Quantcast
Channel: The Buffalo News - high
Viewing all 708 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Rains push state track meet back a day

June 7, 2013, 8:51 pm
$
0
0
MIDDLETOWN — Western New York’s finest high school track and field athletes intended to sprint, hurdle and heave among the best of New York State on Friday, but Mother Nature put on the greatest display of supremacy.

The first day of the state outdoor track and field championships was rained out. All events will take place today, rain or shine, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The forecast calls for clear, sunny skies and a temperature around 80 degrees.

It also calls for Section VI sending five favorites and many underdogs into action.

There will be 19 finals (16 individual events, three relays) for both boys and girls; Western New York has at least one representative in each of the 38 events. The most exciting event of the day for Section VI will likely be the girls Division II 400-meter hurdles. Emily Irish-Ryan, a senior from Amherst, is ranked first, and Mckenna Maycock, a sophomore from Randolph, is second. Just .38 seconds separated them in qualifying at Pioneer last Saturday.

The other No. 1 seeds from the section: Jesse Dhaliwall of Grand Island in the girls Division I discus; Lauren Hudson of Williamsville North, who qualified in a three-way tie for first in the Division I high jump; Jenn Thill of Lancaster in the Division I pole vault; and Devon Patterson of Williamsville South in the boys Division I shot put.

Competition will be fierce considering the best athletes from the state’s 11 sections as well as top ones from New York City’s PSL and the Monsignor Martin Association will be in attendance vying for state and Federation titles.

Some Western New York juggernauts are now big-time underdogs. For example, Lake Shore junior TJ Hornberger, who cruised to an easy 3,200-meter run title at Section VI state qualifying, is seeded ninth, and West Seneca East’s Andy Smigiera, who used his long stride to blast competition in the 100-meter dash, is ranked 11th.

The No. 1 seeds are not the only Buffalo-area athletes with a shot at a state championship.

Teddy Okon of Clarence qualified second in the high jump, and Cheektowaga’s Stephanie Lombardo is ranked in the same slot in the girls Division II discus.

Section VI qualified No. 3 in six categories: Lockport’s boys Division I 4x100 relay team; James Hanners of Cheektowaga in boys Division II discus throw; McKyla Brooks of Frontier, girls Division I triple jump; and Dhalilwall in the shot put. Miranda Daucher of Alden trails the leader by just three inches in the Division II shot put and is also third in the discus.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association presented its Sportsmanship Promotion Award to one boy and girl in each division from each section. The Section VI winners: Smigiera; Irish-Ryan; Gene Baritot of East Aurora; and Brianna Colello of West Seneca West.

Organizers called off Friday’s action because of torrential downpours and the threat of tropical storm Andrea. The original schedule called for action from 11:30-5:40 p.m. Friday and 10-3:30 p.m. Saturday.

email: amansfield@buffnews.com
↧
Search

Clarence’s Armstrong, Amherst’s Heim taken in MLB draft

June 7, 2013, 11:47 pm
$
0
0
Mark Armstrong sent Jonah Heim a text message on Friday afternoon that simply read: “We did it!”

What the two Western New York high school baseball players managed to do was get taken in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player draft.

The annual draft is typically anti-climactic in these parts, but this year it had the drama of a walk-off win. It’s the first time Western New York has had two high school players taken in the top five rounds, according to baseball-reference.com.

Armstrong, a durable right-handed pitcher for Clarence High School, was the third-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds. He was the next to last player taken in the third round. He was the Reds’ fourth pick, the 104th overall.

Heim was taken in the fourth round by the Baltimore Orioles. He was the O’s fifth pick and was 129th overall. He’s a 6-foot-3, 200-pound switch-hitting catcher, who just finished a tremendous season at Amherst High School.

Armstrong, who is also 6-3, 200, can hit 90 mph with his fastball, which he mixes up with a curveball and change-up. Scouts were impressed with his clean mechanics and complete-game outings. They also liked the athleticism he showed playing three sports for the Red Devils. He had signed a college scholarship with the University of Pittsburgh.

Heim was being courted by the New York Yankees, having been invited over the winter to tour their spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. Nonetheless, Heim said he’s excited to have been taken by the O’s because he grew up an AL East fan. He had signed a college scholarship with Michigan State.

Both players said on Friday they will forgo their college careers and sign professional baseball contracts as soon as they’re eligible after graduation.

Armstrong didn’t know what his signing bonus would be, saying only it was “life-changing money.” Last year the Reds used their third-round pick to draft pitcher Dan Langfield out of Memphis and paid him the recommended slot value of $436,800.

Armstrong said it didn’t take him long to choose pro baseball over college. “I went pretty high, you really can’t get too much better than 104 overall,” he said. “I’m going to sign a pro contract.”

Armstrong was happy to be with his Clarence teammates when the call came.

The Red Devils were at a practice facility in Syracuse getting a workout in before playing in today’s state championship in Binghamton. The players were gathered around an iPad watching MLB.com when his name was called. Moments later, Armstrong’s phone rang.

“I had a good feeling if I was available the Reds would consider me,” Armstrong said. “They called me about once a week and there was a Reds guy at every game I pitched.”

The Red Devils will send Armstrong to the mound today when they play Arlington at 1 p.m. in the state semifinal. If they win, they play for the crown at 4 p.m.

“I’m not going to worry about that stuff,” he said of the draft. “I want a state championship, it’s something I’ll never forget. I’m going to enjoy the next couple days and hopefully have a big smile on my face.”

Heim said he will sign for the value of his pick, approximately $390,000.

“I think it fits perfectly where I went. It felt crazy, I couldn’t ask for anything better, I’m happy,” said Heim, who expects to start his career at extended spring training. “I’m going to go the pro route, that’s always been my No. 1 option.”

The last player to get drafted from Amherst High was Duke McGuire in the 36th round by the Mets in 1970.

The Orioles also took the last player from Western New York to get drafted, outfielder Kyle Hoppy of Orchard Park in 2009. Hoppy was in the chain from 2009-2012 and played the last six weeks of his pro career in the Phillies organization before being released.

email: mmonnin@buffnews.com
↧
↧

Clarence, Williamsville South fall short of state titles

June 8, 2013, 9:48 pm
$
0
0
VESTAL — Mark Armstrong and the Clarence baseball team had a storybook weekend, right down to the logo on his high school baseball cap.

The storybook just came up one game short.

Clarence lost in the New York State Public School High School Athletic Association Class AA state championship game, a fate shared by Williamsville South in Class A. Fredonia won the Class B title while Pine Valley lost in the Class D semifinals.

The Red Devils rode the arm and bat of Armstrong to a 5-2 state semifinal victory over Arlington of Section I (Westchester County) at Binghamton University. Clarence then lost the state title game, 4-1, to Baldwinsville of Section III (Syracuse area).

Armstrong was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds Friday in the third round of Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft. Clarence’s uniform cap uses the same style of ‘C’ as the Reds, and Armstrong put forth a major-league performance in the semifinal, striking out nine during a six-hitter while he hit a go-ahead, two-run home run.

“It ended unfortunately for us, but we can say that we were one of two teams that were playing on June 8,” said Armstrong. “I’m sad it’s over, but at the same time I’m glad it happened. I wouldn’t have wanted it to happen with any other boys, and I’m glad to go out with these guys.”

In the championship game, senior Mark Materise had a solid start, and Clarence had hits and baserunners, but it never was able to get a big hit against Baldwinsville senior Pat Merryweather, who threw strikes early on his way to 10 strikeouts. Clarence left two runners on base for three straight innings at one point. Clarence trailed, 1-0, for most of the game before Baldwinsville added three runs in the fifth, two on an infield error.

The Red Devils got one back in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Ryan Jelonek.

“His curve was good and for the most part, he threw strikes,” Clarence coach Dave Smith said of Merryweather. “We had nine hits. We’ve won a lot of games with fewer hits than that. We just couldn’t get a big double when we needed it.”

Clarence trailed, 2-0, in the first game after Arlington scored twice in the third. Clarence tied the score on a Jelonek RBI single in the bottom of the third and a sacrifice fly by senior Chris Ossa in the fourth.

In the fifth, with senior Bryan Jost aboard after a leadoff walk, Armstrong waited for his pitch, then hit a line drive over the left-field fence.

“I really was just waiting for a pitch I could handle,” he said. “The first two I couldn’t get a hold of, so I waited. The next one was right in my wheelhouse. I just put a good swing on it, tried not to overdo it, and tried to let the bat do the work.”

Clarence finished 18-3.

“I’m just glad to know that I was a part of this, truly,” said Armstrong. “I’ll always look back at this. No matter what happens with me, no matter how high I go, or how far I make it, I’ll always look back and know that this team was one of the greatest teams I’ve ever played for.”

At Binghamton’s NYSEG Stadium, home of the Binghamton Mets, Williamsville South rode the pitching of senior stalwart Damian Powers to a 2-1 Class B semifinal victory over John Jay Cross River of Section I.

Powers had nine strikeouts in a one-hitter and had an RBI single in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. South put three hits together to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

In the championship game, South fell, 5-3, to undefeated Bayport-Blue Point of Section XI (Suffolk County, L.I.), which ended 26-0.

South (19-3) trailed, 5-2, going to the seventh and got one back in a rally that fell short.

“I knew we weren’t going to go down quietly, because we haven’t all year,” said South coach Kraig Kurzanski. “Every time we’ve been down, we’ve puffed our chest out a little bit and tried to fight back, and the same thing happened today. We have good senior leadership, and we have kids that care about baseball and our school and our community.”

“We both ended up with seven hits, but they had seven timely hits,” said Kurzanski, who will lose nine seniors from his roster of 18. “We fought like heck. I’m just proud of our guys.”

At MacArthur Park in Binghamton, Pine Valley was held to one hit in a 4-0 loss to eventual Class D champion Fort Ann. A two-out infield single by Spencer Sticek in the sixth inning was the only hit the Panthers could manage.

“We haven’t seen a pitcher that fast in a couple games, we had a little bit of trouble adjusting,” said Pine Valley coach Chris Buczek.

Pine Valley hit the ball hard, but several line drives were right at the outfielders. Pine Valley starter Tyler Swanson scattered four hits, but his defense was charged with four costly errors. Two of Fort Ann’s four runs were unearned. The Cardinals scored two runs in the third inning, and one each in the fourth and sixth innings.

Pine Valley, winner of the last four Section VI Class D titles, finished with a 15-6 record.

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧

Thill, Brooks lead golden effort by WNY’s girls at state meet

June 8, 2013, 10:24 pm
$
0
0
MIDDLETOWN — An air of promise saturated Faller Field.

Several thousand students competed in New York State high school track and field this year, and only the best of the best advanced to Middletown High School for the state finals. Some athletes had been waiting all year for Saturday.

“This is the best experience ever,” said Clarence’s Ben Reinhardt, who finished eighth in the boys 800-meter run. “I think about states all the time, every day.”

Reinhardt was one of the 110 Greater Buffalo-area athletes who competed at the state championships. Six returned home as state public schools champions, while another didn’t capture a championship but did return home as a Section VI record-holder.

Lancaster’s Jenn Thill (Division I pole vault) and Frontier’s McKyla Brooks (Division I triple jump) were among the big winners among the girls from Western New York.

Others winning state titles included Maple Grove’s Christina Walter (Division II 100 meter), Alden’s Miranda Daucher (Division II discus), Cheektowaga’s Stephanie Lombardo (Division II shotput), and the Amherst girls Division II 4x100 relay of Josette Dawson, Emily Irish-Ryan, Gabie Montalbano and Amina Lewis won the title in 49.83.

Meanwhile TJ Hornberger broke the 4-year-old Section VI record in the boys Division I 3,200.

Thill, the indoor state champion in the pole vault, added the outdoor title to her resume.

Thill woke up feeling sick to her stomach, which got her blood pumping with nerves. Thanks to some therapy shortly before the final, she wound up pumping her fist in mid-air as she landed the winning vault.

Thill went for a walk while wearing a cold towel and listening to music – a mix her coach, Mike Kozlowski, assembled for the state meet. The strategy worked, as she soared 12 feet, 3 inches, winning via tiebreaker.

“It’s how I always wanted it to end up, going out with a bang,” said Thill, who will compete at UB in the fall.

Brooks is a sophomore who has made the state finals every year since eighth grade. Heading into the meet, she was aiming for first place in the long jump, where she qualified No. 1 and ended up placing fourth. But in the triple jump, it was her leap of 38-8 that proved to be golden.

Walter, the Maple Grove junior, didn’t let a stress fracture (leg) slow her down. She won the 100 state title for the second year in a row, finishing in 12.20.

A state medal is not the only exceptional honor Walter has attained this year. She also scored a perfect 2,400 SAT.

So, which is better? Walter said states, all the way.

Daucher won the discus with a toss of 133-9. Lombardo finished second with a throw of 128-5.

Lombardo broke through in the shotput, winning with a throw of 39-¾.

Williamsville South’s Devon Patterson took second in the boys Division I shot put.

Patterson entered as the No. 1 seed, and he was disappointed with his finish. His throw of 61-1¾ fell short against Benjamin Bonhurst’s 61-11.

“I wanted to throw over 63,” Patterson said. “I just didn’t have it in me.”

Patterson will compete at the World Youth Trials June 25-26. And as for his mentality next year, his senior season?

“It’s gasoline ignited right now,” he said. “I’m coming back with a vengeance.”

“I’ve never felt that fast before,” Hornberger said of his two-mile race time, which bested his 2012 state final by 21 seconds. “I think it was everything: It was the conditions, environment and everyone I was racing against.”

In boys Division II, Gene Baritot of East Aurora took second in the steeplechase (9:31:58). Teammate Sean Phillips took third in the 3,200, while Phillips along with Rob Coulter, Brendan Keany and Matt McLaughlin helped EA place third in the 4x800 relay.

Section VI went 2-3 in the pole vault behind the efforts of state runner-up Justyn Haines (Albion) amd Chris Doubek (Randolph). James Hanners of Cheektowaga placed third in discus, while Tonawanda’s 4x400 relay of Jacob Choate, Nathan Holler, Phil Giuga amd Robert Liebel also took third.

Western New York took third and fourth in the girls Division I shot put. Lancaster’s McKenzie Kuehlewind tossed 42-3½ and Grand Island’s Jesse Dhaliwall threw 41-10¼”.

The Lockport boys 4x100 relay came in third in Division I in 42.72.

In Division II girls, Falconer’s MacKenzie Wright took second in the triple jump. EA’s Megan Baritot finished third in the steeplechase.

email: amansfield@buffnews.com
↧

Dramatic wins lift Hamburg to state softball title in Class A

June 8, 2013, 10:24 pm
$
0
0
QUEENSBURY — The Hamburg Bulldogs won the New York State softball Class A championship on Saturday in a way no one could have imagined.

They beat Sayville, 5-3, in the finals, but it was their 1-0 win in eight innings over Tappan Zee in the semifinals that left many in the crowd at Adirondack Sports Complex in disbelief.

With runners on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Tappan Zee was trying to intentionally walk Bridget Hogan to load the bases and set up a force out at any base. Instead, Tappan Zee’s pitcher let a pitch get a little too close to the strike zone and Hogan reached out and smoked the ball to right-center allowing Maddy Tucker to trot home.

“You could tell the fielders weren’t exactly ready for a ball to get hit,” said Hamburg coach Lisa Palma. “It looked like she had never intentionally walked a batter. Bridget took it outside – it was great, it was clutch, and it was crazy.”

With two outs in the eighth, Tucker reached on a single to the outfield and Allison Salerno doubled to left leaving runners on second and third. That set the stage for Hogan.

The title was the first in Hamburg softball history. They reached the final four last year, but lost, 2-1, in the semifinals to Jamesville-DeWitt.

The start of the game was delayed by two hours because the fields were still wet from Friday’s heavy rains.

Hamburg’s win over Sayville in the final also had its share of drama. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the sixth inning to take the lead, 5-3. Sarah Mertowski reached on an error and after two outs, Tucker singled. Salerno then delivered with the game-winning RBI, and Hogan, who pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts, then drove in the fifth run.

Eighth-grader Heather Haberman hit a two-run-homer over the fence in the fifth to give Hamburg a 3-2 lead.

The win was an emotional one for Palma, who has been dealing with death of a close family friend on Thursday. Matt Perillo. The football and basketball official died in his sleep on Thursday morning. He was a dear friend of her father, also named Matt, and both had been coming to the team’s sectional games together.

“I think we got a little help from above,” said Lisa, in her seventh season. “There was an angel looking down on us.”

The Bulldogs finished 18-4.

CLASS C: Sam Mott hit a solo home run as Frewsburg beat Sandy Creek, 2-1. for its first state softball championship.

Mott pitched six hitless innings in the Bears’ 7-0 semifinal win over Pierson of Bridgehampton.

CLASS D: Pine Valley fell behind early and lost, 5-2, to Fort Ann of Section II in the semifinals.

The Lady Panthers trailed, 2-1, after the first inning, 4-2, after three and surrendered a fifth run in the seventh. Pine Valley, winner of its first Section VI title since 2005, finished 9-9 under first-year coach Danielle Arnone. The Lady Panthers had four hits, two by Nicole Rinehart. Alexandrea Bentham added a triple and Laurel Killock doubled.

“Their pitcher had nice speed, but wasn’t overpowering, I’m a little disappointing that we didn’t do more offensively,” said Arnone. “We couldn’t get the hits that we were hoping for.”
↧
↧

Fredonia baseball in championship state of mind

June 8, 2013, 10:24 pm
$
0
0
ENDICOTT — The Fredonia baseball team was No. 1 in the Western New York coaches poll all season.

On Saturday, it not only put that ranking in bold type, it added another, more weighty title: state champions.

Fredonia put forth two great performances at Union-Endicott’s Sylvester Field as it won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B championship.

The Hillbillies (26-2) fell behind before storming past Section II (Albany area) champion Ogdensburg, 9-2, in Saturday afternoon’s semifinal, then rode a five-run first inning and sophomore Cameron Voss’ one-hitter to a 7-0 state championship victory over Clinton of Section III (Syracuse area).

“I couldn’t be more proud of my team,” said Fredonia coach Vince Gullo. “To battle through seven straight playoff games, I’m so proud of these kids. I wanted to get to the state final – these kids wanted a state championship.”

It is the second state title in baseball for the Hillbillies, who also won in 2006 under Gullo. It’s the first state title for Section VI since Pine Valley won Class D in 2007.

“It’s the greatest feeling ever,” said senior catcher Zach Buckley. “To come out and end the season as state champs, is the best feeling ever.”

Buckley said the team focused on reaching the Far West Regionals, where the Hillbillies’ season came to an end last year. Its regional win is what earned Fredonia its berth in today’s final four.

“We knew we were a great team coming into the season,” said Buckley. “The Far West, that was our main focus, just to get to there. … This game, and the previous game, we played two great games.”

The state championship victory bordered on a clinic. Voss was nearly unhittable, allowing his first hit in the top of the seventh inning. He walked five but stayed out of jams by keeping hitters off balance.

“Everything goes back to those first few weeks in March,” said Voss. “We’ve just worked so hard to get here all year. We’re close enough to the point where we know what each other is thinking. We know how much talent we have, and with the work that we put in, makes us a little bit better. This was our goal as soon as we got here. This was a business trip for us.”

The Hillbillies took control of the championship game in the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Five of the first six batters came around to score. Buckley, Voss, senior Sebastian McAfee and senior Christian Saden had RBI singles while junior Cody Smith drove one in with a groundout.

From there, Voss mixed in four strikeouts with solid plays from his defense. The game cruised along until center fielder Nick Hart caught a fly ball for the final out, setting off an on-field celebration.

Fredonia’s Saturday started with it surrendering two early runs to Ogdensburg, one each in the second and third. However, the Hillbillies rallied with six runs in the third – another inning in which it sent 10 batters to the plate – before tacking on one run in the fourth, fifth and sixth. After the early bumps, senior Trent Thompson settled down. He faced just two batters over the minimum over the final four innings.

“The first game was great because everybody contributed,” said Gullo. “Trent and Cam had great pitching performances, our defense in the second game was really strong and we had Weston Ley in reserve.

“These kids had so much fun this year – I couldn’t have had any more fun with these kids.”

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧

Dantonio fourth at state golf

June 9, 2013, 8:28 pm
$
0
0
Lancaster’s Chelsea Dantonio earned a spot on the All-Federation girls golf all-star team by finishing in the top four of the New York State Federation Girls Golf Championship at The College Golf Course at Delhi.

Dantonio, a sophomore, finished fourth overall after completing the two-day event with a two-over-par 74. She finished with a 78-74-152, nine strokes behind the overall champion Christine Schmitt of Our Lady of Mercy, who was the only golfer in the field to finish under par.

Sacred Heart’s Victoria Parker finished ninth with a 157 after a final round 83. Teammate Emily Connors finished tied for 15th with a 162. Depew’s Sarah Godfrey-Singleton and Southwestern’s Marissa Del Monaco each finished tied for 22nd in the 80-golfer field with 165s.

This was the first year representatives from championship Catholic High Schools participated in the state federation tournament.

As a team, the nine-person Section VI team finished sixth with 1,218, 100 strokes behind champion Section V. The Catholic team, consisting of Buffalo’s Sacred Heart as well as Long Island’s Sacred Heart and Notre Dame Academy of Staten Island, didn’t record a team score because it didn’t have enough entrants.
↧

Wheatley brothers will attend Canisius High School

June 19, 2013, 9:22 pm
$
0
0
The Canisius High School football team will have two major additions this fall.

Tyrone Wheatley Jr., one of the most sought-after football recruits in the country, and his younger brother Terius, will play high school football at Canisius, The News has learned.

It is one of the most significant arrivals in Western New York high school football history.

Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end and tight end who will be a junior this fall. He has already received scholarship offers from Alabama, Penn State, North Carolina, Syracuse and his dad’s alma mater, Michigan.

Terius, who will be a sophomore, is a 5-11, 165-pound wide receiver and defensive back.

Local high school fans have been awaiting the destination of the Wheatley brothers since their famous father, University of Michigan great and NFL standout running back Tyrone Wheatley, was hired as the Buffalo Bills running backs coach.

Wheatley Sr. joined head coach Doug Marrone with the Bills after he was an assistant under Marrone at Syracuse University – also as running backs coach.

Both Wheatley brothers earned high marks at this past weekend’s Sound Mind Sound Body Football Academy in Southfield, Mich. At the camp, a picture was taken of Tyrone Sr. and his two sons. In the picture, published at scout.michigan.com’s “Go Blue Wolverine” site (as well as other scout.com sites), Tyrone Jr. is wearing a Canisius T-shirt.

When Canisius football officials were asked about the picture, they confirmed to The News that the Wheatleys had completed their registration paperwork and put down a deposit for the 2013-14 academic year. Canisius coach Rich Robbins was unavailable for comment.

While living in the Syracuse area, the Wheatley brothers attended Fayetteville-Manlius.

This transfer is at least on the level of that of Chad Kelly, who moved back to Western New York with his family from Pennsylvania during his sophomore year before beginning his St. Joe’s quarterbacking career as a junior. While Kelly (nephew of Bills Hall of Famer Jim) would go on to receive many big-time college offers before committing to Clemson, he did not have them prior to his junior season.

The Wheatley brothers might be on the field with Canisius as soon as Saturday, when the Crusaders are schedule to participate at Lancaster’s 7-on-7 passing league camp.

The Wheatleys are the second high-profile transfer for Canisius heading into next season. Brad Zaffram, a first-team All-Western New York selection as a sophomore for Sweet Home this past season, announced he would be transferring to Canisius in May.

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧
Search

Timon lacrosse tops the final spring Power 10

June 19, 2013, 9:22 pm
$
0
0
Trying to figure out who deserves spots in the Power 10 – and who deserves No. 1 – is like comparing apples and oranges … and bananas, and grapes, and grapefruit. And everything in that basket comes in different sizes.

That’s what makes it tough. But that’s also what makes it fun.

A very strong spring season finished with a state-finals flourish as four teams came away calling themselves state champions.

As we do every week – and every season – with the Power 10, we try to find an appropriate mix between how the best teams are rated locally in their classification and their sport in general. Then there’s the matter of taking the best of each sport and stacking them up against each other.

This spring, for example, there is the case of Frewsburg softball. The Bears won a Class C state championship – the ultimate accomplishment for any team in any sport – so they certainly have earned a spot in a Power 10 for the spring. But where should they end up considering there is another softball state champion?

Well, here’s the pitch: The final Power 10 of the 2013 spring season.

1. Bishop Timon-St. Jude boys lacrosse. The Tigers won a state Catholic championship following a season in which a team loaded with Division I talent earned attention nationally. That last part is ultimately what put them at the top of our list.

After a win over previously undefeated Ithaca, which had been ranked fourth in the country, Timon was among teams receiving votes in the April 30 Nike/US Lacrosse national poll. Late in the season, based in large part on its strong performance at the North American Lacrosse Invitational in Michigan, Timon spent the final weeks of the season as one of the “teams under consideration” outside the top 20 of toplaxrecruits.com’s national rankings.

Timon was the only team during the spring season to deserve that kind of national consideration. From national attention to possible national records: junior attackman Connor Fields scored 129 goals this year, breaking the Western New York record of 101 (Zed Williams of Silver Creek in 2010), the New York State record of 108 (Billy Kurisko of Nanuet in 1986) and setting what is believed to be a national single-season mark.

Fields will attend Albany, part of an impressive roster of college-bound players that includes graduating goalie Jackson Brown (Hobart) as well as JD Recor (Marist), Lewis Vaccaro (Canisius), and Alex Corbett (Division II Lake Erie). Another standout in the junior class is Adam Dimillo, who committed to Maryland last year.

Timon fared very well playing a loaded schedule (thus the national recognition). In addition to the win over Ithaca, Timon won at Florida power St. Andrew’s and had an authoritative, 17-10 April win at Hamburg, which ended up in the Class B state semifinals.

Timon’s four losses included two (by 14 goals on the road, and three at home) to Ontario’s Hill Academy (18-4) and one (by two goals) to private school power Culver Academy of Indiana (18-2). On April 30, Timon lost in two overtimes at St. Joe’s, 13-12, moments after the Tigers thought Fields had scored in overtime but the goal was not counted. Timon did its best to erase that result by beating St. Joe’s at home, 15-2, in their second meeting and by 18-8 for its fourth straight Monsignor Martin Association title.

Timon’s state title came with a dominating, 20-4 rout on the home field of St. John the Baptist on Long Island. While state superpowers St. Anthony’s and Chaminade do not participate in the state playoffs, St. John the Baptist (10-9) had set a school record for wins during a season in which it lost to Chaminade by three and St. Anthony’s by one. Timon’s win was the worst loss suffered by St. John the Baptist all season.

Timon’s 17-4 record placed them ninth in the state in the final laxpower.com computer rankings.

2. Clarence baseball. Western New York’s top large school all season, the Red Devils went to the Class AA state final before losing to Baldwinsville with Cincinnati Reds third-round pick Mark Armstrong leading the way. If there was a Power 10 for individual athletes, quarterback/hockey player/major league draft pick Armstrong would likely be on top of it.

3. Hamburg softball. The Bulldogs were drama queens at the state final four, pulling out late-inning victories to claim the Class A championship and fulfill some very high expectations after they made the program’s first final four trip last year.

4. Fredonia baseball. Another wire-to-wire local No. 1 in the small school poll, it won the Class B state championship with dominant performances in the state playoffs. On its strong resume from its 18-2 season are some victories over large schools that led me to rank them first overall in the first Power 10 of this spring season.

5. Hamburg boys lacrosse. It finished an outstanding campaign by advancing to Class B state semifinals, where it lost to Jamesville-Dewitt. The Bulldogs’ Far West Regional win was the most dominant recorded by a Section VI Class B team and saw the fewest goals allowed in Section VI regional history (12-3 over Irondequoit). Their only losses during the regular season were to Timon and eventual Virginia state champion Chantilly.

6. Williamsville South baseball. Not unlike Clarence, this is a well-schooled team with a big arm leading the way (Damian Powers) which advanced to the state championship game. If there were a Power 10 quotes of the spring, this one from coach Kraig Kurzanski after South’s state final loss to Long Island’s Bayport-Blue Point might be at the top: “We fought like heck. I’m just proud of our guys. I’m proud of our effort. I’m proud of being a Williamsville South Billy Goat. We’re going to try to get back here next year.”

7. St. Joe’s baseball. The Marauders won 10 of their last 11, including a two-game sweep of rival Canisius, to repeat as Georgetown Cup champion in a season in which the Monsignor Martin Association was incredibly top-heavy. One of those late-season wins was a 9-4 victory at Baldwinsville, the team that beat Clarence for the state title.

8. Clarence softball. The No. 1 large school all year and one of the area’s strongest programs fell in the Class AA regionals. It finished atop large school poll.

9. Frewsburg softball. The Bears capped a third straight Section VI Class C championship with a state title that included outstanding performances from senior pitcher Sam Mott: Six no-hit innings in the semifinal, and a game-ending tag-out at home as she covered home after her wild pitch.

10. Orchard Park boys lacrosse. It recorded its (ho-hum) 21st Section VI title in the last 23 years. The Quakers appeared headed for a regional victory before Penfield scored the last four goals, including the game-winner in overtime.

High honor roll: Hamburg and Lancaster girls lacrosse; Silver Creek boys lacrosse; Nichols softball; Nichols girls golf.

Honor roll: Lancaster, Sweet Home, East Aurora, Cheektowaga, St. Joe’s, Immaculata, City Honors and Hutch-Tech track & field; Lancaster, Orchard Park, Hamburg, Canisius, St. Francis, St. Mary’s, Tonawanda and Pine Valley baseball; Falconer, Pine Valley, Depew and Hutch-Tech softball; Amherst and Sacred Heart girls lacrosse; Akron boys lacrosse; Nichols and Canisius boys tennis; Sacred Heart girls tennis.

Final Power 10 coming

 A final overall Power 10 for the 2012-13 season will be published next week.

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧
↧

2013 Girls Lacrosse Honor Roll

June 21, 2013, 8:36 pm
$
0
0
ALL-WNY

FIRST TEAM

Chosen by Western New York coaches

P Player School Year

M Grace Gabriel Lancaster 10

M Allie Stewart Lancaster 11

M Rachel Heidenreich Lancaster 11

A Taylor Wolf Hamburg 12

M Jill Ford Hamburg 11

M Megan Mikolajek Hamburg 12

M Hannah Lease Frontier 11

G Emily Pasternak Frontier 12

M Katie Wolfe Wmsv. North 11

M Molly Neureuter Eden 11

M Katy Prosvirnina W.S. East 12

M Laura Messer Niag.-Wheat. 12

M Alie Jimerson Lake Shore 11

A Kendall Appelbaum Nichols 12

SECOND TEAM

Emily Sendker (Lancaster), Hannah Reimer (Lancaster), Grace Lawson (Amherst), Emily Bitka (Amherst), Emily Peters (Clarence), Sydney Cerza (Clarence), Hannah Christiansen (Frontier), Katie Rupp (Williamsville North), Emma Falter (Niagara-Wheatfield), Shannon Pelitera (Mount St. Mary), Jill Walczyk (Iroquois), Megan Carroll (Grand Island), Jenny Roach (Nichols).

WNY COACH OF THE YEAR

Marissa Dauria, Mount St. Mary

U.S LACROSSE, WNY CHAPTER

ALL-AMERICA, FIRST TEAM

M Allie Stewart Lancaster 11

M Alie Jimerson Lake Shore 11

A Taylor Wolf Hamburg 12

M Megan Mikolajek Hamburg 12

ALL-AMERICA, HON. MENTION

M Rachel Heidenreich Lancaster 11

M Jill Ford Hamburg 11



CLASS A

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Year

G Emily Pasternak Frontier 12

D Grace Christiansen Frontier 12

D Hannah Reimer Lancaster 11

D Hannah Christiansen Frontier 12

M Grace Gabriel Lancaster 10

M Allie Stewart Lancaster 11

M Rachel Heidenreich Lancaster 11

M Sydney Cerza Clarence 9

M Hannah Lease Frontier 11

A Emily Peters Clarence 12

A Taylor Izzo Frontier 11

A Emily Sendker Lancaster 12

SECOND TEAM

Karli Pawlak-12 (Lancaster), Lauren Moore-11 (Clarence), Chelsea Lepore-12 (Orchard Park), Brook Donnelly-11 (Lancaster), Emily Markarian-11 (Orchard Park), Klarice Addeo-10 (Lancaster), Jackie Dufresne-10 (Frontier), Mallory Delany-12 (Clarence), Madelyn Sheehan-12 (Orchard Park), Molly Barden-9 (Clarence), Julia Hackford-10 (Frontier), Sam Czaplicki-12 (Lancaster).

HONORABLE MENTION

Katya Oakes-12 (Clarence), Kendal Vaarwerk-12 (Clarence), Molly Kaczmerski-11 (Frontier), Erica Braunschweig-12 (Lancaster), Karly Cerrone-11 (Orchard Park), Kasey Thur-11 (Clarence), Allie Benkovich-12 (Clarence), Tori Debbins-11 (Lancaster), Anna Donnelly-9 (Lancaster), Abby Tolley-12 (Clarence), Maddy Potenza-11 (Orchard Park), Christina Heppner-12 (Frontier).

Coach of the year:

Julie Buccieri (Lancaster).



CLASS B

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Year

A Taylor Wolf Hamburg 12

A Katie Rupp Wmsv. North 10

A Alyssa Ferenczy Wmsv. South 12

A Felicia Suto W.S. East 11

M Katy Prosvirnina W.S. East 12

M Megan Mikolajek Hamburg 12

M Jill Ford Hamburg 11

M Katie Wolfe Wmsv. North 11

M Cassandra Hopkins Wmsv. South 12

D Caroline Soh Wmsv. East 12

D Hannah Crean Hamburg 12

D Amanda Ruszcsyk W.S. East 12

G Lauren Courteaw Hamburg 12

G Elizabeth Hughes Wmsv. South 12

SECOND TEAM

Grace Curatola-11 (Williamsville East), Leah Villagomez-12 (West Seneca West), Claire Herrmann-9 (Hamburg), Elena Osmanski-11 (West Seneca East), Erin Gehen-11 (West Seneca West), Clare Ahern-9 (Williamsville North), Emily Barrett-12 (West Seneca East), Gina Abulone-12 (Hamburg), Fiona Dargan-10 (Williamsville South), Julia Higgins-12 (Hamburg), Monica Bebak-11 (West Seneca East), Amanda Woods-11 (Williamsville North), Hallie Fiore-11 (Hamburg), Hailey Wageman-12 (Williamsville North).

HONORABLE MENTION

Brooks Melnyck-11 (Williamsville East), Hannah Johnston-11 (Williamsville North), Nikki Nigro-12 (West Seneca West), Joy Thompson-11 (Williamsville North), Lauren DiDuro-11 (Williamsville East), Christy Nolan-12 (Hamburg), Kaley Reardon-12 (Hamburg), Rachel Grampp-11 (Williamsville South), Hayley Barblock-12 (West Seneca East), Lexi Higgins-11 (Hamburg), Megan Putzig-12 (Williamsville North), Hayley Sullivan-12 (West Seneca East), Casey Acosta-12 (Williamsville North), Sierra Broad-10 (West Seneca East).

Coach of the year: Katy Ryan (Hamburg).



CLASS C

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Year

G Emily Bitka Amherst 11

A Grace Lawson Amherst 11

M Angelina Simon Amherst 10

M Alie Jimerson Lake Shore 11

A Jenny Zacchigna East Aurora 12

A Nikki Schneider East Aurora 12

M Emily Szopinski East Aurora 12

M Jill Walczyk Iroquois 11

D Katie Seifert Iroquois 12

M Molly Neureuter Eden 11

A Chelsea Jackson Eden 11

D Katie Zielen-Ersing Springville 12

SECOND TEAM

Jalyn Jimerson-7 (Lake Shore), Darian Winter-11 (Lake Shore), Shayla Scanlan-8 (Lake Shore), Kathryn Yoder-10 (Amherst), McKenna Rushford-9 (Amherst), Maddy Punnett-11 (East Aurora), Claudia Moeller-12 (East Aurora), Bri Malczewski-10 (Iroquois), Kayley Zydel-12 (Eden), Kathryn Villar-12 (Eden), Jessica Wojtkowiak-11 (Springville), Hunter McCarthy-12 (Springville).

HONORABLE MENTION

Shelby Stevens-11 (Lake Shore), Symone Maracle-10 (Lake Shore), Jenna Haring-9 (Lake Shore), Kaela Barnes-12 (Amherst), Kelly Hayes-12 (East Aurora), Maddy Atendido-12 (East Aurora), Sam Youngman-9 (East Aurora), Ejayah Arrington-10 (Iroquois), Jessica Matie-12 (Eden), Mariah Gaul-11 (Eden), Alex Zifra-11 (Springville), Leah Waldman-11 (Springville).

Coach of the year:

Christina Schutrum (East Aurora).

NIAGARA FRONTIER LEAGUE

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Year

A Megan Carroll Grand Island 12

A Karley Herberger N. Tonawanda 11

A Lauren Wager Lockport 12

M Laura Messer Niag.-Wheat. 12

M Emma Falter Niag.-Wheat. 12

M Megan Wendt Grand Island 12

M Maddie Chille Niagara Falls 11

M Natalie Goeddertz Niag.-Wheat. 12

D Marina Scerra Grand Island 12

D Paige Kelkenberg Lockport 12

D Jillian Golding Lockport 12

G Danielle Crocoll Niag.-Wheat. 12

SECOND TEAM

Marissa Smith (Niagara-Wheatfield), Maddie Gansworth (N-W.), Mia Villani (Grand Island), Madz Wright (Grand Island), Jamie Dimond (Lockport), Megan Helf (North Tonawanda), Roserita DiMillo (Lockport), Jazzman Pfaffenberger (Niagara Falls), Alexis Becker (Nia.-Wheat.), Drusilla Updegrove (Lockport), Kayla Markott (N-W), Christina Butcher (Grand Island).

HONORABLE MENTION

Christine Thomas-10 (N-W), Lizzie Bull (Lockport), Lexi Kalinowski (Grand Island), Sydney Smith (Niagara Falls), Kassandra Bissell-10 (N-W), Erinne Chamot (Lockport), Allison Rickard (N-W), Keara Schofield (N. Tonawanda), Grace Olszewski (Grand Island), Tori Malamas-9 (N. Tonawanda), Brooke Spanbaurer (Niagara Falls), Azlia Douglas (Lockport).

MONSIGNOR MARTIN ASSN.

MVP: Shannon Pelitera-11 (Mt. St. Mary)

FIRST TEAM

P Player School Yr

D Stephanie Collins Mt. St. Mary 12

M Gabriela D’Aguair Mt. St. Mary 12

M Emily Jaworski Nardin 12

A Olivia Macdonald Mt. St. Mary 10

A Molly Mathias Buff. Sem. 12

A Erin McConnaghy Holy Angels 12

D Emma McEvoy Nardin 12

M Catherine Meegan Mt. St. Mary 10

M Awilda Murphy Holy Angels 11

M Kathleen Ryan Sacred Heart 9

M Natalie Voos Buff. Sem. 11

A Remmington Zaepfel Sacred Heart 11



LAXPOWER.COM RANKINGS

Team W-L Pts.

1. Hamburg 18-2 76.90

2. Lancaster 17-2 76.20

3. Frontier 13-4 71.94

4. West Seneca East 12-7 67.79

5. Clarence 13-5 67.52

6. Lake Shore 12-4 67.30

7. Williamsville North 9-8 66.41

8. Amherst 11-7 65.87

9. Mount St. Mary 16-2 65.76

10. Williamsville South 8-8 63.40



FINAL 2013 STANDINGS

CLASS A

Lancaster 17-2 Lockport 9-6

Frontier 13-4 Orchard Park 5-11

Clarence 13-5 Niagara Falls 2-11

CLASS B

Hamburg 18-2 Nia.-Wheat. 8-7

W.S. East 12-7 Grand Island 7-8

Wmsv. North 9-8 W.S. West 2-13

Wmsv. South 8-8 Sweet Home 1-14

Wmsv. East 7-9 N. Tonawanda 2-10

CLASS C

Lake Shore 12-4 Iroquois 7-9

Amherst 11-7 Eden 5-9

East Aurora 8-7 Springville 1-12

MONSIGNOR MARTIN ASSN.

School League All

Mount St. Mary 13-1 16-2

Sacred Heart 12-2 12-3

Nardin 8-5 8-5

Buffalo Seminary 6-7 6-8

Holy Angels 3-8 3-9

St. Mary’s/Lancaster 2-9 3-10

Mount Mercy 0-12 0-12
↧

Girls lacrosse wrapup: Mikolajek caps stellar career

June 21, 2013, 8:36 pm
$
0
0
The countdown to Megan Mikolajek’s career goes something like this:

• Four goals in the sectional final.

• Three division titles.

• Two-time All-Western New York.

• One first team All-American selection.

It adds up to an impressive body of work for the Hamburg senior, who grabbed one of the 14 spots on the 18th All-Western New York girls lacrosse team, chosen by local coaches. The Bulldogs and Lancaster had three picks each while Frontier had two.

The Bulldogs led Western New York in wins with 18 against two losses and won the Section VI Class B title for the second year in a row. In the regular season, they chalked up a 9-8 double overtime win against Frontier.

Mikolajek has signed a letter of intent with SUNY Albany. “She’s determined, she’s competitive, she works her butt off,” said Hamburg coach Katy Ryan. “It’s innate. If you take the ball away from her, she’s going to get it back.

Joining Mikolajek on All-WNY were teammates Taylor Wolf and Jill Ford. All three will play lacrosse in college as Wolf is headed to Niagara and Ford, a junior, has given her verbal to Niagara.

Mikolajek and Wolf were a tough matchup. Both had over 100 points in combined goals and assists, while Mikolajek caused 61 turnovers.

“On defense I’m always thinking, ‘get the ball back, and on offense I’m thinking ‘when can I score, or pass it off,’ ” said Mikolajek. “Whatever I needed to do for my team, I would do it.”

Wolf had 76 goals, 50 assists and Mikolajek tallied 42 goals and 58 assists. Both gained All-American honors along with Allie Stewart of Lancaster and Alie Jimerson of Lake Shore.

Wolf is a proven winner in three arenas. She won two sectional titles each in lacrosse, field hockey and basketball. She was also named All-WNY in field hockey twice.

All three of Lancaster’s picks were midfielders and underclassmen.

Stewart has given her verbal to Canisius. A four-year starter, she already holds school record for most goals (176) and most assists (134) in a career. She led the Redskins with 57 goals.

Grace Gabriel, just a sophomore, was able to score 45 goals using her strong shot and ability to protect her stick. Expectations will be high for her the next two years.

Rachel Heidenreich doesn’t just give 100 percent on the field, she apparently gives that in the classroom as she carries a 100 average. “She works hard year-round and is determined to make herself better,” said coach Julie Buccieri. “She gives it everything she has.”

Lancaster won the Section VI Class A title for the eighth time in nine years. In the sectional final, seven different players scored in a 9-8 win over Frontier. Its 17 wins included beating three of the four Rochester-area teams they played in the regular season. Lancaster beat Fairport for the first time, and it also edged Hamburg, 17-16.

Buccieri was named the Class A Coach of the Year. Also cited were Ryan of Hamburg (Class B) and Christina Schutrum of East Aurora (Class C).

Around the fields

 • Marissa Dauria of Mount St. Mary was voted the WNY Coach of the Year by her peers. She is in her seventh season. The Thunder celebrated the program’s 100th victory this season against Holy Angels. The program is 110-28 in 12 seasons.

The Thunder won the Monsignor Martin Association regular season with a 13-1 record before bowing to Sacred Heart in the playoff finals. The Thunder had won the playoff title the past eight years before the Sharks’ 8-6 victory.

The Thunder also had the league’s Player of the Year in Shannon Pelitera.

• Section VI was swept by Section V in the Far West Regionals, getting outscored by a combined 53-10. Amherst won the Section VI, Class C title for the ninth year in a row . . . There are five repeat All-WNY picks, Mikolajek, Wolf, Stewart, Gabriel and Jimerson. It’s Stewart’s third year on All-WNY. Jimerson’s 103 points included 65 goals.

• West Seneca East called itself Team 13 in recognition of the program’s 13th season. They are represented on All-WNY by senior midfielder Katy Prosvirnina, who helped lead them to the Class B final. A versatile player, she has signed with Monroe CC next season.

• Holy Angels finished 3-9 in what will be its last season in the wake of the school closing. Senior Erin McConnaghy and junior Awilda Murphy were named All-Catholic.



email: mmonnin@buffnews.com
↧

2013 All-WNY girls lacrosse team

June 21, 2013, 8:37 pm
$
0
0
Player School Pos. Yr. Fast fact

Kendall Appelbaum Nichols A 12 Team MVP, 38 goals, had 7 goals vs. Lancaster, All-Midwest League, will play hockey at Oswego, 3.0 average.

Jill Ford Hamburg M 11 Verbal to Niagara, 52 goals, including game-winner in OT vs. Frontier, All-American honorable mention.

Rachel Heidenreich Lancaster M 11 Carries 100 academic average, 50 goals, All-American honorable mention, 3-year starter.

Grace Gabriel Lancaster M 10 Repeat pick, tallied eight goals in OT win over Hamburg, finished with 45 goals, 96 average, 3-year starter.

Alie Jimerson Lake Shore M 11 Repeat pick, All-American, led Eagles with 65 goals, 38 assists, four-year starter.

Hannah Lease Frontier M 11 Led Falcons to sectional final in her three years as a starter, 35 goals, 99 average, three-sport athlete.

Laura Messer Niag.-Wheatfield M 12 Signed with Niagara, led Falcons with 34 goals, 25 assists, two-year captain, four-year starter.

Megan Mikolajek Hamburg M 12 Repeat pick, All-American, has signed with Division I SUNY Albany, scored 42 goals.

Molly Neureuter Eden M 11 Had 63 goals, including seven vs. Springville, two-time captain, three-year starter, 93 average.

Emily Pasternak Frontier G 12 Signed with Delaware State, 4.8 goals-against average, 61 save percentage, 96 average, sectional finalist.

Katy Prosvirnina W.S. East M 12 Has signed with Monroe CC, led Trojans with 44 goals, led team to sectional final, 90 average.

Allie Stewart Lancaster M 11 Three-time All-WNY, All-American, verbal to Canisius, 57 goals, four-year starter, three-sport athlete.

Taylor Wolf Hamburg A 12 Repeat pick, All-American, signed with Niagara, two-time All-WNY in field hockey, 96 average, 76 goals.

Katie Wolfe Wmsv. North M 11 Team MVP, 61 goals, 43 assists, 93 average, three-year starter, three-sport athlete, led big win over W.S. East.
↧

Keith McShea ranks the best high school teams from the 2012-13 season

June 28, 2013, 8:27 pm
$
0
0
The 2012-13 season was the first in which we ranked a Power 10 throughout the entire school year. From the fall to winter to spring, there were highlights, high marks and heights never reached before. Who was the best of the entire season?

Here’s this year’s ultimate Power 10.

1. Clarence girls swimming. There are many state champions on this list. There are none, however, that utterly dominated in head-to-head state championship competition, made its mark in state history (two state records) and achieved national high honors like the Red Devils did. Clarence not only was the top-scorer at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association meet, it did so in an utter rout (by 111 points). Seven swimmers combined for a sweep of all three relays, all of which earned All-American honors and two of which set state marks. Junior Dina Rommel was on all three relays and won the 50 freestyle in All-America time while junior Sydney Modeas was an All-American in the 500.

2. St. Joe’s hockey. The Marauders won a state Catholic title at the end, but that’s just the start. The winter Power 10 champions won 18 straight games to end a season in which they went 25-2-1 and 24-0-1 against New York teams. With victories against all members of the NYSPHSAA’s Division I final four — champion Saratoga, runner-up McQuaid, Massena and Section VI Division I champion Niagara-Wheatfield — it made a slap shot of a case as the state’s top high school team overall.

3. Canisius football.With Buffalo News Players of the Year Qadree Ollison (the junior with 15 Division I offers) and Ryan Hunter (senior headed to Bowling Green) leading the way, Canisius went 11-0 to became the first Monsignor Martin large school to go undefeated since 1998 while it finished first in The News large school poll and earned a share of the top spot in the New York State Sportswriters Association Class AA poll.

4. Bishop Timon-St. Jude lacrosse. The Tigers were the No. 1 Power 10 team in the spring after a team loaded with Division I talent earned national recognition on its way to a 17-4 record and a state Catholic title. Junior attackman and Albany commit Connor Fields scored a state (and possible national) record 129 goals. Timon beat Hamburg, Ithaca as well as teams from Florida, Ohio and Illinois. It won its title with a 20-4 rout at Long Island’s St. John the Baptist, its worst loss of the season.

5. East Aurora cross country. The Blue Devils spent most of the season at or near the top of the Power 10 for good reason, dominance at the local level and statewide ranking. The EA girls did not win a state title but finished the season with a tremendous, fourth-place showing at the Nike Cross Nationals.

6. Canisius boys soccer. The Crusaders (13-4-3) beat Long Island’s Chaminade for its first state Catholic title in the program’s history, a major achievement considering the level of play of downstate teams. Canisius was rewarded by votes in the final national poll of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

7. St. Mary’s girls volleyball. The Lancers (44-5-4) were clearly the best team in Western New York all season. They won their 13th state Catholic title and were the highest-ranked team from New York in prepvolleyball.com’s final rankings.

8. Canisius boys swimming. Canisius swept all 11 events in the All-Catholic meet, notched a win over Cathedral Prep of Erie, Pa., and crested with a third-place finish at the state Federation meet as junior Jack Boyd earned All-America honors in three events.

9. Nichols girls hockey. A Vikings team with major college talent went 34-7-1, winning the very competitive 10-team North American Prep Hockey Association’s regular season and playoff titles as well as the Canadian Independent Schools Athletic Association crown.

10. McKinley boys basketball. Macks (22-4), co-No. 1 large school with Canisius, played beautiful basketball in the playoffs to earn Western New York’s first large-school state championship by a team outside Niagara Falls since 1984.

High honor roll:

 Clarence boys baseball, Hamburg softball, Fredonia baseball, Cardinal O’Hara girls basketball, Canisius boys basketball, Eden girls volleyball, Maple Grove cross country, Randolph football, Hamburg boys lacrosse, Lancaster track and field, Ellicottville girls volleyball, Frewsburg softball.

Honor roll

 Canisius volleyball, Orchard Park football, Sweet Home football, Alden football, Williamsville South baseball, St. Joe’s baseball, Sacred Heart girls basketball, Maryvale girls bowling, Olean boys basketball, Clarence softball, Orchard Park boys lacrosse, Clarence wrestling, Hamburg girls lacrosse, Lancaster girls lacrosse, Silver Creek boys lacrosse, Nichols girls golf, Clarence cross country, Orchard Park girls soccer, Williamsville East boys soccer, Clarence boys soccer, Lockport boys soccer, East Aurora boys soccer, Iroquois field hockey, Williamsville North field hockey, Barker field hockey, Nichols boys golf, Williamsville North boys golf, Orchard Park girls tennis, Nichols girls tennis.

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧
↧

Boys lacrosse honor roll

June 24, 2013, 11:19 pm
$
0
0
ALL-WNY

FIRST TEAM

Chosen by Western New York coaches

P Player School Year

G Conor Nowak Eden 12

LS Christian Hollfelder Hamburg 12

A Connor Fields Timon-SJ 11

A John Januszkiewicz Orchard Park 12

A J.D. Recor Timon-SJ 12

A Colin Greenway Wmsv. East 11

M Zed Williams Silver Creek 12

M Max Maxwell Hamburg 12

M Adam DiMillo Timon-SJ 11

M Mitch Wilson Orchard Park 12

M Nick Wilcox Hamburg 12

D Nick Bammel Orchard Park 12

D Tyler Skretny W. S. East 10

D Tom Adolf St. Joe’s 12

SECOND TEAM

Jackson Brown-12 (Timon-St. Jude), Blake Rickan-11 (Wmsv. East), Austin Bishop-12 (Hamburg), Larson Sundown-10 (Akron), Lucas Shafer-11 (Hamburg), Derek Andrews-11 (Iroquois), Alec Dietsch-12 (Clarence), Alex Misterman-11 (St. Francis), Sturgis Sundown-11 (Akron), Jimmy Smith-12 (Frontier), Mike Franz-11 (East Aurora), Connor Cleary-12 (Canisius), Alex Corbett-12 (Timon-St. Jude), Anthony Principale-12 (Clarence).

WNY Coach of the Year:

Scott Moore (East Aurora)

Man of the Year:

Brad Dietsch (Clarence)

Bob Scott Award:

Cam MacDonald (Wmsv. North)

All-Americans

Zed Williams-12 (Silver Creek)

Connor Fields-11 (Timon-St. Jude)

Max Maxwell-12 (Hamburg)

Adam DiMillo-11 (Timon-St. Jude)

John Januszkiewicz-12 (Orchard Park)

Connor Nowak-12 (Eden)

J.D. Recor-12 (Timon-St. Jude)

Academic All-Americans

Austin Goltz-12 (Orchard Park)

Jack Mendelsohn-12 (Wmsv. East)

Zachary Mariani-12 (Wilson)

CLASS A

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

G Nate Martina Clarence 12

D Anthony Principale Clarence 12

M Alec Dietsch Clarence 12

A Matt Colicchia Clarence 12

M Josh Slowinski Clarence 10

G Luke Bartone Frontier 12

M Tyler Swartzott Frontier 11

M Jimmy Smith Frontier 12

LS Patrick Quinlivan Frontier 11

M Alex Juhasz Lancaster 11

D Jake Godrey Lancaster 11

A Matt Malecki Lancaster 10

M R.D. Hillman Lockport 12

M Zach Brown Lockport 12

M Mitch Wilson Orchard Park 12

G Tyler Ferrino Orchard Park 12

D Nick Bammel Orchard Park 12

A Austin Goltz Orchard Park 12

A John Januskiewicz Orchard Park 12

M Tim Wagner Orchard Park 12

SECOND TEAM

Anthony Principale-12 (Clarence), Steve Weppner-11 (Clarence), Lex Oakes-11 (Clarence), Mike Roth-12 (Clarence), Nathan Quinn-9 (Frontier), Brandon May-10 (Frontier), Ian Woods-12 (Frontier), Garrett Hileman-12 (Frontier), Tyler Bonk-12 (Lancaster), Jason Glauser-10 (Lancaster), Sean Gorenflo-10 (Lancaster), Sam Nowak-12 (Lockport), Glenn Cascia-12 (Lockport), Brian Moran-12 (Orchard Park), Spencer Cromwell-12 (Orchard Park), Matt Perla-10 (Orchard Park), Connor Eddy-12 (Orchard Park), Ralph Pagilei-12 (Orchard Park).

CLASS B

First Team

Pos. Player School Year

M Max Maxwell Hamburg 12

LS Christian Hollfelder Hamburg 12

M Nick Wilcox Hamburg 12

A Austin Bishop Hamburg 12

A Lucas Shafer Hamburg 11

A Derek Andrews Iroquois 11

G Dallas Meyers Iroquois 11

M Colton Reformat Iroquois 12

A Zac Dubuc Nia.-Wheat. 12

A Rob McMicking Nia.-Wheat. 12

G Wyatt Faunzy Nia.-Wheat. 12

M Carter Mann Sweet Home 12

LS Mike Prentice Sweet Home 12

G Parker Phillips W.S. East 11

A Jon Haun W.S. East 12

A Matt Mazza W.S. East 10

D Tyler Skretny W.S. East 10

G Adam Zawadski W.S. West 12

A Colin Greenway Wmsv. East 11

LS Blake Rickan Wmsv. East 11

M Brett Librock Wmsv. East 12

G Cam MacDonald Wmsv. North 12

M Jon Lunney Wmsv. North 12

M Eric Steinwachs Wmsv. North 12

SECOND TEAM

Adam Gawlak-12 (Hamburg), Evan Kuss-12 (Hamburg), Lucas Kramer-12 (Hamburg), Chris Hoover-12 (Hamburg), Ben Ott-12 (Hamburg), Brad Achmann-11 (Iroquois), Anthony Vadella-11 (Iroquois), Joe Cirroco-12 (Iroquois), Brennan Ferguson-11 (Niagara-Wheatfield), James Stenzel-12 (Niagara-Wheatfield), Seth Ferguson-10 (Niagara-Wheatfield), Jon Zellner-11 (North Tonawanda), Jimmy Poreda-11 (Sweet Home), Nick Cuomo-11 (Sweet Home), Quinn Miller-9 (West Seneca East), Scott Ackerman-12 (West Seneca East), John Lobdell-12 (West Seneca West), Alex Binner-11 (Wmsv. North), Sam Sexton-12 (Wmsv. North), Chad Steinwachs-10 (Wmsv. North), Nick Skibitsky-12 (Wmsv. East), Hudson Weil-11 (Wmsv. East), Ben Rein-12 (Wmsv. East), Jon Utech-10 (Wmsv. South), Zac Cammarata-12 (Wmsv. South).

CLASS C

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

G Gowah Abrams Akron 12

A Larson Sundown Akron 10

M Sturgis Sundown Akron 11

M Drew Smith Amherst 12

M Mike Franz East Aurora 11

A Parker Healy East Aurora 12

D Sam Barber East Aurora 12

D Sam Border East Aurora 12

G Conor Nowak Eden 12

G Brody Jimerson Gowanda 11

D Dennis Rammacher Lake Shore 12

D Wade Bergum Lake Shore 11

M Jack Tewscey Lew-Port 12

A Ben Austin Medina 12

A Kyle Barna Medina 11

A Clifford Brooks Salamanca 12

M Tanner John Salamanca 12

M Kaine Kettle Silver Creek 11

A Sherman Williams Silver Creek 10

D Tyson Brown Silver Creek 12

M Zed Williams Silver Creek 12

D Tim Walch Wilson 11

SECOND TEAM

Garrett Schultz (Akron), Connor Meier (Akron), Brian Thielman (Amherst), Dan Telban (East Aurora), Joey Gugino (East Aurora), Josh Clancy (East Aurora), Brady Bermingham (Eden), John Arnold (Eden), Josh Veloski (Gowanda), Marvin Curry (Lake Shore), Tommy Scanlan Jr. (Lake Shore), Noah Giusiana (Lew-Port), Derek Fuller (Medina), Tommy Zacher (Medina), Sean Greene (Salamanca), Chance Oates (Silver Creek), Frank Wolf (Silver Creek), Billy Brooks (Silver Creek), Brennan White (Silver Creek), Nate Serio (Silver Creek), Jacob Farmer (Wilson).

HONORABLE MENTION

AKRON: Steven Poodry, Clayton Ferry. AMHERST: Ian Moeser. EAST AURORA: Jeremy Swartout, Drew Horton Brad Wier. EDEN: Anthony Cummings, Alex Pustulka. GOWANDA: Randy Jimerson, Connor Halftown. LAKE SHORE: Luke Suelski, Bryce Parker. LEW-PORT: Jon Anderson, Alex Haim. MEDINA: Drew McMurray, Bryer Boyce, Matt Zacher. SILVER CREEK: Chase Scanlan, Owen Tallchief, Jonah Mohawk. WILSON: Zachary Mariani, Andrew Simpson.

ALL-CATHOLICS

First Team

Pos. Player School Year

A J.D. Recor Timon-SJ 12

A Connor Fields Timon-SJ 11

A Layne Collins Timon-SJ 11

A Michael Hubert St. Joe’s 12

M Adam DiMillo Timon-SJ 11

M Brandon Donahue Timon-SJ 11

M Alex Misterman St. Francis 12

M Mark Nasca St. Joe’s 11

LS James Bassett St. Joe’s 11

FO Andrew Pawenski St. Joe’s 12

D Alex Corbett Timon-SJ 12

D Connor Cleary Canisius 12

D Tom Adolf St. Joe’s 12

G Jackson Brown Timon-SJ 12

SECOND TEAM

A Ned Mathias Canisius 10

A Jarrett Dolegala St. Francis 12

A Dominic Perna St. Joe’s 10

D John Ennis Nichols 10

D Tim Biddle St. Francis 11

D James Deakin St. Joe’s 12

M Lewis Vaccaro Timon-SJ 12

M Mike Phillips Canisius 12

M Greg White Nichols 11

M Brett Benzinger St. Francis 12

LS Paul Burich Canisius 12

G Troy Ludtka Nichols 12

HONORABLE MENTION:

CANISIUS: Andrew Cleary-11, Joe Pernick-11, Steve Leous. NICHOLS: Jake Ziegler, Zach Cole-11. ST. MARY’S: Jake Ratigan-10. ST. FRANCIS: Scott Dosser, Tyler McTigue. ST. JOE’S: Dennis Gilbert-11, Myles Young-10, Nigel Davis-11. TIMON-ST. JUDE: Billy Coppola-11, Sam Watts-11.

Offensive Player of the Year:

Connor Fields-11 (Timon-St. Jude)

Defensive Player of the Year:

Jackson Brown-12 (Timon-St. Jude)

LAXPOWER.COM RANKINGS

Team W-L Rank

1. Hamburg 18-2 98.73

2. Timon-St. Jude 17-4 97.16

3. Silver Creek 16-2 95.84

4. Niagara-Wheatfield 16-3 95.32

5. Orchard Park 13-5 94.27

6. Clarence 13-5 93.28

7. St. Joe’s 12-6 90.89

8. Amherst 12-6 90.04

9. St. Francis 12-7 89.04

10. Akron 14-4 88.26



FINAL 2013 STANDINGS

CLASS A

School League All

Orchard Park 9-1 13-5

Clarence 8-2 13-5

Frontier 4-5 7-9

Lancaster 3-7 8-9

Lockport 0-9 3-13

CLASS B

Hamburg 10-0 13-2

Amherst 10-4 12-6

Niagara-Wheatfield 8-2 9-6

West Seneca East 10-5 11-8

Lake Shore 8-6 11-7

Williamsville North 8-6 9-9

Iroquois 8-6 9-9

Williamsville East 7-7 9-9

Sweet Home 4-9 4-13

West Seneca West 3-10 4-12

Williamsville South 2-11 3-14

Grand Island 1-12 3-13

North Tonawanda 1-12 1-16

CLASS C

Silver Creek 12-0 16-2

Akron 11-2 14-4

Wilson 9-5 13-5

East Aurora 7-5 8-6

Eden 4-5 5-11

Salamanca 5-9 7-9

Medina 2-7 8-9

Lew-Port 2-9 3-15

Gowanda 0-10 0-13

MONSIGNOR MARTIN

Timon-St. Jude 12-0 17-4

St. Joe’s 8-4 12-6

Nichols 6-5 11-8

St. Francis 5-6 12-7

Canisius 2-8 5-12

St. Mary’s/Lancaster 0-10 2-16

FINAL STATE RANKING, 2013

CLASS A: 5, Timon-St. Jude (17-4); 9, Orchard Park (17-2); 25, St. Joe’s (12-7). Honorable mention: Canisius (11-7).

CLASS B: 6, Hamburg (17-3); 20, Niagara-Wheatfield (11-7). Honorable mention: Williamsville East (13-6); Williamsville North (11-6).

CLASS C: 6, Silver Creek (17-1); 14, Akron (15-4); 20, East Aurora (11-6). Honorable mention: Medina (12-6); Salamanca (12-5).
↧

Boys lacrosse wrapup: Two All-WNY players set national records

June 24, 2013, 11:19 pm
$
0
0
It isn’t often Section VI has a lacrosse athlete who plays his way into the national record book. This year there appears to be two.

Senior Zed Williams of Silver Creek and junior Connor Fields of Timon-St. Jude add national record holder to being named to the All-Western New York team.

Williams leaves with two marks: most goals in a career with a five-year total of 444 and career points with 589. He’s taking his considerable talent to the University of Virginia.

This spring, he had 95 goals and 77 assists as Silver Creek won the Section VI Class C title.

With the information available on laxpower.com, nfhs.com and espn.go.com, Fields’ 129 goals would be the most nationally in a single season. For his accomplishment, the attackman was cited in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd in a recent issue.

At the very least the 129 goals is a state and WNY record. The previous state record for goals in a season (108) has stood since 1986. The WNY mark (101) was set by Williams in 2010.

Orchard Park and Timon had three picks each on the 14-player team chosen by WNY coaches. Williams earned a spot for the fourth year in a row. Max Maxwell of Hamburg is a three-peat selection and Adam DiMillo of Timon-St. Jude a two-time choice.

Fields has a penchant for finding the net, any net. He also tied for the lead in hockey’s Section VI Federation with 23 goals.

“He is an exceptionally talented and gifted player and has a lot of players around him that are really unselfish,” said Timon-St. Jude coach Mike Burke. “His game is finishing. You’re lucky to have a kid of that skill who can capitalize, has a lot of guys who are looking for him also.”

Fields has given his verbal to nationally-ranked Albany, which beat NCAA finalist Syracuse this spring, 16-15, in double overtime.

The talented Tigers earned national recognition on their way to a 17-4 record and a state Catholic title. They flirted most of the season with being ranked among the top 20 teams in the country by the Nike/US Lacrosse national poll.

The Tigers won a state title with a 20-4 rout at Long Island’s St. John the Baptist. Timon also beat Hamburg, 17-10, Ithaca, and teams from Florida, Ohio and Illinois.

DiMillo and Marist-bound J.D. Recor joined Fields on All-WNY. Recor finished with 135 points. Tigers’ goalie Jackson Brown is ticketed for Hobart of the ECAC, which upset Syracuse, 13-12. Brown is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year in the Monsignor Martin Association and last fall was named an All-WNY linebacker in football.

Hamburg reached the state final four in Class B where it was eliminated by Jamesville-Dewitt. The Bulldogs are represented on All-WNY by Maxwell, Christian Hollfelder and Nick Wilcox. Hamburg led WNY in wins with 18 and was ranked No. 1 locally in the final laxpower.com poll.

Orchard Park made it 21 Section VI Class A titles in the last 23 years. An overtime loss to Penfield ended their season in the Far West Regionals. Three seniors earned top honors: Nick Bammel, John Januszkiewicz and Mitch Wilson.

Scott Moore of East Aurora was named the Coach of the Year in WNY. Brad Dietsch of Clarence was the Man of the Year. Cam MacDonald of Williamsville North was named the winner of the Bob Scott Award.

Borrelli is July 1

 The fifth Tom Borrelli Memorial Award Golf Tournament presented by the Buffalo Bandits will be July 1 at Holland Hills.

The tournament is a 10 a.m. shotgun scramble and the $100 cost includes golf, cart, lunch at the turn, dinner, one-hour open bar and a souvenir gift. There will also be prizes, auctions, raffles and drawings.

Cost for dinner only, which includes the presentation of the boys and girls winners of the Borrelli Awards as the top senior high school lacrosse players in Western New York, is $25. To reserve a spot, email Bob DiCesare at bdicesare@buffnews.com. Those interested in just making a donation to the scholarship fund or purchasing an ad in the event’s souvenir program can do so by contacting Keith McShea at kmcshea@buffnews.com.



email: mmonnin@buffnews.com
↧
Search

All-WNY Boys lacrosse team

June 24, 2013, 11:19 pm
$
0
0
Player School Pos. Yr. Fast fact

Tom Adolf St. Joe’s D 12 Will play at John Carroll, 92 average, MMA finalists, led 13-12 double OT win over Timon.

Nick Bammel Orchard Park D 12 Lockdown defender came up big in wins over Silver Creek and Pittsford.

Adam DiMillo Timon-SJ M 11 Committed to Maryland, repeat pick, has 46 goals, 26 assists, second team All-WNY RB.

Connor Fields Timon-SJ A 11 National record holder for most goals in a season with 129, committed to Albany.

Colin Greenway Wmsv. East A 11 Holds school record for points in a season (102) and career with a full season left.

Christian Hollfelder Hamburg LS 12 Will continue his career at Division III Cortland, 3-year starter, 3.0 average.

John Januszkiewicz Orchard Park A 12 Led Quakers with 74 goals and 41 assists, will play for Ithaca, won 2 sectional titles.

Maximus Maxwell Hamburg M 12 3-time All-WNY pick, has signed with Maryland-Baltimore County, 4-year starter.

J.D. Recor Timon-SJ A 12 Has signed with Division I Marist, had nine points vs. St. John Baptist, 4-year starter.

Tyler Skretny W.S. East D 10 Only sophomore on first team, 98.3 average, 88 ground balls, Team MVP on defense.

Zed Williams Silver Creek M 12 4-time All-WNY pick, national record holder for career goals and career points.

Nick Wilcox Hamburg M 12 Will continue his career at Division II Mercy College, 3-year starter, scholar athlete, 96 average.

Mitch Wilson Orchard Park M 12 Has signed with Virginia Military Institute, 3 Section VI titles, 4-year starter.

Conor Nowak Eden G 12 Held Zed Williams to one goal, 63 save percentage, going to Brockport, class officer, 3-year starter.
↧

Girls lacrosse Borrelli Award winner has unmatched determination

June 29, 2013, 8:40 pm
$
0
0
In seventh grade, Megan Mikolajek decided to switch sports. She had been playing softball, but she wanted to play something where she could be more aggressive.

She found it, all right.

Mikolajek switched to lacrosse, and that aggressiveness she sought became one of her defining characteristics during an outstanding, award-winning career.

From chasing ground balls, to relentlessly honing her stickwork, to helping leave an emphatic mark on a championship program, Mikolajek’s work ethic led to excellence at Hamburg High and will take her to Division I competition at the University at Albany. Her ability to impact the game from any spot on the field, and the work ethic that fueled it, led to her being chosen as the recipient of the third Tom Borrelli Memorial Award as the top senior female lacrosse player in Western New York.

“I had seen my neighbors playing lacrosse and seen people playing the sport,” Mikolajek said. “Instead of softball, where it’s throw-hit-catch, I wanted to run down the field, I wanted to score, I wanted to play a team sport where I could be aggressive and physical – even though we couldn’t check too much then.”

Nowadays, Mikolajek’s friends say that she’s either home, working … or playing lacrosse.

“I love the sport so much,” she said. “Friends tease me about it … I’ll be rushing home to watch a lacrosse game. I love it. It’s such a big part of my life.”

Mikolajek’s high school career took a big leap in her sophomore year, which was the first year under coach Katy Ryan, a Hamburg alum who played at the University of Connecticut.

“I have to give all of the credit to Coach Ryan – she is what sparked my interest,” said Mikolajek, a midfielder. “She was the one that let me know that I can play at a high level if I put my mind and body to the challenge. From the beginning, Coach Ryan let us know we were changing the program, that we were bringing it back to a winning program. She helped me get involved in travel teams and help push me even harder.”

Ryan may have helped feed that appetite, but the coach points to the player’s attitude as the reason for her successes.

“Her drive and determination are unmatched,” Ryan said of Mikolajek, noting that the senior class voted her “Most Likely to win the Hunger Games,” a reference to the popular book and movie that takes competition to the extreme. “She is so competitive. She portrays the meaning of excellence, versatility, hard work, dedication and toughness every time she steps on the field.”

The stat line for the player in the purple No. 25 explains Mikolajek’s impact in nearly every facet of the game. This season, she had 43 goals (105 for career), 59 assists (93 career) seven interceptions (18 career), 61 caused turnovers (122 career), 24 ground balls (130 career) and 64 draw controls (171 career).

Mikolajek was a huge part of the Bulldogs’ turnaround under Ryan, as they lost in the Section VI Class B final during her sophomore year before winning the last two championships. Mikolajek took on more of a leadership role with each season, and in the big games she left an impression: She had five goals in last year’s sectional final and four this year.

The hard work not only showed up on the field in statistics, but it also helped her refine her stick skills. That meant countless days in the backyard, playing some wall-ball against a rebounder before shooting into a goal – if the shots missed, they would head to the woods, sometimes never to be found.

“I think I’ve lost 10 or 20 balls in the backyard – that’s been a big expense over the years,” said Mikolajek, who thanked her parents for that and much more. “They have helped me so much, pushing me all the time – not in a forceful way. They’ve driven me to pretty much every city in the Northeast, going on seven- or eight-hour car rides.”

The Mikolajek’s car rides will focus on Albany now, where Megan just returned from a three-day introductory camp.

“The high school and college games are the same, but the pace is going to get a lot faster,” said Mikolajek, and by the sound of it, her game isn’t changing either. “They are a growing program, starting to dominate in their conference. I’m just going in on Day One and am going to work at it like I have in high school, just keep working hard. … Hopefully while I’m there we’ll win a few America East titles and play in the NCAAs.”

This is the third year of the girls’ Borrelli Award. Mikolajek follows Julia Suriani (West Seneca East) in 2011 and Spring Sanders (Nichols) last year. Award winners are selected by The News’ high school sports department after consultation with local scouts and coaches.

Mikolajek was chosen from a talented Class of 2013 that included teammate and fellow All-American attackman Taylor Wolf and Niagara-Wheatfield midfielder Laura Messer (both of whom will play at Niagara) as well as Frontier goalie and Delaware State signee Emily Pasternak.

“To be known as the top player in Western New York, especially with all of the players around here, it feels great to receive it,” Mikolajek said. “Especially in his name, it’s such an honor.”

Borrelli, a News sports reporter and editor, died Nov. 20, 2008. He died of injuries suffered less than two weeks earlier when he fell down the press box stairway at All High Stadium while covering a high school football game. As a tribute to Borrelli and the sport he loved, a committee led by News Sports Columnist Bob DiCesare established the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award and Scholarship Fund.

Last year, the Borrelli committee added the “Ox” Awards, which go to seniors who display the talent, versatility, hard work, dedication and toughness displayed by Borrelli – whose nickname was “Ox” – in his work as a reporter and editor at The Buffalo News. Last year’s inaugural winner was Hamburg’s Amanda Obenshain, who played in eight games this past season at Albany.

The unique award is being awarded in a unique way this year as Frontier twins Grace and Hannah Christiansen are receiving the “Ox” Award. Both players were second-team All-Western New York selections: Hannah was Frontier’s leading scorer (40 goals) while Grace led the team in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers. Hannah will play at the State University of New York at Canton while Hannah will attend Daemen, which does not have a lacrosse program.

“They are the hardest-working kids in Section VI,” said Frontier coach Tim Myslinski, who is also the Falcons’ football coach. “They play with an intensity that I wish my football players would play with. Dedication and toughness are words that don’t even come close to who these girls are as individuals and leaders.”

The boys award winners will be announced in Saturday’s News.

The awards and scholarships will be presented during the banquet portion of Monday’s fifth Tom Borrelli Memorial Golf Tournament presented by the Buffalo Bandits at Holland Hills Country Club. The event is also sponsored by The Buffalo News and ADPRO Sports.

To make a donation to the Borrelli fund, send a check payable to the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award and Scholarship Fund, c/o Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, 712 Main St., Buffalo, 14202-1720.

email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧
↧

A driving force: Williams is boys Borrelli winner

July 1, 2013, 9:29 pm
$
0
0
Zed Williams says he’ll do whatever is asked of him at the University of Virginia.

That’s great news for one of the historically strongest Division I men’s lacrosse programs in the country, because the graduating Silver Creek senior can pretty much do it all.

Williams racked up scoring statistics never seen before – not just in Western New York, but nationally – as he led the Black Knights to five straight Section VI Class C championships. He impacted the game in several ways and is one of the best high school lacrosse players in Western New York history. And he is this year’s clear winner of the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award as the area’s top senior player.

“My approach,” Williams said of taking the various aspects of his game to Virginia, “is to do whatever they ask me.”

Williams finished his five-year varsity career with 444 goals and 728 points, both which are believed to be national records. In his senior season, he had 95 goals and 77 assists. His best season statistically was as a freshman, when he scored 101 times and had 73 assists.

While Silver Creek may have played in the smallest classification in the state, Williams’ play was at the highest of levels as a four-time first-team All-Western New Yorker and three-time All-American. Also consider the final game of his career, a Far West Regional loss to perennial state power Penn Yan, in which he not only scored four times and had an assist, he dominated faceoffs by winning 20 of 22 – as he did throughout the postseason – and made several big plays on defense, all while never coming off the field for the undermanned Black Knights.

His goal-scoring came on long laser shots that would be ill-advised if most any other player attempted them, or deceptively strong and/or sneaky drives to the cage, or quick-stick finishes. Equally as impressive were his feeds to teammates, as he parlayed the defense’s slides toward him and his field vision into eye-popping assists.

Williams’ favorite memory of his high school career was Silver Creek’s 2011 season, which climaxed in historic fashion when the Black Knights beat Penn Yan to become the first Section VI Class C team to win a regional game and advance to the state final four. It was also a sophomore season in which he played with his older brother, senior Zach, and younger brother, eighth-grader Sherman.

Williams will head to Charlottesville, Va., next week for a camp before returning in the first week of August. He’ll come back home for two weeks before returning to Virginia.

“My biggest concern is the school work – school will be harder,” Williams said. “Lacrosse-wise, nothing matters from high school. It’s a clean slate, and I’ll have to prove myself.”

Asked whether that is something he has heard from his new coaches, Williams says, “That’s just something I know.”

The award winners are selected by The News’ high school sports department after consultation with local scouts and coaches.

Williams was chosen over fellow All-American Max Maxwell of Hamburg. Other members of the talented Class of 2013 considered for the award included Orchard Park attackman John Januszkiewicz, Hamburg midfielder Nick Wilcox, Hamburg longstick midfielder Christian Hollfelder, Bishop Timon-St. Jude attackman J.D. Recor and Bishop Timon-St. Jude goalie Jackson Brown.

“I just feel like, when people pass away, it would be the right thing to do to carry the name on,” said Williams. “I’m honored.”

For the second year, the Borrelli committee also bestowed the “Ox” Award, which goes to a senior who displays the talent, versatility, hard work, dedication and toughness shown by Borrelli – whose nickname was “Ox” – in his work as a reporter and editor at The Buffalo News. The inaugural winner was Amherst’s Nate Gowen.

This year’s “Ox” Award goes to Hamburg’s Maxwell. The three-time All-WNY first-teamer and four-year stalwart starter has been a scorer, leader and more for the Tigers and is headed to the University of Maryland at Baltimore County.

“Max Maxwell is by far the best and most complete captain I have ever had in my 30-plus years of coaching,” said Hamburg coach Jerry Severino. “He has separated himself from any other athlete, not only in points accumulated, but in phenomenal leadership and mentoring skills. When Max was injured and not playing for four weeks this year, he took on a support role and worked with the youngest boys on the team.”

The girls awards were announced in Friday’s edition of The News: Megan Mikolajek of Hamburg is the Borrelli Award winner and twins Grace and Hannah Christiansen of Frontier are the “Ox” winners.

The awards and scholarships will be presented during the banquet portion of Monday’s fifth annual Tom Borrelli Memorial Golf Tournament presented by the Buffalo Bandits at Holland Hills Country Club. The event is also sponsored by The Buffalo News and ADPRO Sports.

To make a donation to the Borrelli fund, send a check payable to the Tom Borrelli Memorial Award and Scholarship Fund, c/o Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, 712 Main St., Buffalo, 14202-1720.



email: kmcshea@buffnews.com
↧

Alvarez makes waves in earning spot on U.S. synchronized swim team

July 2, 2013, 8:37 pm
$
0
0
Joanne Wright has coached synchronized swimming for 39 years and has never had an Olympian. She thinks Kenmore West’s Anita Alvarez is going to be the one to change that.

Alvarez doesn’t talk much outside the pool. She thinks over each word meticulously and smiles shyly.

When she covers her brown eyes with black goggles, though, she turns into a different person. Alvarez’s athletic ability speaks effusively.

The operatic music begins and she sinks underwater at the Tonawanda Aquatic and Fitness Center, emerging as a ballet dancer. She goes back under and her long, olive legs emerge helicoptering. Her swimsuit’s sequins and rhinestones add to the aesthetic imagery as she twirls through the water.

Alvarez is an entertainer in the water, and she’s one of the 12 best female synchronized swimmers ages 15-18 in the country.

The meek, 16-year-old soon-to-be junior at Kenmore West has qualified for the USA Junior National Synchronized Swimming team. She is training with the squad in California and will represent the United States Aug. 15-22 at the UANA Pan-Am Synchronized Swimming Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Alvarez attended three flights of tryouts, the first phase beginning with the 50 best competitors in the country. All 50 made the second flight before being reduced to 20 for the third. The final 12 were rushed to a team meeting when they found out they made the squad at the final tryout in Walnut Creek, Calif., but Alvarez made sure she sent one quick text message.

“I was waiting by the phone anxiously,” said Karen Alvarez, her mother. “I had tears of joy when I saw it. It said, ‘I made it,’ with a big smiley face.”

In synchronized swimming, teams perform choreographed routines involving dancing, swimming, jumping and team throws, among other things, without their feet touching the pool’s floor. They use a hands-free “eggbeater kick” of rapid circular kicks to stay afloat and lift each other.

“I always really liked it and had dreams of getting better and going further,” Alvarez said. “It’s such a unique sport. People ask all the time what it’s like and it’s so hard to explain. It’s a combination of so many different things.”

Karen has coached the young Tonawanda Aquettes teams all of her daughter’s life. Wright and her daughter, Jill Shovlin, coach an older team, of which Alvarez is a part. They’ve seen her come up through the sport since she started competing at age 6.

“She’s very quiet, shy and humble, and that makes it very easy to coach her,” Shovlin said. “She’s always looking for things she can do to get better or improve. She never misses practice or comes up with an excuse. She has amazing commitment and drive and has worked really hard for this.”

Wright said Alvarez is always the first one to practice and the last to leave.

“She’s very determined but she’s very quiet, too,” Wright said. “She’s really sweet and very friendly at the same time, and everybody really admires her.”

When Alvarez isn’t listening to Bruno Mars, watching “Dance Moms” or making tortillas, she enjoys helping coach the younger Aquettes.

“It’s exciting not just for us, but for the whole team – for the little kids to watch her do something so great,” Shovlin said.

When Alvarez was 13, she swam with three 18- and 19-year-olds in the 2010 U.S. synchronized swimming national championships. They won gold.

That was the moment David Alvarez, her father, “knew there was something special going on.”

Alvarez has been a national champion three more times since then, in duet competition in 2011 and figures and solo in 2012.

She also competes for the Ken West swim team and has made sectionals every year since eighth grade, but she won’t tell you that. She’s uncomfortable talking about her accomplishments. Humility is one of Alvarez’s most defining characteristics.

“She’s very down to earth, a normal 16-year-old girl,” David said. “Her work ethic, when the girls have off of practice, she still goes to the pool, but she’s very modest. I like that part of it.

“Once in a while you come up with this talent level that you just know there’s a special athlete, not just because she’s my daughter. We knew from a young age that she just had it in her. She has drive. She has determination. She takes corrections well. And she’s a special athlete.”

Alvarez was born into an athletic family. Karen swam for the Aquettes and Kenmore West and was an All-American in synchronized swimming at the University of Arizona. David played AAA Muny baseball, a premier amateur league, and has coached the sport at St. Joe’s for 17 years.

Alvarez has been practicing three hours a day, six days a week, since she was 9 years old, but she said she appreciates that her parents “never pushed me to swim; I didn’t have to do it if I didn’t want to.”

In addition to work ethic, Alvarez’s slender, 5-foot-7 frame contributes to her dominance. Wright calls it “the perfect body for the sport.”

Alvarez will take her skill to Puerto Rico as the only East Coast representative, with the other 11 hailing from California, Arizona and Oregon. David said representing Western New York and the entire East Coast is one thing she’s extremely proud of.

Shovlin, her coach, made the same team in 1998 and 1999.

“I know what it’s like to be able to compete for your country and it’s just a whole different kind of victory, and she’s so excited,” Shovlin said.

Alvarez prepared for California by doing Pilates, cross training, running and lifting weights occasionally as she aimed to shine on this year’s U.S. team, which is themed “Mermaids.”

“The past few years, I’ve had a goal of eventually making the national team and competing internationally and representing the United States,” Alvarez said. “This has been a big one, but I also have a goal of competing on an Olympic team someday.”

Alvarez said she will likely try out for the 2016 Games, which will take place after her freshman year of college.

Is it a reasonable aspiration?

“I totally see it for Anita,” said Wright, who has been around the sport nearly four decades. “She’s young to be so talented.”



email: amansfield@buffnews.com
↧

Baseball honor roll

July 3, 2013, 7:31 pm
$
0
0
ALL-WESTERN NEW YORK

FIRST TEAM, 2013

Pos. Player School Year

P Mark Armstrong Clarence 12

P Damian Powers Williamsville South 12

C Jonah Heim Amherst 12

IF Jared Baldinelli St. Joe’s 12

IF Christ Conley Lake Shore 12

IF Brian Dudek St. Mary’s/Lancaster 12

IF Alex O’Donnell Starpoint 11

OF Nick Hart Fredonia 12

OF Ryan MacCarrick Orchard Park 11

OF Philip Wells St. Joe’s 11

DH Ian Allen East Aurora 12



SECOND TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Ryan Stekl Lancaster 11

P Trent Thompson Fredonia 12

C J.D. Andreessen St. Mary’s/Lancaster 11

IF Dave Hollins Orchard Park 11

IF Brian Jost Clarence 12

IF Tyler Piasecki Wmsv. South 12

IF Charlie Sobieraski Lockport 11

OF Ryan Stefaniak St. Francis 11

OF Ted Wilson Lancaster 12

OF Brad Wroblewski Lockport 11

DH Matt Michalski St. Francis 12



HONORABLE MENTION: ALBION: John Warne. BROCTON: Scot Laurie. CITY HONORS: Yusef Burgos, Tom Samar. CLARENCE: Mark Materise. EDEN: Bradley Palmerton. FREDONIA: Zack Buckley. FREWSBURG: Tage Johnson. GRAND ISLAND: Quinn Corrao. JAMESTOWN: Bram Johnson. JFK: Eric Carenuto. KENMORE EAST: Connor McMahon. KENMORE WEST: Tommy Ryan. NEWFANE: Scott Kneeland. NIAGARA FALLS: Michael Colosi, David Yarger. NORTH COLLINS: Jared Keppel. ORCHARD PARK: Ton LaCongo. PINE VALLEY: Spencer Sticek, Tyler Swanson. PORTVILLE: Justus Elliott, Zach Wood. ST. FRANCIS: Drew Bassini. ST. JOE’S: Mark Matre. ST. MARY’S: Chris Kwitzer. STARPOINT: Austin Speaker. TONAWANDA: Nick Pullo, Ben Stich. WEST SENECA EAST: Austin Spindler. WILLIAMSVILLE SOUTH: Michael Calandra, Steve Zaprowski.

WNY Player of the Year:

Mark Armstrong-12, Clarence

All-Catholic

Player of Year: Matt Matre-12 (St. Joe’s)

Offensive Player of Year: Phillip Wells-11 (St. Joe’s)

Defensive Player of Year: J.D. Andreesen-11 (St. Mary’s)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Lucas Schaefer St. Mary’s 12

P Drew Bassini St. Francis 12

C Jack Trotman Canisius 12

IF Brian Dudek St. Mary’s 12

IF Matt Michalski St. Francis 12

IF Jared Baldinelli St. Joe’s 12

IF Kyle Liszewski Canisius 12

OF Zach Glowacki Cardinal O’Hara 12

OF Ryan Stefaniak St. Francis 11

OF Tyler Hayden Timon-St. Jude 12

DH Chris Kwitzer St. Mary’s 12

DH Brett Helmbrecht St. Mary’s 11

SECOND TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Andrew Krakowski St. Francis 11

P Chris Falk St. Joe’s 11

IF Richard Miller Canisius 10

IF Ryan Wojinski Cardinal O’Hara 11

IF Colin Tenney Canisius 11

IF Nick Pollina Nichols 10

IF Trevor Tumiel St. Joe’s 12

OF Marc Gonzalez St. Mary’s 11

OF Adam Gora St. Francis 12

OF Brad Wellenzohn Timon-St. Jude 12

OF Anthony LoBuglio Cardinal O’Hara 12

DH Don Kilian St. Joe’s 12

DH Seth Meyer Nichols 11

ECIC I

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Mark Armstrong Clarence 12

P Mark Materise Clarence 12

P Ryan Stekl Lancaster 11

C Tom LaCongo Orchard Park 12

IF Dave Hollins Orchard Park 11

IF Ben Haefner Lancaster 12

IF Eric Benshadle Wmsv. North 11

IF Bryan Jost Clarence 11

IF Tyler Chodkowski W.S. West 12

OF Ryan MacCarrick Orchard Park 11

OF Jordan Iannarelli Orchard Park 12

OF Kyle Zurak Wmsv. North 12

OF Ted Wilson Lancaster 12

DH Bram Johnson Jamestown 12

SECOND TEAM: CLARENCE: Evan Harof-11, Bobby Florio. FRONTIER: Tom Stoklosa-11, Jim Gleason-11. JAMESTOWN: Jake Sisson-11. LANCASTER: Joe Preziuso-10, Mitch Fuller-11. ORCHARD PARK: Jeff Palczewski-9. WEST SENECA WEST: Max Borzillieri. WMSV. NORTH: Andrew White-10, Duke Hwang-10.

HONORABLE MENTION: CLARENCE: Ryan Jelonek-11. FRONTIER: Brandon Jewett, Evan Johnston, Kevin Marcinkowski. JAMESTOWN: Adam Westley, Cameron Haberberger-11, Alex Guzman. LANCASTER: Kevin Colafranceschi, Ryan Bonafede, Mac Garby. ORCHARD PARK: Pat Sheehan-11, Brandon Nicholson-10, Andy Sipowicz-10. WEST SENECA WEST: Kevin Hanley, Dalton Kruger. WILLIAMSVILLE NORTH: Mike Sczelaskiwicz.

ECIC II

Player of the Year: Damian Powers (Wmsv. South)

Coach of the Year: Kraig Kurzanski (Wmsv. South)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Damian Powers Wmsv. South 12

P Kyle Sickau Hamburg 11

P Austin Speaker Starpoint 12

P Zach Trumpler Iroquois 12

P Austin Spindler West Seneca East 12

C Mike Calandra Wmsv. South 12

IF Tyler Piasecki Wmsv. South 12

IF Steven Zaprowski Wmsv. South 11

IF Alex O’Donnell Starpoint 11

IF Steve Kaufmann Iroquois 11

IF Jordan Evert Sweet Home 10

IF Alex Pacer West Seneca East 12

OF Josh Palisano Hamburg 12

OF Brett Ross Hamburg 11

OF Mathew Sokolski Iroquois 10

OF Brandon Schick Wmsv. East 12

DH Billy Hartford Wmsv. South 10

SECOND TEAM: HAMBURG: Cameron Ringo-10, David Edie-10, Justin LaRosa-11, Tyler Shaw. IROQUOIS: Joey Kwasniewski-10. STARPOINT: Zach Monell, Chris Cribbs-11, Jimmy Janezcko-11, Andrew Rankie. SWEET HOME: Justin Bystrak-11. WEST SENECA EAST: Corey Fermo. WILLIAMSVILLE EAST: Dan Lumadue, John Huyler. WILLIAMSVILLE SOUTH: Tyler Utz, Pat Stasiak.

HONORABLE MENTION: HAMBURG: Brian Castonguay-12, Jordan Paxon-11, Patrick Skelly-11, Chris Tuttle-12. IROQUOIS: Matt Keating-12, Robert Pieszak-12, Kyle Reid-11, Phil Stolarski-12, Lucas Zoltak-11. STARPOINT: Brett Guay-10, Mike Lane-11 Austin Owens-10, Andrew Murchison-11, Ben Walters-9. SWEET HOME: Josh Hammer-10, Cal Jackson-11, Kevin Torrillo-10, Mike Torrillo-12. WEST SENECA EAST: Zach Kucharski.-12, D.J. Schiersing-10, Matt Silvestri-12, Ryan Walczyk-12, Brian Wasilewski-10. WILLIAMSVILLE EAST: Brenden Chambers-12, Hunter Dee-11, Matt Schulenberg-12, Tom Wisniewski-12. WILLIAMSVILLE SOUTH: Brian Bookbinder-12, Darin Geska-11, Erik Gorenflo-12, Zach Otero-12.

ECIC III

Co-Players of the Year: Jonah Heim (Amherst),

Ian Allen (East Aurora).

Coach of the Year: Jeff McGill (Cheektowaga)



FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Ian Allen East Aurora 12

P Nate Kruger East Aurora 9

P Justin Crawley Depew 12

P Steven Reynolds Amherst 12

P Matt Connolly Amherst 12

C Johan Heim Amherst 12

IF Noah Thompson East Aurora 9

IF Mike Crissy Cheektowaga 12

IF Jay Malkowski Cheektowaga 11

IF Sean Driscoll Depew 12

IF Walker Green Pioneer 10

IF Drew Scharra Springville 11

IF Crist Conley Lake Shore 12

IF Tyler Mascio Lake Shore 11

OF Billy Dickinson Springville 12

OF Dane Cala Lake Shore 12

OF Tyler Graham Maryvale 12

SECOND TEAM: AMHERST: Sean Andrews-9, Nate Cole-9. CHEEKTOWAGA: Chris Vitale, Matt Bartnik-11, Alex Wodarczyk-11. DEPEW: Tyler Wangler. EAST AURORA: Ryan Thompson, Sam Misiti, Jack Wolff-10. LAKE SHORE: Ryan Joslyn, Billy Pinter, Tyler Freeman. MARYVALE: Justin Brackna-11, Jeff Barron. PIONEER: Kyle Wahl, Justin Bliss-11. SPRINGVILLE: Kyle Crotty-10, Tyler Conklin-10.

HONORABLE MENTION: AMHERST: Mario Bucolo, Nick Foster-9. CHEEKTOWAGA: Mike Kowal-11, Ed Kerber. DEPEW: Dyan Haak-10, Dan Golba-11. EAST AURORA: Jack Rice-11. LAKE SHORE: Matt Brzozowiec, Matt Kardach. MARYVALE: Jonathan DiPasquale, Joel Krywcun-10, Ryan Woody. PIONEER: Dylan Webber-11, Dylan Souder. SPRINGVILLE: Adam Wolfley-11.

ECIC IV

Player of the Year: Nick Pullo (Tonawanda)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Ben Stich Tonawanda 11

P/INF Nick Pullo Tonawanda 12

P/INF Adam Cartenuto JFK 12

P/OF Eric Cartenuto JFK 12

C Steven Warthling Tonawanda 12

INF Tyler Glaser Alden 12

INF Brad Palmerton Eden 11

INF Corey Barczykowski Alden 12

INF David Baskerville Eden 10

INF Jared Zellner Tonawanda 12

INF Aaron Phillips Cleveland Hill 12

OF Nick Anderson JFK 12

SECOND TEAM: ALDEN: Adam Glaser- 12, Matt Shields-12, Jake McNamara-12. EDEN: Brian Losel- 11, Jacob Schlegel- 10; Matt Bialy- 12. HOLLAND: Wes Nickerson- 12, Nolan Wangelin- 11. LACKAWANNA: Nick Rodriguez- 11. JFK: Cale Byczkowski, Andrew Czubaj, 9. T ONAWANDA: Bret Kelly- 9; Andrew Ball- 10.

Niagara Frontier

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Quinn Corrao Grand Island 11

P Casey Domski Lockport 12

C Tommy Ryan Kenmore West 12

IF Charlie Sobieraski Lockport 11

IF Michael Colosi Niagara Falls 11

IF Alex Weaver Lockport 12

IF David Yarger Niagara Falls 11

OF Connor McMahon Kenmore East 11

OF Brad Wroblewski Lockport 11

OF Mark McKenna Grand Island 10

DH John Holody Grand Island 12

SECOND TEAM: GRAND ISLAND: Nick Soos-12. KENMORE EAST: John Mirabella-12. KENMORE WEST: Jeff Becker-12. LEW-PORT: Mike Mokhiber-10. LOCKPORT: Noah Vandenbosch-11, Tyler Fraass-10. NIAGARA FALLS: Joseph Colosi-12, Jacob Martineau-11. NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD: Mike Parisi-12, Dan George-11. NORTH TONAWANDA: Taylor Mellott-10.

THIRD TEAM: GRAND ISLAND: Jake Lawley-12, Greg Nicolia-11. KENMORE WEST: Ryan Hussar-11. LEW-PORT: Joe Scirto-11, Jordan Willard-10. NIAGARA FALLS: Joseph D’Angelo-11. NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD: Doug Litwinski-12, Jon Liberti-12, Anthony Tardibuono-11. NORTH TONAWANDA: Chris Mellott-12, Josh Brosius-12.

Niagara-orleans

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Josh Kneeland Newfane 11

P Connor Barleben Albion 11

C John Warne Albion 11

1B Steven Stauss Albion 12

IF John Page Albion 12

IF Andy Xapsos Roy-Hart 9

IF Michael Thompson Wilson 12

OF Austin Mietz Akron 12

OF Ryan Farewell Roy-Hart 12

OF Tyler Colonna Medina 12

OF Jack Cotriss Medina 12

DH Tommy James Akron 11

SECOND TEAM: ALBION: Chris Reed. BARKER: Josh Bergman, Tyler Gregiore, Zach Shaft. CSAT: Peter Grunzweig-10. MEDINA: Adam Hoot-11, Matt Reimer-10. ROY-HART: Nick Morse, Judd Jamieson. WILSON: Taylor Thilk, Chris Reid, Derek Martin.

HONORABLE MENTION: AKRON: Garrett Jones, Mitchell Schultz, Zach Pfentner-10, Connor Riggs-10. ALBION: Ed Narburgh, Jack Narburgh. CSAT: Derrick Spinda. MEDINA: Zach Newton. ROY-HART: Josh Baptiste-10. WILSON: Ryan Hecko, John Delisi.

Cornell Cup I

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Joe Denecke daVinci 12

P Caleb Lee City Honors 10

C Aric Hallett daVinci 12

IF Chris Twoguns McKinley 11

IF John Liberti City Honors 10

IF Robert Rakowski Olmsted 12

IF Isiah Shadwick Hutch-Tech 11

OF Antaney Brinkley Hutch-Tech 11

OF Yusef Burgos City Honors 12

OF Dan Miller Hutch-Tech 11

DH Chris Ferril daVinci 11

UT Migic Miroslav McKinley 12

SECOND TEAM: CITY HONORS: Peter Rakowski-10, Tyler Biedron. DA VINCI: Conor McGrath-11; Josh Denecke-11. HUTCH-TECH: Eladio Hernandez-11, Jon Cybulski-10. I-PREP: Marc Cruz-Jackson-12, Alex Reyes. McKINLEY: Lanier Herrig-9. OLMSTED: Greg Danzo-10. RIVERSIDE: Josh Oakley-10. SOUTH PARK: Emelio Dejesus.

Cornell Cup II

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Joe Sullivan Middle Early Coll. 12

P Germain Yarbourgh Burgard 11

C DeShawn Vanadore Bennett 10

IF Dan Sullivan Middle Early Coll. 12

IF Jerrod Minor Buffalo Arts 10

IF DaQuan Walker Burgard 12

IF Tory Saddler Burgard 12

OF Delvonte Bowden Bennett 12

OF Angel Fuentes Lafayette 11

OF Zach Napierski Emerson 12

SECOND TEAM: LAFAYETTE: Corey Baker, Jose Melendez-9, Ari Cardona-9. BURGARD: Roderick Morrow-10. EMERSON: DeQuinn Saunders-11, John Rodriguez. ARTS: Fernando Arroyo-11, J D Sanford. MIDDLE EARLY COLL: Elijah Mingo-11, Jimmy Galvin-11.

CCAA I

Player of the Year: Nick Hart (Fredonia)

Pitcher of the Year: Trent Thompson (Fredonia)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Luke Hennessey Olean 11

P Brad Painter Olean 12

P Trent Thompson Fredonia 12

C Zack Buckley Fredonia 12

C Noah Weinstein Southwestern 10

IF Kevin Burns Dunkirk 12

IF Michael Wilcox Falconer 11

IF Evan Ryan Olean 12

IF Walker Cygan Gowanda 11

IF Kevin Wentworth Allegany-Limestone 12

If Weston Ley Fredonia 11

OF Nick Hart Fredonia 12

OF Pat Scholla Olean 12

OF Josh Harrington Allegany-Limestone 12

UT Ryan Boutelle Gowanda 11

SECOND TEAM: ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE: Dom Conroy-10. DUNKIRK: Drew Messina, Ryan Ruiz. FALCONER: Kyle Petersen-11. FREDONIA: Cameron Voss-10, Cody Smith-11, Jude Gardner. GOWANDA: Joe Kruszka-9, Matt Kruszka-8. OLEAN: Ben McGraw, Matt Smith-10.

HONORABLE MENTION: ALLEGANY-LIMESTONE: Shawn Dubin. DUNKIRK: JuJu Fred. FALCONER: Dan Williamson. FREDONIA: Chris Saden. GOWANDA: Chase Williams. OLEAN: Brock Blovsky. SOUTHWESTERN: Corey Bryerton.

CCAA II

Player of the Year: Kenny Oakes (Cassadaga Valley)

Coach of the Year: Mike Matz (Portville)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P-C Justus Elliott Portville 11

P/1B Brett Marcellin Portville 11

P/C Zach Wood Portville 12

P/IF Kenny Oakes Cass. Valley 12

P/IF Matt Hollowell Cass. Valley 12

P/IF Tage Johnson Frewsburg 11

P/OF Bryce Peterson Frewsburg 12

P/IF Seth Agnew Catt./LV 12

IF Matt Crandall Salamanca 11

IF Tim Bender Cass. Valley 12

IF Justin Forster Catt./LV 11

IF Tyson Gugino Cass. Valley 11

OF Nate Beaver Randolph 12

OF Brett Johnson Frewsburg 12

OF Brandon Muniga Portville 12

SECOND TEAM: CASSADAGA VALLEY: Matt Heath-11, Andy Ellis-11. CATTARAUGUS/LITTLE VALLEY: Luke Makakanja-12, Matt Booth-12. FREWSBURG: Trevor Spicer-11, Bryce Raymond-11. PORTVILLE: Tony Giberson-12, Austin Suain-12. RANDOLPH: Mitchell Maycock-11, Ryan Styles-11. SALAMANCA: Mike Moris-11, Mitch Gilbert-10. SILVER CREEK: Zach Klisiewicz-12, Anthony Morales-12, Stephen Marcey-12.

HONORABLE MENTION: CASSADAGA VALLEY: Dakota Morano-12. CATTARAUGUS/LITTLE VALLEY: Ryan Hanft-12, Matt Frary-11. FREWSBURG: Dane Johnson-12, Nick Long-11. PORTVILLE: Nick Burroughs-12. RANDOLPH: Kyle Brown-11, Alex Miinte-12, Andrew Hvidzdzak-11, Nate Ploetz-11. SALAMANCA: Tyler Martin-12, Tadd Beattie-11. SILVER CREEK: Adam Klajbor-11, Josh Pfleuger-12, Kraig Gilbert-10.

CCAA III

Co-Players of the Year: Will Lucas (Maple Grove),

Nolan Hunt (Westfield)

Coach of the Year: Doug Kaltenbech (Westfield)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Jake Swan Maple Grove 12

P Tyler Swanson Pine Valley 12

P Kyle McIntyre Panama 12

C Jon Coe Westfield 12

P/1B Nolan Hunt Westfield 10

2B Will Lucas Maple Grove 12

2B Spencer Sticek Pine Valley 12

SS Collin Stack Maple Grove 11

SS Winred Nelson Pine Valley 11

SS Brandon Johnston Westfield 11

OF Travis Rammelt Westfield 12

OF/P Rob Burgess Westfield 11

SECOND TEAM: CHAUTAUQUA LAKE: Tyler Furlow-11, Kyle Mayer-11, Ian Clute-11. FORESTVILLE: Jake Nosbisch-11, Adam Pleva-12. MAPLE GROVE: Jeff Tampe-12. PANAMA: Sawyer Eggleston-12, Alec Blose-12. PINE VALLEY: Lucas Trombley-12, Josh Kilburn-12. WESTFIELD: Cam Wright-12, Dan Tofli-12.

HONORABLE MENTION: CHAUTAUQUA LAKE: Ryan Linnecke, Jordan Biggs, Avery Webb. FORESTVILLE: Cody Jackson, Mike Priest, John Murphy. FRANKLINVILLE: Brock Blecha, Will Bays. MAPLE GROVE: Kass Howard, Matt Roach, Aaron Germain, Jonah Tanner. PANAMA: Kelvin Eddy, Ricky Eddy, Eric Schutt. PINE VALLEY: Thomas Raiport, Jacob Wilcox, Talon Snyder.

CCAA IV

Player of the Year: Jared Keppell (North Collins)

Coach of the Year: Tony Presto (Brocton)

FIRST TEAM

Pos. Player School Year

P Ryan Robson Sherman 11

P Scott Laurie Brocton 12

P/IF Trevor Enterline Ripley 12

IF/P Jared Keppel North Collina 12

C Dan Lictus Clymer 12

C Dan Ferguson Brocton 12

IF Cole Stanbro West Valley 12

SS Jordan Patterson Brocton 12

SS Robert Sawicki Ellicottville 9

2B Mitch Einink Clymer 11

CF Jake Wiggers Clymer 11

SECOND TEAM: BROCTON: Wade Austin-12. CLYMER: Austin Cramer-12, Matt DeStevens-11. ELLICOTTVILLE: Tom Easton-9. NORTH COLLINS: Austin Winter-10, Brandon Zielinski-7. RIPLEY: Eric Horstman-12, Cody Sargent-11. SHERMAN: Jeremy Cole-10, Travis Henry-12. WEST VALLEY: Derek Wells-11, Jared Ras-10.

HONORABLE MENTION: BROCTON: Tayler Appel-12, Latham Dunn-10, Daulton Remington-10. CLYMER: Tom Heiser-12, Andrew Hiel-11. ELLICOTTVILLE: Phalla Musall-10. NORTH COLLINS: David Fera-11, Kyle Loretto-10, Chris Pulinsk-10. RIPLEY: Devin Pope-7, Bryce Rowe-7. SHERMAN: Kyle Carpenter-8, Jake Ames-10. WEST VALLEY: Collin Proctor-11.

See listing of the All-New York State baseball team recognized by the New York State Sportswriters Association on D6.
↧
Viewing all 708 articles
Browse latest View live
Search