Niagara Frontier League Baseball Preview

Niagara Frontier League Baseball Preview

School Name: Charter School for Applied Technologies

Head Coach: Kyle Anderson, Dan Dubiel

2021 Varsity Record: 0-16

Key Players Returning: Jadin Mecklenburg, Ameir Warren

New Players to watch out for:  Shawn Del Moral

Key Losses due to Graduation: Joseph Callanan, Vincent Pecoraro, Tyler Smith, Sal Pompeo, Jimmy Ortiz

Any Additional Information: CSAT is working on continuing to develop a competitive baseball program. We have seen an increase in the number of athletes interested in playing baseball and are working at all 3 levels to develop baseball players to compete in the years to come.

School Name:  Grand Island

Head Coach: Dean Santorio

Assistant Coaches: Brian Willats (JV Head Coach)

2021 Varsity Record: 14-5 lost in the Class “A” Finals

Key Players Returning: Jon Simpson SS/P/1st, Brayden Willats CF, Tyler Figliola LF,  Dylan Novak 2nd/P, Jake Muggli 2nd/P

New Players to watch out for: Riley Masterman 3rd/P, Nate Van Norman SS

Key Losses due to Graduation: Zach Cramer P/3rd, Logan Sionko SS/P

Joe Knight C

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

Jon Simpson – D’Youville College

School Name: Kenmore East Bulldogs

Head Coach: Leslie Simon

Assistant Coaches: Aidan Bova, Paul Spors

2021 Varsity Record: 8-10

Key Players Returning: Josh Henderson, Blake Lembke ,Frank Manzella

New Players to watch out for: Parker  Cerkiewicz ,Dom Girling, Jacob Williard

Key Losses due to Graduation: Alex Murdie, Nate Bova, Will Markott, Jake Carroll

Any Additional Information: Good athletes ,solid baseball players returning, pitching is a major question mark, no returning varsity experienced pitchers

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

Josh Menderson, Division 3 Maine- at Presque Isle D

School Name:  Kenmore West

Head Coach:  John Haynes

Assistant Coaches:  Matt Harris,  Ed Mahoney, Tony Ballistrea, Rich Fries

Tommy Lunghino, Scorekeeper-Tim Stoerr

2021 Varsity Record:  8-8

Key Players Returning:  Connor Walker, Joe Persico, Reed Lesmeister, Wyatt Sander

New Players to watch out for:  Jackson Amann, Nolan Nobile, Jayson Britton

Jackson Gallivan

Key Losses due to Graduation:  Jairo Santos, Raphael Smith, Justin Kwoka

Any Additional Information:  We will be very competitive, and we have a great group of kids.

School Name: Lew-Port

Head Coach:  Mark Waple

Assistant Coaches:  Joe Rizzo Jr. , Mike Fitzgerald

2021 Varsity Record: Won 7, Lost 10

Key Players Returning: Jason Winstanley (IF/OF) Sr. , Jack McGrath (P/IF) Sr. , Michael Baio (P/IF) Sr. , Matt Bown (OF) Sr.

New Players to watch out for: Juniors Vinny Carlo & David Pavan (IF)

School Name: Lockport High School

Head Coach: Trait Smith

Assistant Coaches: Todd Fragile, Jim Conley

2021 Varsity Record: 7-9

Key Players Returning: Jason Green, Jowell Garcia, Jake Golobek, Aaron Knuutila, Owen Wery, Zackary Wisniewski, David Adams

New Players to watch out for: Ryan Mckinney, Jared Berry

Key Losses due to Graduation: Ethan Stevens, Ben Shanley, Zachariah Just

Any Additional Information: Very strong defensively early in the season

School Name:  Niagara Falls High School

Head Coach: Robert Augustino

Assistant Coaches: Dave Zona (JV), Jim Hutchinson, David Yarger, Andrew DeWitt

2021 Varsity Record:  9-9 overall, 8-8 league

Key Players Returning: Morgan Zientara (1B, P), Riley Cardinali (C)

New Players to watch out for: 2B Anthony Savino (9th grade).   Technically not a new player but definitely one relatively unknown

Key Losses due to Graduation: Aaron Kifer (P)

Any Additional Information:  Returning 13 players including 10 seniors

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

Riley Cardinali – ECC

Morgan Zientara, Noah Licht– SUNY Fredonia

School Name: Niagara Wheatfield

Head Coach: Jim Hagerty

Assistant Coaches: Casey Gruarin, Steve Miller, Matt Anderson

2021 Varsity Record: NFL 13-3, 14-5 Overall

Key Players Returning: Mike Huff – C

New Players to watch out for: Jacob Smith – P

Key Losses due to Graduation: Andrew Stillinger, Ben Eodice

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

Huff – Western Michigan

School Name: North Tonawanda Lumberjacks

Head Coach: Eric Partell

Assistant Coach: Bret Ertel

2021 record: 10-6 regular season plus sectional loss

Key Returners: are juniors Sam Heim 3B/P and Ryan Donovan C/1B/DH. Both were All League selections in 2021. Also senior P/OF Eric Szynkowski.

New Players: to mention are junior Aaron Samsel who expects to be an everyday middle infielder. Also Aidan Haynes (RHP) who was on varsity as a freshman last year but is poised to have a breakout year as a sophomore.

We will be a balanced mix of returning players and newcomers, relying heavily on the junior class (at least 10 juniors on the roster).