THE SPORTS REPORTS: CORNING'S GRIMALDI HEADLINES TALENTED LIST AS BOYS ALL-REGION 'NEWCOMER OF THE SPRING' (2022-07-02)

The Sports Reports
Corning’s Chris Grimaldi made his first appearance on a varsity lacrosse field for the Hawks this spring, and made an immediate impact, earning him The Sports Reports’ All-Region 2022 Boys “Newcomer of the Spring.”

Grimaldi scored 57 goals and added 27 assists this year — leading the region both categories for the season.

Only a junior, Grimaldi is committed to Division I UMass.

The 2022 All-Region Boys “Newcomers of the Spring”
Chris Grimaldi, lacrosse, Corning — junior: See above.

Kayleb Bechy, track & field, Waverly — junior: Bechy took the sprinting world by storm, winning the 100 at the Class C Championships and the State Qualifier, and taking second in the 200 at the IAC Championships. He was also part of Waverly’s state qualifying 4x100 relay.

Alex Davis, baseball, NP-Mansfield — freshman: Davis’ first varsity campaign included a .438 batting average and a .509 on-base-percentage. He collected 21 hits, including 10 doubles and a home run, lifting his slugging percentage to .708, and added 17 runs scored, 24 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and five walks. He also went 1-1 on the mound, throwing 13 innings with a 3.23 ERA and eight strikeouts.

Camden Allen, baseball, Troy — freshman: Allen was a strong two-way player for the Trojans, hitting .418 with 16 runs scored, 10 RBI, and four doubles. He also pitched 33 innings, and fanned 35.

Gavin Hardee, baseball, Corning — sophomore: The hard-throwing Hardee had three wins and two saves on the year, with a impressive 0.58 ERA in 19 innings. He fanned 24.

Jerrell Sackett, track & field, Waverly — junior: Sackett ran the second leg on Waverly’s 400-meter relay team that won the IAC title, the Class C title, and won the gold at the Section IV State Qualifier. The relay finished 10th at States.

At the Section IV State Qualifier, Sackett stepped in at the last minute and ran the anchor leg to help the Wolverine 1,600-meter relay to a first-place finish and a trip to States. He also ran on the relay at the State meet, where it finished 11th.

Aiden Gehman, track & field, Wellsboro — junior: Gehman decided to compete for the Hornets this season for the first time and the rookie jumper recorded leaps of over 40 feet in the triple jump and 20 feet in the long jump in just his second meet ever — the Lock Haven Invite.

Gehman set a PR of 42-feet, 3 3/4-inches in the triple jump at Lock Haven, placed 2nd at the NTL Championships and finished 11th at the District IV meet. His PR of 20- feet, 4 3/4-inches in the long jump followed a ffith-place finish at Lock Haven, a fifth-place finish at the NTL meet and just out of the medals at Districts, where he finished 9th. The Hornet also competed in the high jump, where he set a first-year PR of 5-feet, 6-inches.

Caden Smith, baseball, Wellsboro — sophomore: Smith took over catching duties for the 13-5-1 Hornets this season, and midway through the season was tasked with being Wellsboro’s leadoff hitter. He batted .457, had a .525 on-base-percentage and had a league-leading 32 base hits, scored 30 runs and added 19 RBI, 10 walks and nine stolen bases. On the mound, Smith threw 12 innings and went 1-1 with 5 strikeouts.

Nate Gillette, golf, Horseheads — freshman: Gillette had a strong season for the Blue Raiders, averaging 44.5 per round. Gillette was a key member of the lineup for the Blue Raiders all season.

Drew Macumber, baseball, Tioga — sophomore: Macumber hit .345 (19 hits in 55 ABs) with 17 runs scored, six doubles, 13 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.  On the mound, he was 2-1 with a 2.18 ERA, and  21 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched.

Holden Ward, baseball, Canton — freshman: Ward hit .323 with four doubles, and 25 runs scored. He was also strong on the mound, striking out a team-high 45.

Clayton Smith, baseball, Troy — sophomore: Smith hit .338 on the year with eight RBI, and five doubles. He also made some big plays in centerfield for the Trojans during the season.

Zuri Ruffin, track & field, Corning — freshman: Ruffin qualified for nationals as a freshman in the long jump and took sixth at nationals at 20-feet, 11 1/4-inches. Was second to his brother in the 200 in the STAC West throughout the year.