A special supplement to The Cooperstown Crier on April 16, 2009 and The Daily Star on April 17, 2009

SPRING FEVER 2009

BASEBALL,
SOFTBALL
PREVIEWS
Lesley Harlem looks to
take Oneonta softball
to the next level in the
Southern Tier Athletic
Conference.
OHS SOFTBALL
PAGE 3

Burns leads a strong

South Kortright team
that is seeking its third
sectional title this
academic year.
DELAWARE BASEBALL
PAGE 11

Can Jessie Winans

lead powerhouse Afton
to its 15th straight
Section Four Class D
SENIOR MATT MARCEWICZ LOOKS crown?
MAC SOFTBALL
TO LEAD ONEONTA TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE 18
SOUTHERN TIER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
PAGE 2 ALSO INSIDE
COOPERSTOWN ..................... 4
T-V BASEBALL ..................... 6
T-V SOFTBALL ...................... 8
DELAWARE SOFTBALL ......... 14
MAC BASEBALL ..................16

Cover design by P.J. Harmer

Star photo by Brit Worgan

2
OHS looking for postseason success
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star Friday, April 17, 2009
Deep pitching
staff should aid
Yellowjackets
By Rob Centorani
Staff Writer
Over the past two seasons,
Oneonta High’s baseball team
has won 29 games and lost 15.
That includes a 16-6 mark last
year, when the Yellowjackets
went 12-2 in the Southern Tier
Athletic Conference.
That’s the good news for
OHS.
The bad news?
For the second straight year
the Yellowjackets were upset
in their first sectional game.
Last year, fifth-seeded Elmira
Free Academy downed the
fourth-seeded Yellowjackets,
11-9, in the Section Four Class
A playoffs. The year before,
fourth-seeded OHS lost, 5-4, to
fifth-seeded Susquehanna Val-
ley in the Section Four Class B
playoffs.
OHS’ last sectional vic-
tory came May 25, 2004, when
the Yellowjackets defeated
Chenango Valley, 8-4, in a Sec-
tion Four Class B semifinal.
Senior catcher Matt Marce-
wicz, a brace adorning the left
ankle he dislocated when he
shattered his fibula during foot-
ball season, said this season’s
version of the Yellowjackets
would very much like to end
that skid.
“This is my last chance to
do it,” said Marcewicz, who has
also had three surgeries on his
left knee in recent years. “The
last couple of years, we got a
little too far ahead of ourselves.
We started thinking about the
game after the game we were
playing _ who we were going
to play after we played Susque-
hanna Valley or who we’re go-
ing to play after beating (EFA)
and that’s the wrong thing to do.
I think we have a strong enough
team to carry us a long way.”
Marcewicz, who said he plans
on signing a letter of intent this
week to play baseball next sea-
son for Division II Mansfield
(Pa.) University, added he and
ONEONTA HIGH BASEBALL
Oneonta’s Eric Scheer slides safely into second base as Unatego’s Tyler Newman reaches for
the ball during Monday’s game at Oneonta High. The Yellowjackets are off to a 2-2 start.
his teammates expect better
things this season.
“Coach (Joe) Hughes always
says he has the highest expec-
tations for us, but he’s wrong
because the guys in the locker
room have higher expecta-
tions, especially me and Jeff
(Wiltsie),” said Marcewicz, an
All-STAC player who hit .391
last season with two home runs
and a team-high 27 RBIs.
The one area the Yellow-
jackets seem to feel confident
is pitching. Of the 18 players
on the roster, Hughes said 14
will see time on the mound this
season. That includes return-
ees Wiltsie, Mike Tietjen, Nate
Eastman, Patrick DeAndrea
and Eric Scorzafava.
Hughes warned that though
he sees pitching as a strength,
don’t expect the Yellowjackets
to send overpowering guys to
the mound.
“They can beat anybody but
then again, they can get beat
by anybody, too,” Hughes said.
“They’re just not that power
10-12 strikeout guy like (Tim)
Christman was or the Connollys
(Mike and Jon) or the Thoma-
ses (Ron and Kyle) or the (Clay)
Bellinger, who are rare com-
modities. We’re going to pitch a
lot of people and you don’t have
to strike out 10-12 to be effec-
tive.”
Asked to identify the team’s
top pitcher, senior Wiltsie said:
“I don’t know if we really have
an ace. We have three veteran
pitchers returning _ myself,
Mike Tietjen and Pat DeAn-
drea, but (Brendan) Wolfanger
has come up and he’s throwing
just as hard as any of us. An
ace, I don’t know if we have one.
There’s still room for improve-
ment for all of us. Maybe some
are better than others, but ev-
Star photo by Brit Worgan
eryone is about equal. It gives
us time to develop.”
Hughes said returners
Wiltsie (6-0, 1.20 ERA last sea-
son), Tietjen (3-3, 3.50) and
DeAndrea (3-1, 1.47), and Wol-
fanger will make up the starting
rotation. Wolfanger is up from a
junior varsity team that won the
Central Division championship
and lost, 6-5, to Horseheads in a
STAC semifinal last season.
OHS, off to a 2-2 start this
season, graduated four players
who earned All-STAC recogni-
tion last season, Andy Dickson,
who’s playing for Mohawk Val-
ley CC this spring, Lane Potter,
Larry Jankowski and Jack Ben-
jamin.
But the Yellowjackets return
four players who hit better than
.300 last season _ Marcewicz,
Wiltsie (.328 and a team-high 28
runs scored), DeAndrea (.333),
Eric Scorazafava (.344) and
Tietjen (.400).
Hughes said Wiltsie _ who’ll
play shortstop when he’s not
pitching _ and Marcewicz will
bat 1-2 in the lineup.
“Opposing pitchers will have
to get two pretty good hitters out
to start the game,” Hughes said.
“They’ll try to set the table for
guys like Nate Eastman, Dalton
Smith, Brendan Wolfanger and
Eric Scheer, and others.”
Junior Eastman is a first
baseman. Smith, a senior who
.256 hitter last season, can play
first base or catch. Scheer, a se-
nior outfielder, hit .286 a year
ago. Wolfanger, a junior, will
play in the outfield when he’s
not pitching.
Left-hander Dave Schulte
will see time also see time at
first base. Scorzafava, DeAn-
drea and Marcewicz will share
time at second. Wiltsie and De-
Andrea are the shortstops.
Isiah Fleming, a junior up
from the JV team, and DeAn-
drea are will split time at third
base.
In the outfield, Wolfanger
and Scheer will man two spots,
and junior Cory Hunter and se-
nior John Gibson will also com-
pete for playing time, as will
juniors Matt Pidgeon, James
Carson, Kasey Hogan and Tom
Brindley.
Hughes said Fleming, Schul-
te, Carson, Brindley, Scheer
and Gibson will also see time
on the time on the mound, as
will junior right-hander Dan
Broe, a utility player. Gibson is
coming off arm surgery.
“I don’t think the schedule
has gotten any easier,” Wiltsie
said. “I think it’s gotten tough-
er. It’s going to be a challenging
year.”
Added Marcewicz: “We want
to walk off the field with no re-
grets, no what-ifs. If that means
a sectional championship _
awesome. If that means a state
championship, even better.
But if that means a hard-fought
game deep into the playoffs and
we just don’t make all the way,
that’s baseball, You have to
love it.”
———
Rob Centorani can be reached
at rcentorani@thedailystar,com
or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.

Yellowjackets still looking to turn corner
Oneonta coming
off 6-14 season
By Rob Centorani
Staff Writer
The 2008 season ended with a
10-0 sectional quarterfinal loss
to eventual Section Four Class
A champion Maine-Endwell.
Oneonta High’s offense mus-
tered nothing _ not a hit, not
a walk _ no one reached base
against Nicole Osovsky, whose
perfect game included 12
strikeouts. Oneonta High’s de-
fense committed six errors and
the Spartans amassed 12 hits off
losing pitcher Lesley Harlem.
Last season started with four
Southern Tier
Athletic Confer-
ence losses. OHS
was outscored,
52-5, during that
stretch.
Two years ago,
the Yellowjack-
ets won three
STAC games _
Bredin two against Nor-
wich and a surprising, 4-3, vic-
tory over Seton Catholic Cen-
tral. Last year, they went 6-14
overall and 2-12 in STAC _ both
league victories coming against
Norwich.
Will this season be any dif-
ferent?
Perhaps, but don’t expect the
Yellowjackets to contend for
conference or sectional titles
any time soon.
“Obviously in the past, we
haven’t been a team that’s won
a lot of games, but we want
it bad this year,” said junior
shortstop and third-year varsity
starter Katie Bredin, who went
3-for-3 in Oneonta’s season-
opening, 3-1 loss at Cobleskill-
Richmondville on April 2. “We
obviously want to get better
and win more. We’re all excited
about the season.
“We all have that desire to
want to win,” she continued.
“We’re not going to come up
this season and go undefeated,
but we’re better.”
Third-year coach Randy
Brockway referred to his pro-
gram taking baby steps.
ONEONTA HIGH SOFTBALL
Oneonta’s Lesley Harlem will be a key part to the Yellowjackets
success. The junior went 6-14 for OHS last season.
“This core group of girls I
have, they played all last season
and then the summer,” he said.
“I think with our game experi-
ence, it should put us ahead.
The girls down in Binghamton
are playing year-round and it
pays off. They have their own
travel programs and we’re try-
ing to do our own travel thing
here.
Star photo by Brit Worgan
“I think we’re closing the gap
slowly,” he continued. “We feel
we’re a little bit closer than
where we’ve been in the past.”
So instead of winning cham-
pionships, some on this year’s
squad spoke of surprising one
of the conference’s kingpins.
Maybe a victory over a Wind-
sor or Chenango Valley or
Susquehanna Valley or Maine-
‘We all have that desire to want to
win. We’re not going to come up this
season and go undefeated, but we’re
better.’
— OHS shortstop Katie Bredin
Endwell or Chenango Forks _
teams with rich traditions and
softball-savvy rosters.
“That would be the best,”
Bredin said. “We want a key
win like that, a big victory over
a team that just thinks they’re
to come and walk all over us.”
A win or two like that also
would help to improve the Yel-
lowjackets’ re-
cord.
“We haven’t
had a record
over .500 in a few
years, but I think
we’re capable.
It’s just a matter
of confidence,”
said third-year
starting pitcher Brockway
Harlem, who joins catcher Erin
Wolstenholme, third baseman
Sienna Wisse
and Bredin off
an OHS basket-
ball team that
went 25-1 and
advanced to the
Class B state fi-
nal. “We don’t
have those build-
ing blocks there
yet, but we’re Wolstenholme
here to do that.”
Harlem, a two-time Daily
Star First-Team All-Star, is
probably the best place to start
with these Jackets, who lost Mi-
chelle Seeger and Sara Sprague
off last year’s roster. In a sport
dominated by pitching, it’s like-
ly OHS will need a big season
from Harlem to reach its goals.
She took the decision in all
20 of Oneonta’s games last sea-
son, striking out 123 batters
along the way.
“Lesley is a good, funda-
mental pitcher,” Brockway
said. “She can hit her spots all
day long. It just comes down to
pitch selection, making sure
3
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
her pitches are moving and get-
ting a little power behind it.
“Right now, she’s a little bit
behind because of basketball,”
he continued. “It’ll take awhile
for her to get her zip back she
had at the end of last season. To
compare her to the other girls
in STAC, she’s right there.”
Wolstenholme and Wisse,
both sopho-
mores, were
Second Team
Daily Star All-
Star selections
last season. Wol-
stenholme hit
.340 last spring,
when Wisse bat-
ted .316. They’ll
Wisse hit fourth and
second in the order, respec-
tively.
Bredin, who batted .314 last
season, is the leadoff hitter.
Senior center fielder
Bridgette Aikens _ a .260 hit-
ter in 2008 _ will bat third. The
only other senior on the roster
_ Aikens’ twin sister, Andrea
_ is the team’s first baseman.
The remainder of the start-
ing spots will be manned by
junior Kaitlyn O’Connor (sec-
ond base), freshman Brianna
George (left field) and eighth-
grader Brianna Haines (right
field).
Brockway described sopho-
mores Brianna Ferchen and
Calla Losie, along with eighth-
grader Hayley Dower, as versa-
tile players he can plug into nu-
merous positions this season.
“This year is going to be dif-
ferent than years before,” said
O’Connor, a second-year varsity
player. “We have the talent this
year.”
———
Rob Centorani can be reached
at rcentorani@thedailystar.com
or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
 COOPERSTOWN
4

Redskins look to continue trend of success

The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star Friday, April 17, 2009

Pitcher Liner could emerge as next star

By Eric Ahlqvist
Cooperstown Crier
Over the past two seasons,
the Cooperstown baseball team
has won a Section Three Class
C title and produced three Divi-
sion I players.
With catcher/pitcher Philip
Pohl playing for Clemson, No.
1 starting pitcher Jim Fort at
Niagara University and 2007
graduate Frank Petroskey at
Vermont, the Redskins may be
hard-pressed to duplicate re-
cent success that included an
18-5 finish last season.
Junior Kyle Liner may be
the next star for the Redskins,
though.
Already a two-year starter,
Liner can play any position
on the field. He will take over
catching duties for Pohl and
‘Hopefully, injuries will not be serious, Mother Nature will
also will pitch and fill in other
spots when needed, said Coo-
cooperate and we’ll get our fair share of lucky bounces.’
perstown coach Frank Miosek. — Cooperstown coach Frank Miosek
Along with Liner, seniors
Mack Curran and Brad Ashford
Davoulas was a key member when we play four or five games Tyler Hoke, Bryan Vrooman,
provide starting pitching depth. of the 2008 Panthers’ baseball in a week.” Ethan DiLorenzo, Evan Bouton,
Tim Feik, Ryan Davine and An-
team, which won the Tri-Valley Miosek said sophomore Andrew Pink, Jimmy Donley
drew Auriemma also should League and Section Four Class James McCardle and freshman and Hotaling are among the top
see time on the
D titles. A pitcher/infielder, Da- Jarrett Hotal- newcomers. Miosek said some
mound this sea- voulas is one of four captains, ing will battle of those players will alternate
son.
along with Liner, Ashford and to start at catch- between the junior varsity and
Last year,
Curran. er when Liner varsity during the season.
Pohl and Fort
The Redskins won the Cen- pitches or plays “Hopefully, injuries will not
combined for 13
ter State Conference Division elsewhere. Lin- be serious, Mother Nature will
of Cooperstown’s
II title last season with a 10-0 er, who hit bet- cooperate and we’ll get our fair
18 wins.
In all, Cooper- record. ter than .400 last share of lucky bounces,” Mi-
stown has seven “In our division, all the teams year, will take osek said.
returning letter- Liner are expected to be competitive, Miosek over for Pohl Cooperstown lost to Pulaski,
men and also should be helped and all have experienced play- in the clean-up 1-0, in the Section Three Class
by the addition of senior Nick ers back,” said Miosek, who is spot. Miosek said he is search- C-1 final last season. In 2007,
Davoulas, who transferred from in his 19th season. “We need to ing for a No. 3 hitter who can the Redskins won their second
Edmeston last October. develop pitchers for those weeks help drive in runs. Section Three Class C title.

A year of Bliss could be ahead for Cooperstown

Photo by Cheryl Clough
Cooperstown sophomore pitcher Anna Sams returns
to lead the Redskins this season.
Pitching could be key
to winning season
By Eric Ahlqvist
Cooperstown Crier
With young but experienced and
talented group of returning play-
ers, Cooperstown softball coach
Dave Bliss said he’s hoping 2009
will be a breakthrough season.
Eight years ago, Bliss took over
a squad that was a perennial loser
but has made steady progress since,
including an 11-11 mark a year ago
and a first-round sectional loss.
“We return our entire start-
ing infield and our pitcher, Anna
Sams,” Bliss said. “You win with
pitching and defense, and we can
compete with anyone in those cat-
egories.”
Sams, a sophomore, went 11-
8 last season and finished with a
school-record 189 strikeouts over
132 1/3 innings.
The Redskins fell in the opening
round of last year’s Section Three
Class C-1 Tournament to Port By-
ron, 5-3.
Sawyer Graham, the team’s
leading hitter last year, will play
first base.
Cailin Huggins, also the back-up
‘We return our entire starting infield and
our pitcher. ... You win with pitching and
defense, and we can compete with anyone in
those categories.’
— Cooperstown coach Dave Bliss
pitcher, plays second for the Red- them, and I think she’s going to
skins, who feature Miranda Men- make a difference for us,” Bliss
hinick at shortstop and Stephanie said of Carr, who works in public
Hascup at third. Hascup was hit- relations at the National Baseball
ting .600 midway through last sea- Hall of Fame.
son but missed the rest of the year Bliss said the addition of a junior
after foot surgery. varsity program a couple of years
“She’s going to be a big addition ago and the youth
to the lineup,” Bliss said. softball league also
Sophomore Sam Borgstrom will has helped the pro-
take over for Molly Pearlman at gram turn the cor-
catcher. Pearlman caught last year ner.
but did not come out for the team “The JV program
this spring. allows young play-
“Sam worked hard in the offsea- ers to keep playing
son and attended a camp,” Bliss instead of sitting
said, “so she should be able to step on the bench on the
right in.” Rowley varsity,” Bliss said.
Bliss also said his team’s hitting Senior Ashley Rowley and Ma-
should get a boost from volunteer rie DiLorenzo likely will start in
assistant coach Samantha Carr, who the outfield, where junior Erin
played softball in college and worked Henrici and Chile foreign-ex-
with the girls in the preseason. change student Javiera Guajavelo
“She’s a good role model for will compete for the other spot.
 5
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
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6
Road to T-V title should go through Edmeston, CV-S again
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
G-MU, Worcester
among top threats
By Dean Russin
Sports Editor
Just because Edmeston has
it all doesn’t mean it’s going to
win it all this year in the Tri-
Valley League.
Or does it?
“I think we’re going to match
up with them,” Cherry Valley-
Springfield baseball coach Ed
Dubben said of the defending
league and Section Four Class
D champion Panthers. “But
they’re still the team to beat un-
til somebody knocks them off.”
True indeed.
Despite a couple of notable
departures in
pitcher Matt
Laymon (gradu-
ation) and Nick
Davoulas (trans-
ferred to Cooper-
stown), the Pan-
thers return the
bulk of a team
that finished 20-
Clark 3 overall and 8-
0 in the T-V last season. Their
performance, which included a
5-2 T-V crossover defeat of the
Patriots, led Mike Clark to 2008
Coach of the Year honors from
The Daily Star in his fourth sea-
son at Edmeston.
Left-hander Laymon went
11-1 with a 1.34 ERA and struck
out 12 in a two-hitter that gave
Edmeston the sectional title
with an 8-1 victory over Han-
cock. His bat should be missed,
too, as Laymon hit .384 with a
team-high five home runs last
spring. The Panthers also lost
big sticks in .300-plus hitters
Davoulas and 2008 graduates
Cody Calderon and Anthony
Wolcott.
Still, the Panthers have
plenty of strong arms and heavy
hitters coming back. Take re-
turning Daily Star First Team
All-Stars Alex Stevens and Jor-
dan Williams, for example, who
fit both descriptions.
Senior catcher Stevens bat-
ted a team-best .463 with a team-
high nine doubles, 25 RBIs and
a .522 on-base percentage last
season. He also should see
TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE BASEBALL
Edmeston’s Jordan Williams will be a key part for the Panthers this season. Edmeston won the
Section Four Class D title last year.
some time at first base, at third
and on the mound, where Wil-
liams has flourished over the
last two seasons.
The hard-throwing Williams
finished 6-1 with a 1.76 ERA and
83 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings
last season. Of all his accom-
plishments in 2008, which in-
cluded his second straight Dai-
ly Star First Team honor, his
performance in a season-end-
ing loss to Rome Catholic may
have been the most impressive.
Although the Panthers suffered
a 6-1 setback in a Class D state
Photo by Cheryl Clough
quarterfinal, Williams faced
the minimum of seven batters
in the last 2 1/3 innings of score-
less relief.
“Any year you’ve got a guy
like Jordan Williams to throw,
you’re going to be in good
shape,” said Jim Johnson, who
is looking to get Gilbertsville-
Mount Upton back to the cross-
over for the first time since the
Raiders won the league title in
2001.
Senior infielders Jake
Baulch (.343 batting average in
2008) and Ryan Giordano (.273)
are Edmeston’s other top offen-
sive threats. The Panthers also
are looking for production from
a promising crop of newcomers
led by sophomores Blake Vib-
bard and Blake Pavelka.
G-MU appears to be the
only team with any shot to de-
throne the six-time West Divi-
sion champion Panthers, who
reclaimed the crossover crown
last season after losing two
straight league finals to CV-S.
Edmeston also won three T-V
crowns in a row from 2003-05.
Johnson said
the Raiders have
three capable
pitchers in se-
nior Cody Hall,
classmate Tyler
Wildfeir and
sophomore An-
drew Delmar.
“This game
takes a little
Hall
more than just one pitcher,”
said Johnson, whose team won
the 2001 T-V title with a 4-3 vic-
tory over Laurens. “I’m lucky
enough to have three guys who
can throw pretty well.”
A Daily Star honorable men-
tion last season, Hall went 4-3
with a 2.89 ERA and batted .379
with 17 RBIs. Wildfeir went 3-
3 with a 3.90 ERA and hit .302
with 20 RBIs last spring, when
Delmar (2-0, 3.89 ERA) batted
.340.
“Our first goal is to win our
side of the league _ we do have
some decent talent back,” said
Johnson, whose team’s 11-8 re-
cord last season included a 5-3
mark in the T-V. “We’re look-
ing to make a little noise if we
can.”
Morris and Laurens round
out the West Division, which
will be absent a team from
Franklin for the second straight
season.
First-year coach Kevin Um-
bach, a 1996 Oneonta High
graduate, takes over the Mus-
tangs. Umbach, who coached
See T-V on Page 20
 7
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
SFCU
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With offices in: •Bainbridge •Greene •Hancock
•Norwich •Oneonta •Walton •Sidney
 TRI-VALLEY LEAGUE SOFTBALL
8

No question: Schenevus is team to beat

The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009

Plenty of teams in rebuilding mode ence on this team,” Mar-

ble said.
V East Division champion Mechia Scott (senior
By Sarah Stalter team fell to 14-time Sec- center fielder, .470 BA),
Contributing Writer tion Four Class D cham- Melissa Curry (junior in-
pion Afton in a sectional fielder/outfielder, .464)
The Tri-Valley League semifinal last season. “We and Amy Breuer (senior
seems to be on the same will not look at what we pitcher/outfielder, 10-10
page this softball season. did and what we had.” in the circle) are Laurens’
Schenevus is the team Jeremy Bolton, the top returners.
to beat. first-year coach of defend- Senior Alicia Kane
Led by two-time Daily ing West Division winner and freshman Katie Pis-
Star Coach of the Year Edmeston, pretty much catello also are expected
Jen Pier (2004, 2008), the said the same. to pitch. Piscatello is one
Dragons look to repeat as “We’re not looking to of five freshmen who “will
Tri-Valley League cham- the past but rather the be see plenty of time in
pions with the bulk of its future,” said Bolton, who the lineup this season,”
roster returning from last takes over for Brian Bur- Marble said.
season’s 23-4 finish. gess after coaching last Franklin went 4-9 last
Schenevus routed season at the modified year and brings back Kas-
three-time defend- level. “We will miero Nero, a senior pitch-
ing champion Ed- work hard and give er who went 4-9 last season
meston, 17-2, in last it all we have every en route to T-V First Team
season’s crossover, game.” All-Star honors. Freshman
marking the Drag- The Panthers, shortstop Jessica Terrano
ons’ first league who went 13-5 last is the top offensive threat.
crown since 2004. season, look to re- She batted .458 as an
“We’re looking establish them- eighth-grader for Frank-
at Laurens and Ed- selves as a T-V lin, which welcomes top
meston as our big-
gest competition, Murphy power with the help newcomers Jordan Beers
of six newcomers. and Hayley Downin. Sev-
but on any given day any- Junior Megan Lawrence
enth-grader Beers, a bas-
thing can happen,” Pier (13-4 in 2008) is the No. 1
said. “We don’t take any- pitcher in a rotation that ketball standout, will play
thing for granted.” third and eighth-grader
will feature classmate Su- Downin is slated to start
Although Schenevus sanna Johnson and fresh-
lost three to graduation, man Cassie Powers. Law- in center field.
it returns all three of its rence also will see time at First-year Gilberts-
pitchers from last season. shortstop and first base. ville-Mount Upton coach
Pier found success rotat- Nancy Estabrook inherits
Leadoff batter and a team that went 5-14-1 last
ing Kelly Tiderencel (10-4 second baseman Johnson
in 2008), Jessica Bentley season. The Raiders key
should provide the youth- returners include Maris-
and Amber Gantner last
ful Panthers with much- sa Finch (pitcher), Court-
spring and has added Photo by Cheryl Clough
needed leadership, as ney Hillman (pitcher)
three other arms in Megan Gabby Skillen went 14-7 last year and is one of the top players for Milford.
well as seniors Stefanie and Calli Hill (catcher).
Pefft, Jessican Kruh and
Cornnell and Brittany G-MU lost first baseman
Sarah Miller. They’ll pitch the newcomers are slip- Beverland will all bring who also batted .357, will
Martin. Ashlea Osborne and third
to returning Daily Star ping right into their po- strong bats to the plate,” throw to another First
Cherry Valley-Spring- baseman Sierra French
First Team All-Star catch- sitions without any con- Kenyon said. Team T-V All-Star in
field looks to be competi- to graduation, but it may
er Marion Murphy, who cerns.” Milford rounds out the catcher Kayla Thorn. She
tive in the East as well as have found some versatil-
also will play shortstop. Nelson, Alexis Evans East Division hopefuls. batted .420 with a team-
much of its starting lineup ity in eighth-grade utility
Murphy batted .520 with and Darcy Duncan will “To be the man you best 25 RBIs last year.
28 RBIs, 28 runs and six returns. lead the Patriots’ pitching must beat the man ... or in Weir said he expects addi- player Lauren Hill.
home runs last spring for “We will be relying on Pitcher Melissa Gal-
staff. this case woman,” Milford tional offensive pop from
the Dragons, who should our offensive power be- breath, catcher Chrissy
Worcester coach Jim coach Jim Weir said in shortstop Mariah Coville.
pile up the offensive sta- hind Morgan VanAlstine, Kenyon is looking for im- reference to Schenevus. Laurens coach Dean Banks and first baseman
tistics with tough outs Marnieta Nelson, Briana provement after a down The Wildcats lost Ra- Marble looks to challenge Alicia Gregory are back
such as Tiderencel, Jes- Ostrander and Savannah season in 2008. Kenyon chel Schultes, a five-year Edmeston in the West. for Morris, which went 1-
sica Bentley, Maura Har- Crowley,” said first-year said his young team, starter at first base, and The Leopards went 11-12 13 last season.
rington and Karlyn Van- Patriots coach Michelle which features two se- third baseman Chynna overall in 2008, including “We are looking to re-
Deusen. Schmitt, who has 13 up- niors, is looking to Kim Pitlock to graduation. But a 6-6 mark in the T-V. build by allowing some of
“We’re focusing on perclassmen on her ros- Keever, Tara Fiorentino First Team T-V All-Star “While it will be hard our talented younger play-
what is in front of us and ter. “The returning start- and Karli Pochkar to lead Gabby Skillen returns to to replace Dayle (Dutch- ers to regain the needed
we’re not going to look ers are helping to make the Wolverines. the circle after going 14-7 er) and Leandra (Spoor), experience this season,”
back and make compari- the team function like the “Kathryn Keenan, and averaging 10 strike- there are 10 players with Morris coach Maria Dey-
sons,” said Pier, whose T- season never ended, and Holly Ramsey and Jordan outs last season. Skillen, extensive varsity experi- senroth said.
9 The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009 10

South Kortright has a shot at three-peat
Jefferson, Margaretville look to
end Rams’ success in 2008-09
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
There aren’t many things
South Kortright can do for an
encore.
So far this academic year,
the Rams’ boys have won Sec-
tion Four Class D titles in soc-
cer and basketball. After falling
in a soccer state quarterfinal,
SK’s basketball team capped a
26-0 season with
the Class D state
title, marking
the school’s first
boys state cham-
pionship.
So, how do the
Rams top that?
If you ask
26th-year coach
Bob VanValken- VanValkenburgh
burgh, who coached soccer and
basketball, SK isn’t thinking
that far ahead.
“Even with basketball we
never really talk about it,” Van-
Valkenburgh said about win-
ning in other sports. “It’s a long
road ahead of us. We’re going
to be competitive in our league
and we’ll see how we are at the
end of the year.
“The biggest thing is the kids
are level-head-
ed,” he contin-
ued. “We never
looked ahead so
far this year and
hopefully they
continue that.”
Still, there’s
no arguing with
success.
Hotaling
SK’s core al-
ready has experienced the pin-
nacle of success as 11 of its 16
baseball players suited up for
the basketball state champion-
ship at the Glens Falls Civic
Center in March.
“You can’t measure it. It’s
really important,” Hunter-Tan-
nersville coach Jeff Friedman
said of SK’s experience. “That
kind of battle-testing, you
can’t teach that experience.
You can’t give it without going
through it. While I’m not sure
DELAWARE LEAGUE BASEBALL
how much it will bear on the
overall outcome, it gives them
the advantage nobody else has.
At this level talent wins out and
they are immensely talented.”
Although H-T beat the Rams
in last year’s Delaware League
crossover, 9-8, the Wildcats are
rebuilding.
The Rams are not. They re-
turn the bulk of last year’s team
that finished 13-6 overall, in-
cluding a 9-0 reg-
ular-season mark
in the Delaware
League. SK’s
2008 postseason
run ended quick-
ly with a 6-2 loss
to Hancock of
the Midstate Ath-
letic Conference
Many in the opening
round of the Sec-
tion Four Class D Tournament.
Senior first baseman Dan
Many leads what appears to be
a strong pitching staff for SK.
He went 5-1 last season and hit
.467.
Kyle Hotaling, who had a 2.62
ERA last season, is SK’s No. 2
pitcher. Also a third baseman,
Hotaling hit .456 last year.
“Both of them have expe-
rience, so we’ll try and keep
people healthy,” VanValken-
burgh said. “But with the games
backed up (because of poor
weather), it will take more than
those two.”
Senior shortstop Eric Burns
(.463, 32 RBIs), senior catcher/
pitcher Josh Palmatier (.379)
and junior infielder Tanner
Metzko (.371) also return for the
Rams.
“Every team is going to be
shooting for us and it’s a big tar-
get on our back,” VanValken-
burgh said. “I’m sure we’ll have
some tough games. There are
going to be teams to give us a
stiff challenge.”
Jefferson could give the
Rams a run in the Mountain Di-
vision. Seniors Mike Quagliano
(pitcher/shortstop) and Gabe
Miller (center field) will lead
the way for the J-Hawks, who
finished 8-7 last season. Both
‘It’s a long road ahead of us. We’re going to be competitive
in our league and we’ll see how we are at the end of the year.’
are fifth-year varsity players.
Quagliano went 4-2 with a
3.62 ERA and Miller hit .460
with 31 runs and 24 stolen
bases. Senior Ben Sharib, who
pitches and plays shortstop, hit
.444 with 22 RBIs last spring.
H-T should be hard-pressed
to successfully defend its title
in the Upper Division, which
features a solid Margaretville
squad.
“Kortright looks head-and-
shoulders above everyone at
this point,” Friedman said. “I
expect as the year goes on, we’ll
see more out of the kids out of
Margaretville. They are older
and will be a tough squad as
the time goes on. They have the
whole package over there. They
are the favorite (in the Upper).
I never underestimate John
Toroni’s (Jefferson) teams, but
I really think Kortright is the
class of the league and the sec-
tion right now.”
H-T lost eight players from
last year’s 14-4 team, which fell,
7-2, to eventual sectional cham-
pion Edmeston in the semifi-
nals. Among the departed is
pitcher/shortstop Greg Mudge,
a Daily Star First Team All-Star
who went 8-2 last year. Fried-
man will look to seniors Derek
Legg (pitcher/shortstop/catch-
er) and Ryan Megnin (outfield/
first base), a Delaware League
first-team All-Star last year, for
leadership.
H-T’s pitching staff entered
this season with a combined
seven innings of varsity expe-
rience. Junior Nick Tripsas,
sophomore Kyle Friedman
(Jeff’s son) and freshman Remo
Romito will see time on the
mound.
“How are we going to be? I
would hope we could make sec-
tionals,” Jeff Friedman said. “I
think we’re competitive with
a lot of the other teams in our
league. We’re going to have to
get better, improve, grow and
kind of get comfortable quick-
ly at this level. If those things
— SK coach Bob VanValkenburgh
come together, we could get to
.500.”
Margaretville, under 25th-
year coach Rick Funck, returns
a solid nucleus that starts with
sophomore pitcher Patrick
O’Connell. He threw a perfect
game in a 9-0 victory against
Windham on April 9. Brian
Faulkner, Mitch
VanKeuren and
Ian Williams
round out the
Blue Devils’
starting pitch-
ers.
“I have four
guys I feel com-
pletely comfort-
O’Connell able with going
out there and starting,” Funck
said. “That’s a luxury I’ve nev-
er had. Usually you are happy
with two good ones.
“I always start the season
and tell the kids that my No. 1
goal is to get to the end of the
season and have most of the
players say I’m a better base-
ball player,” he continued. “If
the majority can say that, then
we’ve had a successful season.”
Davenport
returns three of
its top players
from last year’s
4-10 team, which
went 4-6 in the
DL’s Upper Di-
vision. Though
the Wildcats
should produce
Ontl
runs with play-
ers such as Mike Ontl, Kevin
Gilley and Alex Poole return-
ing, their pitching is somewhat
of a question mark.
Ontl, a junior outfielder/
pitcher, hit .348 with 16 RBIs
last season, when senior third
baseman Poole batted .342 and
senior pitcher/shortstop Gilley
hit .302.
Windham, which went 2-13
last season, returns seniors
Mike Iacono (pitcher) and
Brandon Terrill (outfield). Ju-
niors Evan Goettsche (catcher)
11
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
and Anthony Alesi (infield) and
sophomore Steve Sherman (in-
field) should give the Warriors
a boost as well.
Stamford finished 5-9 last
season under first-year coach
Sean Lynch, who returns this
season.
First-year Downsville coach
Tom Rose inherits a team that
finished 1-13 last season. Rose,
an assistant at Sidney for the
past three seasons, will try to re-
build the program with the help
of senior second baseman Brett
Shellman, a Delaware League
honorable mention last season.
Senior Donald Jennings
(pitcher/infield/outfield) and
junior Ronnie MacDonald
(pitcher/infield) also return.
Freshman Josh Ahearn (pitch-
er/infield/outfield) is also among
the Eagles’ newcomers.
Gilboa looks to turn around
a 3-10 finish in 2008 with a
pitching rotation that includes
junior Justin Kovacevich, who
also plays shortstop, and soph-
omores Derek Briggs and Joe
Cooper.
The trio will pitch to senior
catcher Loukas Vogiatzis for
the most part. The Wildcats’
10-player roster features one
senior, four juniors, four sopho-
mores and a freshman.
Greg Funck, a Roxbury grad-
uate and former Oneonta State
reliever, takes over a Rockets
team that went 9-7 last season.
Though Roxbury lost one of
its top players to graduation
in pitcher/shortstop Steven
Hubbard, the Rockets return
seniors Tim Douglas (first base/
pitcher) and Owen Sanford (sec-
ond base), junior David Clark
(shortstop/pitcher) and sopho-
more outfielder Jacob Libera-
tore. Freshman Kyle Ciaravino
(outfield) and sophomore Gar-
rett Hall (third base) also could
be key contributors.
———
P.J. Harmer can be reached
at pharmer@thedailystar.com or
607-432-1000, ext. 229.
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009 12
13 The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009

14
Jefferson, Downsville lead stacked Mountain Division
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star Friday, April 17, 2009
Margaretville
looks to repeat in
Upper Delaware
By Sarah Stalter
Contributing Writer
Last season, two Delaware
League softball players earned
honors as Daily Star First-Team
All-Stars.
Both have returned for 2009,
giving their respective teams a
head start.
At Jefferson, it’s sophomore
Jordyn Hillis. She went 11-3
last season, which included a
one-hitter in a 7-0 victory over
Margaretville in the Delaware
League crossover.
Hillis finished with a 1.94
ERA and struck out 108 batters
for the J-Hawks, who finished
15-3.
“We should be very com-
petitive again this year, with a
nearly full starting lineup re-
turning for the 2009 season,”
said 16th-year Jefferson coach
Andi Cammer, whose roster
features 21 girls in grades 10-
12. Additionally, Cammer lost
just one player to graduation
in four-year third baseman Mi-
randa Blakeslee.
The only bad news for the
defending Mountain Division
champion J-Hawks is the other
returning Daily Star First Team
All-Star is on the same side of
the league.
That player also is a pitcher,
Downsville sophomore Krista
Baxter. She had all the deci-
sions in the Eagles’ 18-4 season,
finishing with a 1.42 ERA and
striking out 156.
“She is throwing harder
than she did a year ago and we
should able to give her plenty
of rest this year,” said Downs-
ville coach Jeff Baier, who also
returns 2008 league All-Star Al-
lison Townsend. A senior third
baseman, Townsend batted .422
with two home runs 23 RBIs and
16 stolen bases last spring.
“Defense, and more impor-
tantly pitching, are the name
of the game in softball,” Baier
continued, “and we have one of
the best in Krista Baxter.”
Downsville also returns junior
DELAWARE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
Roxbury senior Jessica Utsler is one of the key returning players for a young Rockets team.
catcher Sabra Yancey (.286 BA,
17 RBIs) and shortstop Katelynn
Peaster, who will bat leadoff.
“I expect Jefferson to be
the big competition in our di-
vision,” Baier said. “Last year,
we tied them for the Delaware
Mountain championship. They
got to go to the crossovers be-
cause they beat us by a run in
the regular season.”
Jefferson looks to return to
the final with the help of senior
catcher Katie Bedford.
“(Hillis and Bedford) work
well together and both are
learning what pitches need
to be thrown and when,” said
Cammer, whose lineup also
features outfielder Vanessa
Speenburgh, first baseman
Alyssa Jonker and outfielder
Dove Henry.
“Our goal is to go further than
we did last year after finishing
in the (sectional) quarterfinals
against Schenevus,” Cammer
continued. “We will be defend-
ing our Delaware League title
against tough teams like Downs-
ville and Margaretville.”
Gilboa, which went 4-8 last
season, looks to challenge with
the offense of Jenna Danouski,
Jessica Caputo and Heather
Cunningham.
“Each one of them possess
the capability to help the team
score runs,” Gilboa coach Dan
McGlynn said.
Roxbury is returning all but
one player this season, mean-
ing it should improve on last
spring’s 3-13 record. Although
their record was anything but
stellar, the Rockets had mod-
erate success with an upset of
Margaretville. They also took
Jefferson and Hunter-Tanners-
ville to extra innings.
“Then we would turn around
and struggle with a team of sim-
ilar caliber and little success,”
said Roxbury coach Jane Ware,
Photo by Cheryl Clough
who will try to rebuild around
Rachel Meckes (.436 BA, 36
stolen bases, 21 runs in 2008)
and pitcher Heather Davie (80
strikeouts, .426 BA). “We have
the experience and the athletes
in key positions to return to
Section Four competition.”
South Kortright had it tough
in 2008 with a 4-12 record but
returns power-hitter senior
Cassie McMullen (.460 BA) and
freshman first baseman Robin
Ward (.370). Marcy Sebastian
and Renee Craft also are back.
In the Upper Division, first-
year Margaretville coach Bill
Lonecke is looking for a cross-
over rematch with Jefferson as
the Blue Devils lost only one
player to graduation.
Jefferson’s lone regular-sea-
son DL loss in 2008 was a 6-5
setback to Margaretville, which
will be anchored by infielders
Brandi Balcom, Emily Kelly
and Erica Faulkner. The trio
should make it tough for oppo-
nents to rattle pitcher Brittany
Hull and batterymate Caitlyn
Roberts.
Margaretville also should re-
ceive a boost from pitcher Ra-
chel Andrews and third base-
man Karli Tait, who played for
Andes last season. They will
compete for the Blue Devils
this year as the Mountaineers
did not field a team.
“We’re looking for a very suc-
cessful season,” Lonecke said.
Davenport and Hunter-Tan-
nersville should be in the mix.
Davenport, though, will
have to replace the graduated
Miranda Zimmerman (team-
best 20 RBIs last season) and
speedster Chelsea Haight, who
returned to the track and field
team. But senior catcher Lau-
ren Rider (.317 BA) and junior
pitcher Jackie Gilley (6.09 ERA,
.379 BA) are back after earn-
ing Delaware League All-Star
honors last spring. Davenport
also returns junior shortstop
Samantha Meyerhoff (.368 BA),
who led all area girls basket-
ball players in scoring this past
winter.
“I wish to improve on our re-
cord from last year and with a
little luck, maybe cause some
disruption from the expected,”
said Davenport coach Cheryl
Butler, whose team went 5-6
last season after winning four
straight DL titles. “We lost sev-
eral games by one run last year.
Bottom line is we need to score
more runs.”
Windham went 6-8 last sea-
son and returns seniors Shaina
Rion and Shannon McGovern.
“After coming off a sectional
berth last season, our expecta-
tions are to have another strong
season,” Windham coach Joel
Middleton said. “As always, our
goal is to play hard every time
we take the field, limit mistakes
and be competitive.”
Seniors Amy VanEtten,
Shelby France and Kristen
Davis are back for H-T, which
finished 9-5 last season after an
early exit in the Section Four
Class D Tournament.
Stamford (2-10 in 2008) looks
to rebound with returning
catcher Chelsea Higgins (.363
BA) and third-year starting
pitcher Alyssa Melendez.
 15
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
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16
Unatego looking to repeat in MAC
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star Friday, April 17, 2009
Afton off to 6-0 start
By Courtney A. Erickson
Contributing Writer
Graduation took a heavy toll
on defending Midstate Athletic
Conference champion Unatego.
The Spartans, who won their
fourth title in the league’s sev-
en-year history with an 8-7 vic-
tory over Deposit last season,
graduated two key players off
last season’s 18-6 team.
Daily Star First Team All-Star
Kyle Palmer, who hit .556 and
went 6-2 on the mound, and Daily
Star second-teamer Alex Hen-
drickson graduated in June.
“It’s a balancing act,” Spar-
tans coach Frank Microni said
of the challenge of repeating
as MAC Division I champions.
“You lose some key players
and hope some returning play-
ers can step up. I think every
team in the league is like that.
The whole league is pretty bal-
anced. I think it’s going to be a
dogfight.”
Unatego, which went 10-0 in
league last season, returns Daily
Star second-teamer Chet Davis,
a senior first baseman/pitcher
who hit .396 last season.
Also back are junior catcher/
infielder Cody Komenda (.338
average in 2008), senior outfield-
er Erik Barber (.292) and senior
infielder Tyler Newman (.365).
Newman and junior Cody
Chambers lead a six-man pitch-
ing rotation. Juniors Dale Ri-
fenbark and Jesse Brown, and
seniors Cody Renwick and Da-
vis, will also see time on the
mound.
“These guys don’t have a lot
of varsity experience,” said Mi-
croni, whose team’s season end-
ed a year ago with a 12-0 loss to
eventual champion Chenango
Valley in a Section Four Class
B semifinal. “This year, we’re
working with more guys and
we’re more deep. They work
hard and they’re very receptive
to the coaching and what we’re
trying to do.”
Unatego started 2-1 this sea-
son and returns eight players
from its 12-man roster.
Sidney finished 15-10-1
thanks in part to four hitters
MIDSTATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE BASEBALL
Unatego’s Cody Chambers pitches during Monday’s game at
Oneonta High. The Spartans are seeking their fifth Midstate
Athletic Conference title in the eight-year history of the league.
who batted .400 or better last
spring. Fourth-year coach Kyle
Vibbard lost all of those hitters
_ Travis Fusco, Andy Wood,
Aubrey Wood, Markus Dilello
_ to graduation, along with the
team’s top two pitchers, Andy
Wood and Aubrey Wood.
Vibbard also lost the ser-
vices of junior pitcher Aaron
Wood, who recently quit the
team.
Senior first baseman/catch-
er Zach Finch and sophomore
pitcher/shortstop Andy Kozak
return from last season. The
Warriors also have a pair of
new varsity faces _ sophomore
pitcher Dylan Umbra and se-
nior Mike Guerriere, a standout
for Sidney this academic year
in football and basketball.
Senior right-hander Tyler
Kane joins Kozak and Umbra
in Sidney’s three-man starting
play first base when he’s not
pitching.
Junior J.J. Darling, an out-
fielder/pitcher, hit .278 a season
ago.
“We have a good nucleus
coming back,” Barkalow said of
his four returnees. “They have
at least two years of experience
already and we should be able
to hit the ball and field it pretty
well this year.”
The Bulldogs won two of
their first three games.
Walton coach Gary Backus
enters his 19th season with
several standouts back from
last year’s 13-7 team that lost
to Sidney, 14-13, in the Class C
quarterfinals. Daily Star Sec-
ond Team All-Star Chris Mead
leads the Warriors.
The senior pitcher/infielder
is a four-year varsity starter
who hit .422 last season. Third-
year starters Chad Gardepe, a
pitcher/infielder who hit .319
last season, Cody Endress, a
catcher/first baseman who hit
.381, and Phil Hanley, a junior
center fielder who hit .407, also
return. Junior outfielder Bry-
ant Mead, who missed last sea-
son because of a leg injury, is
also back.
Star photo by Brit Worgan
Gardepe, Chris Mead and
Kyle Baxley will be the primary
pitchers.
Unadilla Valley graduated
Daily Star honorable mention
selection Mike Bluy, who batted
rotation.
.409 with two home runs during
“They are young and inex-
the team’s 3-14 season in 2008.
perienced but capable of doing
Senior Justin Peek (P/INF,
the job,” said Vibbard, whose
.396 batting average, 1 HR) and
team started this season 1-2.
junior Dylan Webb (P/INF) lead
“They’re not overpowering, but
a mostly junior-laden 14-player
they all throw multiple pitches
roster.
for strikes.”
In Division II, the title could
Delhi could pose a threat to
be up for grabs.
Unatego in Division I, as 15th-
Afton coach Ron Rapp has
year coach Fred Barkalow
his team off to a 6-0 start.
boasts three senior pitchers
“It’s frustrating being a
among his 12-player team.
(Class) D school in the MAC be-
Senior Daily Star First Team
cause we play the big schools
All-Star Luke Burns hit .494
from the other division,” said
with 18 extra-base hits and 27
Rapp, whose Crimson Knights
RBIs last season. He also ended
finished 9-10 and lost to even-
the 2008 season with 12 consec-
tual sectional champion Ed-
utive scoreless innings on the
meston in a Class D quarterfinal
mound for the 12-10 Bulldogs.
last season. “This year we’ve
Burns is joined by classmates
just been playing solid defense
Troy Tucker and Chris Skovira.
and our pitching has rebound-
Tucker, an outfielder/pitcher,
ed from some tough hits.”
hit .378 last season and went 2-
Seniors Casey Mohrien
1 with a 4.32 ERA. Skovira will
(pitcher/shortstop) and Jacob
Arnold (left fielder), junior
closer Mike Muller and sopho-
more Corey Mohrien (first base-
man) are the returnees on the
14-man roster.
Casey Mohrien won four
games last year, Arnold led the
team in batting (.350 average)
and Corey Mohrien enters his
third year on the varsity.
“He is a big kid and he is just
now growing to his body,” Rapp
said of Corey Mohrien.
Harpursville transfer Adam
Rupakus, a junior pitcher, and
Muller will join Casey Mohrien
on the mound.
There’s new leadership
at Bainbridge-Guilford. Pete
Mansheffer replaces longtime
coach Steve Rice, who retired
from the school.
Mansheffer, who coached
JV baseball for the past three
seasons for B-G, inherits six se-
niors, including pitcher Dustin
Rutz who threw 3 1/3 innings of
scoreless baseball in the Bob-
cats’ 2-1, nine-inning victory
over Delhi on April 9 to even its
record at 1-1.
“The pitching was pretty
solid tonight,” Mansheffer said
after the Delhi victory. “Rutz
can throw strikes and he is an
outstanding defensive player at
first base. He makes our whole
infield stronger. That’s as good
as I’ve ever seen him.”
Rutz returns for his third
varsity season along with class-
mates Garrett Newbauer (in-
fielder/pitcher), Justin Miller
(catcher), Patrick Mertz (utility),
Andrew Maddalone (outfield)
and Shawn Brownell (outfield).
Right-hander Rutz also plays
first base and shortstop.
Sophomore starter Paul Par-
sons allowed one run over five
innings against Delhi. That
victory came after a 15-0 sea-
son-opening loss to Sidney on
March 30.
“I think the whole league is
strong this year,” Mansheffer
said. “We’ve got a mixture of
youth and some experienced
kids. If our pitchers throw
strikes and we play defense, we
can (be compeititive).”
Oxford and Harpursville
round out Division II schools.
Both teams went 10-8 last season.
17 The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009

18
Afton once again team to beat in MAC
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star Friday, April 17, 2009
Sidney appears strong in Division I
By Courtney A. Erickson
Contributing Writer
Afton junior Jessie Winans
earned Daily Star Player of
the Year honors for an unprec-
edented third straight time last
season.
But as streaks for the Crim-
son Knights softball team go,
Winans’ is just OK.
That’s because this sea-
son, Afton will attempt to win
its 15th straight Section Four
Class D championship, reach
the Class D state final for the
fifth straight year, and win the
Midstate Athletic Conference
title for the fifth straight time
and seventh in the conference’s
eight years of existence.
Last season, the Crimson
Knights nearly had their quest
for a fourth straight MAC title de-
railed by Sidney. Afton eked out
a 5-4 victory in eight innings.
“There’s no gimmie that
you’re going back,” 21-year Af-
ton coach Cindy Bostelman said.
“There are a lot of great teams
out there. Deposit has everybody
coming back. Oxford came back
this year with a good program.
It’s going to make it tough (to re-
peat). It could be an interesting
season for all of us.”
Especially Winans, who is en-
tering her fifth year as Afton’s
starting shortstop. In 2008, Wi-
nans hit .447 with four home runs
and 27 RBIs last season, numbers
that helped earn Class D state
Player of the Year honors. She
already has more extra base hits
than anyone in school history.
“She’s just unbelievable,”
Bostelman said of Winans.
“(She has) knowledge of the
game, a tremendous athlete.
You’d die to have nine kids like
that on my team, but I’m glad I
have one.”
On the final day last season,
Winans homered twice _ the
first in a 6-0 state semifinal vic-
tory over Argyle and the second,
a two-run shot in the first inning
of a 4-2 loss to Chapel Field in
the state final. That marked the
fourth straight season Afton
had lost in the state final.
Winans’ cousin, Ashley, will
MIDSTATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL
switch from first base to pitcher
for her senior season. Ashley
Winans, a Daily Star First Team
All-Star, could return to first
base depending on the develop-
ment of seventh-grader Payton
Cutting. Either one will have
big shoes to fill after the gradu-
ation of three-year starter Mor-
gan Muller, who now plays for
Oneonta State. Muller won 69
games _ 39 by shutout _ and had
691 strikeouts over three years.
Ashley Winans hit .329 with
19 runs and 19 RBIs last sea-
son. Juniors Stephanie Parsons
(second base) and Stephanie
Sherman (left field), senior Jen-
nifer Boudreau (center field)
and senior Abbie Martin (right
field) are also back.
Bainbridge-Guilford looks to
make sectionals after going 3-14
last season under coach Cin-
dy Cifone, who lost four-year
starter Christina Butcher at
shortstop and pitcher Rebecca
Thomas, both of whom are play-
ing for Broome Community Col-
lege this season.
Returnees Carrie Safford
(sr., 1B, .400 batting average, 13
RBIs) and Chelsi Rosa (soph.,
3B/OF, .358) along with newcom-
er Ashley LaMont (jr., pitcher)
lead the way for the Bobcats.
“Ashley came up the last
three games of the season for
us and pitched quite well for
us,” Cifone said. “We expect a
lot from her this year.”
Deposit finished 12-8 a year
ago and gave Afton all it could
handle by taking a three-run
lead in the first inning before
falling, 4-3, in last season’s Sec-
tion Four Class D final.
Hancock (14-5) lost to Deposit
in the sectional semifinals last
spring and joins Oxford and
Harpursville in rounding out
the Division II schools.
In Division I, expect Sidney
to go as far as junior pitcher
Danielle Gravel can take it.
Gravel earned Daily Star First
Team All-Star honors after go-
ing 9-2 with 117 strikeouts in
leading the Warriors to a divi-
sional title last spring.
“She’s a junior but in her
fourth year of varsity experi-
ence,” ninth-year Sidney coach
Afton’s Jessie Winans catches a pop up during a game last
season. Winans, who has won three straight Daily Star Player
of the Year awards, is looking to lead the Crimson Knights to
their 15th straight Section Four Class D championship.
Mike Brazee said of Gravel.
“She’s getting stronger physi-
cally and also her mental as-
pect of the game has gotten bet-
ter. She’s mentally tougher and
knows what she has to do to stay
in control.”
The Warriors lost first base-
man and Daily Star honorable
mention pick Alecia Clark
(transfer to Windsor) from last
year’s 14-8 team that lost in the
Class C sectional quarterfinals.
Still, Sidney has nine play-
ers back, including team lead-
ers Nicole Rowe (sr., 3B, .375
batting average), Rachel Ward
(sr., C, .323), Chris Houck (sr.,
SS, .339) and Darien Schalk (jr.,
OF, .428).
Houck, Stephanie Meno (sr.,
2B) and Amanda Ojeda (jr., CF)
are also back.
Photo by Cheryl Clough
Unadilla Valley will look
to improve upon last season’s
7-11 finish. One challenge for
coach Brandi Backus is replac-
ing four-year starter and Daily
Star honorable mention pick
Kristen Elliott, who struck out
103 batters in 107 innings last
season for the Storm.
Breanne White replaced El-
liott in the circle for UV. Short-
stop Hannah Johnson (.333 bat-
ting average) and sophomore
third baseman Charlee Wiedman
return for the Storm, who also re-
turn catcher Kara Collins (.319).
Unatego coach Sue Herodes
graduated all but two players
from last season’s 7-10 team.
Rachel Mugford (sr., C) and
Stephanie Havens (jr., 2B) look
to provide leadership to a team
with 11 new players.
Right-hander Ashley Manni-
na, up from Unatego’s JV team,
will be in the circle for the
Spartans, who dropped their
first two games this season.
Havens, Kayla Wong (jr., SS),
Sarah Mannina (3B) and Alex
Mowers (jr., 1B/OF) round out
the infield.
“I can put her wherever I
need her,” Herodes said of
Mowers’ flexibility. “She reads
the ball off the bat real well in
the outfield.”
Delhi has the similar burden
of replacing its starting pitcher
from last season’s 2-18 team.
Josie Elwell moved from first
base to pitcher and will work
with teammate Mary Davis
inside the circle, taking over
for graduated senior Christin
Salerno, who is now playing
softball at Springfield College.
Coach Bob Currie said El-
well and Davis are new to pitch-
ing at the varsity level. The
Bulldogs have 10 players on the
roster after sophomore pitcher
Sarah Henkle separated her
shoulder in volleyball this past
winter and will be unavailable
this season. Henkle pitched JV
softball last spring.
Walton returns two players
(senior OF Erin Boyd and junior
SS Holley Reynolds) from last
season’s 10-9 team that lost in
the opening round of sectionals.
Reynolds hit .344 and led
the Warriors in RBIs (15), runs
scored (22), stolen bases (15)
and triples (three) last season.
Boyd’s .217 bating average last
season included a home run,
eight RBIS, nine runs scored
and three steals.
Freshman Ali Forkey and
junior Jackie Yamber lead the
pitching staff. Fifth-year coach
Burt Reed said whoever pitch-
es will benefit from the range
and armstrength of Reynolds at
shortstop.
“We want to make section-
als again and improve,” Reed
said. “We have only one senior,
there’s lots of good athletes
and finding a spot for each one
of them is the tough part. Once
I find that lineup, we’ll im-
prove.”
Greene (11-9 last season)
rounds out the Division I
teams.
 19
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star, Friday, April 17, 2009
SFCU
Sidney Federal Credit Union
www.sfcuonline.org
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20
Continued from Page 6
Morris’ modified squad to a 7-2 finish
The Cooperstown Crier, Thursday, April 16, 2009 / The Daily Star Friday, April 17, 2009
last season, replaces former Bainbridge-
Guilford and Oneonta
State standout pitcher
Erik Weber. Pitcher Eric
Smith and infielder Jus-
tin Utter _ both juniors
_ look to lead the Mus-
tangs, along with senior
catcher Matt Tracy.
“We’re going to try
get to sectionals,” Um-
Tracy bach said, “but on top of
that, Morris hasn’t been in the Tri-Val-
ley championship game in 13-14 years.
It’d be nice if we could get some more
games in because we
have the talent to (reach
the T-V final) if we go
out there with our ‘A’
game. If we play average,
though, we’re going to get
rocked.”
Laurens returns to the
T-V West Division after
failing to field a team last
Adams season and will be led by
coach Andy Carr.
Not surprisingly, his top three play-
ers _ son Ryan, Jordon Davis and Matt
Struckle _ were part of a Leopards
‘We’re going to be like every other team this sea-
son. If our pitchers throw strikes, we’ll be competi-
tive.’
basketball team that dominated the Tri-
Valley League and gave Class D state
champion South Kortright two of its
closest games this past winter.
Andy Carr will rely
on all three of his key
returners to pitch. The
Leopards’ return to var-
sity baseball could be a
brief one, though, as its
12-player roster includes
five seniors. Three of his
seven underclassmen are
freshmen. Halay
Cherry Valley-Spring-
field’s stiffest competition in the T-V
East Division should come from Worces-
ter and Milford.
The Patriots, who have won six of
the last seven division crowns (Schen-
evus won in 2003), return 2008 Daily Star
honorable mentions David Adams and
— Worcester coach Corey Pier
Adam Halay. Each hit .300 or better last
season and will join senior classmate
Spencer Staley (.450 BA last season) and
Dubben’s sophomore son, Sam, in the
pitching rotation.
“All-around, Spencer
is one of the better play-
ers in the league or area
this year,” Ed Dubben
said of Staley, who will
share catching duties
with Sam Dubben. “He
stole four bases against
Staley (Cooperstown pitcher)
Kyle Liner the other day.
We have a lot more speed this year than
last.”
CV-S went 9-9 last season and 6-3 in
the T-V.
Worcester should be led by returners
Keegan Althiser and Ryan Sklenka. Se-
nior pitcher/first baseman Althiser went
3-1 on the mound and drive in 14 runs
last season for the Wolverines, who got
16 RBIs and a .356 batting average from
Sklenka, a sophomore
pitcher/third baseman
this season.
“We’re going to be like
every other team this
season,” Worcester coach
Corey Pier said. “If our
pitchers throw strikes,
we’ll be competitive.”
Milford coach Andrew
Griffiths lost his top play-
Kosturock
er to graduation in his son, Daily Star
honorable mention Logan Griffiths.
Pitcher Terrence Harrison and
catcher Trevor Kosturock seem primed
to lead the Wildcats, who also should get
solid play from returning starter Gideon
Powers.
Schenevus looks to outfielder David
Miller, first baseman/catcher Seth Jory
and catcher/pitcher Roger Dixon for
support this season. The Dragons went
0-15 last spring under coach Dan Lynch,
who returns in 2009 for his second sea-
son.
———
Dean Russin can be reached at
drussin@thedailystar.com or 607-432-
1000, ext. 215.