Sharon Guarino was waiting on deck for her next event to come up in the Kenmore West/Lockport track and field meet at Crosby Field on April 30. But there was something a bit different about Guarino this time out. In years past, she might be so driven to win that she shut out everything around her. This time, Guarino was wearing a content smile as she simply took in the moment of being a varsity athlete, and the lasting friendships she has made along the way in athletics. “I can say that all of my true friends have come from some sort of sports team,” said Guarino, a Ken-West senior. “But now it’s time to just have fun and it’s time to really push those who are younger than me. It’s their time...

Charlotte Miller is a self-admitted perfectionist. “Yes, I am actually,” Miller said with a smile. And near perfection is what Miller has been flirting with this season. A junior on the Kenmore West softball team, she’s hit the midway point of the season as the owner of a spotless 5-0 record and 1.17 ERA. Coming off of a strong sophomore campaign where she established herself as one of the most promising pitchers in the Niagara Frontier League, Miller worked hard in the offseason with Blue Devils’ pitching coach Joe Catalano to refine her game. “Over the winter, I pitched almost everyday and he helped boost my confidence. I just feel so much more comfortable,” said Miller, who is averaging...

The number 18 has been on his mind for a long time. After one-upping that last week, Aaron Phillips can sleep with a smile knowing that his name will be engraved in the record books. On Friday, May 3, Cleveland Hill’s junior pitcher struck out a school record 19 batters in a 10-0 win against Lackawanna at home. The previous record was 18, set by Ryan Amos in 2003. “In the last inning, I got up there and I knew what I was at,” said Phillips, who was also 2 for 3 at the plate with a walk and a run. “I knew what I needed to break it. In that moment I had no intention on tying that record. It was mine.” Phillips began the game with 11 straight strikeouts. He was on his way to a perfect game until...

Allison Nestico should be in the Cheektowaga softball record books for many years to come. Central’s senior pitcher broke a 25-year-old single season record for strikeouts last Friday, and with a handful of games remaining, by the time Nestico is done, she may claim the record for at least another 25 seasons. That is, if it can ever be broken. The magic number, set by Robin Ladowski in 1988, was 86 strikeouts. On May 3, Nestico went into Depew with 84. She finished the game with three strikeouts — just enough to break a record she had no idea she was close to. “I didn’t know until after the game,” said Nestico, who spent most of her time at first base last season. “All the parents knew, but...

To enter the home stretch of the season undefeated, you need some standout players. And the Clarence baseball team has a whole roster full of them. The Red Devils have gotten solid contributions all around, at the plate, in the field and on the pitcher’s mound — and that’s made them pretty much impossible to beat. “We kept 22 players this year because we had 22 guys I thought could play,” Clarence coach Dave Smith said. “So, we have guys that can play and it shows. We have great depth.” Clarence entered the year with high hopes and it sure hasn’t disappointed. The Red Devils started the year 14-0 and were ranked fourth in the state in the first poll of the season. “It’s very, very difficult...

When Kathy Odrobina steps to the plate, she’s just looking to make things happen for the Alden High School softball team. And that’s exactly what she’s done. Last year’s leading hitter has been even better this season for the Bulldogs and that has Alden thinking about championships. “Just trying to hit the ball and put it in play,” she said of her expectations for herself. “I can get around on it pretty fast. I just want to get on base and help get us some runs.” Odrobina is a headline member of a strong junior class for the Bulldogs. A third-year varsity player, she hit .492 with a .544 on-base percentage, as well as adding 26 RBIs and 30 hits, a season ago. She’s been even better this...

An offseason of hard work is paying dividends for Iroquois High School baseball standout Zach Trumpler. The Chiefs senior has been the ace of the pitching staff and is looking to keep the program among the elite in Western New York. He’s 5-0 so far this season and one of the most dominant pitchers in Western New York, even as perennial-power Iroquois has experienced some ups and downs. “Zach’s pretty tough when he’s on his game,” Iroquois coach Marv Matteson said. “He hasn’t lost yet this season and I hope he never does.” Trumpler was a first-team ECIC-II all-star team as a junior, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.19 ERA, and has been even better as a senior. He’s headed to Canisius College...

Another year and another championship for the Depew High School softball team. The Wildcats continued their dominance of ECIC-III and secured their third straight division championship and fourth in five years on Tuesday with a 10-5 win over rival Maryvale. “It’s great,” senior third baseman Caitlyn Carter said. “I knew our team could do it. We worked hard and it’s great to get it.” The win was the 32nd straight league victory for the Wildcats, who last lost to an ECIC-III foe on April 14, 2011 at Cheektowaga Central. “It’s nice thinking about it,” said senior pitcher/outfielder Lauren Yaskow, “knowing what the team has to do every day and then everyone goes out and does it. I’m really...

If a softball pitcher is in a jam, she’s probably hoping to minimize the damage until she can get to the weak spot in the opposition’s lineup. But if she’s facing Lancaster, she’s going to be waiting for a while. The Redskins’ lineup has been torrid from top to bottom and that has them thinking big as the postseason looms. “There’s a different hero every day,” Lancaster coach Kelly Ambrose said. “And that’s great to see. We don’t have to rely on one girl; everyone can get the job done.” Through 12 games, nine Redskins’ starters were hitting at least .290 and Lancaster was hitting .318 as a team. The Redskins collected a total of 123 hits and 81 runs. “Everyone in our lineup has a good...

With quality performances across the board, the St. Joe’s track and field team is off to a 3-0 great start under head coach Matt Hellerer. “Things have been going very well,” said Hellerer. “I’m very optimistic right now.” The Marauders’ have young throwers and jumpers but have been getting solid contributions from their athletes in the circles and pits, respectively. The distance runners have been pulling their weight as well. St. Joe’s has a very deep and talented roster, but the strength of this team has been in the sprint department. A big reason behind the sprinters success is Lawrence Williams. The senior sprinter has been coming up big for the Marauders this season in the 100 and 400...

What happens when there are no seniors on a roster? That was a question that Mount St. Mary tennis coach Laura Ellis had to find an answer to this season as her 2013 team’s most experienced players are its five juniors. She moved players around, and put some in positions they weren’t used to being in to find a lineup that worked. It seems to have worked as the Thunder have enjoyed early season success despite such a young roster. “Right now, I’m happy with where we are at,” Ellis said. “We’re still progressing and getting better every match, and that’s where I want us to be because All-Catholics are coming up (soon).” Losing its first and second singles players left the team with low expectations...

The Thunder has roared loud and clear in track and field once again this year with an impressive 6-0 start this season. Mt. St. Mary has been able to overcome small numbers with hard work and determination. “We have a really small team, but, athlete for athlete, they’re awesome,” Mt. St. Mary coach Chris Monaco said. “They’re hard workers, everybody pulls their weight and there isn’t anybody that doesn’t factor in at some point.” It is this kind of work ethic that has enabled the Thunder to defeat teams with much greater numbers. “They are just crazy hard-working and dedicated kids,” exclaimed Monaco. “It’s the commitment from the kids that have helped us beat bigger teams.” The Mt. St....

The Iroquois High School boys lacrosse team is looking to show a mid-season slump is a thing of the past. Despite starting eight underclassmen, the Chiefs started the season looking like a force to be reckoned with, posting early-season victories over perennial-powers Niagara-Wheatfield and West Seneca East. Things turned sour recently, however, as Iroquois dropped three of four games. An impressive 16-6 win over North Tonawanda, however, is the start of what the Chiefs hope is a strong run to the finish. “We definitely started out real well, but then we hit a bump in the road,” junior midfielder Colton Reformat said. “But we’re coming back with a little bit of vengeance.” The Chiefs...

Yeah, they’re that good. As the Lockport Lady Lions track and field team moves closer to a fourth consecutive Niagara Frontier League title, they’re doing so knowing they have the dazzling duo of Keeley Ralyea and Rachel Williams leading the way. Ralyea and Williams have cemented their spots as two of the most consistent throwers in Section VI and are key factors why the Lions are 3-0 in the NFL. Interestingly enough, both are in two very different places in their careers, yet their contributions have been so very vital to helping the team, and each other, excel. Ralyea, a senior, is the seasoned four-year veteran of the team. Ralyea has qualified for states the past two seasons and she...

In poker, there’s nothing quite like having an ace up your sleeve. In high school tennis, there’s nothing quite like having an ace at first singles. As the Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons tennis team continues it’s quest for a spot at the top of the Niagara Frontier League, they feel secure going into every match because they have Jason Bolea leading the way. “I approach every match with the same positive attitude and the same concepts that I want and make sure I do (them) correctly,” Bolea said. “So far I’ve been playing exactly how I’ve wanted and it’s been going well.” A junior co-captain in his third season of varsity with the Falcons, Bolea gives his team the presence of a pure tennis player...

There is a reason why Ryan Hussar is seeing positive results on the baseball field. He put in the work and dedication it took to raise the level of his game. Simple as that. Hussar was the man of the hour when he delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh to lead Kenmore West to a 3-2 win over Kenmore East on April 18. In his second season with the Blue Devils varsity team, Hussar knew that because of a roster change over the door of opportunity would be open and he was going to make the most of his chance. “One of the former players didn’t want to play this year,” Hussar said. “So I took his role and I knew I would be key in the success of this team.” Standing at 6-foot-4,...

KENMORE - Trevor Tumiel never asked why me? All he ever thought about was just getting back to the game he loves. Tumiel, a 17-year-old senior at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute ,is in his second official season of varsity baseball, has been a key figure in the Marauders quest to repeat as Georgetown Cup champions. A consistent bat in the lineup Tumiel has been hitting over .300 and has been the anchor of the defense as the Marauders starting shortstop. But Tumiel’s journey to the starting lineup was far more heroic than most observers can even begin to imagine. In in his short life Tumiel has experienced three separate instances where he has suffered through a collapsed lung. Once on the...

Adam Mourgas knows how to carry on a family tradition, while carving his own path along the way. A senior in his fourth season with the North Tonawanda tennis team, Mourgas is part of the Jacks unbeaten first doubles team that has helped NT fashion a perfect 7-0 mark and hold down first place in the Niagara Frontier League at the halfway point of the season. “I think having four years of experience under my belt definitely helped a lot,” Mourgas said prior to a match against Kenmore West on April 26. “(What’s been important is) probably just practicing a while before the season and getting up our confidence as a team, not only NT as a whole, but me and my partner Nick Nolan.” In his second...

When your coach puts the captains ‘C’ on you it’s a pretty meaningful thing. It shows that your coach has faith in you to set the right example everyday, to handle the pressure and responsibilities of being a leader. But when your teammates vote you as a captain that’s another level of respect. When your peers give you that vote of confidence and respect it’s something you never forget. And something you don’t take for granted. Noah VanDenBosch has that level of respect. “I ask each player individually the same two questions,” said Lockport coach Steve Styrzo. “Who do you foresee to be a leader on this team? Second question is, tell me why?” Styrzo said the support for VanDenBosch was...

Entering high school as a freshman can be intimidating for even the strongest willed of people. You’re entering a new school not knowing many, if any, other students; you’re trying to find out where you fit in and make new friends; you’re learning things in class that would have seemed impossible to learn just months before. It can be a daunting time for anyone. Now, just imagine all of that, and then add on to it being a freshman going out for a varsity team with, mostly, upperclassmen on the roster. But Mount St. Mary Academy freshman Francesca Gugino was not over her head when she decided to play for the school’s varsity softball team fresh out of eighth grade. “When I came out it...

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...

Ms. May’s heroics began a few days early this season. On Friday, April 26, Cleveland Hill’s sophomore catcher Emily Maziarz drove in the tying run and scored the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh inning, reaching home on an error after hitting a one-run triple, to lift the Lady Eagles over Eden 3-2. “I needed it because I wasn’t hitting well earlier in the game,” said Maziarz, who helped lead Cleve Hill to a program-first sectional title last season. “Before we went out there, coach said ‘I need a hero and it could be anybody.’ Sometimes you just have to step up. If it wasn’t for Haley [Muehlbauer], we wouldn’t be in that position.” Striking out in her previous two at bats, Muehlbauer...

Katrina Buczkowski knows she has some gigantic shoes to fill as she steps into the circle as Clarence High School’s No. 1 pitcher this season. Her predecessor, Katie Bull, was 21-1 last season and earned third-team all-state honors. Oh yeah, and she helped lead the Red Devils to the first state championship in program history. A lot to live up to, for sure, but so far Buczkowski has been up to the task. “Following Katie Bull is kind of a big deal and a lot to live up to,” she said. “But I’m doing my best and apparently it’s working.” Buczkowski won her first eight starts of the season. She won MVP honors at Williamsville South’s Gerry Gentner Tournament and four days later, took a perfect...

It had all the makings of an instant classic — the defending league champion going up against the team that hopes to dethrone the kings. The game on Monday (April 29) also featured the last two unbeaten teams in the Monsignor Martin when the St. Joseph’s Marauders traveled to Lancaster to face the St. Mary’s Lancers. The game didn’t disappoint. Matt Matre of St. Joe’s and Lucas Schaefer of St. Mary’s went pitch for pitch with one another all afternoon long in a classic pitcher’s duel. It was a case of who would blink and make the first mistake. With Lancer shortstop Brian Dudek on second in the top of the fourth, junior JD Andreessen hit an RBI single to center field that drove in Dudek....

The Alden High School baseball team’s five-game winning streak may have come to a crashing halt. But the lofty expectations for the season remain. “We very much have high expectations for this season,” Alden coach Frank Bundy said. “We plan on winning the section.” The Bulldogs have shown they have the pitching and hitting to get that done. A strong three-man pitching staff is led by multi-sport star Corey Barczykowski, who took a no-hitter into the seventh-inning in his April 9 start against Batavia, eventually settling for a complete-game 4-2 victory. Junior Austin Hopcia has also been strong on the mound, most notably on Monday as he fired a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 4-0 win...

For five seasons, the Iroquois High School softball team had the luxury of having Sara Tauriello in the pitching circle. But her reign has ended and that leaves rather lofty standards for her successor. So far, sophomore Amanda Metz has been up to the challenge. Metz, who saw considerable action last season as the Chiefs’ No. 2 pitcher, has stepped in and excelled in the role of an ace. And she hopes to help Iroquois back to the Section VI championship game and beyond this season. “We had a great pitcher and it was nice watching her,” Metz said. “I feel like I have to work hard to fill her shoes and bring us back there. There’s a little bit of pressure, but I had a really good team behind...

Despite a winless record, the track and field team from Mount Mercy is keeping its collective head up. The Magic are not letting their lack of wins take away from two primary reasons why athletes are involved in the sport — improving oneself and enjoying doing so. “I know the girls are all having a lot of fun,” said Mt. Mercy coach Ian McCracken. “They all try to work on improving their personal bests which is what I like to focus them on doing.” Size and inexperience have been contributing factors to Mt. Mercy’s struggles this season. On a team of only 13 athletes, over half with less than two years of experience, Olivia Dugan is the Magic’s only senior. From a coaching standpoint, it...

He stands at the plate with his arms outstretched looking at his bat, thinking about what he’s going to do when the next pitch comes. He digs his cleats in, chokes up on the bat, and then watches as a fastball comes right down the middle of the plate — he swings. The ball flies into right field past the outfielder for a triple as his teammates cheer from the dugout. After being hit home, he goes to his teammates, and lets them know exactly what he saw from the pitcher that allowed him to make contact and get the hit that he did. His teammates listened and learned from a leader on the team. Last year, that wouldn’t have been the case for Bishop Timon-St. Jude senior Brad Wellenzohn. No one...

SOUTH BUFFALO - You would think at just 5-foot-7, it would be pretty hard to notice Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School attackman Layne Collins. After all, Collins is just one of a handful of Timon Tigers that is being look at, or have signed, with Division I Schools. But, if you talked to others on the team, Collins is what makes the high-powered Timon offense run. “Layne is a huge cog (for this team),” said Timon coach Mike Burke, after their 17-10 win over Hamburg. “He is so smart. He is always in the right position. He always makes the right looks. He is never out for himself. He is a great, great, team player. He might be, honestly, the most important player offensively for us.” A junior,...

Austin Speaker insists he has confidence in the defense behind him. The Starpoint High School pitching standout just doesn’t tend to use those guys very often. The Spartans’ star junior started out the season on a torrid strike-out pace. He recorded 32 strikeouts in his first 16 innings pitched. “We all like to get strikeouts,” he said with a laugh. “But when you have a good defense, you have confidence that even if they put the ball in play, a play is going to be made.” In his first four starts, including three victories, he totaled 37 strikeouts in 36-plus innings pitched. “He been getting a ton of strikeouts for us,” Spartans coach Tim Racey said. “He’s been our ace in the hole; he’s...