There’s nothing quite like the easy give and take of two friends on the field of play. Two friends who strive to make each other better and have nothing but pride when their friend succeeds. Niko Mancuso and Nick Atallah have such a friendship. Holding down the top two singles spots, Atallah and Mancuso have provided a one-two punch for the Kenmore West tennis team, making the Blue Devils a tough group to contend with. Atallah, a sophomore in his second season of varsity, plays the Blue Devils’ first singles, while Mancuso, a junior, is a rock at second singles. “He’s a great player,” Niko Mancuso said of Atallah. “When he’s in focus, he hits some great shots. He’s really one of the top players...

As soon as Katie Mazierski made contact, she knew the ball was going to travel a long way. But even she didn’t know just how far it went. Mazierski clubbed a home run blast that was so powerful it cleared the center field wall at T.K. Murphy Field in North Tonawanda. Not bad when you consider Mazierski was without her contacts due to a bout with a sty in her eye. “When I made contact it felt like a really smooth hit but without my contacts (in) I really didn’t notice it was going over the wall so I was still running really hard to second base,” Mazierski said. “I was shocked that it cleared the fence.” It wasn’t just the highlight hit of Niagara-Wheatfield’s 16-2 win over the Ladyjacks on...

Amber Schmigel has found her game again. As Schmigel walked off T.K. Murphy Field on April 23, the scoreboard read an 11-0 final score in favor of visiting Kenmore West. While the final certainly wasn’t what Schmigel wanted to see, she knew this was a day where she was more like herself. Schmigel played steady defense at third base for North Tonawanda, making a couple of tough throws look routine. And, in her final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh, she stroked a hard single to left. Though victory eluded the Jacks, the outing proved to be a step in the right direction for Schmigel as she looks to recapture consistency that is the hallmark of her game. “I’ve just got to be confident,”...

Bobby Liebel didn’t get to change the letters in the Tonawanda High School record book but he did do some re-writing of those records. Liebel, a Tonawanda High School junior, opened up the track and field season in championship form when he broke two school records during the Warriors meet against Eden on April 17. Liebel ran the 100 in 10.88, besting Noah Martin’s mark of 11.1 that was set in 2008. Leibel then logged a 22.16 in the 200, beating the former record of 22.56 that was set by Joe Wielgus in 2006. Just three days later, Liebel earned the MVP award at the Maroon Classic at Dunkirk High School. Liebel ran a 50.5 in 400 at the Maroon Classic, falling just one second shy of the Classic...

It was another sweep for the Blue Devils. Ryan Hussar delivered the game-winning hit and Bridget Gormley made a highlight reel catch worthy of being on ESPN, as Kenmore West topped Kenmore East in the first baseball/softball meeting of the season on April 18. Hussar’s bottom of the seventh single scored James Faso and lifted the Blue Devils to a 3-2 win at the Kenmore West Athletic Complex. “It feels good,” Hussar said. “It feels good to bring home the win for the team and possibly that could have been a key game to win the division. Words can’t describe it, really.” Faso, who struck out seven for the complete-game win, drew a lead off walk and then stole second base. The Bulldogs intentionally...

Before the team bus pulled away from Coca Cola Field in downtown Buffalo, coach Les Simon told his Bulldogs’ baseball team words that should stick with them for the rest of their lives. “You’re undefeated at a pro stadium,” he said. Kenmore East pounded out 11 hits as they blanked Hutch-Tech 11-0 in the second game of a high school doubleheader that took place at the home of the Triple A Buffalo Bisons on a frigid day April 20. While the Bulldogs bats were on fire during this chilly, blustery day that saw the temperature dip to as a low at 37, it was senior Tyler Gibson who stole the show as he delivered a one-hitter to earn the complete-game win. “I never played here before and this is just...

The Falcons couldn’t have asked for a better start. The Niagara-Wheatfield baseball team kicked off the 2013 season in fine fashion when it banged out 13 hits in a 12-6 win over Kenmore East on April 15. It wasn’t just their first game of the season, this marked the first day all season that the Falcons were able to get quality playing time outside. The result made coach Jim Hagerty extremely proud of the effort his boys turned in. “It was very refreshing to be outside. I don’t know how else to say it,” Hagerty said after the game. “We have not practiced outside yet. “We played half a game in the rain at Starpoint (April 8) and we got to see some things,” he added. “Today was our first...

It’s a case of reload as opposed to rebuild. As the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons boys tennis team enter the 2013 they do so with a balanced roster of talented seniors and juniors who have a solid two to four years together as teammates. “Every year, we’ve kind of been in a pattern where we replace three to four starters and we’re in that same pattern again this year,” Falcons’ coach Dan Krolewski said during his team’s 5-0 win over Kenmore East. “The major difference this year is that the bulk of our starting lineup is our juniors,” he added. “So it’s exciting to have this core group of ours, save for a couple of seniors, for this year and next year. “It’s really nice to have that consistency...

The numbers are there. It’s just a matter of slowly, but surely, blending all the pieces together to find that winning formula. As the North Tonawanda boys track and field team moves into the 2012 season, its roster of 42 athletes are all eager to make their impact on the team. Leading the way for the Jacks this season will be returning co-captains Adam Doucette and Kevin Fox. Doucette will run the 400 meters and two miles. Fox, who was third in the section during the indoor season, will run the 100, 200, 400 and compete in relays. Head coach Sean Kibrick, who is in his third season at NT, said that both display the dedication and strong work ethic he wants in his captains. “It’s priceless,”...

The league title is just one of the several things on the list of goals for the North Tonawanda girls track and field team in 2013. A quick scan of the roster shows that the Ladyjacks have more than enough talent to equal, or better, their 4-1 NFL record from 2012. “I think we’re going to be a very competitive girls team again,” said NT coach Sean Kibrick. “I expect to be similar to where we were last year. A competitive team in every dual meet. Hopefully, try to go 4-1 or 5-0. Always try to win and try to be one of the top three teams in the NFL.” Leading the way are co-captains Emily Pawlik and Amanda Wildt. Both juniors, Wildt and Pawlik are the core of the Jacks sprinters and will be counted...

How do you follow up a great season? If you’re Nick Pullo, you simply pick up where you left off. Only difference being that this time around you work even harder. And that’s what he is doing. Pullo, a Tonawanda High School senior, notched his first win of the season when he threw a complete-game shutout in the Warriors’ 5-0 win over Eden on April 15. Pullo turned in a commanding performance, striking out 11 Raiders as he did his part to help the defending ECIC IV champions win their league opener. Coming off of season that saw him go a perfect 6-0 on the mound and hit .400, Pullo helped the Warriors fashion the first unbeaten regular season (18-0) in THS baseball history. Pullo’s confidence...

There is always hype when the two teams that met in a league’s championship series in the previous year meet during the next regular season; there’s even more when circumstances cause the match-up to be each team’s first league game of the season. Due to rainouts last week, both St. Joseph’s and St. Francis opened up their 2013 Monsignor Martin Athletic Association baseball schedule against one another on Monday afternoon (April 15) in Kenmore and the game played out as one would expect from a contest featuring two of the top teams in the league. It was a battle between two of the top pitchers in the MMAA — Matthew Matre of St. Joe’s and Drew Bassini of St. Francis. Both were dialed in, but...

It is in the most clutch moments that the great teams are separated from the good ones. Mt. St. Mary has certainly been a great team in the Monsignor Martin for quite some time so it was fitting that the Thunder made some of the biggest plays down the stretch in winning an early-season league battle with Sacred Heart. The eight-time defending Monsignor Martin champs beat Sacred Heart 10-9 on Wednesday (April 17) on a late goal from Marie Scime, her third of the game, off a fantastic pass from Catie Meegan. “We are a very, very closely-knit team,” said Scime, a senior attacker. “We have a lot of team communication that helps us win.” Along with Scime, another hero for Mt. St. Mary was goaltender...

On May 10, the Tonawanda baseball program will pay tribute to a pair of friends who are gone, but not forgotten — Chris Slauson and Michael McInnis. Once again, the Warriors will host Roy-Hart in the second annual Christopher Slauson Memorial game, which was originally slated for April 17 but moved due to inclement weather altering the schedule. Slauson, fittingly nicknamed Mr. Tonawanda, was a strong supporter of the youth of Tonawanda, not only in athletics, but academically and artistically, as well. While Slauson, who passed away suddenly in October 2011, will obviously be remembered fondly on this afternoon, the late great Michael McInnis will have his much deserved time in the spotlight,...

The St. Joe’s lacrosse team started its season like it hopes to end it — playing hard and effectively for an entire 48-minute game. The Marauders won the opening face-off and scoring less than thirty seconds later in their Monsignor Martin opener. Those first seconds foreshadowed how the rest of the game would go as St. Joe’s defeated St. Mary’s 20-0 at Robert T. Scott Field. The player responsible for making the opening play that would set the tone for the rest of the contest was senior midfielder Andrew Pawenski, who dominated face-offs all day as he finished winning all of his 13 battles at centerfield. “That was huge,” head coach Peter Hudecki of Pawenski’s opening goal. “That’s Andy’s...

Jeff White knew he had a chance at history — and he wasn’t going to let it slip through his fingers. White, a junior on the Kenmore East baseball team, etched his name in Bulldogs’ lore when he threw a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Bishop Grimes on April 3. The Bulldogs were clinging to a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when White became fully aware that a no-hitter was an attainable goal, and he wanted it — badly. “Right around the fifth inning I came back into the dugout and we looked at the scoreboard and there were zero hits still,” White recalled. “One of my teammates, Robby McNamara said, ‘I’m not going to say anything. Just keep going.’ “I kind of realized it around the fifth inning that...

That Bulldog spirit will be tested on the courts this season. As Kenmore East prepares for the varsity boys tennis season, coach Nathan Bourke may not have the most savvy team in the NFL. But he knows he’ll never get anything less than their best effort. And, in the end, that’s all he can ask of them. Leading the way is senior captain Alex Lisowski. A four-year varsity player, Lisowski will play first singles for the Bulldogs. Freshman Frank Wozniak, is perhaps the most promising player in the program. He will get the nod at second singles. “Frank plays in the offseason year-round with his family. He comes from a big tennis family,” said Bourke. “It’s his second year on the team this year,...

The mission this season for the Nichols School softball team — prove 2012 wasn’t a fluke. But the Vikings are not assuming anything. As Nichols marches into the new season it is coming off of the rush of a magical 2012 season that saw them get to the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association championship game. Though they fell to Sacred Heart 4-1 that day, the Vikings served notice to the rest of Western New York that they were for real. Led by returning captains Ashley Lyman at shortstop, Pearl Guerin, a firstbaseman, and Morgan McDermott at second base, Nichols returns 12 players from last year’s team. The Vikings are confident but by no means cocky. Knowing that last season they were the sleeper...

The numbers are up and so is the optimism and excitement for the Kenmore East girls track and field team. As East prepares for the 2013 season it does so with an army of 50 girls ready to make their mark in the Niagara Frontier League. “I think there’s a lot of improvement from last year,” said junior captain Megan Talmon. “The girls have more dedication. I think it’s going to be a good season.” Leading the way for the Bulldogs will be Talmon and fellow junior co-captain Erin O’Brien. Both slated to run the 4x400, Talmon, a three-year veteran, will run the 400 and 800. O’Brien will compete in the 400 intermediate hurdles and 400 high hurdles. O’Brien and Talmon both feel the increased numbers...

This is one of those times when looking ahead is actually a good thing. As the Kenmore East boys track and field team prepares for a new season, they don’t just have last year in its mind. The Bulldogs, especially the seniors, are looking toward the future and are driven to build a legacy that will instill pride in the youth of the program while inspiring them to want to be part of a winning tradition. “I like that the upperclassmen aren’t just here doing their individual sport. They’re really buying into the fact that if they give back, they can create a legacy,” said boys’ head coach Shane Magaris. “They’re giving back and they’re really trying to make the younger kids better.” And the...

As the North Tonawanda Lumberjacks tennis team marches into the 2013 season, they return a majority of the key cogs that helped them fashion a 12-2 record and claim the co-championship of the Niagara Frontier League with Grand Island. Leading the way in defense of the team’s league title will be John-Michael and Andrew Lemar. The Lemar brothers are coming off yet another strong season in which they won the NFL doubles championship and came in fourth in Section VI, falling short of states by one set. This season, Andrew is slated to open the season at first singles, while older brother, John-Michael, will hold down second singles. The Lemars will likely rotate those two slots during the season....

An opportunity to head the softball team of the high school where you attended and played for four years is any hopeful coach’s dream. Caroline Polino is getting that chance. A graduate of Mount Saint Mary Academy in 2007, Polino was given the chance to coach the varsity softball team after spending time as an assistant under former manager Pat Kelly. After taking some time to soak in that she is coaching her alma mater, Polino is 100 percent business with success at the top of her mind. To achieve that success requires getting her players to play at their best. To assist in that, the team travelled to Orlando, Fla. for a modified spring training that saw them play seven times in a four-day...

The 2013 softball season is right around the corner and the Cardinal O’Hara Hawks are facing an uphill battle due in part to the incredible success of the school’s girls basketball team. Due to the overlap of seasons, the softball team wasn’t able to get any practice time in the gym for the first few weeks of its scheduled preseason because the O’Hara girls’ basketball team had needed the floor time while competing in state playoffs. O’Hara was the last team representing Western New York in the state playoffs for girl’s basketball. Nonetheless, the Hawks are back at it readying for another season. Head coach Gerry O’Sullivan likes what he has seen from his team thus far. “I can definitely...

The Cardinal O’Hara baseball team will be relying on some of its younger players and defense to win games this spring as another competitive season in the Monsignor Martin approaches. The less than ideal weather of late has limited what the Hawks have been able to do in terms of preparation for the regular season. “It’s hard to judge a lot of things,” said head coach Ray Caso. “Usually by now we’ve been able to scrimmage some local teams. But we haven’t been able to do that because of the weather, so we’re basing everything off of what we’ve been doing in the gym.” O’Hara will also look to the contributions from what should be a solid pitching staff. A big part of that rotation will be junior...

It’s more than a motto. Kenmore East softball coach Sara Ark wants it to be a way of life. “The quote that’s going on our shirt this year is ‘PrACTice Like A Champion,’” said Ark. “The word ‘act’ is in bold because they have to have pride in what they do and show that everyday from the minute they walk into the gym, the minute they leave and then everywhere whether they’re in the community or in the school,” she added. “I want them to be proud to wear that jersey and work hard to make this program better.” As the Bulldogs prepare for the season, they will be led by a trio of players who are the embodiment of the kind of character Ark wants her girls to display every single day. Setting the...

Coach Matt Chimera is confident that his dazzling dozen have what it takes to put together a strong run in the Niagara Frontier League this season. The Kenmore West Blue Devils enter the 2013 season with a somewhat smaller roster than normal, as just 12 girls will be suiting up to start the varsity season. But Chimera also sees the pluses in a small roster. “If we stay healthy, we can play with anybody,” said Chimera. “I think it’s always a concern but having 12 can be a big advantage. “I can remember the great teams we had between 2004 and 2008, we had 18 and it almost worked against us because kids just weren’t getting the reps that they needed. I think having 12 is a great number, but again,...

It’s a new chapter for the Tonawanda softball team, but the voice the Warriors now hear will not be an unfamiliar one. As the Warriors move into the 2013 season they do so minus Jay Hall who gave nearly three decades to the program before stepping down for family reasons. Enter new varsity coach Kim Fox who, after spending three seasons heading the junior varsity, is excited for the opportunity to pilot the varsity club. Inheriting a team that won double digit games last season, the Warriors have a blend of reliable veterans and young talent eager to improve their skills and make their mark on the program. Leading the way are senior captains Danielle Palladino at third base, Joanna McCarthy...

Spring Training is in the books and the Bulldogs are ready to get to work. The Kenmore East baseball team returned from its annual southern sojourn to Myrtle Beach where it took part in the Mingo Bay Classic. The Bulldogs returned to Western New York with a 1-2 record and a piece of team history as Jeff White fired a no-hitter in the Bulldogs’ 2-0 win over Bishop Grimes of upstate New York. White stuck out five, while issuing just two walks as he recorded the very first no-hitter in coach Les Simon’s 13 seasons of piloting the Bulldogs. “We played airtight defense,” Simon said of the game. Continuing on that thought Simon said while White obviously was dealing some of the nastiest pitches...

It’s a new day and new direction for the North Tonawanda softball team. As the Jacks prepare for the 2013 season, they are doing so under the watchful eye of new coach Samantha Rajski. Mission one for Rajski: restore confidence in a team that took its share of lumps on the field last year. Rajski’s game plan is simple. Tell them the truth. Last year is in the past. This is a new year — a clean slate, in more ways than one. “I told them that it didn’t really matter what happened last year,” Rajski said. “It’s a new year, new players, new team. I told them I was excited to come here and get things going with them. “I think because I haven’t seen many of the girls play it helps a lot because...

There is a reason why the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons softball team is always a solid contender. Every player that suits up for the program knows that nothing less than her best is acceptable. As the Falcons enter the 2013 season, they will be led by a solid core of experienced players, most notably tri-captains Meghan Maranto, Alyssa DePetris and Ali Gonyea. All returning starters, Gonyea will be back at third base, while DePetris will split time between left field and shortstop. Maranto returns behind the plate as one of the best catchers in all of Western New York. Also back is four-year varsity player Laura Crooks, who will patrol center field, while Katie Mazierski (SS/2B) returns in...