Published: December 30, 2008 11:20 pm      

H.S. BASKETBALL: Transcending sports

Jeremy Linhart captured the heart of more than just a community on Valentine’s Day.

NEWFANE — It’s difficult to tell who had the bigger hearts — the legally blind and mentally handicapped Newfane student who was allowed to play in a junior varsity basketball contest, the coaches and administrators on both sides who made it possible, or the hundreds of sobbing fans who gave the moment the emotion it deserved.

Jeremy Linhart, a student at Newfane and manager of the varsity basketball team, was given an opportunity to enter a Valentine’s Day junior varsity basketball game against visiting Royalton-Hartland on Feb. 14.

The moment — magical to say the least — has been selected as our Lockport Union-Sun & Journal 2008 Sports Story of the Year.

Newfane’s junior varsity head coach Eric Klumpp, a 1998 graduate of Newfane, was inspired, as most of us have been, by the story of Jason MacElwain of Rochester, an autistic young man who entered a varsity basketball game and sank six, 3-point baskets in 2006, making headlines around the world and meeting President George Bush.

Coach Klumpp, who deserves most of the credit for pulling off this unusual, heart-warming enterprise, had already come to know Jeremy quite well because he had coached Jeremy’s twin brother, Ryan, four years earlier and had named Jeremy as an assistant coach.

“Obviously, with his condition, he was never able to take part in any student athletics,” Klumpp explained.

“So as a coaching staff, we wanted to find a way to repay him for being such a huge part of our program. He’s been with us every game since he and Ryan entered high school.”

Roy-Hart’s JV coach Barry Webber and Athletics Director Mark Rydza were asked if they wouldn’t mind Jeremy being allowed to play and they graciously approved, demonstrating what Newfane AD Doug Ames described appreciatively as, “sportsmanship and character.”

With 3:50 left in the game, Jeremy took off his warm-up shirt and the gymnasium exploded with cheering from fans of both teams, as well as the varsity players who came out of the locker room early to witness the historic moment.

After missing a pair of free throws, Jeremy’s second shot bounced one off the rim. Moments later, he drained a two-point basket and the noise was deafening. Capping his performance off the bench with a masterful three-point basket, Jeremy was mobbed at the final buzzer and carried around the gym floor.

He finished with two baskets for five points. To most in attendance, it might as well have been 500.

“That was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in my life,” exclaimed Paul Demmin, whose son, Chris Demmin, was a member of the JV Panthers. Demmin took several photographs of the game, including the one featured again today.

Added Klump after the game, “His first three shots went off the rim, then he went inside the arc and hit his first shot with about 2:30 left in the game and everybody was crying. You couldn’t hear a thing in there.”

More than 10 months later and coach Klumpp is still awestruck and reflective of the moment.

“Everything was just magical that night — the atmosphere, our kids, their kids — everything just fell into place,” Klumpp said.

Added Eric’s brother, JV assistant coach Jeff Klumpp, “It’s a moment I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. I’m thankful that I was a part of it. It was hard for me to keep my emotions in check. It still is.”

Here’s a look back at other top local stories that occured in the first six months of 2008. (The second half of 2008 will be featured on New Year’s Day). Happy New Year!:



January

1 — Starpoint High School swimmers brothers Zac and Marc Toth are featured. The Buffalo Sabres lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, in the NHL Winter Classic, outdoors at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

2 — Ransomville Speedway’s annual “Hangover 150” is another huge smash with proceeds benefitting local soup kitchens. Ransomville’s Steve Matson wins the 6-cylinder race in snow and mud.

3 — The Lockport ice hockey Lions roar into the Cheektowaga Christmas Tournament semifinals behind the hot goaltending of Chris Paulin and Pat Krebs and the offense of Seth Hamilton and Mike Gagliardi.

4 — Conner Vandegriff nets a dozen points for the Royalton-Hartland boys varsity basketball team in a 49-35 Niagara-Orleans League loss at Medina. Emma Dewart nets 22 points in Barker’s girls basketball 59-21 win over Newfane.

5 — Seniors Dave Shuey and Trey Sherrie combine for 23 ponts in the third quarter, lifting Newfane past Akron, 66-53, topping N-O boys basketball action. Sherrie finished with with 25 points and Shuey had 21 for the Panthers.

6 — The Buffalo Sabres’ losing streak is six games after a 5-2 loss at Atlanta.

7 — Wilson lady cager Jessica Curry is featured. Chris Paulin turns back 31 shots to spark the LHS club hockey Lions past Jamestown, 3-0. Mike Gagliardi, Tom Russell and Wes McCoy score the goals for the Lions.

8 — Playing injured, North Tonawanda’s Aaron Davis scores 36 points, but the host Lockport boys basketball Lions prevail, 68-65, behind 18 points from Joe Croff, 13 from Justin Person and 12 apiece from Brent Jones and Justin Guyton.

9 — The Newfane wrestling teams gets pins from Seth Lowrey (112), Seth Edwards (145) and Tyler Olles (285) in a 41-29 loss to Albion, topping N-O mat action.

10 — Starpoint High School senior boys basketball star Amir Billups is featured, as he nears the 1,000-point mark for his career. The LHS Lady Lions bowling team loses its first NFL match in 59 tries, 5-2, to Niagara Falls. Jenna Geiger fires a 225--611 for LHS.

11 — Ethan Baker’s inside bucket with six seconds left leads the Wilson Lakemen over the visiting Newfane Panthers, 56-54, in the battle for first place in N-O boys basketball.

12 — Matt Johnston of Roy-Hart pins Joe Hill of Pembroke in 3:14 in their 160-pound finals match at the annual Lockport Wrestling Tournament. Other local title winners are Jeff Brigham (Roy-Hart), Matt Allinson (Starpoint) and Rob Reed (Wilson).

13 — Lockport’s Kelsey Fraser (1,000 meters) and Becky Fabbiano (pole vault) lead the Lockport girls indoor track team at the annual varsity Select Meet at Fredonia.

14 — Niagara County Community College freshman wrestler John Taylor of Lockport is named Trailblazers “Athlete of the Week” for winning both his 197-pound matches by pins at the recent Northeast Duals at Jamestown.

15 — Lockport High School first-year starting senior wrestler Andy Full is impressive at 14-8 for the blue and gold this season.

16 — Lockport native Sean Kugler is named as the new offensive line coach of the Buffalo Bills. Lockport Lions sophomore backstroker Mark Wallace is featured, after qualifying for the state meet.

17 — Royalton-Hartland’s Aaron Wagner sets a Niagara-Orleans League boys swimming record in the 200 individual medley (2:02.26), leading the Rams past Newfane, 103-65, topping N-O action.

18 — Lockport’s Ethan Randall drains three, second-half three-point baskets, but the Lockport basketball Lions are no match for visiting Niagara Falls, 81-45.

19 — Alex Steen and Nik Antropov each record a gaol and an assist as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the visiting Buffalo Sabres, 4-2. Lockport’s Drew Perilli is named Sophomore of the Year by the New York State Sportswriter’s Association.

20 — The New England Patriots improve to 18-0 with a 21-12 victory over the San Diego Chargers in the AFC title game. They’re heavily favored in the Super Bowl to beat the New York Giants, who beat the Green Bay Packers, 23-20, in overtime, in the NFC title game.

21 — Starpoint graduate Mike Ridge has started six of the last seven games for Pitt-Bradford, averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in his last four men’s college basketball starts.

22 — Michelle McKernan rips down 18 rebounds and adds three blocked shots in a strong defensive showing, sparking the Newfane Lady Panthers past Royalton-Hartland, 44-35, in an N-O contest in Middleport. McKernan also canned nine points.

23 — Royalton-Hartland junior swimmer Jon Beabout is the Rams record holder in the 500 freestyle, a mark he first broke as a freshman and has since bettered several times.

24 — Kenmore West senior cager Edvin Ramulic tops the 1,000-point mark for the Blue Devils during his team’s 74-55 manhandling of Lockport in the Lions’ Den. Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel is a late addition to the NFL Pro Bowl.

25 — Lockport junior guard Renee Schwartz scores a team-high 10 points, leading the visiting Lady Lions over Kenmore West, 27-26, in a defensive Niagara Frontier League girls basketball contest.

26 — Brian Campbell of the Buffalo Sabres scores a goal and assists on two others at the NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta. Campbell’s effort helps the East beat the West, 8-7.

27 — Former Lockport High School great Alyssa Neglia places first in all-events with a 1,737 pin total, leading the Medaille College Lady Mavs women’s bowling team to a first-place finish at the Hawk Invitational in Utica.

28 — On a night in which six former Starpoint athletic greats are inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame, Depew beats the Spartans, 48-32, in Pendleton, topping ECIC boys basketball action.

29 — Hard-working Barker student-athlete Emma Dewart is featured. The senior is averaging a team-high 11.7 points per game for head coach Jeff Costello’s Lady Raiders girls basketball team.

30 — Lockport professional bowler Brad Angelo is selected by fans nationally as one of the PBA’s most popular bowlers. Angelo finishes fourth behind fellow PBA bowlers Walter Ray Williams, Pete Weber and Rhino Page.



February

1 — Senior sharpshooter Joe Croff nets 25 points as the LHS boys basketball Lions down Niagara-Wheatfield, 70-61, in the Lions’ Den.

2 — Wilson’s Odane Todd cans 14, “Big Al” Jancef has 11 and Kevin Walch adds 10 in the Lakemen’s 55-41 boys basketball victory at Royalton-Hartland. “This is a tough place to play and Roy-Hart played well,” says Wilson head coach Brett Sippel.

3 — The New York Giants are world champions after their 17-14 upset victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz.

4 — Jim Wangler, Jackie Kinyon and Ted Denniston set a new city three-person bowling record with a combined 2,286 combined score at Allie Brandt Lanes. Denniston fires a perfect game and 827 series, Kinyon a 243-299--736 and Wangler a 268-245--723.

5 — Newfane senior Trey Sherrie (30 points, 10 rebounds) records a double-double in the Panthers’ 80-65 boys basketball victory over visiting Wilson in the Blue Zone, topping N-O action

6 — Ben Clark (112) and Matt King (171) earn pins for the Lakemen, but Wilson loses its N-O wrestling match at Medina, 48-25.

7 — Amber Gunby rolls a 238--595 as the Lockport Lady Lions improve to 12-2 in the league under head coach Matt Burt and clinch at least a tie for the NFL girls bowling title with a 6-1 victory over Kenmore West at Manor Lanes.

8 — Tom “Boomer” Russell is the hero, netting the game-winner with just 48 seconds left, sparking the Lockport club hockey Lions over St. Joe’s 2-1 at Hyde Park. Pat Krebs plays outstanding in goal, stopping 47 of 48 shots for head coach Bill Watson’s team.

9 — Newfane’s Bob Bearfield (215), Ben Killian (145) and Paul Ciarmella (152) are individial winners at the 2007-08 Niagara-Orleans League Wrestling Championships at Newfane High School.

10 — The Lockport Lions get goals from Baxter Sukdolak and Seth Hamilton, but drop a 3-2 contest to defending league champion Niagara-Wheatfield in a Western New York Club Hockey Association semifinal at Hyde Park in Niagara Falls.

11 — Tiffany Wendt goes 3-for-3 from three-point range on her way to a season-high 19 points, but it wasn’t enough in the Starpoint Lady Spartans’ 62-57 loss to Maryvale, topping ECIC girls basketball action.

12 — The Lockport Lions celebrate “Senior Day” with a 73-48 victory over visiting Lew-Port in NFL boys basketball action. Brent Jones and Justin Guyton can 12 points apiece for head coach Wayne Ginty’s Lions.

13 — The Newfane Panthers boys basketball team clinches its third straight Niagara-Orleans League title with a 51-50 victory over visiting Medina. Dave Shuey scores a season-high 23 points for head coach Scott Fuller’s Panthers.

14 — Legally blind and mentally handicapped, Jeremy Linhart, a manager on the Newfane boys basketball team, enters a junior varsity game against Royalton-Hartland and scores five points, including a three-point basket, as he’s carried off the court to a standing ovation in one of the most inspirational high school boys basketball performances in Western New York history.

15 — Royalton-Hartland senior Jeff Brigham, who earned his 100th career victory recently, is featured. Brigham now has 121 career wins and counting as he eyes a return to the state meet, slated for Rochester. Brigham is a three-time N-O champ and two-time sectional champion.

16 — The US&J’s promising young reporter Joe Olenick, a Niagara Falls native and avid sports fan, reports that players, coaches, parents and supporters of Lockport Club Hockey have asked the Lockport Board of Education to add hockey to its 2008-09 school budget so the team can move up to the “Federation League” level next season. Tony Stewart wins the Daytona 500.

17 — Kelsey Fraser of Lockport is the co-winner of the Niagara Police Athletic League’s Prep Athlete of the Year award at a special awards ceremony at the Como Restaurant on Pine Avenue in Niagara Falls.

18 — Joseph Alex scores the game-winning goal, lifting the Lockport Strikers to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Kenmore United in U-10 Winter B League youth soccer action at the Epic Center.

19 — Amy Johnson scores a career-high 21 points and Lindsey Burke adds 18 in the Lockport Lady Lions’ 66-32 NFL victory over West Seneca West in non-league girls basketball action.

20 — Edvin Ramulic scores 30 points to spark Kenmore West past the Lockport basketball Lions, 71-63. Lions senior point guard Ray Foster is featured.

21 — Lockport sophomores Kim Harrington and Lea Sobieraski are the catalysts in the No. 3 Lady Lions’ come-from behind 45-37 girls basketball victory over visiting No. 6 Hamburg in Section VI Class AA playoff action.

22 — Trey Sherrie cans a game-high 27 points, sparking No. 2 Newfane past No. 7 Medina, 54-43, in a Section VI Class B-1 boys basketball playoff game in the Blue Zone.

23 — Royalton-Hartland junior guard Liz DeWaters scores 15 points as the No. 4 Lady Rams advance in the Class B-2 girls basketball playoffs, beating top-seeded City Honors, 42-36, at Depew High School.

24 — Lockport High School coaches, present and former, along with district athletics director Pat Burke and others, are busy planning for the school’s first-ever Sports Hall of Hame.

25 — Kyle Simiele boots home the game-winner as the Lockport Strikers U-10 youth soccer team defeats the Lancaster Pirates, 2-1, at the Epic Center in Williamsville.

26 — “Big Al” Jancef and Ethan Baker lead the top-seeded Wilson Lakemen boys basketball team to a 68-57 victory over No. 5 Gowanda in a sectional Class B-2 semifinal contest at Buffalo State College.

27 — Senior big man Dave Shuey is injured in the second quarter and it’s all down hill from there for Newfane as Akron downs the Panthers, 46-42, in a sectional Class B-1 boys basketball semifinal at Buffalo State College.

28 — After losing the 2008 Section VI Class AA girls basketball title game to Jamestown, 73-60, at the Erie Community College Flickinger Center, Lockport Lady Lions junior guard Renee Schwartz vows, “We’ll be back next year and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a different outcome.”



March

1 — Kevin Walch scores a game-high 18 points, but the Wilson Lakemen boys basketball team loses to City Honors, 54-51, in the Class B-2 championship game at Buffalo State College.

2 — Former Buffalo goalie Dominick Hasek makes 22 saves for Detroit in a 4-2 Red Wings win over the Sabres at sold-out HSBC Arena.

3 — Junior lightweight professional boxer Nick Casal of Niagara Falls, the son of Lockport native Ray Casal, drops James Wayka two times in the opening round and ultimately knocks him out at 1:15 of the second round at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. With the win, Casal improves to 17-2-1 with knockouts at 142 pounds.

4 — Derek Roy and Jason Pominville score 18 seconds apart in a 5-2 Buffalo Sabres victory at the Philadelphia Flyers.

5 — Brett Stern keeps lighting the lamp for the Lockport Lightning U-9 soccer team, scoring two goals in a 3-0 victory over the Nitros. It’s Stern’s team-leading 12th goal of the season. Burke Geier also scored for Lockport, while Matt Kouysky and Andrew Villella shared the shutout in goal.

6 — Lockport Kids Wrestling Club members Anthony Orefice and Johnathan Fiebelkorn qualify for the National Youth Wrestling Championships in Iowa. The dynamic duo are coached by Shawn Murray.

7 — Lockport graduates Kim Schon, Molly Brewer and Tiara Durant are all having outstanding seasons as members of the SUNY Brockport women’s basketball team.

8 — Wilson senior Matt King wins both his 171-pound preliminary matches, advancing to the semifinals at the 2008 New York State Wrestling Meet at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.

9 — Wilson’s Matt King finishes fourth at the state wrestling meet in Rochester. Earlier this season, King broke Ben Faery’s school record of 117 career wins.

10 — Members of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department raise $2,790 for men overseas. The NCSD won the Law Enforcement Division at the 2008 Red Brick Bench Press Competition in Lewiston. Pictured are Niagara County’s finest Jason Kenney, Gary May, Dan Greenwald, Chris Wilson, Mark Vogt and Scott Sexton.

11 — Lockport’s Arnie Johnson places third at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s annual Convention & Sports Show Grand National Call Making Contest in Atlanta.

12 — Daniel Paille scores two goals, but the Buffalo Sabres’ playoff hopes take a hit with a 7-3 loss at Pittsburgh.

13 — Two 12-year-old girls, Lockport’s Jillian Long and Kati Marotta, are members of the Niagara University Junior Purple Eagles 12-U girls ice hockey team, which placed third in a the annual state championships in Syracuse.

14 — A shoulder injury sidelines professional heavyweight boxing contender Joe Mesi indefinitely. Mesi, a former No. 1-ranked fighter, is 36-0 with 29 knockouts, and is currently ranked 17th in the world by the World Boxing Council.

15 — After a six-month hiatus, Lockport native John Murphy resumes his local sports broadcasting career as the new Sports Director at WIVB-TV Channel 4 in Buffalo.

16 — Members of the Washington Hunt fifth grade boys basketball team, undefeated champions of the Optimist Club League, are Brandon Trachte, Steve Harris, Shae Bell, Scott Cummings, Quinci Jackson, Daniel Rucci, Steve Betsch, Nick O’Lay, Dante Kinney, Brae Thornton, Franco Olease, Alex Dale, Stephen Eaton, Michael Williamson, Matthew Babis, Adam Nuhn, Kyle Diel and Aaron Rivera. They’re coached by Bryan Eaton and Vinny Kinney.

17 — Lockport’s Shannon Scarselletta scores 11 points and adds four rebounds and two assists to lead the Cornell University women’s basketball team over Dartmouth.

18 — Newfane skyscraper Dave Shuey and Wilson’s Ethan Baker are named to the 2007-08 Niagara-Orleans League First Team for boys basketball.

19 — Barker’s Tasmanian Devil on the court, Emma Dewart, along with Wilson’s Kari Seabert and Royalton-Hartland’s Amanda Walker, are named to the N-O First Team for girls basketball.

20 — Lockport’s Matt Milliman and teammate Rob Linhart of Newfane smack two hits apiece, but the Niagara County Community College men’s baseball team loses to Onondaga CC, 5-2, in West Palm Beach, Fla.

21 — Anthony Orefice and Zach Nuhn earn silver medals for the Lockport Kids Wrestling Club at “Brute Battle for the Belt” at Spencerport High School. Earning bronze medals for Lockport were Steven Kapuscinski and Dylan Nuhn.

22 — Lockport High School junior Erin Miller posts solid performances at the National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships in New York City. Miller qualifies in two events, finishing 10th in the shotput and in the top 25 percent in the weight throw.

23 — Ricky Mussell rolls a 290 single en route to an 817 series in the Screwball League at South Transit Lanes.

24 — Fishing expert Bill Hilts suggest you try the “topsy-turvey” Lower Niagara River.

25 — Brothers Marc and Zak Toth of Starpoint meet their time trials for the Falcon Aquatics Swim Club at the Niagara District Championships at Erie Community College.

26 — The Buffalo BIlls are sponsoring a Bills Story Contest. The winners get free tickets to the 2008 home opener in September. Fans are submitting 100-words-or-less stories to the team’s website.

27 — Buffalo Bills linebacker Paul Posluzny is back to 100 percent and say he’s excited about his team’s off-season defensive additions. Posluzny broke his forearm in Week 3 a year ago, ending his rookie season.

28 — An overtime goal by Christopher Higgins of the Montreal Canadiens sinks the Buffalo Sabres, 4-3, at HSBC Arena.

29 — Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres scores the shootout winner in a 4-3 victory at Ottawa.

30 — Competing in their first AAU-sanctioned meet, two members of the Lockport Powerlifting Team, Ralph Camarre and David Cronkhite, have record-setting performances in Clyde, N.Y. Camarre lifts 310 pounds and Cronkhite presses 315



April

1 — Lockport’s Tim Wertman, Roy Gugliuzza and Dave Sobieraski set a new Lockport Bolwing Association record by tossing a comined three-game scratch 2,308 series at Allie Brandt Lanes. The old city record of 2,2,60 had been held by Jim White, Dave White and Ken Michaels.

2 — Niagara University freshman hockey player Kyle Rogers signs a two-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

3 — Kristin Decker, a 200 graduate of Kenmore East High School, and a former club lacrosse player and currently a fifth grade tyeacher at Starpoint, is named as the new head coach of the Lockport High School girls lacrosse team. Five-time US&J Golf Secretary of the Year John Madden is looking for more players for the Lock City Golf League.

4 — Veteran head coach Dave Shambach and the 2008 Lockport tennis Lions are featured as they prepare for their upcoming Niagara Frontier League season. Shambach is 217-93 in his LHS career (1985-2007).

5 — The Wilson Harbor Hoopsters place second in the 16-U bracket recently at the seventh annual Brian Dux/Storm Basketball Tournament. They are coached by former Barker 1,000-point scorer Bill Beilein, currently the junior varsity boys basketball coach at Lewiston-Porter High School.

6 — Led by Jessica Sacco, Louie Surace and Ryan Levy, the Lockport YMCA Sharks and Stingrays fared well at the recent state championships at the Nassau County Auatic Center on Long Island. Sacco, 8, places second in the Polliwog girls 100-yard freestyle, setting a new Lockport YMCA and Western New York Swim League record. Surace, 8 , dominates his age group; while Levy, a Barker standout, leads in the older age brackets.

7 — Eliminated from the playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres end their 2007-08 season on a good note with a 3-0 victory at playoff-bound Boston.

8 — Wilson Athletics Director Charlie Jufer and the school’s Wall of Fame Committee are seeking nomninations for consideration. Baby Joe Mesi’s announcement last week that he’s entering the political arena officially puts an end to his undefeated heavyweight career.

9 — Two former Lockport High School basketball players, Matt Castaldo (21 points) and Jeff Chapman (18) spark Foltz Insurance to the YMCA Men’s Basketball League Championship, 75-68, over Swick Landscaping. Former Wilson standout Joel Feagin cans 24 for Swick. Local umpire and the former hard-throwing southpaw Mark Sobieraski adds 22.

10 — Senior first baseman Samantha Disinger and freshman shortstop Hannah Hall will lead the 2008 Lockport Lady Lions softball team at the plate. Their pitcher is up-and-coming sophomore right-hander Jennifer Kwoka.

11 — The Royalton-Hartland Rams baseball team will be led this season by three returning Niagara-Orleans League all-star players, junior shortstop Matt Kuhn, senior pitchers Ryan Schwab and Nick DeWaters.

12 — Members of the 2008 An-Jo Baseball League board of directors are Todd Fragale, president; J.D. Seiler, vice president of the Rookies League; Tom Glynn, VP of Instructions; Mark Cye, treasurer; Jennifer Rice, secretary; and board members Doug Bailey and Tom Luckman.

13 — Junior Kayla Minner and sophomore Lea Sobieraski each score four goals, leading the LHS Lady Lions girls lacrosse team past visiting Mount St. Mary, 15-11, earning their first win of the season. Trevor Immelman of South Africa wins the 2008 Masters.

14 — Lauren Scarupa wins the 1,500 and Katie Baglio the shotput, while Scarupa, Molly Emerick, Lindsey Welsh and Jessica Doores win the 3,200 as the Starpoint Lady Spartans place third at the JFK Earlybird Invitational. Joe Scibilia wins the pentathlon and William Barclay the steeplechae as the Starpoint boys also place third.

15 — Other individual first-place finishers at the Early Bird Invitation at JFK are Wilson’s Don Truesdell (1,600), Lockport senior Kelsey Fraser (3,000).

16 — Trevor Moreland and Kyle Harrington each net five goals, leading the Lockport Strikers youth soccer team past the Cobras, 19-0, at the Epic Center. Brian Chatt adds four goals for the winners.

17 — Returning head coach Carl Stiles and the Lockport Rage semi-pro football team are featured. It’s the second season for the team, which is set to compete in the New York Amateur Football League.

18 — Members of Foltz Insurance, winners of the 2008 Lockport YMCA Men’s Basketball League, are Matt Castaldo, Mike DiTullio, Christ Fulton, Mario Grant, Mike Benedict, Jeff Chapman and Quinton Baker.

19 — Lockport High School 2005 graduate Cory Brownsten, the starting catcher and leading hitter on he NJCAA champion Monroe Community College men’s baseball team, is honored as the national NJCAA Player of the Week.

20 — Head coach Mark Kurtz’s Newfane varsity baseball Panthers wins two straight games while on its annual southern preseason trip. Matt Ames singles and scores the winning run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of frshman Steve Kneeland in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Cazenovia in Myrtle Beach.

21 — Royalton-Hartland pitchers junior Coleen Rausch and freshman Amanda Werth combine to toss a no-hitter in a 13-0 girls softball victory for head coach Bill Holahan’s Lady Rams at Newfane.

22 — Winning Lockport combinations at the 2008 Western New York Relays Track & Field Meet at ECC are Kelsey Yousett/Becky Fabbiano (pole vault), Erin Miller/Shannon Smith (discus); and the distance medley quartet of Fraser, Mary Rachel Robbins, Caprice Marrow and Renee Solly.

23 — Earning singles victories for head coach Dave Shambach’s Lockport boys tennis Lions in a 5-0 victory over Lewiston-Porter are junior Andrew Smist (first), junior Matt DiTullio (second) and senior Evan Breloff (third).

24 — Lockport High School senior and perennial tri-athlete Samantha Disinger is featured. “Sam,” the daughter of Dave and Clara (Drinkwalter) Disinger is a dedicated, hard-working student athlete who excels in soccer each fall, bowling in the winter and softball in the spring.

25 — Ransomville’s Erick Rudolph and the Lockport DeLange Racing Team head east to compete this weekend in the 37th Tech-Net Spring Sizzler at Stafford Speedway in Connecticut.

26 — Barker’s Andrew Carmer tosses a four-hitter in a 22-5 Raiders baseball victory over CSAT. Josh Desmairais cracks four hits for the winners and adding three hits each are Shane Schultz, Cody Blackley and Steve Rowland.

27 — Junior catcher Collin Flagler drives in six runs for the visiting Newfane baseball Panthers in a 19-4 victory over the Royalton-Hartland Rams under the lights at Middleport Elementary School.

28 — Christine Badhorn wins both the 100 and 200 sprints as the Royalton-Hartland Lady Rams track team improves to 2-0 with an 84-57 N-O victory over Akron.

29 — The Newfane Youth Football and Cheerleading Association hosts its summer registration at Town Hall.

30 — The first Lockport High School Federation League ice hockey team is set to begin its season under head coaches Ray Pabon and Rick Eberhart.



May

1 — Lockport High School senior right-hander Dan Greco pitches his second straight strong game, but fails to get run support in a 6-0 loss to Kenmore West at Outwater Park. Lockport’s Ginnie Smith aces the No. 2 hole at Oak Run. Donna Barton is the witness.

2 — The 2008 racing season is postponed at Ransomville Speedway due to rain. Junior Danielle Lanternier socks two triples as Starpoint beats Tonawanda 6-3, topping ECIC Division III softball action.

3 — Lockport senior Mary Rachel Robbins earns the Hewitt Award as the area’s top female athlete. Robbins, the daughter of Kevin and Laura Robbins, boasts a 98.957 GPA and a state qualifier in cross country and track.

4 — Lockport’s Lyle Tolli, 19, the son of Tim and Karen Tolli, a sophomore English major at Colgate, qualifies for the prestigious NCAA Division I Track & Field East Regionals in Tallahassee, Fla, after finishing fourth at the Patriots League Championship at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis with a personal-best time in the 1,500 of 3:44.22.

5 — Junior pitchers Raela Wiley and Molly Bloom lead the undefeated (7-0) Lakewomen varsity softball team.

6 — The Lockport Strikers win the U-8 bracket at the Akron Kick It First Youth Soccer Tournament. Team members are Joseph Alex, Adam Cavalarri, Brian Chatt, Brandon Gross, Kyle Harrington, Trevor Moreland, Nate Nuwer, Connor Retell, Riley Richards, Anthony Robinson, Kyle Simiele and Alex Xapsos.

7 — Thom Malloy cards a 36 to earn low gross honors in the Malloy Topsoil League at Oak Run.

8 — Lockport’s beloved “Pooley,” Dave Poole, records his third career hole-in-one, acing the 205-yard par three 18th hole at the Lockport Town & Country Club. Witnesses are John Angelo, Paul DeLange, Norb Koller and Eric Foltz.

9 — “Mr. Smallblock,” Pete Bicknell of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, wins the opening night modified feature race at Ransomville Speedway. James Friesen is first in sportsman and street stocks winners include Jaren Israel of Wilson.

10 — Senior Nick Ciemny nets five goals as Lockport blanks visiting Wilson, 16-0, in boys varsity lacrosse action. Roy-Hart’s Liz DeWaters, Ali White, Rachel Phipps and Christine Badhorn sets a school record while winning the 1,600 in 4:16.9 as the Lady Ramns beat Albion in N-O track & field action.

11 — Connor Retell scores the game-winner in a 3-2 Lockport Strikers youth soccer victory over the Cheektowaga Pirates at the Epic Center.

12 — Lockport High School senior pitcher Adam Biano is featured. Colleen Rausch fans seven, hurling Roy-Hart past Barker, 6-0, topping N-O softball action.

13 — US&J Sports Intern Christie Jok writes a feature story about Lockport’s “skateboarding king” Ethan Boci, 18, an LHS senior. Lockport’s Jeremy O’Day, an 11-year veteran of the Canadian Football League (CFL) is inducted into the Edinborough University Sports Hall of Fame.

14 — Lockport boys varsity lacrosse coach Mike Evans and team captains Mike Pass, D.J. Haseley and Chrisd Eglin, hoist the Canal Cup, after the Lions down visiting North Tonawanda, 14-2, in the annual rivalry game.

15 — Lockport senior Adam Biano is 4-for-5 at the plate with a triple and two doubles, sparking the baseball Lions past Kenmore West, 13-6. Lions junior infielder Colton Fago adds three hits with a pair of two-baggers.

16 — Ransomville’s Jipp Ortiz is the Sportsman Division winner at Ransomville Speedway. Street stock winners are Dave Conant of Lockport and Jaren Israel of Wilson.

17 — Lockport juniors Andrew Smist and Matt DiTullio win the Niagara Frontier League doubles championship at Sportsplex. Long time Wilson coach Larry Lash is honored when the school names its new softball complex “Lash Field.”

18 — Niagara Frontier League individual golf champion Desmond Stoll of Lockport is set to compete in the 2008 sectional championships at the Lancaster Country Club.

19 — Tom Lutz and Jim Castle fire a plus three to place first in the Oak Run Two-Man Par Points League. The NHL Stanley Cup Finals are set with the Detroit Red Wings ready to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

20 — Tom Ciccone (110, 400 hurdles), Carlos Roman (shot, discus) and Justen Person (long, triple jumps) are double winners for the boys and Erin Miller (shot, discus) dominates for the girls as the Lockport High School boys and girls track teams sweep Lewiston-Porter in their NFL meet at Max D. Lederer Field.

21 — Ed and Bill Weidel card a 145 to place first in the South Flight at the Opening Day Golf Tournament at Willowbrook. West Flight winners are Mike and Jerry McAvoy with a 148.

22 — Defendants in a Wilson assault case are due back in court on June 26. Three Wilson varsity baseball players are accused of assaulting two junior varsity players during an April 17 bus trip back to Wilson from Niagara Falls.

23 — Lockport senior Kelsey Fraser signs a national Letter of Intent to attend High Point University in North Carolina. Kelsey is the daughter of Linda and former Lockport School Supt. Dr. Bruce Fraser.

24 — Starpoint senior Kevin Hughes scatters six hits, while fanning 10 in a 5-1 Spartans non-league baseball win against Niagara-Wheatfield, in Sanborn.

25 — Cliff Carlson and John Weinreich place first in the Smist Memorial Dart Tournament at the Newfane Manor.

26 — Mike “Mini” McCartney and Danny Merritt combine to throw a no-hitter, sparking the Lockport Navy Marine Club past the Yankees, 3-0, in Senior Baseball League action at Outwater Park. One of Lockport’s finest, Rick Provenzano, smacks an RBI single for the winners.

27 — Lockport Lions boys varsity soccer coach Jeff Hulshoff announces the dates for his annual soccer clinic, July 7-25, at LHS. The Lockport Rage semi-pro football team opens its preseason slate with a 22-16 victory over the New York Lions at McCarthy Park in Buffalo.

28 — Lockport sophomore Drew Perilli (3,200) and senior Kelsey Fraser (3,000) earn Niagara Frontier League long-distance running titles at Kenmore West High School. Lady Lions junior Erin Miller wins n NFL title in the discus.

29 — Local business owner Tim Durfy of Terry’s Corners is featured as part of the new Enduro Series at Ransomville Speedway, which pits local volunteer fire companies against each other.

30 — Jon Corbi’s two-run single in the top of the seventh inning plates Matt Ruppert and Kyle Schwab to seal a 12-10 Starpoint victory over Springville in Section VI Class A playoff action in Pendleton.

31 — Peter Patrick and Aaron Comstock combine for the shutout as the DeSales Junior Varsity Soccer Team No. 2 blanks the Parochial Kickers, 1-0, in Coed Soccer League action at the Kenan Center Arena. Patti Beaulieu nets the game’s only goal.



June

1 — WGRZ reports that Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch has been linked to a hit-and-run car-pedestrian accident recently in downtown Buffalo.

2 — Dave Smith and Steve Butcher earn low gross honors with a 37 in the Lock City Golf League at the Niagara County Golf Course.

3 — Junior right-hander Raela Wiley tosses a no-hitter for the first four innings and finishes with a complete-game three-hitter, sparking Larry Lash’s Lakewomen softball team to a 10-2 victory over visiting JFK in a Section VI Class B semifinal.

4 — Lockport’s Cory Brownsten, aa sophomore catcher at Monroe Community College, is named a First Team All-American — the first baseball All-American at Monroe since his brother, Chris, in 2003. The visiting Detroit Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 to win the NHL’s 2007-08 Stanley Cup in six games.

5 — Lockport’s Team Oakes Racing earns back-to-back go-kart victories as Haley Oakes wins the Junior II feature at Ransomville Speedway and a night later wins the Junior II feature at Waterloo Speedway.

6 — Newfane’s Adam Irr wins a Section VI Class B championship in the 800 run on the first day of the 2008 Section VI Track & Field Championships at Lancaster High School.

7 — On Day Two of the Section VI Track & Field Championships at Lancaster High School, Starpoint junior Joe Scibilia wins the pentathlon with 3,020 points. Roy-Hart’s Jason Zayac wins the steeplechase in 9:54.68.

8 — Robbie Nodine and Bryan Parker shoot 36s to share low gross honors in the Lock City Golf League at the Niagara County Golf Course.

9 — Members of Shelby Crushed Stone, which placed second at a boys youth basketball tournament in Cazenovia, are Tyler Davis, DeMario Johnson, Tim Rudley, Kyle Davis, Armani Knowles, Drew Bailey, Byron Banks and Mark Cassidy. They are coached by local cage legend Frank Knowles.

10 — The Buffalo Sabres have a new AHL affiliate, signing a three-year deal with the Portland Pirates of Maine, ending a 29-year relationship with the Rochester Americans.

11 — Among those named to the 2008 Niagara-Orleans League First Team for softball are Wilson’s senior outfielder Brittany Casino, junior infielder Caroline Augustiniak, junior pitcher Raela Wiley and freshman catcher Elise Jancef; Roy-Hart junior pitcher Coleen Rausch and freshman Amanda Werth; Newfane senior infielder Kristi Grimes; and Barker senior pitcher Jessie Wolski.

12 — The special guest speaker for the Emmet Belknap Middle School sixth grade class is Lockport’s Dr. Andrew Cappucino. Cappucino garnered world-wide attention for his efforts in the recovery of Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a spinal chord injury in an NFL game.

13 — Among those named to the 2008 Niagara-Orleans League First Team for baseball are Newfane senior outfielder Nick Vona and senior infielder Brett Backes; Roy-Hart senior outfielder Nick DeWaters and junior infielder Matt Kuhn; and Barker freshman pitcher Andrew Carmer.

14 — Pro wrestling legend Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka is the main attraction at “Rumble at the Locks” at the Lockport Kenan Center Arena.

15 — Kobe Bryant scores 25 points as the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the visiting Boston Celtics, 103-98, in Game 5 of the NBA FInals. The Celtics still lead the series three games to two.

16 — Tiger Woods outlasts Rocco Mediate to win the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines — his 14th career major.

17 — The Boston Celtics defeat the visiting Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92 to win the 2007-08 NBA Championship. It’s Boston’s 17th title, but the first for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

18 — Lockport High School senior Dan Greco is named to the prestigious 2008 Western New York All-Academic Baseball Team. Greco, 18, is the son of John and Christine Greco of Jesson Parkway. Knee surgery ends Tiger Woods’ PGA season.

19 — It’s a sad, but reflective day as Lockport Little League pioneer Bob Stoll, a friend and mentor to local youths for decades, passes away.

20 — Andy Xapsos smacks two hits and Steve DiCarlo adds a two-run double as Isochem defeats Lions Club, 5-2, in Lockport Little League AAA Division action at the Ray Lee Complex.

21 — Wilson’s Jaren Israel becomes Ransomville Speedway’s first three-time feature of the season, winning the second Streetstocks feature. Ransomville’s Billy Coleman wins the first 15-lap SS feature.

22 — Named to the All-Western New York Coaches Softball Team is Wilson senior outfielder Brittany Casino.

23 — Wilson’s Steve Geltz will forego senior season at UB after signing a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Angeles. Geltz is assigned to the Angels’ Single-A Orem Owiz in Utah.

24 — Named to the first Lockport High School Hall of Fame are Lou Corriere (1940), Vic Cleri (1941), John Furlong (1956), Tommy Hicks (1962), Don “Chip” Case (1965), Phil Rosenberg (1975), Randy Smith (1991), Lori Pasceri-Asher (1989), Lucy Kelley (1995); and Kelly Stevens (1995).

25 — Ryan Needle, who won three state championships at Newfane, is the guest speaker at an Orchard Park Wrestling Clinic.

26 — Newfane’s Molly Coakley (pole vault) and Adam Irr (800) are honored by the Newfane Board of Education for competing at the recent state track meet at the University at Buffalo.

27 — Lockport High School boys varsity soccer coach Jeff Hulshoff announces that the 2008 Lockport Soccer Camp is slated for July 7-25 at LHS for kids ages 6 to 13.

28 — Legendary Medina football coach Nick Benedetti is named as the new head football coach at Wilson High School.

30 — Ransomville’s teenage modified driving sensation Erick Rudolph captures back-to-back victories at Spencer Speedway in Williamson and at Dunn Tire Raceway in Lancaster.

Read Part Two of our look back at 2008 in Thursday’s New Year’s Day issue.