Published: June 21, 2008 10:46 pm      

BASEBALL: Check out our all-Area picks

First Team

Brett Backes

Newfane, Senior, INF/P

Was spectacular for a Panthers team that had a lot of holes to fill after winning the Niagara-Orleans League title a year ago. He hit .512 with 18 RBIs and 20 runs scored and also logged quality innings on the hill.



Rob Daggett

Lewiston-Porter, Senior, SS/P

The Gazette Player of the Year hit .511 in the Niagara Frontier League, while amassing 32 hits — 11 for extra bases — 18 RBIs, 19 walks and 11 stolen bases. He was also 4-1 on the hill with a minuscule 1.67 ERA.



Rick Cumbo

Kenmore East, Senior, P/3B

The Tonawanda News Player of the Year hit a team-leading .436 and had 34 hits and 23 runs scored, He also produced on the mound, with a big sectionals win against Albion and a one-hitter against Niagara-Wheatfield.



Matt Klock

Grand Island, Senior, CF/P

A repeat first-team selection, he was awesome both on the mound and at the plate for the Niagara Frontier League champs. He went 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA pitching and hit .442 with 19 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.



Jeremy Willard

Lewiston-Porter, Senior, P/SS

Another repeat first-team pick, he did a little bit of everything for the Class A finalists. Willard was the ace of the pitching staff with a 5-2 record and a 2.40 ERA. He also hit nearly .300 with three homers and 18 RBIs.



Tim Szalkowski

Starpoint, Senior, 1B/P

The Canisius signee and first team all-ECIC III pick had three wins and a 2.21 ERA on the hill for the Spartans. He also hit .393 with 33 hits — 16 for extra bases — three homers, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored.



Chris Gruarin

Niagara-Wheatfield, Junior, SS

The smooth lefty hit .439 with eight doubles, 12 RBIs, 14 runs scored and 12 walks in NFL play for the youthful Falcons. The first team all-NFL pick did a solid job at short after playing first the past two years.



Joe Oliverio

Grand Island, Junior, C

A first team all-NFL pick for good reason, hitting .380 in league play with 18 RBIs and only four strikeouts. The backstop also excelled defensively, throwing out an eye-popping 16 of 23 would-be base stealers.



Jarred Flock

Lewiston-Porter, Senior, CF

A repeat first-teamer that roped 14 bombs during his varsity career. This year, the Canisius signee hit .328 with 19 hits — 13 for extra bases, including six home runs — 20 RBIs, 24 runs scored, 24 walks and 14 stolen bases.



Kevin Whitehead

Kenmore East, Junior, C

A rock behind the plate for coach Les Simon’s Bulldogs, Whitehead hit .352 and had a .507 slugging percentage. Has a twin brother, Scott, who would have been a first-team choice if it weren’t for an arm injury.



Neal DeMartin

Grand Island, Senior, SS

Another one of the Niagara Frontier League champs’ stars, he hit .431 in league play with 20 RBIs, nine stolen bases and struck out only once. The first team all-NFL pick only made three errors all year.



Kevin Border

North Tonawanda, Senior, SS

Led the Lumberjacks with a team-best six doubles and 18 RBIs. Hit .323 overall and provided solid defense at short. Had one of his 14 runs scored this season on a steal of home to defeat Lew-Port.



Second Team

Dan Greco

Lockport, Senior, P

A Western New York all-Academic selection that also excelled on the field with both his arm and bat. Allowed just 14 earned runs in 32 2/3 innings on the hill. Hit .269 with seven RBIs and 25 runs scored.



Kevin Hughes

Starpoint, Senior, P/SS

The clear-cut leader of the Spartans, Hughes was a bulldog on the mound. The right-hander pitched in 12 games, getting five wins and striking out 83. The first team all-ECIC III pick also hit .308 and scored 25 runs.



Cody Novo

Kenmore East, Senior, CF

Scored a team-leading 26 runs and hit .418 for the Bulldogs. Had 33 hits on the season and stole six bases. Also added six triples and slugged an impressive .633. Had three game-winning RBIs as part of his 21 total.



Jake Lysiak

Niagara Falls, Sophomore, P

As impressive as they come as far as young pitchers this spring. The flame throwing right-hander went 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA. He wasn’t bad at the plate either, getting a couple clutch hits down the stretch.



Dave Haseley

Niagara-Wheatfield, Senior, P

A second team all-NFL pick, he was the Falcons ace this year. After going undefeated a year ago, he did lose his first game as a varsity player but made up for it with three wins, only 25 hits allowed and a 2.30 ERA.



Micah Puscheck

North Tonawanda, Junior, 1B/P

Picked up his game during league play, hitting .325. Rarely swung at bad pitches, which helped him to a .426 on-base percentage. Pitched 21 1/3 innings, second-most for the Jacks. Also excels in the classroom, with an average of about 96.



Joel Klock

Grand Island, Sophomore, P

A dominating southpaw that has star written all over him if continues to develop. The first team all-NFL selection was 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA and opponents batted only .186 against him. He also hit .372 at the dish.



Nick Vona

Newfane, Senior, OF

Very consistent both at the plate and in the outfield for the Panthers. The first team all-N-O pick hit .419 with 18 RBIs and a team-high 21 runs scored, earning praise from out-of-league coaches as well.



Paul Smith

Niagara-Wheatfield, Junior, OF/P

Busted out in a big way, both on the mound and at the dish. The first team all-NFL pick hit .431, which was second best on the team, with 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored and helped solidify N-W’s rotation.



Nick DeWaters

Royalton-Hartland, Senior, OF

A repeat first team all-Niagara-Orleans League pick as well as an all-area second team pick for the second straight yea. His batting average of .536 was the highest in the N-O. Also had 10 RBIs for the Rams.



Jeff Conklin

Niagara Falls, Junior, 1B/P

An unknown before the year, he hit an impressive .413 for the Wolverines. He finished with 19 hits and 10 RBIs and also contributed a number of solid innings on the mound, including a couple of victories.



Greg Stephan

Grand Island, Senior, 1B/P

Vastly underrated seeing that he never lost a game on the mound the last two years. This spring, he went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA for the NFL champs. At the dish, he hit .395 with eight RBIs and only three strikeouts.



Honorable Mention

Barker — Andrew Carmer, Freshman, INF/P; Steve Rowland, Senior, 3B

Cardinal O’Hara — Paul Coleman, Senior, 3B; Angelo Sciandra, Junior, P/SS; Joe Wilkie, Senior, P

Grand Island — Shaun Winter, Junior, OF; Marv Pawlowski, Junior, OF; Mike Heftka, Senior, OF; Chris Podlucky, Senior, INF

Kenmore West — Jon Dray, Senior, IF; Brad Lepovich, Senior, IF; Jason Lajoie, Junior, IF/P; Rick Christopher, Junior, P

Kenmore East — Scott Whitehead, Junior, P/1B; Chad Moser, Senior, 2B

Lewiston-Porter — Aaron Coney, Senior, C; Tyler Magliazzo, Senior, Utility; Bob Morreale, Senior, OF

Lockport — Tyler Gately, Junior, INF; Jake Chenez, Sophomore, INF; Adam Biano, Senior, P

Newfane — Collin Flagler, Junior, C; Matt Ames, Senior, INF; Trevor Richardson, Senior, INF

Niagara Catholic — Mike Volpe, Junior, P/SS; Rob Swartz, Junior, P; Cameron Carney, Freshman, P

Niagara Falls — David Tighe, Senior, 2B; Mike Bright, Senior, P/1B; Stosh Kajfasz, Junior, Utility; Matt Paonessa, Junior, DH

Niagara-Wheatfield — Reese Bedient, Sophomore, 1B/P; Ben Collins, Senior, OF; Matt Attfield, Senior, DH; Bryan MacSwan, Senior, 2B

North Tonawanda — Mitch Jaccarino, Senior, C; Doug Vaillancourt, Senior, OF; Nick Del Gobbo, Senior, P

Royalton-Hartland — Matt Kuhn, Junior, INF; Skylar Barker, Senior, 1B; Ryan Schwab, Senior, INF/P

Starpoint — Garrett Britton, Junior, C; Andy Boyce, Sophomore, P/1B; Matt Ruppert, Senior, 3B

St. Joe’s — Brendan Schaefer, Senior, P; Cole Schneider, Senior, IF; Jim Pernick, Senior, IF; Pat Ruggiero, Senior, 1B

Tonawanda — Matt Carlson, Sophomore, P; Scott McGregor, Senior, CF; Jesse Zellner, Sophomore, P/1B; Mike Tolsma, Sophomore, UT

* Wilson does not have any representatives because its season was canceled.