MONROE COUNTY Division IV

BATAVIA BLUE DEVILS (Class A2)

Last season: Finished 13-4 (Monroe County Division IV champions) and lost to eventual NYS Class A semifinalist Pittsford Sutherland, 16-6 in the Class A2 semifinals.

Coach: Rick Saunders (267-142/20th season)

Key Returners: Hunter Mazur (Sr. 2B/P .409/15 RBI/18H/First Team All-County), Chandler Baker (Sr. C .457/ 21H/21R/First Team All-County), Sam Sallome (Jr. SS .324/Second Team All-County), Jordyn Schmidt (Sr. 1B/P-was injured last season) and Griffin DellaPenna (Jr. C/3B .437).
Top Newcomers: Andrew Francis (Jr. P/OF) and Bailee D’Alba (Sr. INF).
First Game: Thursday March 29 at Medina.
Outlook: Batavia has 18 consecutive winning seasons and been to seven sectional finals under Rick Saunders. The Blue Devils will be as good as their starting pitching allows them to be this season. There is plenty of firepower in the offense, and they should be able to hit and score runs. Team speed contributes to a solid Blue Devils’ defense.

EASTRIDGE LANCERS (Class A1)

Last season: Finished 7-12 and lost to Pittsford Mendon, 5-3 in the opening round of Class A2.
Coach: Mike Screen (22-37/fourth season).
Top returners: John Montana (Sr. 3B, C, P .323/11R/11RBI/ Second Team All-County).
Top newcomers: Justin Alaimo (Jr. P 5-foot-8, 160) Dylan Hanley (So. 1B 5-foot-10, 175) and Jacob Russo (So. C 6-foot-0, 185).
First game: April 9th versus Batavia at Dwyer Stadium.
Outlook: Eastridge takes the field with six sophomores, seven juniors and three seniors. Those young Lancers will look to pick up where last year’s team left off winning several games near the end of the season. This group may lack experience but their dedication gives promise for post-season success.

GREECE ODYSSEY LEOPARDS (Class B)

Last season: Finished 9-9 and lost to eventual state champion Livonia in the Class B quarterfinals.
Coach: Roger Klimek (22nd season at Odyssey).
Top returners: Kevin Canton (Sr.), Jake Romanowski (Sr.) and Brandyn Sigouin (Sr.).
Top newcomers: Joe D’Angelo (Jr. P,INF), Korey Canton (So. P,INF), David Crawford (Jr. INF) and Jonah Holloway (So. P, INF).
First game: April 10 vs East Rochester.
Outlook: Odyssey lost six key starters due to graduation. JV players a year ago, Crawford, D’Angelo, Holloway and Kanton will step into roles right away at the varsity level. The Leopards are thin with pitching.

GREECE OLYMPIA SPARTANS (Class B)

Last season: Finished 5-15 and lost to Batavia, 11-0 in the Class A2 quarterfinals.
Coach: Steve Paternico (first season).
Top returners: Angel Perez (Sr. 1B, OF), Andrew La Bar (Sr. 3B) and Zach Wright (Jr. P, INF).
Top newcomers: Joe Alphonse (So. SS, P) and Mike Matteson (So. C)
First game: March 29th vs. Edison.
Outlook: In his first season at the helm, Paternico will lean on veterans La Bar and Perez along with Jason LoVullo (3B, 1B), Jake HeBerger (OF) and Jason Hill (2B) to give Olympia leadership. Juniors John Berbert and Colin Avery will provide more talent as the Spartans build team chemistry.

HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS (Class A2)

Last season: Finished 7-11 and lost to Pittsford Sutherland, 5-0 in the A2 quarterfinals.
Coach: Dan Hoyt (seventh season with sectional championships in 2012 and ’15).
Top returners: Owen VanNewkirk (Sr. C .405/team leader in hits and RBI last season/Second Team All-County), Jack Tvrdik (Sr. OF) and Derek Childs (Jr. P).
Top newcomers: Jake Calhoun (Jr. P), Hayden Smith (So. P, 3B) and Ben Sousa (Jr. OF).
First game: April 3rd vs. Churchville-Chili.
Outlook: HF-L will look to its seniors to lead a talented group of underclassmen.