LOCKPORT — Lockport's Rob Arlington did everything but bring his winter jacket on Tuesday, pitching and hitting the Lions past visiting Niagara Falls, 8-2, in the Niagara Frontier League opener for both schools.

On a day more suited for ice fishing, than baseball, Arlington out-dueled Niagara Falls ace Andrew Dewitt on the hill on a cold, breezy day at Outwater Park, striking out nine and scattering five hits in an outstanding pitching performance for the LHS senior.

“Rob was really dominating today,” said Lions skipper Steve Styrzo. “I thought we attacked the baseball and at the same time, knew when not to attack the baseball.”

Forcing Dewitt into long counts throughout, Falls head coach Joe Contento had to take his precision-throwing southpaw out of the game after four frames. He finished with seven strikeouts.

Leading by just one at that time, 3-2, the Lions took advantage, plating five runs off reliever Billy Grace in the bottom of the fifth to break the game open.

Arlington then cruised through the final two frames as Lockport opens 1-0 in the NFL. The Wolverines dropped to 0-1 in the league and are 3-4 overall.

“I felt good. I was in control all game. My curve was working and Danny (Bronson) had a great game behind the plate calling pitches.”

Bronson, just a sophomore, opened his league varsity career on a high note, gunning down Falls baserunner Joe DiLaura to end the first. Arlington cracked the first of his three hard singles to left in the first, but the Lions could do no more offensively.

The visiting Wolverines got on board in the top of the second. Richie Demarco singled, then moved to third on Joe Colosi's double. Demarco came home on a one-out ground out to short by Ricky Rinallo.

The Lions bounced back for good in their half of the second, plating three runs to lead 3-1.

With one out, Casey Domski got things started with a single. Colin Dougherty walked, setting the stage for Bronson's Texas leaguer down the right field line that plated Domski with the tying run.

Leadoff hitter Kevin Covell and Arlington followed with back-to-back RBI singles, but Falls centerfielder DiLaura made a nice catch off the bat of Nate Schneider to end the inning.

Arlington cruised through the third, but got a great defensive play by sophomore Charlie Sobieraski at third to end the frame. Dewitt was equally sharp in the third. After giving up leadoff singles to Nick DiMartile and Sobieraski, he fanned the next three Lions batters to end that threat.

After two strikeouts, a nice diving play at short by Covell and a great catch at first by Brad Wroblewski on the throw gave Arlington a 1-2-3 fourth inning. The Lions mounted a threat in the fourth, loading the bases, but Dewitt struck out a batter to end that threat.

The Falls plated their final run in the top of the fifth. Joe D'Angelo, who had reached base on a fielder's choice then eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Lions responded with a five-run fifth. Again it was Domski who got things started with a single, then stole second and third, eventually scoring on an outfield error to make it 4-2. Two swings of the bat later and it was 8-2 as Schneider cracked a two-RBI single and DiMartile followed with a two-RBI double.

“Lockport's always a tough team. I thought we played a little tentative today. We've got to be more aggressive,” Contento said.



• N-O BASEBALL

Wilson 2, Medina 0

MEDINA — Brad Schlosser pitched a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts as the visiting Lakemen moved to 2-1 in the Niagara-Orleans League.

Pat Diez doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Strassburg for the game-winning run. Tayler Thilk and Dan Nugent each had two singles for Wilson.

Albion 16, Akron 1

ALBION — A big nine run first inning scoring burst powered Albion (2-1, 6-1) to a 16-1 victory over Akron (2-2) Tuesday.

Travis Downs had a lead-off single and a three-run triple to spark Albion's decisive first inning uprising with also included an RBI single by Tyler Hughson.

Downs and Matt Quider both had a total of three hits on the day as Hughson and Elliott Foss both had two. Downs drove in a total of four runs, Quider three and Hughson two.

Quider pitched the first four innings allowing three hits with nine strikeouts. Hughson came on to hurl the final thee innings giving up four hits and striking out five.

Roy-Hart 8, Barker 0

BARKER — Zach Yates hurled a four hit shut out with eight strikeouts to spark Roy-Hart (3-0) past Barker (0-3).

Ryan Metz had two hits and three RBIs to lead the Rams at the plate as Brian Farewell singled in the game's first run.

Newfane 15, CSAT 3

BUFFALO — Winning pitcher Josh Kneeland fanned six in four innings of work.

Reid Weber was 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs to spark the Panthers.

Scott Kneeland added three hits with an RBI, Brian Ratajcak two hits with a double and an RBI and Justin Ferrington three hits with a double.



• NFL SOFTBALL

Lockport 5, Niagara Falls 1

NIAGARA FALLS — Winning pitcher Kassidy McFall scattered six hits, struck out three and walked none as head coach Julie Kwoka's Lady Lions (1-0 NFL, 5-0 overall) opened their NFL slate Tuesday with a big road win.

LHS senior Danielle Donorovich had a big bat with a two-out, two-run double in the top of the first, plating junior Allie Cavagnaro and senior Emily Belfield to give Lockport all the runs it would need.

Cavagnaro and seniors Nora Passiute and Patti Burdick all had two hits with Passuite and Burdick both socking doubles.

“Kassidy did a nice job and defensively we were solid,” Kwoka said.

“It was a big win. Niagara Falls is always a tough opponent. There's no easy wins against them. We knew going in that we had to play good softball and I thought we did that.”

Stephanie Bielec was 2-for-3 for the Lady Wolverines (0-1 NFL) and scored their only run.



• NON-LEAGUE SOFTBALL

Maryvale 6, Starpoint 5 (9)

CHEEKTOWAGA — Jamie Maciejewski singled to plate the winning run with no outs in the bottom of the ninth.

For head coach Joe Hill's Lady Spartans, sophomore Brianna Clark was 4-for-5 with a triple, double and two RBIs. Senior Stephanie Duermeyer added two hits and junior Emily Whitman scored a pair of runs.

Next up, Starpoint plays at Hamburg at 4:30 p.m. today.



• ECIC BOYS TRACK

Starpoint 76, Iroquois 65

ELMA — The Spartans opened their 2012 ECIC Division II season with a big win at Iroquois on Tuesday.

Starpoint's winning 3,200 quartet was A.J. Joslin, Matt Prohaska, Clark Daigler and Adam Yacos (9:10.9). Joslin went on to win the 800 (2:05.7), Prohaska the 1,600 (4:54.9) and Yacos the 400 (:53.2).

Other individual winners for the Spartans were Evan Majewski (100), Liam Jermyn (discus), Paul Swartz (3,200) and Tom Moran (pole vault.

Madison Wesoloski won the 110 hurdles and high jump for Iroquois.



• NFL TENNIS

N-W 3, Lockport 2

SANBORN — Brian Smist earned a win at third singles as head coach Dave Shambach's Lions opened their 2012 NFL season with a close road loss.

Bailey Reid and J.J. Napoli won at first doubles for the blue and gold (0-1 NFL).

N-O TENNIS

Wilson 4, Roy-Hart 1.5

WILSON — Isaiah Barrett won a three-set match at third singles to help the Lakemen open at 1-0 in the Niagara-Orleans League.



• GIRLS LACROSSE

Lockport 13, Niagara Falls 7

NIAGARA FALLS — Junior Jillian Golding netted five goals for head coach Natalia Doherty's Lady Lions (1-3 NFL).

Mary Bull, Erinne Chamot and Jamie Dimond added two goals apiece for Lockport. Chipping in with single goals were Roserita DiMillo and Jenna Minner.