The softball rivalry between Clarence and Williamsville North just gets

better.

Clarence, ranked No. 2 in the coaches' large school poll, made just two hits and a pair of

first-inning runs stand up for a 2-1 victory over the No. 1-ranked Spartans on Tuesday at

Clarence.

All-Western New York pitcher Jennifer Sansano continued her mastery of rival hitters,

pitching a one-hitter and striking out 15.

Sansano (5-0) has struck out 76 batters, an average of 15 a game. She has allowed only two

runs. North's run was unearned Tuesday.

The Red Devils struck early. Tori Nappo opened the first-inning rally with a single. After

walks to Marcella Ossa and Sansano, Amanda Atkins came through with a two-run single. North's

Nikki Attea shut out Clarence the rest of the way as the Spartans suffered their first loss.

Corrin Genovese had the only North hit against Sansano. After her single in the third,

Genovese stole second and third and came home on a throwing error. That, however, was all the

Spartans managed against Sansano, who pitched a no-hitter against Hamburg two weeks ago.

Last season Clarence and Sansano won both regular-season games over North, 4-3 and 4-2, but

lost to the Spartans, 5-0, in the Section VI Class AA championship game.

Their next scheduled meeting is May 12 at North.

No. 1 Clarence falls in baseball

Unranked Hamburg (5-2) upset top-ranked Clarence, 9-6, in ECIC I baseball

behind the pitching of Mike Holland. The Bulldogs (3-0) are undefeated in the division, a

half-game behind first-place Orchard Park.

The Quakers (5-2, 4-0) defeated West Seneca West, 9-3, as A.J. Witkowski and Dave

Crowley each had a pair of hits and two RBIs. Orchard Park is averaging almost 13 runs a game

against ECIC I opponents. OP will play at Hamburg on Friday.

In ECIC IV, Pat Vittmer of Holland struck out 11 batters in a 5-3 victory over

Cleveland Hill for his third win. Jordan Farrant had two hits and two RBIs for the

Dutchmen.

Riverside ran its record to 6-0 in League I of Cornell Cup play with a 4-2 victory

over Grover Cleveland on the three-hit pitching of Anthony Vega.

In another League I matchup, Conor Hurley and Jack Alfieri of City Honors combined

to shut out McKinley, 6-0, on a three-hitter at McCarthy Park. The Centaurs are 3-1 in

League I play, losing only to Riverside. The teams have a rematch May 11 at McCarthy No. 2.

In the Niagara-Orleans League, Buddy Keeler of first-place Albion (7-0) one-hit CSAT,

14-1, while Roy-Hart lost to Newfane, 3-2, in 10 innings. It was the first

defeat for the Rams in league play.

Canisius, St. Joe's both 2-0

It's early in the Monsignor Martin Association baseball season but already Canisius

and St. Joe's have jumped ahead in the standings with 2-0 records.

The Crusaders rolled past Bishop Timon-St. Jude, 12-2, at Cazenovia Park behind the

pitching of Luke Klee, who scattered nine singles and struck out three.

Sophomore catcher Dylan Blujus led the Canisius attack with a single and double for four

RBIs in four trips. Kyle McLain had two singles and drove in two runs.

"Actually it was a pretty well-played game," said Canisius coach Bryan Tenney. "We just got

some timely hits. Our league is going to be tough this year."

Meanwhile, St. Joe's scored all of its runs in the third inning, then held off St.

Francis for a 4-3 victory over the Red Raiders. Dave Seward had a two-run double and Tyler

Ferretti had two hits and an RBI for the Marauders. All the St. Francis runs came in the fifth

inning against winning pitcher Drew Fittry, who struck out eight and allowed only four hits in

5 1/3; innings. Joe Dileo picked up the save with 1 2/3; innings of no-hit relief.

Timon rebounds from lacrosse loss

The Bishop Timon-St. Jude lacrosse team suffered no hangover from its 5-4 upset loss at

the hands of West Seneca East last Saturday.

The Tigers (7-3, 3-0 Monsignor Martin) took it out on rival St. Francis, routing the

Red Raiders, 15-1, behind an eight-point game by Chris Kane, who had four goals and four

assists. Luke Mann added four goals for Timon.

"Today, we bounced back and played a lot better. We moved the ball a lot better and were

very unselfish," said Timon coach Mike Burke. "We didn't finish well on Saturday, but we did a

better job today.

"West Seneca East played a perfect game against us. We outshot them, 45-10, but they played

it right. They kept the game close and then they took advantage at the end.

"It was nice to see [Kane] looking to score himself," Burke said. "It was a good lesson to

learn. He had been forcing shots from bad angles."

Long stick midfielder Derek Marks scored 20 seconds into the second overtime on a feed from

Lucas Walsh to give Nichols a 9-8 victory over Canisius in Monsignor Martin lacrosse.

Walsh scored three goals and assisted on two others to lead the Vikings (6-1, 2-1 Monsignor

Martin)

Rich Walsh, who had three goals and two assists for Canisius (1-8, 1-2), sent the game into

overtime when he scored with 1:41 left in regulation.

Amherst edges Niagara-Wheatfield

Amherst and Hamburg both remained unbeaten in Section VI Class B boys

lacrosse.

Amherst (4-3, 4-0 Section VI) got four goals from Brendan Kane in a 12-10 victory over

Niagara-Wheatfield.

Meanwhile, Hamburg (8-1, 5-0 Class B) overpowered Grand Island, 13-1, as Ryan and

Chris Feuerstein each had a pair of goals as did Adam Dings. Ryan Feuerstein added three

assists and his brother and Dings had two each.