High school notes: Beardsley first lacrosse All-American for BH-BL

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

After Nicole Beardsley scored six goals in Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake’s final lacrosse game and reached 200 for her career, the junior wasn’t through.

“After our last game, she was out there shooting. She’s a special athlete,” Spartans coach Jake McHerron said of Beardsley. “She continues to do the work to get to the next level.”

Beardsley recently made it to a place no Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake player had before as the 7-year-old program’s first US Lacrosse All-American selection.

The attacker sparkled for the Section II Class B champions with 66 goals, 23 assists, 76 ground balls and 61 draw controls in 19 games.

“She comes early to practice and stays late. That’s always been her approach, and that’s why she’s a great role model for younger kids,” McHerron said of the five-year varsity performer. “Kids need role models, and she’s perfect for it.”

Beardsley repeated as a Suburban Council first-team all-star before her All-American nod from the sports’ governing body. Guilderland junior attacker Morgan Hardt, Guilderland senior defender Jenna Walsh and Shaker junior midfielder Julia Lennon also made the All-American team.

“She’s a leader in the circle. She gets ground balls. She transfers the ball into our offensive end,” McHerron said. “She does everything we ask.”

Beardsley had three goals and an assist when BH-BL beat Queensbury for its second Section II title in three years, 14-11, and followed with six goals and an assist in a 19-14 regional loss to John Jay.

She piled up six goals, four assists and 10 ground balls in a 19-2 Section II quarterfinal win over Ballston Spa, and during the reg-ular season, collected six goals and four assists in a 15-10 victory over Columbia. The 10 points tied the BH-BL single-game record.

“She was face-guarded this year. People know who she is now, and she was still able to put up great numbers,” said McHerron.

Beardsley was also selected a US Lacrosse Academic All-American. She has committed to Northwestern University.

“When you’re a seven-time national champion, you don’t bring in anybody,” said McHerron. “They like her fire. They like the way she plays.”

Lady Dutch add to list

With Hardt and Walsh, Guilderland has had multiple players selected to the US Lacrosse All-American first team three times in five years.

Walsh is Section II’s first All-American defender since Guilderland’s Casey Gerety in 2010. Amanda Santandrea also repres-ented the Lady Dutch that year, while Danielle Tetreault, Bridget Daley and Jen Madsen made the elite group in 2009.

“Not many people attacked her side,” Guilderland coach Gary Chatnik said of Walsh, a three-year starter who is headed to the Univ-ersity at Albany. “She’s a tough kid, and she’s got such quick reactions. The ball goes down, she gets it.”

Walsh played a significant role as Guilderland kept 14 of its 18 oppon-ents under 10 goals. The Section II Class A champion Lady Dutch surrendered an average of 5.8 goals.

At the other end, Hardt had multiple goals in all but one game and finished with 74 and eight assists.

“She could always shoot it hard. This year she added finesse to her game,” Chatnik said of the junior attacker, who has committed to James Madison. “She’d bounce them. Let the goalie move and then shoot. She’d quick-stick it.”

Hardt had six five-goal games, her last in a 15-8 Section II title-game win over Shaker. She also had a six-goal effort against Saratoga Springs and a career-high eight goals against Averill Park.

Lennon scored 72 goals to go with 23 assists for the Section II Class A runner-up Blue Bison. The Harvard-bound midfielder scored the game-winning goal when Shaker beat Guilderland for the 2012 area title.

Underclassmen games

Hardt, Beardsley and Lennon are among 10 Section II players who have been tabbed to compete for Upstate teams in the Underclassmen Games July 5-7 at Towson University in Baltimore.

The event, with 10 boys’ and girls’ teams, is part of the Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic.

Beardsley will be making her second appearance at the showcase, which draws numerous college coaches. Lexi Ball of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Cara Quimby of Guilderland, Mary Rahal of Queensbury, Mike D’Amario and Aidan O’Brien of Niskayuna, Ian Grey of Shenendehowa and Connor Flood of Albany Academy round out the area contingent.

O’connor stays

Casey O’Connor will remain as Christian Brothers Academy’s varsity baseball coach.

O’Connor took over midway through the season after Nick Davey resigned. O’Connor’s resume includes a five-year head coaching stint at The College of Saint Rose.

“Casey brings a wealth of knowledge and managing experience to the table,” said Blaine Drescher, CBA’s athletic director. “He will not only help our student athletes succeed, but also show them what it takes to play at the next level.”

CBA finished 11-10 last season after a Section II Class AA quarterfinal loss to Shenendehowa. With O’Connor, the Brothers went 4-4.

West memorial golf

The inaugural John West Memorial Golf Tournament will be held June 28 at Hales Mills Country Club in Johnstown with a 2 p.m. shotgun start.

The purpose of the tournament is to raise money for scholarships in West’s name that will benefit Fonda-Fultonville students. Jason Walton (848-6087, [email protected]) has registration information.

West, who coached football, baseball and wrestling at Fonda-Fultonville, recently passed away. During his football run from 1977-84, the Braves won four Tri-Valley League championships and a pair Section II titles. Though he only led the baseball team for three years, his 1971 edition was a sectional finalist, and his 1972 and 1973 teams captured T-VL crowns.

West served as Fonda-Fultonville’s athletic director from 1979-84 before his stint as a middle school principal from 1985-2004.