LOCKPORT — A well-executed sixth inning double play proved to be the difference Thursday in Lockport's 8-5 Niagara Frontier League softball victory over visiting Niagara-Wheatfield.

Leading by one, 6-5, Lady Lions senior ace Kassidy McFall faced a bases-loaded, one-out situation in an early season-battle of NFL unbeatens

McFall (5 strikeouts, 2 walks) got the Wheatfield batter to hit the ball on the ground, where it went to one of Western New York's best in LHS senior shortstop Patti Burdick, who gunned it home, where athletic Lockport senior catcher Nora Passuite touched the plate, then turned and gunned the ball to senior slugger Kelly McKeever on first for an inning ending double play.

Lockport tacked on two more runs in their half of the sixth, then McFall got the Lady Falcons 1-2-3 in the seventh as head coach Julie Kwoka's team improved to 4-0 in the NFL and 7-0 overall. N-W dropped to 3-1 in the NFL.

“We had a lot of different people contribute today. For the conditions, Kassidy threw well and she focused well,” Kwoka said.

McKeever (2-for-3, two runs scored) and fellow senior Emily Belfield (1-for-4, run scored) socked triples. Passuite, steady junior Allie Cavagnaro and senior standout Shannon Krywcun added hits for LHS. Passuite scored three runs and Krywcun had a key RBI single in the third inning, then added a sacrifice in the fifth.

Caitlin Attfield, Katie Mazierrski and Meghan Maranto had two hits apiece for the Lady Falcons.

Next up is the early season NFL Game of the Year with the 4-0 Lady Lions playing at 4-0 Kenmore West at 4:45 p.m. today.



N-O SOFTBALL

Albion 3, Roy-Hart 2

ALBION — Taking over sole possession of first place, three time defending champion Albion pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip Roy-Hart in a key rain soaked Niagara-Orleans League battle of softball unbeatens.

A two-run RBI single by Tanisha Moyer plated the decisive run in the last of the seventh for Albion which stays perfect at 6-0 as Roy-Hart slips to 5-1. One out singles by winning pitcher Jenn Knaak and Halle Jurs set up the deciding tally.

Roy-Hart had rallied into a 2-2 tie by scoring twice in the top of the seventh inning on an error and an RBI single by Hannah Rausch. Lead-off singles by Arianna henley and Taylor Fry set up that opportunity.

However, the Purple Eagles answered the challenge in the home half of the seventh as Moyer, who also made two big catches defensively in right field, drove in the game winner.

Moyer finished with three hits and Soule two for Albion, while Rausch had two hits for Roy-Hart.

On the mound, Knaak allowed five hits and struck out seven while Roy-Hart hurler Brianna Walker scattered 10 hits and struck out 11.

Rain washed out the Medina at Newfane and Wilson at Barker games.



NFL BASEBALL

N-W 22, Lockport 15

SANBORN — Nick Matos and Matt Peters each had three hits for the winning Falcons (3-1 NFL).

Junior Will Diebel and sophomore Danny Bronson had two hits apiece and sophomore Charlie Sobieraski tripled for head coach Steve Styrzo's Lions (2-2 NFL).



N-O BASEBALL

Washouts

Rain showers washed out Thursday's key Niagara-Orleans League game matching front-running Roy-Hart (5-0) against runner-up Albion (4-1) at Gasport.

The inclement weather also wiped out the CSAT (2-2) at Medina (0-5), the Akron (3-3) at Wilson (4-1) and Barker (0-5) and Newfane (2-3) contests.

N-O diamond action continues on Saturday with a tripleheader Showcase at Medina. Featured games are Newfane-Albion at 10 a.m., CSAT-Wilson at 1 p.m. and Barker-Medina at 4 p.m.



BOYS LACROSSE

St. Francis 14, Lockport 5

Austin Herman netted two goals for the Lions, who dropped to 2-4 overall after Thursday's home opener.

Also scoring Lockport goals were Andrew Edbauer and Zach Dewey.

Next up for head coach Scott Reddinger's Lions is the 2012 Canal Cup at 5 p.m. today, when the Lions host rival North Tonawanda.



BOYS TRACK

Starpoint 75, Pioneer 66

PENDLETON — Evan Najewski (100, 200 and long jump) was a triple individual winner for the Spartans.

Also winning for Starpoint were 100 hurdles — Scott Follendorf (100 high hurdles), Tom Moran (pole vault) and Scott Folldorf (triple jump).

Albion 108, Newfane 28

NEWFANE — Going to 1-1 on the season, the Albion boys were led by a trio of individual event double winners including Marquise Riddick (400, triple jump), Troy Greene (100, 200) and Michael Patterson (1,600, 3,200).

The Purple Eagles also got wins from Riley Kelly (800), Kollin Reynolds (shot put), Ryan Fannin (high jump) and Justyn Haines (pole vault).

Joe Starkweather doubled in the 110 hurdles and long jump for Newfane 0-1 (N-O).

Akron 87, Roy-Hart 45

MIDDLEPORT — Louis Henley doubled in the long jump and triple jump for the Akron boys squad which improves to 2-1.

Frankie Pfeil doubled in the 1,600 and 3,200 for Roy-Hart (1-1 N-O).

Barker 96, Wilson 45

WILSON — Tyler Scheving tripled in the 200, 400 and 800 to lead the way for defending champion Barker which improves to 3-0.

The Raiders also got double win efforts from Michael Lantinen (1,600, 3,200), Justin Voelker (shot put, discus) and Josh Haight (long jump, triple jump).



GIRLS TRACK

Wilson 79, Barker 62

Eliza Dewart won both the 200- and 400-meter dash while contributing to the winning 400 relay team to lead Wilson in the N-O match

Rachel Anderson was a double winner for Barker, taking first in the long jump and triple jump.

Albion 85, Newfane 47

NEWFANE — Abby Squicciarini doubled in the 100 and 200 to lead the way for the defending champion Albion girls squad which goes to 2-0.

The Purple Eagles also got wins from Natalie Mastrangiola (400 intermediate hurdles), Laisha Harrison (400), Mandi Covis (800), Skyler Greene (shot-put), Eboni Taylor (long jump) and Chanyce Powell (triple jump).

Kelly Bochnewitch was a double winner in the 1,500 and 3,000 for Newfane which is at 0-1.

Wilson 79, Barker 62

WILSON — The Wilson girls squad, which improves to 2-1, was led by double winner Angela Goodman (100 high hurdles, 400 intermediate hurdles).

Eliza Dewart doubled in the 200 and 400 and Rachel Anderson in the long jump and triple jump for Barker which slips to 0-3.

Akron 93, Roy-Hart 48

MIDDLEPORT — Gina Henley was a triple winner in the 100 hurdle, 400 hurdles and pole vault and Ashton Fiegel doubled in the long jump and triple jump to lead the Akron girls which likewise goes to 2-1.

Paige Flynn doubled in the 100 and 200 and Liz Offhaus in the shot-put and discus for Roy-Hart which slips to 0-2.