WNY coaches polls
Large school softballPts. LW
1. Clarence (6) 94 1
2. Orchard Park (3) 81 6
3. Lancaster 78 2
4. Niagara-Wheatfield 63 3
5. Niagara Falls 57 5
6. Starpoint 51 7
7. Frontier 36 4
8. Kenmore West (1) 28 10
9. Williamsville South 26 9
10. Williamsville North 13 NR
Others receiving votes: Hamburg 9, Sacred Heart 5, Iroquois 4, Lockport 3, Nichols 2.
Note: Coaches small school softball poll and coaches baseball polls were not provided to The News.
Coming attractions
• In baseball, St. Joe’s hosts the I-90 Classic Saturday as the Marauders and Clarence take on two top out-of-area private schools. St. Joe’s will meet Rochester’s McQuaid at 10 a.m., with Clarence playing McQuaid at 12:30. Then it is Erie, Pa., power Cathedral Prep’s turn as it faces Clarence at 3 and then St. Joe’s at 5:30.• In softball, No. 7 large school Frontier hosts Hamburg at 5 p.m. today, then the Falcons host top-ranked Clarence at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Also Wednesday is a top 10 large school showdown in the Niagara Frontier League as No. 5 Niagara Falls is at No. 4 Niagara-Wheatfield at 4:45 p.m.
• Today is a big day in boys lacrosse as Canisius plays at rival St. Joe’s at 4 p.m. while Clarence hosts Orchard Park in Class A action at 7; the first time the teams met on April 8, OP won, 9-7.
• While the schools’ softball teams meet at the same time a few fields over, Hamburg will play at Frontier at 5 p.m. today in a great girls lacrosse matchup. Other top matchups this week include Mount St. Mary at Sacred Heart at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and Lancaster at West Seneca East at 4:45 p.m. Thursday.
• There’s a rivalry meeting in track & field as well this week as St. Joe’s is at Canisius’ Stransky Complex at 4 p.m. Wednesday. This weekend, there are major meets Friday at Jamestown (Joe Paterniti Memorial) and Frontier (Falcon Invitational) while on Saturday, Niagara-Wheatfield hosts its Falcon Invitational and Starpoint hosts the Spartan Team Challenge.
• The undefeated boys tennis teams of the Monsignor Martin Association will meet twice this week as Nichols and Canisius play at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Nichols and at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Delaware Park.
• For some Western New York crews, one of the first times they will hit the water will be at Saturday’s New York State Rowing Association Championships in Saratoga Springs. Opening rounds are Saturday with the majority of finals on Sunday on Fish Creek.
Honors
Mike Lancaster of Cassadaga Valley was named 2013-2014 Basketball Coaches Association of New York Individual Free Throw Shooting Champion (minimum 70 made free throws) while his Cougar team was named the BCANY 2014 Team Free Throw Shooting Champion (minimum of 200 made free throws).Bulletin board
GIRLS BASKETBALL: The Second Annual Niagara County Community College Shootout consists of three one-day, eight-team events throughout the summer at NCCC’s Sanborn campus. The dates are June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9 (all Saturdays). The cost is $200 per team. For more information contact NCCC coach Nate Beutel at 807-7216 or nbeutel@niagaracc.suny.edu.BOYS BASKETBALL: A junior varsity basketball head coach position is open at Cardinal O’Hara High School. AED, CPR, and Virtus Training required. Previous experienced preferred. Qualified candidates send letter of intent, resume, and references to: Tony Pulvirenti, Varsity Head Coach, apulvirenti@cardinalohara.com
WRESTLING: St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute is seeking applicants for the position of assistant wrestling coach. Applicants should have a wrestling and/or coaching background. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, coaching the team daily in practice, organizing practice routines, travel and supervision at competition and may also include further development of the Marauder Wrestling Club for elementary and middle school athletes. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Pete Kennedy, Head Wrestling Coach, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, 845 Kenmore Ave, Buffalo, NY 14223. Electronic documents will be accepted at pkennedy@sjci.com.
Prep Talk Awards
The Prep Talk Awards, which will honor the very best of the 2013-14 high school sports year, will debut at 6 p.m. June 16 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Buffalo Bills great Andre Reed, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, will be the keynote speaker of the inaugural event.Honored will be the All-Western New York first team for football, the All-WNY first teams for boys and girls basketball, and a Prep Talk Player of the Year from more than 30 other sports The News covers. From among the invited Players of the Year, an overall Prep Talk Male and Female Athlete of the Year will be announced at the banquet. Also invited will be five finalists for the Prep Talk Coach of the Year, with the winner also announced during the banquet.
The Players of the Year for fall and winter sports will be announced and notified shortly and each will be spotlighted in a daily countdown to the first-time event. The spring winners will be announced closer to the event.
Tickets for the general public are $45. To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact Lisa Cislo at 849-5522 and lcislo@buffnews.com.
There are also sponsorship opportunities available for the event; contact Ann Brooker at 849-4413 and abrooker@buffnews.com.
Send items to Sidelines via email to mmonnin@buffnews.com and sports@buffnews.com or fax to 849-4587.