Penfield volleyball outsider hitter named best in state. Plus, Wayne football preview
The games and matches that count in Section V high school sports are about to begin.
This fall sports season will include very few, if any, coronavirus-related restrictions and recommendations for players and coaches.
"This hopefully will be a true return to what life used to look life," Section V executive director Kathy Hoyt said about high school sports.
Here are some other topics and teams coming up during discussions in Section V high school sports:
Penfield's Bell earns MaxPreps honor
Nicole Bell was named the best girls volleyball player in New York State.
That's according to MaxPreps, which honored the Penfield star on its list of the best players from each state last week.
Bell, an outside hitter, is entering her senior season. She's a two-time All-Greater Rochester selection who has led Penfield the past three seasons. Bell is expected to play a huge role in the frontcourt and backcourt this fall for coach Rich Newton's Patriots.
How to nominate a candidate for Section V Baseball Hall of Fame
The Section V Baseball Hall of Fame accepts nominations for inductions year-round, and there are two ways to let committee members know who someone has in mind.
Here is a link where a nomination form can be downloaded, filled out and then attached to an e-mail sent to Section V Baseball Hall of Fame committee member Ory Mee at omee@rochester.rr.com
Mee also can send nomination forms on request at the same email address.
The first Section V Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in three years took place July 30 at Frontier Field, where the member plaques are on display in the first breezeway on the first base side of the stadium's concourse.
"This year, we had a little bit larger group than normal, but we haven't had an induction ceremony for three years," Mee said. "The last 2 years we canceled (because of the coronavirus pandemic). There was no (Rochester Red Wings) season (in 2020) and last year with all of the (health and safety) stipulations, we didn’t have it.
"Several inductees came back, which is always nice to see."
More than 100 people came to see the induction class of seven, who were introduced on the field by Red Wings general manager and Section V Baseball Hall of Fame committee member Dan Mason.
"It's in a great place for people to see, because it's at the ballpark," Mee said. "It wouldn't happen without Dan Mason. He's a very community-oriented person."
Wayne football preview
The question the Wayne Eagles need to answer sooner and later is, can they join Batavia and Honeoye Falls-Lima as top contenders to win the Section V Class B Championship?
There is potential for the Eagles to make that list.
Wayne coach Dave Marean has seven players in last season's offense and eight on defense back with the team, including two-way starters. That equals experience and perhaps confidence.
Dylan Vance, a senior set to play his fourth varsity season, was named by coaches in Section V to the Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Small Schools Football Team after he scored 18 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,500 yards.
"When you have a kid like Vance, just take care of the ball," Marean said.
Matt Bedford and Nate Michel are two-way linemen who are third-year starters in their senior years. Alek Reynolds, who is raising his profile in college football recruiting as a punter, spent a season in the Buffalo region and is back with the Eagles to also play receiver and defensive back.
The defense, with Vance at outside linebacker, has three third-year starters in junior outside linebacker Alex Garrow, junior linebacker Eli Mackey and junior defensive back Michael Prentice. Defensive end Elliot Santos could give the Wayne defense a boost after he transferred from Webster Thomas, where he played on the junior varsity last season.
"The biggest thing we talk about is getting better everyday," Marean said. "Our goal is to know where we are at (in the Class B sectional playoff picture).”
Wayne football at a glance
Coach: David Marean
Classification playoff race: B
Fall 2021 record, season ended: 6-3, lost to Batavia, Class B semifinals
Last Section V Championship: None
Waynefootball schedule
Week 1: Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Batavia, 7 p.m.
Week 2: Friday, Sept. 9 at Honeoye Falls-Lima, 7 p.m.
Week 3: Saturday, Sept. 17 road Bishop Kearney/Rochester Prep, 2:30 p.m. at Bishop Kearney
Week 4: Friday, Sept. 23 vs. Palmyra-Macedon, 7 p.m.
Week 5: Friday, Sept. 30 at Geneva, 7 p.m.
Week 6: Friday, Oct. 7 vs. Newark/Marion, 7 p.m.
Week 7: Friday, Oct. 14 vs. Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton, 7 p.m.
Week 8: Friday, Oct. 21 at Livonia, 7 p.m.
Top matchups for Wayne football
There are three that jump out, especially for a team like the Eagles, who want to measure themselves against the top teams in Section V Class B.
The tests come early. Can the Eagles stop or slow down Batavia's running game in their season opener? How will Wayne's defense deal with Honeoye Falls-Lima's passing game in Week 2 on the road? Week 8 is another test, this one against Livonia and the Class C team's double-wing offense.
Top returning players for Wayne
OL/DL Matt Bedford, WR/OLB Alex Garrow, DB Cael Lawson, RB/FB/LB Eli Mackey, OL/DL Nate Michel, QB/DE Sean Nellis, WR/DB Mike Prentice, RB/OLB Dylan Vance.
Until next time, keep up on Section V's sports scene by going to our high school page.
If you like this newsletter, please share it with a friend or family member. If you would like to receive the weekly Varsity Voices newsletter, sign up here.
Our work isn't possible without D&C subscribers. If you are one, thank you. If you're not, please consider subscribing.
MSLAUGHTER1@Gannett.com
JAMESJ@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Penfield volleyball outsider hitter named best in state
