Niagara-Orleans Pre Season Profiles

Akron Central

Head Coach: Greg Bell

Assistant Coaches: Jim Holtz

2017 Varsity Record: 7-11

Starters Returning: Sr. Derek Holtz (3B, SS), Jr. Brandon Orr (SS), Sr. Jacob Cummings (CF), Sr. Brandon Murty (P, LF)

Key Players: Sr. Jacob Cummings – CF, 2nd Team All-League in ’17, hit .422 with 27 hits and team record 25 SB. Jr. Brandon Orr – SS, P 2nd Team All-League in ’17, Hit .345 with team high 13 RBI. 3 freshman promoted from JV – Mitchell Holtz (2B), Adam Mietz (OF, P), David Kalinowski (C) are competing for starting positions.

Key Losses due to Graduation: None

Goals for Season: Return to upper division in the N.O. and advance in Sectional play

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known? Derek Holtz (3B, SS) – Medaille College

Albion Central School                                                                                         

Head Coach: Bruce Blanchard

Assistant Coaches: Bill Dambra

2017 Varsity Record: 8-4 in league, 9-5 overall

Starters Returning: Junior Bryce Pritchard (2nd team all- league pitcher), Junior Vincent Zona (OF. Pitcher), Junior Harrison Brown (catcher), Sophomore Thomas Furmansk (pitcher, infield), Liam Ward (1st team all-league catcher). Junior Addison Christ (infield)

Key Players: All the returning starters

Key Losses due to Graduation: Jacob Buzzard (catcher)

Goals for Season: Win league and make a run in sectionals

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

Barker

Head Coach: Rob Mucha

Assistant Coaches: Jim Harris

2017 Varsity Record: 11-6 Overall, 8-4 N/O League

Starters Returning: Collin Webb (CF), Preston Harris (C,SS,P), Austin Sullivan (1B), Evan Ecker (SS, P)

Key Players: Each of the listed above will be needing to play huge versatile rolls this year as we have a team consisting of only 9 players!

Key Losses due to Graduation: Graduated 11 seniors last year after going in back to back years to the Class C sectional finals. Key players lost are Eddie Wasnock who has gone to Fredonia to pitch, infielder/pitcher Ryan Voss, infielder Chauncey McKee and catcher Devan Mangan.

Goals for Season: To remain competitive in the N/O league and to collect as many wins as possible to improve our seeding in the Class C tournament.

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known? Evan Ecker – Wells College

Medina High School – Mustangs

Head Coach: Don Baker

Assistant Coaches: Brian Fry, Chris Goyette, Tom Robinson and Jon Sherman

2017 Varsity Record: 5-12

Starters Returning: Alex Allis – C, Brett Reimer – P, 3B, Brian Fry – SS, P, Chris Goyette – P, 2B, Trevor Luthart – P, 1B, Nathan Sherman – CF and Matt Saj (jr.) – LF, Zach Fike (8th gr.) – P, 1B

Key Players: Brett Reimer (Senior) led the team with .446, 25 hits, 20 RBI and 3 HR, Alex Allis (senior) – .346, 18 hits and 12 RBI, Brian Fry (Fresh.) – 12 hits 10 RBI, Nate Sherman (Soph.) – 9 hits, 8 RBI, 2 triples, Chris Goyette (soph.) – 3.97 ERA in 10 app., 42.1 IP and 50 K., Trevor Luthart (soph.) – 3-3, 4.16 ERA in 9 app., 35.1 IP and 42K

Key Losses due to Graduation: none

Goals for Season: Win the Niagara-Orleans Championship

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known? none

Newfane

Head Coach: Chad Gretz

Assistant Coaches: Ryan Keys, Mike Capen

2017 Varsity Record: 1-14

Starters Returning: All

Key Players: Garrett Srock, Matt Di Tullio, David Bunn, Kyle Jurek, Max Webber

Key Losses due to Graduation: None

Goals for Season: Improve League Record, Develop young players

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known? N/A

Royalton-Hartland High School

Head Coach: Mike Tarnowski

Assistant Coaches: Tom Brigham – Bill Bruning

2017 Varsity Record:   13-6

Starters Returning: Alex Xapsos (INF) – Jake Bruning (OF/P) – Ben Schwab (INF/P) – Charlie Bruning (INF/P)

Key Players: Alex Xapsos (INF) – Jake Bruning (OF/P) – Ben Schwab (INF/P) – Charlie Bruning (INF/P)

Key Losses due to Graduation: Cameron Meadows (P) – Eric Fitch (3B/P) – Jacon Stern (C) – Austin Walker (OF) – Brenden Hess (INF)

Goals for Season: We want to continue to be a competitive program throughout Niagara county. With a versatile group of talented players, we want to set ourselves up to hopefully compete for our third league championship title in three years.

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

Jacob Bruning – Niagara University

Alex Xapsos – Seton Hill University

Ben Schwab – Wells College

Wilson High School – Lakemen Baseball

Head Coach:  Mark Kurtz

Assistant Coaches:  Pat Diez, Rob Linhart

2017 Varsity Record: 8-4 Niagara/Orleans League, 9-7 overall

Starters Returning:           John Bender, Nate Fox, Jackson Rotella, Tanner Feeley, Steven Frerichs

Key Players: John Bender, Ian Evans (transferred from Lew-Port), Tanner Feeley, Jackson Rotella

Key Losses due to Graduation: Jonah Miller, Connor Seeley, Brayden Skobjak, Justin Daul

Goals for Season: To have a team that competes every game and challenges for a league title. To play with good sportsmanship and our seniors show good leadership.

Players committed to Playing in College and Where if known?

John Bender – Gannon University – 1st team All WNY – Infield, set state record for batting average

Ian Evans (Junior) – Elon University – Pitcher