Even as the weathe remains cold early in the spring, baseball was the hot topic recently inside Coca Cola Field as the Buffalo Bisons hosted their annual What’s New at the Ballpark event. With the new affiliation with the Blue Jays, the talk of the town in Toronto as well as here in Buffalo, the Bisons said this opening day is even more eagerly anticipated than most. First pitch of the 2013 season is 2:05 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 when the Herd hosts Rochester. “To be part of the Blue Jays buzz in extra exciting for us,” Bisons general manager Mike Buczkowski said. Fans can look forward to a pair of giveaways that are sure to be very popular. The Bisons replica series giveaway will feature...

The stars came out one last time at Cheektowaga Central High School as the best basketball players in Western New York participated in the Cheektowaga Lions 15th Annual Senior High School Ladies Basketball Classic on March 23. The girls were separated into four teams for two games in one night, with an MVP selected from each team, along with a scholarship winner from their respective schools, which are awarded by the Cheektowaga Lions and Fr. Justin Council Knights of Columbus. “This is always fun,” said Frank Martin (Allegany-Limestone), who coached the Knights with Brian Baker (Wilson). “They’re kids that you coach against and read about. The Lions Club does a great job with this each year...

The Lancaster High School baseball team surged to the top last season, first winning its first ECIC-I championship since 2003 and then taking Class AA by storm, dethroning rival Clarence and claiming the first sectional crown in more than a decade. This year’s team wants all of that again this season — and more. “We’re looking to go further than last year,” senior infielder Ben Haefner said. “We’re looking good; we’ve been putting some hard work in. “We had a good year last year and we have a lot of guys back,” he added. “And we have some good young new guys that are playing well, too.” The Redskins finished last season at 17-6 overall and 11-3 in ECIC-I. In the semifinals, Lancaster...

There are high expectations for the St. Mary’s baseball team in 2013. The Lancers played their way to the Georgetown Cup semifinals last season only to be defeated by St. Francis in a loss that left a bitter taste in many of the players’ mouths. The team is older and deeper than year’s past which has them all thinking one thing — this is the year to get it done. “We’re going to be the top team this year,” senior shortstop Brian Dudek said. “We’re going to be what we’re expected to be.” What’s expected of them is a team that will make it to the Georgetown Cup finals for the first time. With a senior-heavy roster, the Lancers feel that now is as good a time as ever to prove they belong...

Three of the best players in Depew High School baseball history have graduated, but this year’s club still has plenty of talent back. With many of the faces from last year’s solid season back in the lineup, the Wildcats are again hoping for big things. “We have a lot of kids back,” Depew coach Robert Parry said. “We have a lot of experience so we know what we have. And a lot of these kids have been playing baseball together since the seventh-grade. So there’s a lot of team chemistry.” The Wildcats have three captains this season and those three players will anchor the lineup as well. Senior Justin Crawley (.338 on-base percentage, 10 RBIs, seven runs in 2012) will bat second, senior catcher...

With a young team last season, the Lancaster High School softball team opened some eyes finishing a strong season that saw the Redskins compete with some of the best Class AA schools around. A lot of those girls are back this season, and Lancaster has even higher goals. “We definitely have a lot of experience and we’re hoping to pick up where we left off last year,” coach Kelly Ambrose said. “We did very well last year and we had a young team. “Now having just about everyone back, we’re excited to build on that and achieve a little bit more this year,” she added. Despite a difficult schedule and having just two seniors in the starting lineup, the Redskins finished 13-5. Among the highlights...

The goals are always set very high for the Lancaster High School girls lacrosse team. But with a ton of talent back on this particular squad, the Redskins have their eyes set on going where very few have gone before in Section VI girls lacrosse. And they believe they have the talent and desire to achieve those goals. “Our expectations are super-high,” coach Julie Buccieri said. “Obviously we’re going to take every game seriously and look to every game to make us better. But we don’t want to just win the sectional, we want to go on to the state tournament, too. “We talk about it every single season, we just want to get to that next level and we feel like we have the power to do it this...

Youth is the name of the game for the Lancaster High School boys lacrosse team this season. The Redskins have just three seniors on the roster and will often field a line-up consisting of eight sophomores. But with a positive attitude, the Redskins hope to keep improving as the season rolls along. “We’re very young this year,” Lancaster coach Rensen Mullen said. “But one of the pluses is that, they’re young but they’re willing to listen and they’re working hard.” Among the key returnees this season is junior midfielder Alex Juhasz, who scored nine goals and added 16 assists last season at the varsity level as a sophomore. Senior Brandon Ternowski is also expected to provide leadership...

The start of a new high school lacrosse season in Western New York means for the Metro Source newspapers first an array of previews from the many communities and schools that we cover and then getting out to see all of the talent from this area. Along the way, we’ll be taking notes and we hope you are too as the season culminates with what has became a successful and proud event for us, the All-Metro Boys and Girls Lacrosse Banquet, which honors the finest players and student-athletes in our area. Under the guidance of our editor, Matt Ondesko, and plenty of insight from myself and our crack staff of reporters and lacrosse gurus covering your communities, we’ll put together an all-star team...

LANCASTER - Sometimes, a little extra motivation is all you need. George Mason senior Caitlin Formato knew she could play the game. It was just trying to get everybody else outside of the Buffalo area to realize what she already knew. A three-sport athlete at Lancaster High School, Formato was on some powerhouse teams – losing only three games during her entire high school career. Even with all the success on the field, offers were tough to come by – mostly because Buffalo isn’t a hot bed, at least not yet, for women’s lacrosse. Sure she had some looks from Albany and Canisius, but Formato wanted to prove herself on the grandest stage. She wanted to be able to say she competed with some...

After making it to the Manhattan Cup finals a year ago, the St. Mary’s boys basketball team lost 10 seniors, and had a new man, former JV coach Paul Rath, taking over as head coach after long-time coach Dan Gill left for a job in Florida. It was supposed to be a year of transition and struggle for a young team with just two seniors on its roster in 2013. But that’s why they play the game of basketball on the court and not on paper. The Lancers finished the regular season with an 18-7 record and a fourth seed in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association playoffs. And though the team failed to reach the ultimate goal of winning the Manhattan Cup after suffering a semi-final loss to Canisius,...

Lancaster wrestler James Empfield had made so much progress on the mat in just one year. After a sixth-place finish as a sophomore, he found himself in the Section VI championship match as a junior. Late in a tie match with a trip to the state tournament on the line, Empfield sure wasn't turning back until he reached his goal. "I knew I had to get a takedown; I really wanted to win this match," Empfield said after posting a 7-5 decision over DeQuan Ralands of Niagara Falls to win the 195-pound championship. "I came this far, why give up now?" Empfield picked up the winning takedown with 15 seconds left in the third-period of a wild match. He became the third Redskin to secure a trip to the...

In its recent winning streak, the Depew High School boys basketball team has turned to an up-tempo attack. You can count junior Dennis Vanini among the Wildcats that have played well in that attack. “We’re definitely doing that a lot more, we want to keep the pace up and see if teams can keep up with us,” Vanini said. “And we have to take advantage of everything I get.” After a stretch of tough losses, the Wildcats have used the up-tempo attack effectively and rolled off four straight victories in ECIC-III play — two over opponents that beat the Wildcats earlier in the year. “Earlier in the season, occasionally we’d pick out spots,” with the up-tempo attack, Jones said. “Now we’re trying...

Rick Wrazin couldn’t help but be somewhat anxious when his young Niagara-Wheatfield hockey team was put in the position of being down early in the Western New York Federation semifinals. But he need not worry. As it turns out, despite fielding a team with 15 new players coming off winning the Federation title last season, this group was also up for a challenge. Wheatfield is heading back to defend it Western New York large school final after a 4-1 win over Lancaster on Monday (Feb. 18) at the Northtown Center in Amherst. The second-seeded Falcons trailed third-seed Lancaster 1-0 less than three minutes into the game, but reeled four unanswered goals to return to the final. “I was a little...

AMHERST - For two periods, the Lancaster Redskins looked in complete control of their quarterfinal game against Williamsville North. In the third period, the wheels came for the Redskins, but they were able to get back in control just in time to defeat the Spartans, 5-4, to advance to the semifinals of the Western New York Varsity Federation Hockey playoffs on Monday. “Williamsville North is a good team and they have always had a good program,” said Lancaster coach Kevin Miller. And, we knew the game was far from over. As much as we had a two-goal lead, we knew it was tough to finish. The guys persevered and I give them credit for finishing the game.” It was the Manny Manns show for Lancaster...

Chadd Nowak spent a few weeks this season in a position no wrestler wants to be in — standing on the sidelines. But after some injury issues earlier in the season, the Depew High School senior is back on the mat. Now he’s looking to take advantage of that and do some damage on the postseason. “It was really tough for me sitting out, just watching my teammates at meets and just sitting there at practice,” he said after pinning his opponent in a recent dual meet against Sweet Home. “I was helping the coaches out, but that made me want to step out on the mat even more, but I couldn’t because I was out.” After a successful junior season, Nowak was expected to be one of the leaders of the young...

After another dominant performance at the ECIC Championships, Lancaster senior Eric Lewandowski stood on the podium, collected his first-place patch, shook some hands and posted for some pictures. Just another day at work for the Redskins standout wrestler. A nice victory — but not the one he’s thinking about the most. “This isn’t really what matters,” he said. “We’ve got other tournaments coming up - big tournaments. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.” Well, that time has arrived. He started his postseason by dominating the field at the ECIC Class AA Championships on Feb. 1-2 at Lockport High School. Lewandowski clinched the championship with a pin of Seamus Bermingham of Orchard Park...

AMHERST - It was an action-packed Thursday evening at the Northtowns Center at Amherst, with schools jockeying for postseason seeds in the forthcoming WNY Varsity Hockey Federation postseason. On the facility’s Olympic Rink, Canisius Crusaders forward Greg Marsh scored the game-winning goal at 12:18 in the third period, breaking up a 3-3 tie with the Lancaster Redskins (7-4-1). It didn’t take long for the news to make its way to the Feature Rink, on which the Clarence Red Devils were in the late stages of a 5-1 victory over the Williamsville North Spartans. When the final horn sounded on the Feature Rink, the Red Devils (9-4) secured the top spot in Division I and in the large-school postseason....

The goals for Lancaster senior wrestler Steve Michel are pretty clear as he heads into his final postseason. “State championship,” he said with confidence. Yeah, that might be the goal for every high school wrestler. But Michel has what it takes to get there. Michel sure knows a thing or two about the state tournament — he’s been there in each of the last three seasons as a Section VI champion. He placed sixth at states last season. “I want a championship,” he said. “I know I belong there and I don’t expect to lose.” He entered the Section VI Class AA tournament with a 33-3 record and two of the losses came at the prestigious Eastern States Classic at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake....

Jeff Kuciel didn’t wrestle as a junior. He’s making up for lost time as a senior. The Lancaster High School standout has emerged as one of the best wrestlers in his weight class and seems to be getting better and better every time he steps out on the mat. “Kuciel was our secret and I guess the secret’s out now,” Lancaster coach Ron Lorenz said. “He didn’t wrestle last year at all but he came out this year and he’s having a phenomenal year. He’s putting things together.” Kuciel holds a record of 22-7 for his senior season. That might not seem overwhelming but the best part for the Redskins is that he’s starting to avenge some of those losses. The latest example came at the ECIC Championships...

In recent weeks, the Clarence High School hockey team has put things together and been on a roll in Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation play. Large school rival Lancaster found that out the hard way on Thursday (Jan. 25) night. The Red Devils scored early and often and posted an impressive 6-1 win over the injury-depleted Redskins at the Northtown Center. Clarence improved to 6-3 against fellow large schools and moved into a second-place tie with Frontier in Division I. Both are just one point behind first-place Lancaster, which has been on a slide ever since opening the season so hot. “That was a big game for us,” said Clarence forward Matt Colicchia, who scored a hat-trick in...

It’s a much different look for the Lancaster High School girls basketball team this season. A year ago, the Redskins were undefeated, top-ranked in Western New York and were on their way to an ECIC-I championship. Things are a little different this year. But the Redskins have continued to progress and hope to make their biggest impact come postseason time. “I think we’re rebuilding from last year and working our way back to where we were last year,” said senior forward Miranda Hardy, one of four captains on the team. “It’s different not having some of those girls we had last year. But we’re getting better.” Lancaster lost seven girls to graduation from last year’s 19-1 team, including...

It's no secret that teams in any sport would prefer not to have to come from behind in games, but sometimes it‚s just the nature of the beast that it happens. For the St. Mary's boys basketball team, coming from behind has become a reoccurring theme for them this season. It's one they want to fix. "The boys hesitate at taking shots," said head coach Paul Rath Sr. "I have to tell them just let it rip, guys. We practice threes, we practice twos a couple hours a day." In 10 games this season, the Lancers have found themselves trailing by more than six points in the first quarter six times. They come out, seemingly fired up and ready to go, but have trouble scoring when the opportunities are...

It's a new season and a new role, going from offensive lineman in football to center in basketball. But in a sense, Mike Lamb's job is very similar - use his 6-foot-7, 315-pound frame to get in his opponents' way and create room for his teammates to make things happen. "I'm just trying to help the team, whatever I need to do," Lamb said. I want to get rebounds and get the ball out to the other players that can score a lot. I'm just working on getting more box outs so we can get the rebound and setting screens to get people open." He's also looking to continue something else he seemed to a do a lot of on the gridiron. The Wildcats were 16-4 over the last two football seasons and with nine...

AMHERST - Lancaster Redskins forward Manny Manns scored an empty-net goal at the 14:54 mark of the third period, securing a 5-3 victory over the Williamsville North Spartans in a Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation matchup at the Northtowns Center at Amherst. The Redskins (9-0-1) had a 4-0 lead at one point in the third period, but the Spartans (3-7) took the game down to the wire. After scoring three third-period goals, the Spartans had a power-play opportunity – for which goaltender Matthew Ladd retreated to the bench – with less than two minutes remaining, but Manns derailed the would-be comeback with his third point of the contest. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of what the...

LANCASTER - The 2011-12 boys basketball season was as frustrating as can be for Lancaster High School junior Jacob Plonka. A knee injury forced the guard to miss the entire year and he could only watch as the Redskins struggled to a 5-14 season. He battled his way back for this season and in the early going, showed some of that shooting touch that Lancaster needed from him.” “It was frustrating being out all year,” he said. “I wanted to get back out there and help my team.” Plonka averaged nearly 11 points per game in the Redskins’ first six games. He and teammate Sean Murray have helped form a backcourt that’s hard to stop. “He’s not worried about the injury,” Lancaster coach John Otto...

LANCASTER- Only one more week to go before the Lancaster Parks & Recreation Department puts to bed the 2012 portion of the Adult Volleyball League for the year. If the Mynas are wrong, we will resume play in January 2013. The Lancaster Parks & Recreation Department would like to take this opportunity to wish all our players, sponsors, officials and support staff the best for the holiday season and for the New Year. Men’s League Tuesday Night League: Division leader Good Tymes South-Besch has quite a battle with Green Buffalo Pub-Batt before capturing two of three from them. The Green Buffalo Pub-Wife Dodgers move out of the basement with a three to zero conquest of Sal’s. Second...

LANCASTER- Bears 26 Spartans 24 Lancaster Recreation Department Girls Bantam season has begun at Como Park Elementary School. The opening game between the Bears and the Spartans was a tightly contested matchup. The Spartans started the game off strong with a balanced scoring attack. The Spartans took the lead 12 to 10 at halftime. The Bears managed to claw their way back into the lead and hold on with a 26 to 24 victory. The Bears scoring was lead by Kathyrn Weidman with eight points. Brooke Bauer netted six points. Ava Achtyl and Ally Miklas added four points apiece. Abbie Benham and Cassidy Kavathas combined for four points in the win. The Spartans balanced scoring was led by Hope Harrington’s...

LANCASTER- The 2012-2013 season has begun for Lancaster Rec Basketball and after week one, it is looking to be as competitive as ever. The Raptors and Sixers made offensive statements in the first week as they try to separate themselves from the rest of the pack early. Wizards 43, Hawks 40 The Wizards came out playing strong with tough defense and balanced scoring. As tough as the Wizards were playing, the Hawks simply would not go away. With four minutes left in the game and the Hawks down 10, they stormed out of a timeout and for the next 3 minutes chipped away at the lead until it was all tied up 40-40. Unfortunately they could not complete the comeback as the Wizards reorganized and Kyle...

LANCASTER- We are a few weeks into the Lancaster Parks & Recreation Department’s adult volleyball leagues as volleyball becomes a nice respite for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Our spotlight teams to start off this season series are sharing no ill effects from the holiday. In Men’s Tuesday Night League Steve Besch’s Good Tymes South leads the division, while Roxie Weber’s Good Tymes South and Jessica Kremers Green Buffalo Pub pace our “A” ladies both at seven and two. Men’s League Tuesday Night League: Division leader Good Tymes South-Besch goes to eight and one with a three to zero sweep of Sal’s-Rudz. Frank’s is in second as they took out the Green Buffalo Pub Wife Dodgers...