LOCKPORT — Like observing a good surgeon in a busy operating room, you can learn a lot from watching Lockport High School senior ace Adam Biano pitch.
It isn’t just the obvious skills he brings to the table, it’s the way he carries himself under so much pressure.
Biano, the son of Alan and Maria Biano, has emerged this season as one of the few bright spots on the struggling Lions. A senior right-hander with outstanding ball control and self-control, Biano and fellow Lions senior Dan Greco are the unmistakable leaders of a young LHS team in desperate need of a big break.
Lions head coach Steve Styrzo said Biano brings an important factor to the hill every time he pitches — control.
“He puts the ball in play — that’s his big contribution. He has such good control over his pitches. He doesn’t walk a lot of guys,” Styrzo said.
“And he changes speed very well.”
Against the high-octane Niagara-Wheatfield Falcons last week, Biano was amazing. He not only pitched a no-hitter for five and two-thirds innings against a very good hitting ball club, but through the first five innings, he faced just 19 batters and struck out five, including the Falcons’ side in the top of the third. He finished with eight strikeouts, thanks in big part to his four-seam fastball.
“The four-seam gives me more velocity. My two-seam fastball has more movement. It tails,” Biano said.
Adam credited a lot about his demeanor on the hill to his development growing up. His father, a former youth baseball slugger, taught him the game, while his mother taught him how to carry himself modestly.
“My dad really doesn’t say anything about his days playing ball. My uncle Arnie, my dad’s coach, likes to tell me the story about having to yell at my dad for walking off the field when he was mad once (laughs),” Adam said.
“I started pitching when I was 10. My dad caught for me in the back yard. I used to play catch with him and with my uncle when he came over. They still give me pep talks.
“My mom’s a school teacher and she always tells me that I have to act mature — like an adult — out on the field. The same way that I act off the field is the way I should act on the field.”
Biano won youth baseball titles in both the An-Jo (Golden Trucking) and Lockport Little League (Reid’s). Having been a part of winning teams in the past, Biano thinks if the Lions can play better defensively and can catch a few breaks, a strong post-season run might still be in the cards.
He also credited his catcher, junior Kyle Fernandez, with his mound success.
“Sometimes I’m not stretching long enough or I’m stretching too far and the ball’s too high, so then I need to make adjustments, and Kyle helps me with things like that,” Biano said.
“He makes my job a lot easier.”
This fall, Adam will attend Niagara County Community College, where he plans to play baseball for the Trailblazers.
“He’s very humble,” Adam’s father said.
“He doesn’t really like to talk about himself or draw attention to himself. He’s a team player. When you need a kid to throw strikes — what ever it takes — he’ll do it. He’s very coachable.”
Adam said he wants to be remembered as not just a good ball player, but a good friend.
“I want them to say that I was a hard worker who always hustled and that I was a good teammate who always cheered on others,” Adam said.
Adam is the grandson of Angela Biano and Angela Ramos. He has an older brother, Alan Jr., 21.
Sports
Related Photos
-
DOUG BENZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HS BASEBALL: Adam Biano is Lockport’s ’Control Board’
Lockport senior ace has what it takes on baseball’s ‘Capitol Hill.’
- Sports
-
-
Wolverines tame the Lions
Three Niagara Falls Wolverines players hit double-figures in Thursday’s 74-45 Niagara Frontier League boys basketball win over visiting Lockport on “Senior Night” in the Wolvearena.
-
Running miles for acres
Runners of all shapes and sizes will run 10 miles for 52 acres of land this weekend at the 2012 YMCA/Camp Kenan Y-10 race downtown.
-
Miller, Sabres blank the Bruins
With Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff nursing three broken ribs and watching from the press box, goalie Ryan Miller made 36 saves to earn his second shutout in three games in a 6-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
-
Roy-Hart swimmers dominated
Pictured are members of the Royalton-Hartland boys varsity swim team, which recently captured its sixth straight Niagara-Orleans League title and swept the annual league meet in Akron by winning every event. From left, first row, are Josh Beabout, Kurtis Parker, Roy Phipps and Zach Yates; second row, Cody Jones, Luke Brauer and Patrick Jones; third row, Jason Beabout and Lyle Wagner.
-
Syracuse beats Georgetown in OT, 64-61
Kris Joseph scored a career-high 29 points, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime, and No. 2 Syracuse beat 12th-ranked Georgetown 64-61 on Wednesday night to give coach Jim Boeheim his 880th career win.
-
Lions sweep Lewiston-Porter
It was a full moon and the vampires and werewolves were out in the Lady Lions Den.
-
Cotto training in Lockport
Professional boxer and World Boxing Organization Lightweight champion of the world Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2-1) has chosen Lockport as his training camp for his upcoming fight with Jose Luis Castillo (63-11-1) on March 24 in Houston Texas.
-
Roy-Hart dominates boys all-League swm meet
Undefeated (10-0) regular-season champion Royalton-Hartland dominated the competition Tuesday taking first place in all 11 events at the 2012 Niagara-Orleans League boys individual swim championships.
-
Ruff stuff
As if the Buffalo Sabres haven't endured enough injuries already this season. Add coach Lindy Ruff to the list.
-
Super Bowl draws record viewers on NBC
For the third consecutive year, the Super Bowl set a record as the most-watched television show in U.S. history.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Red Wings and Maple Leafs to Play at Big House
Parade for the New York Giants Super Bowl Champs
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Giants Beat Patriots 21-17 to Win Super Bowl
Manning Named Super Bowl MVP
Giants Beat Patriots in Super Bowl 46
Rodgers Wins AP MVP at 'NFL Honors'
Aaron Rodgers Wins AP NFL MVP
Martin, Five Others Elected to Football Hall
Brady, Manning Headline Super Bowl XLVI
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Rangers' Hamilton Confirms Alcohol Relapse
Goodell: Player Safety Is Top Priority
Coaches Update Injuries Ahead of Super Bowl
Pats Mesko Fulfills American Dream at Super Bowl
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Gronkowski's Ankle Still 'Day to Day'
Umenyiora Explains Missed Media Session
Fans Having a 'Super' Time in Indianapolis
