[photo1]When Frontier is going well, Mike Morlock and his Falcons believe they can beat any team in Western New York. But the final few weeks of the regular season did not go exactly as planned.With only one game remaining before the playoffs — they hosted Hamburg on May 16, the Falcons lost four of six games to finish what had been a highly-anticipated ECIC Division I slate at 8-6 and in fourth place.Frontier pulled out one-run wins at Lancaster and Jamestown, but also lost disappointing games to Sweet Home and West Seneca West, two of the teams at the bottom of the division standings, and fell by one run to defending sectional champion Clarence despite scoring 11 times. The Falcons began that... more

[photo1][photo2]Though Lake Shore didn’t quite measure up to a Hamburg team enjoying one of the program’s best seasons when the two met Tuesday (May 15), this regular season has marked another step forward for the Eagles.Behind one of the best returning classes the program has seen in seven seasons as a varsity, the Eagles eclipsed last year’s new mark of eight victories in a season with 10 this year and the possibility for more exists with the playoffs starting later this week.Lake Shore actually started the season at 9-1, but a few injuries and sub-par performances have the Eagles entering the playoffs 10-6 overall and 7-5 in Class B action.“This was the first time we had a lot of solid returning... more

[photo1]By Michael Straw, Sun correspondentSt. Francis grad plays second pro game in BuffaloThe path to success hasn’t always been a smooth one for Syracuse Chief second baseman Jim Negrych. In fact, it’s been quite bumpy. But that hasn’t stopped the St. Francis graduate from continuing on it in hopes of realizing his ultimate dream.From being an undersized, lightly recruited prospect out of a city not exactly known for producing baseball players to suffering a potentially life-threatening infection after an abdomen injury and then being cut by two professional teams, Negrych has had much to overcome in trying to make it in baseball. He’s now back playing in Triple A for the second time in his... more

[photo1]Frontier, Hamburg earn key divisional winsThere is usually no question whether a Lake Shore girls lacrosse team will be able to find the back of the net.This season, the Eagles have added a disciplined and effective defensive effort to their repertoire. So while there are plenty of options on the offensive end, the team’s back end has been no slouch either.Lake Shore enters its final three regular season games at 10-3 overall and tied at 5-1 in Class C with perennial power Amherst. The two teams have split a pair of one-goal games during the regular season. Most recently, the Eagles put forth one of their best defensive efforts of the season on May 7 in a big non-league 12-7 win over... more

[photo1]Call it a sign of respect or simply a game of strategy but when North Collins dominated defending Class D champion and rival Pine Valley twice this season, the Eagles did so facing neither of its opponents’ top two pitchers.It’s common practice at the high school level for a team to throw its best against who it perceives to be the top opponents. But in anticipation that the two teams may be meeting for a fifth consecutive season in the sectional final, Pine Valley seems content not to tip its hand to North Collins and let the chips fall as they may. The chips fell 24-4 in favor of North Collins in its two wins.However, during the past two seasons that type of game planning has certainly... more

[photo1]Eden has turned a corner, going from a team struggling to find its first win to one that hopes to find itself challenging for a place in the sectional final.Despite this underclassmen-laden team beginning the season 0-5, Eden head coach Chris Archabald said his group’s mental toughness has never waned. He believes it is a team that’s getting better not just from natural progression but also because it’s willing to work so hard at it. Since their first win of the season on April 25 — 15-2 over Lewiston-Porter, the Raiders have reeled off five victories in their past six games. Four of the five wins have come in Class C play, putting Eden back in the top half of the league and in a better... more

[photo1]So far, the 2012 season has been such a smooth ride for Hamburg, it’s almost surprising to see the Bulldogs actually be challenged by an opponent. But even when faced with two tough tasks in four games last week, Hamburg fought through it to keep an undefeated ride going.The Bulldogs held of Iroquois 2-1 on May 2 in the team’s second one-run game of the season and after trailing for the first time all season, rolled past Starpoint 11-4 two days later. In between, Hamburg beat Williamsville South 5- and to begin the week, defeated Lake Shore 10-0 on April 30. Hamburg improved to 10-0 overall and are atop ECIC Division II with an 8-0 mark.In the tightest of the games last week, Kailee Ramaekers... more

[photo1]Immaculata senior to run cross country for St. BonaventureMaggie Schunk didn’t show up on the track and cross country course with the natural ability to run past many of her opponents.In fact, the Immaculata senior will admit she could barely run a 5K (3.1 miles) when she showed up for her first season of cross country in the fall of her freshman year.But Schunk wasn’t about to settle for being a runner who merely crosses the finish line. She was determined to work her way up on the team, while also catching many of the runners that were passing her as she first learned how to better herself at the new sports.Schunk caught up quickly and then, so did her confidence. She has become one... more

[photo1]Forty-five days ago, Mark Sullivan was in a local sporting goods store buying equipment in anticipation of fielding Immaculata Academy’s first girls lacrosse team. Its hard for the team’s head coach to imagine that this trial junior varsity squad is now two games into its inaugural season.“We’ve seen a lot of progress,” said Sullivan, who’s being assisted by Brian Attea. “As they get their opportunities and first tastes of success, whether that’s in catching or throwing, they build from that. I’m really proud of the girls. It takes some guts to come out and try something new against teams that have been around for a while.”When the price tags were ready to be taken off the sticks, just... more

[photo1]If St. Francis was fatigued from three meets in as many days, it certainly didn’t show. The Red Raiders won the Olean Invitational, breaking multiple records over the course of the competition on April 28.After defeating St. Joe’s on Thursday (April 26) and taking second at the Dunkirk Invitational the next night, with that meet concluding at 10:30 p.m. after a power outage with three events left, the Red Raiders rose to the occasion the next morning at Olean Middle School, winning the competition for the first time since 2006. St. Francis won six events, including setting three meet records, a track record and a school record in the 4x400. Senior Akeel Lynch led the way setting the... more

[photo1][photo2]Tom Page and Ryan John were two of the more impact male athletes in Eden High School’s Class of 2012.Both hope that impact can be felt right away in the collegiate ranks. On Wednesday (April 25), the high school celebrated Tom Page, who will wrestle and further his education at Division I American University in Washington D.C., and John, who is to play football and attend Division II Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania.It only seems fitting that Page will continue his wrestling career into college. The Eden senior, who will go down as one of the finest Raiders’ wrestlers in the history of the program, plans to take his next step on the mat at American. In addition, he’ll follow in the... more

[photo1]It started to become clear to Taylor Bates that she could have a future in pole vaulting her sophomore season while competing at the ECIC Championships.Though she came up just three inches short of qualifying for her first Section VI Championship meet, her vault of 10-feet, 3-inches not only set a school record but also significantly increased her past efforts and gave her confidence in the heights she may reach ahead. “I thought that I could do even better,” said Bates who after the 10-3 effort went from a seasonal competitor in track and field to year-round. She was right on. With the help of a personal coach and regimented training workout at school and in the pole vault pit, Bates... more

[photo1]Frontier may have fallen 8-7 to Clarence on April 26, but the game could become a turning point in the Falcons’ season.Four days later, Frontier used its newly-found confidence and a no-hit pitching performance from senior Sarah Moretta to eke past Orchard Park 2-0. The Falcons scored both runs in the sixth as Vanessa Bauch and Courtney Lipka delivered RBI singles.“I feel like they started to put it all together and realized they can play as well as any other team if we minimized our errors and build on our experiences,” said Schruefer, whose team improved to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in ECIC I. “We really battled a very good pitcher from Clarence and never gave in.”Aside from riding the arm... more

[photo1]N. Collins, St. Francis continue winning ways; Frontier streak snap with loss to Orchard ParkBob Kowal knew all about Hamburg’s ability to come-from-behind, which is why he wasn’t comfortable even as Lake Shore led 10-4 going into the fifth inning on April 30.The Eagles’ head coach was right to feel uneasy. The Bulldogs cut the lead to one with a two-run fifth, followed by a three-run sixth. The circumstances called for a bold move. Kowal made it by having shortstop Tyler Mascio make his varsity pitching debut and the sophomore did not let him down.Mascio got out of trouble in the sixth, then needed to face only four batters in the seventh to lock down a crucial 10-9 ECIC II win over... more

[photo1]Leading up to Friday (April 27) evening’s game, the Hamburg girls lacrosse program was so focused on raising money for the cause of its youngest teammate, Ellie DeLucia, who has been afflicted by childhood cancer, that it took the varsity team a bit of adjusting to regain focus on playing.Once it did so, Hamburg proved why it is considered one of the top teams this year in Western New York in beating cross-town rival Frontier 9-4 on Howe Field. After the defending Class A champion Falcons got out to a 2-0 lead, Hamburg scored five straight goals, carrying into the early second half, then held on with a dominant defensive effort in this non-league contest with proceeds going toward Alex’s... more

Bulldogs hold off Brother Rice 11-10, raise funds for Van Tine Foundation scholarships[photo1][photo2]Hamburg not only proved it belonged playing a second nationally ranked team this season, this time, the Western New York power pulled off one of the program’s best wins yet.The Bulldogs held off 13-time Michigan state champion Brother Rice 11-10 on Saturday (April 28) evening in front of a large crowd at Howe Field.While manhandling most of its league competition, only two of seven teams coming within seven goals in Class B action, Hamburg got another taste out of out-of-state competition and won for a second time by one goal. In the other game against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Bulldogs... more

Frontier's Taylor, Krasinski, McGiveron also sign to play in college[photo1][photo2][photo3][photo4]Three years ago, a strong sophomore class of volleyball players at Frontier was well on its way to prosperous times for the school’s boys program. But the accomplishments of the past two seasons may not have ever been as impressive without the addition of Nick Smalter to that group.After some recruiting from his club volleyball mates, Smalter transferred from St. Francis following his sophomore year to join the likes of Matt Taylor, Tom Scheck and Drew Durni at Frontier, and the group went on to lead the Falcons to consecutive Section VI Class A titles over two dominant seasons.“I don’t regret... more

[photo1]In a matter of two days, Lake Shore took care of both Class C finalists from last season. In its first season in the classification after winning the program’s first-ever title last season in Class B, the Eagles outlasted five-time defending sectional champion Amherst 9-8 on April 17 before defeating East Aurora 11-8 two days later.Alie Jimerson scored five of Lake Shore’s nine goals against Amherst, while seventh grader Shayla Scanlan was strong at the center position. On the defensive end, Courtney Black stopped seven shots in goal. Vivian Curry, Marissa Haring and Kiersten Kennedy also played a large part in the victory by keeping the midfield moving and causing turnovers, according... more

[photo1]Playing two games in less than 24 hours in Pennsylvania had no ill effects on St. Francis. The Red Raiders bounced back from a tough 11-10 Monsignor Martin loss to St. Joe’s by going on the road and beating Cathedral Prep and McDowell High Schools by a combined 35-7 margin over April 20 and 21.In St. Francis’ 18-3 win over Cathedral Prep on Friday night, senior Cooper Stefaniak finished with a game-high six goals, while classmate Colin Krasowski added four assists and junior Dylan MacDonald, three goals and two assists. On Saturday afternoon in a 17-4 win, St. Francis was led by MacDonald’s four goals and three assists and two goals and four assists from Krasowski. Senior Brendan McCabe... more

[photo1]Krasinski now a mentor as team goes for fifth straight unbeaten seasonAs a freshman, Emily Krasinski was inspired by the direction of the Frontier track and field program and the older teammates that would become her mentors.Now a record-breaking senior, she has followed in many of their footsteps and helped turn the one undefeated season that proceeded her arrival on the team into four consecutive.The vibrant leader of the team hopes to serve as that same inspiration to others, while furthering an already impressive high school resume before leaving to run track and field at Columbia University next year.“It was really inspiring as a freshman to work with girls like Beth Fabian (who’s... more