Pittsford Sutherland won the Section V Class A2 title in 2017 and advanced to the NYS Class A semifinals. (Photo: SUE KANE)

MONROE COUNTY Division III

BRIGHTON BARONS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 13-8 and lost to Canandaigua, 2-1 in the Class A1 semifinals.
Coach: Jason Wasserman (180-129/14th season).
Top returners: Trent Wasserman (Jr. P,1B 1.02 ERA/56K/41IP), Andrew Zibuck (Sr. CF .450/7 extra-base hits), Nico Aagesen C (Sr. C .387).
Top newcomers: Matthew Falter (So. 2B,P) and Ryan Watson (Jr. P,OF).
First game: April 4th at Webster Thomas.
Outlook: Wasserman and Zibuck give Brighton a one-two punch in the lineup. Aagesen provides veteran leadership behind the plate for the Barons looking to climb in the standings.

Brockport’s Cole Penders was a Second Team All-County selection in 2017. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM/PICKIN’ SPLINTERS)

BROCKPORT BLUE DEVILS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 12-9 and lost to Greece Arcadia, 6-3 in the Class A1 quarterfinals.
Coach: Matt Davis (44-41/fifth season).
Top returners: Gordy Fisher (Sr. OF,P/ First Team All-County), Cole Penders (Sr. SS Second Team All-County) and Sam Velletri (So. 2B Second Team All-County).
Top newcomers: Josh Keenan (Sr. P, CF) and Nick Nealon (So. 2B, 3B)
First game: Tuesday, April 3rd vs. St. James HS at Myrtle Beach, SC.
Outlook: A dozen seniors on the roster gives Brockport plenty of leadership and experience. The Blue Devils will look to challenge for the divisional title.

CANANDAIGUA BRAVES (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 18-4 (Monroe County Division III and Section V Class A1 Champions), lost to Pittsford Sutherland in the NYS Class A Far West Regional qualifier.
Coach: Dale Werth (178-146/14th season).
Top returners: Connor Fisher (Sr. P,OF .347/ 9RBI/12-/ Second Team All-County), Jordie Johnstone (Sr. OF .354/4-2B/17R/ 7RBI/8SB), Seth Vigneri (So. C .347/18RBI/ 6-2B/13R/7SB/ First Team All-County), Michael Sculli (Jr. LHP, OF 32IP/41K/ 3.68ERA/.323/12RBI/12R/15SB.
Top newcomers: Cooper Crunick (Jr. RHP,C, INF 6-foot-1, 185) and Dylan Mackenzie (So. RHP, INF 5-foot-10, 170).
First game: Monday April 2nd at Irondequoit.
Outlook: Canandaigua looks to Fisher, Jonhstone, Sculli and Vigneri to lead the way. The Braves have plenty of firepower to repeat as divisional champions. They will be among a crowded group of contenders for the A1 title.

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GREECE ATHENA TROJANS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 5-15 and fell to Spencerport, 4-3 in the Class A1 opening round.
Coach: Jason Bunting (308-189/22nd year).
Top returners: Ryan Ballard (Sr. C .397/Second Team All-County) and James Sciortino (Sr. P, MI .396/Second Team All-County).
First game: Sunday April 1st vs. Oldham County (KY) in Florida.
Outlook: Athena is a young squad, but sophomores Tyler Curtis and Jagger Nucci as well as junior Jorge Oropeza and freshman Casey Saucke all logged several innings last season. Senior Mike Ruta also gives the Trojans some needed experience. Athena will compete. Their biggest challenge is to find an ace of the pitching staff.

PITTSFORD MENDON VIKINGS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 10-12 and lost to Greece Arcadia, 2-1 in Class A1 semifinals.
Coach: Jeff Amoroso (59-50/6th season).
Top returners: George Gines (Sr. RHP, LF, 3B First Team All-county, All Greater-Rochester), Jared Petrichick (Sr. LHP, CF First Team All-County, 5th Team All-State), Kyle Wallman (Sr. C), Jake Ring (Sr. RF) and Billy Dalton (Sr. SS, RHP).
Top newcomers: Hudson Bockmier (Jr. LHP, 1B) and Zack Janson (Jr. MI, OF)
First game: Sunday, April 1st vs. Spencerport in Orlando, Fla. ESPN WWS
Outlook: Dalton, Gines, Petrichick and Wallman are all third-year players and remember how close they came to advancing to last year’s sectional final. A close-knit group will look to get off to better start this year. In order to do that, Mendon will have to perform well when they head south on their Spring Break trip.

Mendon’s George Gines was a First Team All-County selection as well as All Greater-Rochester pick in 2017. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM/PICKIN’ SPLINTERS)

PITTSFORD SUTHERLAND KNIGHTS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 16-10 (Section V A2 and Far West Regional champions), lost to Wantagh in the NYS Class A semifinal.
Coach: Brandon DeRosa (16-10 2nd season).
Top returners: Graham Schild (Sr. P, SS), Connor Fitzsimmons (Jr. C), Jack Bergin (Sr. 3B), Layton Cummings (Sr. INF) and John Messina (Jr. P, OF).
Top newcomers: John Gassler (Sr. P 6-foot-2, 200) and Tyler Depaolis (Jr. P/1b 5-foot-10, 180).
First game: March 31st vs. East Carter HS (KY) at Myrtle Beach, SC.
Outlook: Looking to build off of last year’s success, Sutherland makes the move to Class A1 from A2. Several returners give the Knights the experience needed to meet that challenge and make a postseason run.