As anyone present in Baldwinsville during last weekend’s series of big events can attest to, the weather changed on a constant basis.
And for the hundreds of girls lacrosse players gathered on the B’ville school campus for the 15th annual Star-Spangled Lacrosse Tournament, those variations played out in full.
From rain on Friday morning, to nicer conditions later that day, to a blazing sunshine and 90-degree temperatures on Saturday, to an overcast Sunday that ended in a driving rain (more than an inch fell), it didn’t lack for variety.
But as they do each year, teams in five divisions battled for top honors, with entries coming in from states like New Hampshire, Ohio and (for the first time) a group from California, the San Diego Wildcats.
They played for title in the Open (college-age players), High School (incoming juniors and seniors), Futures (incoming freshmen and sophomores), Shooting Stars (ages 12 and 13) and Pixie Stix divisions.
But the rain fell so hard on Sunday that, by the afternoon, the fields had become unplayable. Thus, play was stopped in the middle of the semifinal round, and the teams leading in those semifinal games were declared co-champions of the tournament.
In the Open division, the A-Team (a local group) and Relentless Hustle, from the Rochester Area, shared top honors. Lady Roc and the Show Stoppas shared third place.
For the first time, the Buffalo Wings club from Western New York produced a champion as it shared top High School honors with Star-Riders I, a local entry with many of the players bound for next week’s Empire State Games in Binghamton. Two Lady Roc teams from Rochester shared third place.
Long Island’s Yellow Jackets shared championships in the Futures, Shooting Stars and Pixie Stix divisions with its 2012, ’13 and ’15 entries.
Relentless Hustle ’12 shared the Futures crown, while its younger counterpart won in Pixie Stix and it’s 2011 entry tied for third with Star-Riders in Futures. The Star-Riders were also third in Shooting Stars, where Metro Purple finished atop the ranks with Yellow Jackets ’13. The Wildcats, from Camillus, and the Metro Pixies tied for third in Pixie Stix.
From the B’ville perspective, the CNY Elite ’09 team in the High School division included Meagan Rowe, Maddison Frink, Quincey Spagnoletti, Katie VanDeValk, Erika Bulken, Kara Moschetti, Casey Chiesa and Jen Fabian. Meghan Haney, Lauren Roberts, Megan Collins, Sarah Clark and Mackenzie Hjerstad all played for CNY Elite ’10.
Some B’ville alums, including Nerissa Barzee, Taylor Frink, Taylor Gray, Emily Maguire, Ashlyn Maguire, Meghan Merriam, Erinn Wilcox and Courtney Welsh, got together in the Open division on the Hey Girl Hey team. Stefany McKee and Amanda Caloia led the Show Stoppas.
