Déjà vu for N-W softball team

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, June 14, 2007

If you think that this year’s Niagara-Wheatfield softball season looked a lot like the Falcons’ 2006 campaign, you’re not alone. There were a number of similarities in 2007 from what was fortunately a good season the year before.

The Falcons went 15-9 overall in 2007, as opposed to the 15-10 mark they posted the year before. N-W went 10-4 in the Niagara Frontier League both times, and finished third in the league on both occasions.

And both times, N-W’s season was ended in the second round of the Section VI Class AA playoffs by the Clarence Red Devils.

“That was kind of weird,” said N-W softball coach Eric Belter. “But last year, it was easier to take because Clarence was clearly the better team. This year, I thought we were the better team – but we didn’t get any breaks, and that was enough to finish us off.”

The Falcons opened the 2007 playoffs in fine fashion, knocking out defending champion West Seneca West, 6-5, before bowing to Clarence in the quarterfinals, 5-3.

The Falcons had some amazing individual performances, and that’s reflected in the number of N-W league all-stars.

Leading the way is junior shortstop and captain Kyrstin Lekki, who led the Falcons in almost every offensive category. She hit .531 overall and .600 in the NFL, to go with 43 hits, 22 runs scored and 27 RBI. She was a First Team NFL all-star, made the All-Western New York Coaches Team, earned All-Western New York honors and was the Western New York Player of the Year.

And all that while recovering from a serious bout of appendicitis over the winter. Lekki will finally have the offending organ removed over the summer.

“For Kyrstin to go from the hospital bed to All-Western New York was pretty amazing,” Belter said. “She really is the best player in Western New York.”

Senior captain and third baseman Angela Campagnolo also was a First Team NFL selection after registering 33 hits, a team-high 16 stolen bases and 22 runs scored, which tied for the team lead.

Outfielder Becca Pringle earned Second Team NFL honors after hitting .455 (.500 in the league) and hitting a team-high three home runs.

Making the Third Team were junior outfielder Lynette Maggard (.346, 27 hits) and senior first baseman Ashley Toth (.412, 20 RBI, seven doubles).

The Falcons also got important pitching performances. Junior Kaylee Lekki – Kyrstin’s twin sister – emerged as the team’s top pitcher and went 12-7 with 101 strikeouts and a 2.70 earned run average.

“She really saved our season,” Belter said.

Also, senior second baseman Sarah Hillman hit .308 in the NFL and freshman Michelle Maggard batted .286. As a team, the Falcons hit .340.

Next year, Belter must find a way to replace five seniors and much of his infield: Campagnolo, Toth, Hillman, Delee Croisdale (a three-year starter at catcher) and left fielder Alex DeSantis.

“We’ll have some holes to fill,” Belter said. “But somebody new will step up, and we also have some very good people coming back.”