee and Tim Whelan were the winning Warriors as they blew past several Division I schools on the track at Cicero-North Syracuse.

Whelan described his team’s run as amazing and talked about what a great bond he shares with his teammates.

“We don’t just run for ourselves, we run for each other. You know the other three guys are giving out and you have to give even more,” he said. “We do all our workouts together, we hang out together. We give ourselves little motivations to run for each other and this is the greatest thing ever.”

Cheektowaga won the only boys title for Section VI on this day, but there was a Section VI record broken.

T.J. Hornberger tore his hip number off his shorts and slapped it on the front of his gym bag saying he wanted to remember the last race of his high school career. Who could blame him?

The Lake Shore senior used the occasion of the 1,600 meters to break his own Section VI mark. He ran a 4:10.21 finishing third while bettering his record run of 4:12.77 at the Section VI championships a week earlier.

“I’m happy I got 4:10. It would have been great to have won a state championship, but it’s all good, it was a good last race,” said Hornberger, who will run for Syracuse University next year.

Hornberger went out hard and led until the final 200 meters. He was especially motivated after his disappointing 800 meter race the night before in which he got boxed in. “The guys had such a strong kick in the last 200 I was just trying to hold on,” said Hornberger. “They were just using my energy and I didn’t have much left.”

Corey Wefing of Maple Grove, one day removed from his Division II state title in the 800, placed third in the 1,600 at 4:17.29.

Dan Huben of Clarence also saved his best for last, breaking his own school record in the 3,000 steeplechase with a 9:24.94, good for fourth place. He was fifth a year ago. Huben has signed with the University of Cincinnati in the fall.

“I was not happy with my barrier work today, but I am happy with the results and my ability to stay strong during the 3K part of the race,” he said.

While Hornberger and Huben are ending their careers, a very promising career is just beginning.

Freshman Alex Dildy of Bennett placed fourth in the Division II 100 meters in 11:09. He won his race in prelims on Friday in 10.98. His coach Randy Rakowski said Dildy went from beating friends in his neighborhood a year ago to the state finals this year.

“He definitely has a gift,” said Rakowski. “This is a big thing. I already explained to him it already is an accomplishment being here. There aren’t too many freshman who actually come to a state meet and get medals. There’s a lot of competition out there and to be at this level is definitely impressive.”

The boys shot put proved a fan favorite as fans stood three deep along a snow fence. They did not go home disappointed as Ben Bonhurst of Smithtown West broke the meet record with a throw of 67 feet, 3 inches. The previous record of 65-4.50 had stood since 1985.

Devon Patterson of Williamsville South and Tony DeYoung of Lancaster finished third and fifth respectively in the shot put. Patterson’s best effort was 62-8 while DeYoung’s best was 57-11.75.

Section VI landed a pair of state runners-up as Bryce Moeller of Barker was second in the Division II pentathlon. He scored 3,335 points falling by 43 points. Teddy Okon of Clarence cleared 6-4 in the Division I high jump.

David Hedberg of Jamestown was named co-recipient of the State Association’s Official of the Year award, Southwestern Chapter.

email mmonnin@buffnews.com

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High School Scoreboard for June 9

June 8, 2014, 9:02 pm

≫ Next: St. Joe’s boat second at Canadian regatta

≪ Previous: Close-knit Cheektowaga relay wins state title in Division II 4x800

high schools

Baseball

GEORGETOWN CUP PLAYOFFS

Championship (best-of-3)

at Coca-Cola Field

Monday’s game

Canisius vs. St. Joe’s, 4 p.m.

Tuesday’s game

Canisius vs. St. Joe’s, 4 p.m.

Wednesday’s game (if necessary)

Canisius vs. St. Joe’s, 4 p.m.

Softball

State semifinals

June 14 at Moreau Rec Park (Glens Falls)

CLASS AA

Clarence vs. VIII-East Meadow, 9 a.m.

CLASS A

Wmsv. South vs. II-Troy, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS B

Eden vs. XI-Center Moriches, 11:30 a.m.

Rowing

CSSRA Championships

at St. Catharines, Ontario

Sunday’s results

Junior Men 72kg Four

2, St. Joe’s (Charles Pratt, August Cudek, Robert Beaulieu, Eric Seaner, c-Andrew Gehman) 7:07.18.

Junior Men 72kg Eight

3, St. Joe’s (Pratt, Cudeck, Matthew Colucci, Eric Seaner, Christopher Navarro, Beaulieu, Erich Thur, Eric Szafranski, c-Vincent Farruggia) 6:46.65.

Junior Women Four

4, Mount St. Mary (Alissa Miller-Gonzalez, Molly Frauenheim, Theresa Rusch, Maria Mankowski, c-Emily Ngo) 8:15.12.

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St. Joe’s boat second at Canadian regatta

June 8, 2014, 9:09 pm

≫ Next: Prom night real special for Hollins

≪ Previous: High School Scoreboard for June 9

A second-place by St. Joe’s junior four with coxwain was the best finish among eight crews from three area high schools in Sunday’s finals of the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Championships in St. Catharines, Ont., on Sunday.

The St. Joe’s foursome of Charles Pratt, August Cudeck, Robert Beaulieu, Eric Seaner and coxswain Andrew Gehman finished just 5.43 seconds behind E.L Crossley of Fonthill, Ont.

Four other crews from St. Joe’s, two from Mount St. Mary’s and one from Canisius qualified for the final round of the competition but none won.

The Marauders also got a third-place finish from the junior 72 kilogram eight of Pratt, Cudeck, Matthew Colucci, Seaner, Chris Navarro, Beaulieu, Erich Thur, Eric Szafranski and coxswain Vincent Farruggia. They finished at 6:46.66, just 4.61 seconds behind first place Upper Canada College.

Mount St. Mary’s junior women four crew of Alissa Miller-Gonzalez, Maureen Frauenheim, Theresa Rusch, Olivia Cianchetti and coxswain Emily Ngo finished fourth in its final on Saturday at 8:15.13

The Thunder’s junior women eight of Ngo, Frauenheim, Miller-Gonzalez, Molly Frauenheim, Sophie Carroll, Hannah Lawerence, Cianchetti and Maria Mankowski came in at 7:31.58 to finish fifth. Canisius’ senior men 72 kilogram eight – the Crusaders only crew to make the finals - finished third in 6:26.46.

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Prom night real special for Hollins

June 8, 2014, 9:26 pm

≫ Next: Prep Talk: Borrelli event to honor best of WNY lacrosse

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Bubba Hollins will never forget where he was when the call came. He was pulling into the parking lot at Michael’s Banquet Facility in Hamburg for senior prom when his cell phone rang. It was Murray Cook, a scout for the Tigers, telling him he had just been selected in the 35th round.

Hollins sat in the parking lot for a minute with his date, Maddie Bryan, and digested what he had heard. Imagine having that shred of news moments before greeting your best friends and classmates for their biggest night in high school. But he calmly walked into prom and never mentioned the draft.

The word quickly spread, of course. You know kids and social media these days. They get the news before it happens. One friend sent him a congratulatory text before the Tigers called, leaving Hollins temporarily confused. Plus, how many girls walked into prom with a professional baseball prospect?

His date had to tell … someone.

“It was a cool thing to have happen,” Hollins, set to graduate from Orchard Park High, said Sunday afternoon. “As the night went on, I started getting text messages from people and phone calls. The guys ended up finding out from other people that were there. … I was smiling a lot, I can tell you that.”

For him to remain quiet and humble after realizing his boyhood dream was no surprise. Coaches and batting instructors for years have marveled over his selfless attitude and work ethic. He had a reputation for being a great teammate before he was a great player, the kind of kid you want on your side no matter the sport.

And Hollins is a terrific player, much like his father was at Orchard Park High before graduating in 1984. Certainly you remember Dave Hollins, a switch-hitting, cannon-armed third baseman who spent 12 seasons in the big leagues. He may have been the best position player in Western New York history.

Dave Hollins played seven years with the Phillies. He was a key component in their march to the 1993 World Series, the same year he played in the All-Star Game. He also played with the Red Sox, Twins, Mariners, Angels, Blue Jays and Indians before retiring in 2003.

Dave is quick to say he wasn’t even the best hitter in his family. Paul Hollins, seven years older, was a prospect in the Mets organization and later with the Tigers and Mariners. People are still telling stories about him hitting a bomb into the maple tree beyond center field at Cazenovia Park and titanic blasts over the trees and into Green Lake in Orchard Park.

Bubba may not have the same arm strength that his father had — who does? — or the prodigious power his uncle had — who does? — but he shared the same passion they had for the game. He had a key to Orchard Park Little League’s indoor practice facility and often could be found on cold wintry nights pounding baseballs into the netting and fantasizing about playing pro ball.

Dave Hollins never drilled baseball into his son. The game was in their DNA. In fact, it was his mother, Kerri, who did the pitching when Bubba was young. Dave was often on the road as a player and scout during the summer. He worked with Bubba during the offseason. Bubba couldn’t get enough.

And that’s what made him special.

“A lot of credit goes to my mom,” Hollins said. “She was the one throwing to me when I was little. My dad was always gone. As soon as he was back for the offseason, we’re always working together and always talking baseball. He’s had a huge impact on me. I couldn’t have done this without my parents. They’ve always been there for me. I always wanted it for myself.

“My dad never had to push me to go to practice. I was always ready two hours before a game when I was little. He’s always told me, ‘Nobody can want it but yourself.’ I always took that to heart. I work just as hard when he’s not around as I do when he is here.”

Nice kid, Bubba Hollins.

His given name is also Dave. His family started calling him “Bubba” when he was a baby because he had chubby cheeks. The funny thing about Bubba was that he was the farthest thing from a Bubba during adolescence. He was only 5-foot-5 as a sophomore, but he generated incredible bat speed for a kid his size.

“I was a peanut in middle school,” he said. “I looked like I should have been in fifth grade when I was in eighth grade.”

He grew six inches between his sophomore and junior years but was only lightly recruited by Division I schools. Presumably, college coaches placed too much emphasis on his size and not the size of his heart. The big leagues are decorated with players who were taken after the 20th round.

Hollins (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is about the size his father was 30 years ago. He will never be a power hitter, but he’s capable of hitting the ball a long way. He has very quick hands, hits to all fields and is stronger than he appears. He played shortstop for Orchard Park but will likely move to second or third in the next phase of his career.

And that could make for a difficult decision. Hollins has committed to St. Petersburg Junior College, where he’ll have an opportunity to play 80 games a season and improve his draft stock in the next two years. Junior colleges in the south are loaded with Division I-caliber players and are heavily scouted.

That appears to be his likely route, but money talks. Professional teams typically aren’t offering life-changing money to late-round picks, but Hollins would consider starting his professional career with the right contract. If that doesn’t work, he can go into the draft a second time in two years.

But he’ll always remember the first.

“I was really excited. I couldn’t believe it. I was really happy,” he said. “Yeah, that was pretty cool.”

email bgleason@buffnews.com

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Prep Talk: Borrelli event to honor best of WNY lacrosse

June 9, 2014, 3:08 pm

≫ Next: Ex-Canisius High hoops star Hart transfers to GW

≪ Previous: Prom night real special for Hollins

This spring will mark the sixth year of the Borrelli Award, an honor that goes to the top senior boys and girls lacrosse players in Western New York.

The Tom Borrelli Memorial Award and Scholarship Fund was started by a group of us at The News following the 2008 death of our colleague, a Hall of Fame lacrosse writer who loved the sport at all levels.

Through the years, we have expanded the breadth of the award with one goal in mind: To associate the name of Tom Borrelli with the best in Western New York high school lacrosse.

This year, we take another major step with the first Borrelli Awards presented by the Buffalo Bandits, a banquet that will honor our traditional award winners as well as the All-Western New York first teams in boys and girls lacrosse.

The banquet will be held June 25 at Ilio DiPaolo’s starting at 6 p.m., and it will be supported by ADPRO Sports and The Buffalo News.

Borrelli, a St. Joe’s and Buffalo State graduate who covered the Buffalo Bandits since the team’s inception and was the first media member inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame, died in November 2008 following a tragic fall while covering a high school football game at All High Stadium.

For the first five years of the award, players were honored at the conclusion of a golf tournament warmly hosted by Holland Hills and organized by Borrelli committee chairman and fellow News reporter Bob DiCesare. The golf tournament was a major fundraiser for the Borrelli Scholarship Fund as we began with a boys award for the first two years before adding the girls honor in 2011.

In 2012, the “Ox” Awards were added, given to one senior boy and girl who possess the kind of talent, versatility, hard work, dedication and toughness displayed by Borrelli – whose nickname was “Ox” – in his 19-year career as a reporter and editor at The News.

Previous winners of the Borrelli Award among the boys were Jeff Tundo, Orchard Park (2009); Chris Kane, Bishop Timon-St. Jude (2010); Brian Sullivan, Bishop Timon-St. Jude (2011); Josh Babcock, Hamburg (2012); Zed Williams, Silver Creek (2013).

Girls winners were Julia Suriani, West Seneca East (2011); Spring Sanders, Nichols (2012); Megan Mikolajek, Hamburg (2013).

The “Ox” winners have been Nathan Gowen, Amherst (2012), and Max Maxwell, Hamburg (2013), on the boys side and Amanda Obenshain, Hamburg (2012), and twins Grace and Hannah Christiansen, Frontier (2013), for the girls.

To become a supporting sponsor of the Borrelli Awards banquet, or to contribute to the Borrelli Scholarship Fund, contact Bob DiCesare at bdicesare@buffnews.com. Prep Talk countdown
Speaking of major year-ending events for Western New York high school sports, a countdown to the inaugural Prep Talk Awards banquet begins today on the Prep Talk blog.

Each day, a different Prep Talk Player of the Year will be spotlighted as we head toward the June 16 Prep Talk Awards at the Buffalo Hyatt Regency, which will feature guest speaker Andre Reed.

The Prep Talk Awards will honor the All-Western New York first teams in football and boys and girls basketball along with more than 30 Prep Talk Players of the Year in every other sport we cover.

Fall and winter Prep Talk Players of the Year, as well as All-WNY football and basketball first-teamers, have begun to be notified of their selection. The spring Prep Talk Players of the Year will be announced later in the season.

Tickets for the general public are $45 ($40 when three or more are purchased) and can be reserved by contacting Lisa Cislo at 849-5522.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the event; contact Ann Brooker at 849-4413 and abrooker@buffnews.com. PrepTalkTV tonight
Two of the Prep Talk Players of the Year will be part of the spring’s first edition of PrepTalkTV tonight at 7:30 at buffalonews.com.

One will be announced during the day on the Prep Talk blog, the other will be unveiled on the show. Class of 2014
The News’ annual Class of 2014 student-athlete list will be published soon at buffalonews.com.

The list will again include Western New York high school athletes who will continue their athletic careers in college – at any level. We compile the list from various trusted sources.

Please send information regarding college student-athletes – especially if the information has not been published by The News – to the email address below. Include the athlete’s name, sport, high school, college, level of college and any other pertinent information.

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com

↧

Ex-Canisius High hoops star Hart transfers to GW

June 9, 2014, 10:06 pm

≫ Next: Canisius takes opener of Georgetown Cup series

≪ Previous: Prep Talk: Borrelli event to honor best of WNY lacrosse

Former Canisius High basketball star Matt Hart has transferred from Hamilton College to George Washington, where he hopes to become a Division I player after sitting out a year under NCAA rules.

Hart, who was the leading scorer among Division III underclassman last season at 20.6 points a game, said he will practice and be on the bench for GW’s home games next season, like any transfer. He will pay his own way in the 2014-15 school year, with the prospect of earning a scholarship.

“They told me I’ll have every opportunity to earn a two-year scholarship after sitting out a year,” Hart said Monday. “That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m on the team. I can do everything they do. I just can’t travel to away games.”

George Washington went 24-9 last season, 11-5 in the Atlantic 10 under head coach Mike Lonergan. The Colonials won a first-round game against VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Hart said Lonergan didn’t see him play in person, but took the advice of several coaches he respects highly at the Division III level. Hart was 25th in the nation in Division II scoring a year ago and shot 41.2 percent from three-point range, ranking 34th in the country.

“He’s going to give me every shot to earn my way,” Hart said.

— Jerry Sullivan

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Canisius takes opener of Georgetown Cup series

June 9, 2014, 10:07 pm

≫ Next: High School scores, final track leaders (June 10)

≪ Previous: Ex-Canisius High hoops star Hart transfers to GW

Bryan Tenney asked just one thing of his Canisius baseball team before the start of Monday’s game against St. Joe’s.

“I just told the kids you keep swinging the bats. That’s what I kind of gave them as a theme – swing the bats, get your good pitches, drive the ball and that’s what they were doing,” said Tenney.

The Crusaders connected for eight hits to beat their rivals, 3-2, in the opener of the Georgetown Cup championship series at Coca-Cola Field.

Canisius (19-7) and St. Joe’s (18-8) return to the Bison ballpark today starting at 4 p.m. to play a doubleheader if necessary to complete the best-of-three series.

St. Joe’s kept it interesting to the end rallying in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Howard and David Maher reached on back-to-back solid singles with one out. But Canisius starter Connor Ryan (7-1) struck out the last two batters looking to end the contest.

“I wasn’t worried, I was just telling them give me the ball, let me go back on the mound. I was kind of tired, I was heaving, but I just kind of battled it out,” said Ryan.

Ryan was stingy throughout, taking a one-hitter into the seventh inning and had 1-2-3 innings in the third, fourth and sixth. He finished with 10 strikeouts, three walks in what was a three-hitter.

“All my pitches were working pretty well, I just had to find my spots,” said Ryan.

“When I found my spots, I just kept hammering them. My changeup wasn’t working starting off, so I kept throwing a fastball and they couldn’t hit it.”

St. Joe’s beat Canisius twice during the regular season, 9-5 in eight innings and 2-1. The Crusaders looked like they were going to avenge those losses in a big way early after they loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning. But St. Joe’s starter Chris Falk got out of the jam with a flyout, strikeout and inning-ended forceout at second base.

“That can be a little deflating, and I’m sure it was a pick-me-up for St. Joe’s,” said Tenney. “Even going into the game we were like – let’s put the bat on the ball and make good contact. Don’t get down we’re going to keep tagging them.”

St. Joe’ s scored the first run of the game in the second inning after Howard drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on a two-base error.

Canisius took the lead for good in the third inning with three runs, the big hit coming on a one-run triple to the warning track from Andrew Skomas. Colin Tenney and Dan Dallas also had RBIs.

St. Joe’s made it a one-run game in the fifth when Howard drew a walk, stole second and alertly took third and home while the Canisius infield was kicking the ball around. But the offense didn’t show any real signs of life until the seventh.

St. Joe’s had the tying run on second base in the fifth inning with one out, but couldn’t push it across.

“We didn’t make enough plays, we had a tough day,” said St. Joe’s coach Paul Nasca. “Canisius played terrific, they played very well, they earned the victory, they hit the ball, their pitcher threw a heck of a game. And you know what? When you put that few hits on the board, and you make those mistakes defensively, you’re going to have some trouble – and we did.”

St. Joe’s, winners of the Georgetown Cup the past two seasons, will send Howard to the mound today. He drew two walks, singled and scored both runs on Monday.

Canisius will counter with either lefty Dallas or Richard Miller. Tenney, who is also the league chairman for baseball, explained why the teams may play two today.

“We saw that the weather was pretty iffy for Wednesday, so based upon that, if we can’t play here than where can we play?” he said.

“Actually, the Bisons are the ones who came forward with it and said hey do you want to play a doubleheader tomorrow? So I talked to coach Nasca and the ADs talked and that’s what we’re going to plan on doing.”

email: mmonnin@buffnews.com

↧

High School scores, final track leaders (June 10)

June 9, 2014, 10:03 pm

≫ Next: Walkoff hit gets Canisius another Georgetown Cup

≪ Previous: Canisius takes opener of Georgetown Cup series

Boys track and field

FINAL WNY LEADERS, 2014

100 meters

Mitch Fuller (Lancaster) 10.92, Desmond Nicholas (Canisius) 10.94, Alex Dildy (Bennett) 10.94, Justice Milton (Sweet Home) 11.07, Derrell Hennings (Sweet Home) 11.13, Steve George (Lancaster) 11.15, Nick Barlette (Dunkirk) 11.18, Aaron Cannon (Kenmore East) 11.24, Robert Liebel (Tonawanda) 11.28, Brandon Day (West Seneca East) 11.28.

200 meters

Mitchell Moore (Jamestown) 22.21, Hennings (Sweet Home) 22.27, Cannon (Frontier) 22.53, Nicholas (Canisius) 22.54, Dildy (Bennett) 22.54, Darren Thompson (St. Joe’s) 22.56, Fuller (Lancaster) 22.74, Tareek Hannold (Falconer) 22.80, Brandon Frye (Tonawanda) 22.82, Rob Zwirecki (Orchard Park) 22.84.

400 meters

Moore (Jamestown) 48.40, Leibel (Tonawanda) 49.08, Daquane Spikes (Sweet Home) 49.70, Jack Behlmaier (Cheektowaga) 50.37, Cannon (Frontier) 50.40, Jaelin Marong (Canisius) 50.84, Matt Schaeffer (Wmsv. North) 50.89, Aaron Granger (Pioneer) 50.97, Andrew Heitzhaus (Canisius) 51.15, Markus Diehl (Frontier) 51.21.

800 meters

T.J. Hornberger (Lake Shore) 1:53.29, Corey Wefing (Maple Grove) 1:53.89, Matt McLaughlin (East Aurora) 1:55.66, Anthony Hawthorne (Niagara Falls) 1:56.35, Tim Whelan (Cheektowaga) 1:57.33, Dylan Servos (Alden) 1:58.43, Dan Jones (Lockport) 1:59.02, Kyle Ruffner (Lancaster) 1:59.39, Mitchell Daddario (Sweet Home) 1:59.99, Matt Ciminella (Sweet Home) 2:00.14.

1,600 meters

Hornberger (Lake Shore) 4:10.21, Wefing (Maple Grove) 4:17.29, Daddario (Sweet Home) 4:18.02, Whelan (Cheektowaga) 4:25.03, Calvin Butlak (Lake Shore) 4:26.09, JD McGuire (St. Joe’s) 4:26.47, Dan Huben (Clarence) 4:26.78, Hawthorne (Niagara Falls) 4:28.81, Owen Barber (Allegany-Limestone) 4:28.82, Nick Knorz (Clarence) 4:29.41.

3,200 meters

Huben (Clarence) 9:31.17, Butlak (Lake Shore) 9:37.25, Barber (Allegany-Limestone) 9:39.43, Daddario (Sweet Home) 9:42.44, Peter Rindfuss (Hamburg) 9:51.00, Anthony Casullo (Clarence) 9:52.68, Isiah Utley (St. Francis) 9:53.58, Josh Odell (Clymer) 9:53.80, Liam Gallagher (Canisius) 9:57.19, Anthony Belfatto (St. Joe’s) 9:57.29.

110 hurdles

Daquane Spikes (Sweet Home) 14.71, Jeffrey Menyah (Niagara Falls) 14.82, Michael-Jordan Morris (Amherst) 15.25, Ty Becker (Lake Shore) 15.32, Benjamin Larsen (Jamestown) 15.38, Josh Fisher (Falconer) 15.40, Jordan Powers (Southwestern) 15.52, Adrian Drake (Sweet Home) 15.59, Austin Valvo (Iroquois) 15.67, Jeff Sanchez (City Honors) 15.90.

400 hurdles

Moore (Jamestown) 54.07, Jordan Powers (Southwestern) 55.11, Spikes (Sweet Home) 55.56, Caleb Makuch (Silver Creek) 57.07, Steve Neumaier (Lancaster) 57.57, Zackery Bell (Wilson) 57.75, Jack Zagrobelny (East Aurora) 58.75, Jamie McQuiller (Hutch-Tech) 58.92, Kobe Walenka (Cheektowaga) 58.96, Morris (Amherst) 58.98.

Long jump

Dawan Jones (Tapestry) 22-2, Chris Walter (St. Francis) 21-10, Gregg Hart (West Seneca West) 21-4, Keyon Johnson (McKinley) 21-1, Nick Serafin (Depew) 21-0, Ali Akono (St. Joe’s) 21-0.5, Andrew Heitzhaus (Canisius) 20-11.5, Jake Valley (Lancaster) 20-11, DiJon Stone (Niagara Falls) 20-10.25, Noah Zerkowski (Lancaster) 45-1.5.

Triple jump

Jones (Tapestry) 45-1.5, Matthew Civilette (Fredonia) 43-9, Ali Akono (St. Joe’s) 43-0, Nick Nowak (Maryvale) 42-9, Ted Okon (Clarence) 42-8.5, Jared Watkins (Cleveland Hill) 42-3, Jake Haight (Barker) 41-11.5, Brady Jensen (Orchard Park) 41-10.75, Tom Kurowski (Lancaster) 41-9, Chris Walter (St. Francis) 41-8.5.

Shot put

Devon Patterson (Wmsv. South) 63-8, Tony DeYoung (Lancaster) 58-7.25, Dawson Hillis (Orchard Park) 57-2.75, Brandon Sicurella (Lancaster) 56-7.25, Colin Blair (Lanc) 55-2.5, Roman Greco (Allegany-Limestone) 55-3, Britton Mann (Clarence) 55-0.25, Phil Zobrest (Alden) 50-3, Patrick Dorsey (JFK) 49-8.25, Mickey Evans (Wmsv. North) 48-10.

Discus

Hillis (Orchard Park) 184-3, Zobrest (Alden) 169-10, Sam Wray (Starpoint) 165-6, Patterson (Wmsv. South) 164-0, Sicurella (Lancaster) 150-8, Matt Kowalski (St. Francis) 148-2, John Martin (Southwestern) 147-4, DeYoung (Lancaster) 146-11, Blair (Lancaster) 144-5, Greco (Allegany-Limestone) 144-4.

Pole vault

Trevor Koch (Frontier) 14-4, Mike Elwell (Silver Creek) 14-3, Justyn Haines (Albion) 14-0, Chris Doubeck (Randolph) 14-0, Josh Willson (Sweet Home) 14-0, Ben Jackson (Kenmore East) 13-6, Kirk Feeney (Lockport) 13-3, Awsten Beaver (Jamestown) 13-0, Cam Calandra (Starpoint) 13-0, Paul Dunbar (Newfane) 13-0, Bradley Blazier (Lockport) 13-0, Jeff Wojicinski (Lockport) 13-0.

High jump

Okon (Clar) 6-9, Bryce Moeller (Barker) 6-4, Jacob Haight (Barker) 6-4, Nick Serafin (Depew) 6-4, Ty Becker (Lake Shore) 6-1, Shawn Cooper (Alden) 6-1, Maurice Channer (Lockport) 6-1, Colin Snyder (JFK) 6-1, 6 tied at 6-0.

3,000 steeplechase

Dan Huben (Clar) 9:24.94, Calvin Butlak (Lake Shore) 9:36.40, Matthew Mercer (Orchard Park) 10:01.60, Josh Odell (Clymer) 10:07.19, Ciminella (Sweet Home) 10:11.00, Rindfuss (Hamburg) 10:11.69, Matt McCann (Frontier) 10:13.33, Zachary Johnson (Randolph) 10:14.04, Skyler Schapp (Randolph) 10:18.24, Hunter Phinney (Cattaraugs/Little Valley) 10:21.49.

4 x 100 relay

Sweet Home 42.86, Canisius 43.72, Dunkirk 43.90, Tonawanda 44.00, Dunkirk 44.00, Hutch-Tech 44.34, Lancaster 44.36, St. Joe’s 44.52, Olean 44.62.

4 x 400 relay

East Aurora 3:23.68, St. Francis 3:26.54, Frontier 3:26.72, Tonawanda 3:27.86, Hutch-Tech 3:29.62, Canisius 3:29.90, Cheektowaga 3:29.94, Lew-Port 3:30.23, West Seneca West 3:30.25, Tapestry 3:31.40.

4 x 800 relay

Cheektowaga 7:52.01, Lancaster 8:05.49, Sweet Home 8:06.61, Lockport 8:09.67, St. Joe’s 8:09.77, St. Francis 8:10.83, East Aurora 8:21.15, Clarence 8:21.70, Maple Grove 8:22.44.

Pentathlon

Bryce Moeller (Barker) 3,335, Zack Jones (Holland) 3,088, Becker (Lake Shore) 2,941, Conor Harrigan (Grand Island) 3,040, Curtis Caya (Portville) 2,881, Maurice Channer (Lockport) 2,801, Ian Emerick (Starpoint) 2,778, Devin Lindner (West Seneca East) 2,751, Chase Klawon (Eden) 2,725, Ethan Reimondo (Hamburg) 2,705.

Girls track and field

FINAL WNY LEADERS, 2014

Compiled by Ken Hans

Section record listed under event

100 meters

11.76 Ashley Fields (Amherst) 2009

Julia Ziaja (City Honors) 11.94, Christina Walter (Maple Grove) 12.06, McKyla Brooks (Frontier) 12.24, Lynda Brundige (Hutch Tech) 12.24, Ashley Grazen (Lancaster) 12.24, Kyri Jackson (Niagara Wheatfield) 12.36, Abby Squicciarini (Albion) 12.43, Alexis Campbell (Performing Arts) 12.44, Shantel McCart (Clymer/Sherman/Panama) 12.56, Terionna Ware (Sweet Home) 12.56.

200 meters

23.66 Ashley Fields (Amherst) 2009

Brundige (Hutch Tech) 24.84, Walter (Maple Grove) 25.22, Ziaja (City Honors) 25.43, Squicciarini (Albion) 25.44, Grazen (Lancaster) 25.45, Amy Villarini (Hamburg) 25.50, Brooks (Frontier) 25.74, Tiffany Cycon (Lancaster) 25.84, Ware (Sweet Home) 25.88, Chelsea Grupp (Holland) 25.98.

400 meters

54.61 Kala Allen (Wmsv. East) ‘09

Brittany Feldman (Southwestern) 57.93, Villarini (Hamburg) 58.03, McKenna Maycock (Randolph) 58.31, Dominique Logronio (Lancaster) 58.60, Lauren Jenny (Iroquois) 59.50, Abigail Jankowski (West Seneca West) 59.64, Josette Dawson (Amherst) 59.75, Emma Seiders (Silver Creek) 59.87, Grace Attea (Immaculata) 59.95, Julia Grupp (Holland) 1:00.01.

800 meters

2:09.47 Jessica Ortman (WS) 2005

Marta McLaughlin (East Aurora) 2:14.79, Sam Peterman (Sweet Home) 2:17.37, Jankowski (West Seneca West) 2:17.58, Maycock (Randolph) 2:18.22, Abbey Lang (Lockport) 2:19.58, Jenny (Iroquois) 2:20.06, Gabrielle Orie (Nardin) 2:20.34, Dana Warner (Clarence) 2:20.72, Attea (Immaculata) 2:21.03, Holly Heil (Medina) 2:21.39.

1,500 meters

4:24.90 Mary Pat Hickey (Clar.) 1985

Sophia Tasselmyer (East Aurora) 4:41.88, Sydney Bova (Frontier) 4:42.91, Marissa Saenger (Clarence) 4:43.73, Peterman (Sweet Home) 4:45.30, Lang (Lockport) 4:48.43, Clare Losito (Williamsville South) 4:51.78, Hannah Kurbs (Lockport) 4:52.75, Megan Caltagirone (Holland) 4:53.91, Warner (Clarence) 4:55.10, Naomi Wistner (Williamsville North) 4:55.43.

3,000 meters

9:44.17 Catherine Phillips (EA) ‘10

Tasselmyer (East Aurora) 10:02.69, Ally Ortega (Sweet Home) 10:12.46, Aileen Doyle (Sweet Home) 10:18.64, Saenger (Clarence) 10:19.04, Hope Pietrocarlo (Maple Grove) 10:25.92, Losito (Williamsville South) 10:27.51, Fiona Danieu (East Aurora) 10:30.59, Caltagirone (Holland) 10:33.65, Katrina Patterson (Clarence) 10:36.16, Carlin Sullivan (East Aurora) 10:40.46.

100 hurdles

13.66 Ronetta Alexander (WS) 2003

Summer Haight (Jamestown) 14.83, Haley Rospierski (Alden) 15.20, Tiana Luton (Sweet Home) 15.36, Madison Roberts (Iroquois) 15.36, Alyssa Oviasogie (Williamsville South) 15.44, Maycock (Randolph) 15.56, Maddie Hammer (Williamsville North) 15.87, Devin Kowalewski (Fredonia) 16.04, Emma Harris (West Seneca West) 16.08, Caitlin Augustyn (Depew) 16.15.

400 hurdles

1:00.60 Fawn Dorr (Akron) 2007

Maycock (Randolph) 1:03.57, Hannah Seiders (Silver Creek) 1:04.17, Erin O’Brien (Kenmore East) 1:05.19, Sara Augustine (Alden) 1:05.83, Brenda Sheedy (Williamsville East) 1:05.92, Gina Henley (Akron) 1:06.49, Samantha Ruszcyk (Hamburg) 1:06.64, Ali Binga (Starpoint) 1:07.74, Luton (Sweet Home) 1:08.32, Gabby Clare (Barker) 1:08.71.

2,000 steeplechase

6:58.38 Jessica Ortman (WS) 2005

Ortega (Sweet Home) 7:02.99, Caltagirone (Holland) 7:08.83, Losito (Williamsville South) 7:11.53, Natalie Cummings (Lake Shore) 7:25.27, Hunter Samuelson (Gowanda) 7:27.03, Margo Henley (Akron) 7:32.17, Brenna Donovan (Lew-Port) 7:46.83, Martha Gardner (Medina) 7:47.74, Amber Custodi (Lew-Port) 7:50.84, Erin Cuddihy (Hamburg) 7:56.19.

Long Jump

19-9.25 Mary Saxer (Lancaster) 2005

Brooks (Frontier) 19-4.5, Maycock (Randolph) 17-5.25, Marisa Gosdeck (Alden) 17-3, Brittany Sanford (Lockport) 17-1, Grazen (Lancaster) 16-11, Ziaja (City Honors) 16-10.5, Megan Krawiec (Immaculata) 16-10.25, Shawn Foster (Cheektowaga) 16-9.5, Amina Lewis (Amherst) 16-7.5, Chanyce Powell (Albion) 16-6.5.

Triple Jump

39-3 McKyla Brooks (Frontier) 2014

Brooks (Frontier) 39-3, Sadira Brown (Sweet Home) 38-11.25, Krawiec (Immaculata) 37-6, Powell (Albion) 36-10, Mackenzie Wright (Falconer) 36-8.75, Gosdeck (Alden) 36-5, Neralyn Trueheart (Sweet Home) 36-2.25, Alyssa Handley (Alden) 35-10, Oviasogie (Williamsville South) 35-4.5, Emily Marchitte (West Seneca West) 35-2.5.

High Jump

5-11 Alison Smith (Clarence) 1988

Lauren Hudson (Williamsville North) 5-7, Rospierski (Alden) 5-7, Olivia Gervan (Lancaster) 5-4, Luton (Sweet Home) 5-2.5, Feldman (Southwestern) 5-2, Lechandre Mix (Falconer) 5-2, Cookie Altieri (Alden) 5-1, Diamond Fedrick (Southwestern) 5-1, Gosdeck (Alden) 5-1, Amanda Hartman (Iroquois) 5-1, Tonisha McCaster (McMinley) 5-1.

Pole Vault

13-9 Mary Saxer (Lancaster) 2005

Mikayla Capestrani (Jamestown) 11-3, Kristin Sawyer (Lockport) 11-3, Julia Schreier (Starpoint) 11-3, Roberts (Iroquois) 11-0, Aubrey Rockoff (Amherst) 10-6, Taylor Thurnherr (Hamburg) 10-3, Haley Chizuk (Frontier) 10-0, Lauren Testa (North Tonawanda) 10-0, Alyssa Coustenis (Salamanca) 9-6, Maria Darling (Pioneer) 9-6, Meghan Haggerty (Hamburg) 9-6, Shaunna Rospierski (Alden) 9-6, Kat Simonian (Williamsville South) 9-6, Jen Wasielewski (Depew) 9-6.

Shot Put

49-9.50 Melissa Kurzdorfer

(Lancaster) 2010

McKenzie Kuehlewind (Lancaster) 45-0, Jess Dahliwall (Grand Island) 44-6.5, Stephanie Lombardo (Cheektowaga) 42-8.5, Rebecca Stiefler (Frontier) 41-9, Annelise Bienko 39-9.5, Brenda Perrella (Frontier) 38-9, Justyn Milks (Pioneer) 37-7.5, Rachel Kroening (Williamsville North) 37-7, Alexa Hillis (Orchard Park) 37-3.25, Rachel Williams (Lockport) 36-7.

Discus

172-0 Stacey Schroeder (GI) 1992

Dahliwall (Grand Island) 161-9, Stiefler (Frontier) 146-1, Lombardo (Cheektowaga) 141-2, Kuehlewind (Lancaster) 131-10, Bienko (Clarence) 129-1, Perrella (Frontier) 124-0 , Paige Rice (Amherst) 118-5, Briana Jauch (Starpoint) 118-0, Kroening (Williamsville North) 117-5, Alyssa Brooks (Falconer) 113-2.

Pentathlon

3,614 points Alyissa Hasan (WS) ‘05

Maycock (Randolph) 3,345, Hammer (Williamsville North) 2,959, Luton (Sweet Home) 2,901, H. Rospierski (Alden) 2,645, Gosdeck (Alden) 2,542, Roberts (Iroquois) 2,486, Alex Caputi (Olean) 2,442, Emma Wray (Starpoint) 2,417, Cheyenne Staufenberger (Franklinville) 2,380, Annie Draves (Tonawanda) 2,373.

4 x 100 relay

Section record 48.13 Lancaster 2013

Lancaster 48.72, Sweet Home 49.86, Orchard Park 49.88, Albion 49.94, Amherst 50.33, Cheektowaga 50.79, Hutch Tech 50.94, Alden 51.12, Jamestown 51.15, Lockport 51.16.

4 x 400 relay

Section record 3:54.00 Amherst 2010

East Aurora 4:00.90, Sweet Home 4:02.14, Kenmore East 4:05.57, Iroquois 4:09.21, Holland 4:10.59, Hamburg 4:11.25, North Tonawanda 4:12.13, West Seneca West 4:14.02, Akron 4:14.35, Imm. 4:14.40.

4 x 800 relay

Section record 9:11.85 E. Aurora 2011

East Aurora 9:18.17, Clarence 9:29.94, Sweet Home 9:47.62, Nardin 9:51.67, Holland 9:52.21, West Seneca West 9:52.22, Hamburg 9:53.42, Mount St. Mary’s 9:55.82, Williamsville South 9:58.98, Maple Grove 10:00.38.

Baseball

GEORGETOWN CUP PLAYOFFS

Championship (best-of-3)

Monday at Coca-Cola Field

Canisius 3, St. Joe’s 2

(Canisius lead series, 1-0)

Today’s game(s)

Canisius vs. St. Joe’s (2), 4 p.m.

and immediately following if necessary

Final WNY coaches poll

Small Schools Pts. LW

1. Fredonia (B-1) [8] 80 1

2. Gowanda (B-2) 70 2

3. Olean (B-1) [2] 66 3

4. St. Mary’s/Lancaster 46 4

5. Medina (B-1) 36 5

6. Eden (B-1) 26 6

7. Southwestern (B-2) 23 7

8. Cassadaga Valley (C) 21 8

9. North Collins (D) 20 9

10. Cleveland Hill (B-2) 17 10

Others receiving votes: Westfield 16, Cardinal O’Hara 5, City Honors 4, Akron 3, JFK 3, Roy-Hart 2, Ellicottville 2.

Softball

State semifinals

Saturday at Moreau Rec Park (Glens Falls)

CLASS AA

Clarence vs. VIII-East Meadow, 9 a.m.

CLASS A

Wmsv. South vs. II-Troy, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS B

Eden vs. XI-Center Moriches, 11:30 a.m.

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Walkoff hit gets Canisius another Georgetown Cup

June 10, 2014, 8:36 pm

≫ Next: High School scores & schedule (Oct. 17)

≪ Previous: High School scores, final track leaders (June 10)

Before Rich Miller went to bat with the Georgetown Cup on the line Tuesday, Canisius manager Bryan Tenney gave him a prophetic bit of advice.

“I told him if you try to jack it, we’re going to go extra innings,” Tenney said. “If you play within yourself and take a nice level swing at the pitch you like, we’ll be Georgetown Cup champions.”

Miller stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with his Canisius Crusaders tied at one while leading the Monsignor Martin best-of-three championship series. 1-0. He took a couple pitches until he got one right over the plate.

The junior third basemen hit the ball crisply to centerfield to give Canisius a 2-1 win and its fourth Georgetown Cup in six years.

“(Tyler Howard) likes giving me the fastballs, so I knew I’d get one,” Miller said. “I got a good swing on it because he left it over the middle, about belt-high and here we are.”

Tenney may have had baseball practicality on his mind going into the final inning, but Miller had revenge on his. He was part of the Canisius team that lost to St. Joe’s in the Georgetown Cup last year under fairly similar circumstances. “They beat us last year, with a guy on third, down one and our senior captain strikes outs,” Miller said. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world coming back and beating them on a walk off.”

Before Miller got to the on-deck circle, it appeared as though the game was destined for extra innings. The first two batters of the inning for Canisius were retired on strikeout and gorundout, bringing up the top of the order.

Leadoff man John Conti walked. Brendan Kaplewicz appeared ready to bunt before an inside pitch grazed his uniform, affording Miller his opportunity for heroism.

“John Conti is the fastest kid I’ve ever coached,” Tenney said. “I knew if we could get him on base, things could happen.”

Much like Game One – which ended 3-2 – pitching dominated. Canisius starter Dan Dallas went five innings, allowing one run and striking out six. Andrew Skomra relieved him and pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings. Tyler Howard of St. Joe’s also pitched well, allowing just two runs on three hits.

Tenney credited much of his team’s success to quality pitching.

“We go eight-nine deep in our pitching staff,” Tenney said. “We’ve got some kids that should be pitching, not pitching. Every team has got a pitcher that can beat you. That’s kind of what this league is built on.”

Unlike many senior classes of Canisius baseball, this one had not had a championship. The team lost in the playoffs each of the last two seasons, making this the senior’s last chance to experience championship success at the high school level.

“I have four seniors that have been with me since sophomore year,” Tenney said. “That year we lost a shocker in the quarterfinals. Last year we lost in the finals to St. Joe’s. And they just kept stepping up and worked harder and harder. It paid off.”

The win carried a little extra meaning for Tenney. It marked the last time he would be able to coach one of his sons. Three of his four sons played baseball under him, including Colin Tenney who played shortstop for the current squad.

Of course, the game carried a little extra meaning for all the Canisius players as they consider St. Joe’s a bitter rival. “There’s nothing like it,” Miller said. “If it was against (St. Francis) it’d be nice and everything. But nothing beats beating (St. Joes) on a walk off.”

email tnigrelli@buffnews.com

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