News & notes

 The Albany FireWolves need to win tonight in Buffalo to force a deciding 3rd game in the National Lacrosse League finals after losing to Buffalo, 12-8, Friday at MVP Arena. The game will again be only available via streaming on ESPN+. Face-off is at 7:30 pm.

Up the hill at the Washington Avenue Armory, the Albany Patroons defeated the Jamestown Jackals for the 2nd time in a week, but this time, it was a close one, 128-124. The Pats remain at home to entertain Virginia Valley tonight at 7.

And, in Glens Falls, the Florida EverBlades beat the Adirondack Thunder, 5-2, to take a 1-0 lead in the ECHL Eastern Conference finals. Game 2 is tonight at 7 as well.

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It used to be that fireworks night would guarantee a sellout crowd at Bruno Stadium for the Tri-City Valleycats' home opener. Not this year.

There were plenty of empty seats in the grandstand sections for Friday's game vs. the Washington Wild Things. However, despite the use of a pitch clock, like in major league baseball, the teams slogged through 10 innings in just a shade over 4 hours before Washington won, 13-11, after Tri-City battled back from a 10-2 deficit after 4 innings to force extras.

Valleycat starter Wes Albert was knocked out of the game with a leg injury after a collision at first base in the 2nd inning. It's unclear if/when he'll make his next start. Reliever Justin Dill, activated from the bereavement list before the game, entered with his team already in a bit of a pickle.

The teams will play again tonight at 6:30 pm, with Tri-City wearing their Spanish-language variant uniforms.

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It's a good thing the regional rounds of the NCAA softball tournament are round robin. Otherwise, Siena & UAlbany would be done for the season.

Siena fell to Texas, 5-0, while the Lady Danes lost to Texas A & M, 6-2.

Back at home, RPI was eliminated from the Division III tournament after losing to Husson, 2-1, in 8 innings.

It wasn't a good day for Albany on the diamond, as the baseball team lost to Maine, 7-5.  They'll need to win today to earn a spot in the America East tournament next week.

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Friday's sectional scoreboard:

Flag football:

Shenendehowa 25, Niskayuna 20.

Albany 21, Saratoga 6.

It'll be Shen at Albany on Monday.

Troy @ Shaker & Bethlehem @ Columbia have not been reported.

Baseball:

Class AAA semi-finals:

Saratoga 9, Shaker 1.

Shenendehowa 2, CBA 1.

Game 2 in each series is today.

Class B 1st round:

Taconic Hills 4, Cobleskill-Richmondville 3

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George Washington University split a doubleheader with St. Joseph on Friday to close the regular season, winning the 1st game, 4-0, then dropping the finale, 4-1. Brett Young (Albany Academy/Siena) went 1-8 for the doubleheader, 2-12 in the series, as St. Joseph's shut down on of GWU's hottest hitters.

2024 Section II men's lacrosse sectional pairings

Section II has released the men's lacrosse sectional pairings. Tournament play will start next week.

Class A:

Tuesday:

Guilderland @ Saratoga. Winner plays Shenendehowa one week from today.

Schenectady-Mohonasen @ Shaker.

Colonie @ Ballston Spa.

The winners of the last two games will meet next Friday, with the finals on May 29 at Shaker.

Class B:

Tuesday:

Amsterdam-Broadalbin-Perth @ CBA. Winner to play Niskayuna next Friday.

Troy @ Bethlehem. The winless Flying Horses land a bid, if but only to fill out the field.

Columbia @ LaSalle.

The winners of the last two games meet May 23. The final is at Shaker May 28.

Class C:

Tuesday:

Averill Park @ Burnt Hills. Winner to play Queensbury next Friday.

Scotia-Glenville @ Glens Falls. Winner to play South Glens Falls next Friday.

The finals will be at Shaker May 28.

Class D:

Tuesday:

Johnstown @ Stillwater-Mechanicville. The winner to play Schuylerville next Friday.

Greenwich @ Voorheesville. The winner meets Hoosick Falls-Tamarac next Friday.

The finals will be at Shaker on May 29.

Good luck to all the teams.

News & notes

 Tonight, the 518 has an embarrassment of riches in pro sports. To wit:

1. NLL finals, game 1, Buffalo Bandits @ Albany FireWolves, MVP Arena, 7 pm. (ESPN+).

2. Tri-City ValleyCats home opener vs. Washington Wild Things, Bruno Stadium, 6:30 pm.

3. ECHL Eastern Conference finals, game 1, Florida EverBlades @ Adirondack Thunder, Cool Insuring Arena, 7 pm.

4. Albany Patroons vs. Jamestown, Washington Avenue Armory, 7 pm.

Unfortunately, WROW morning host Ben Patten is only hyping the 'Wolves & Thunder games, ignoring the Pats & 'Cats. Not cool.

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Thursday's college scoreboard:

Baseball:

UAlbany 6, Maine 1.

Siena 12, Iona 2.

St. Joseph 9, George Washington 0.

Softball:

NCAA Division III tournament, Maine regional:

Williams 9, RPI 0.

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Upsets have dotted the early rounds in the Section II tournaments in baseball & softball, heading into play today. May Madness, anyone?

Baseball:

Class AA:

Averill Park 7, Troy 5. Trevor McCarthy's 1st season at Troy ends with a 7 game losing streak (4-15 overall). The 2022 Class A champs from Averill Park will play Niskayuna next.

Queensbury 6, Mohonasen 5. Queensbury will play South Glens Falls next.

Burnt Hills 15, Amsterdam 9. The Spartans, a #10 seed, upset the 7th seeded Rams, and will move on to play Bethlehem.

Guilderland 4, Columbia 1. An 11 seed over a 6 seed. The Blue Devils will next play Ballston Spa.

Class A:

Schalmont 10, Glens Falls 3. The Sabres will play top-ranked LaSalle tomorrow.

Ravena 11, Hudson Falls 0 (5 innings). Ravena moves on to play Ichabod Crane next.

Scotia-Glenville 4, Gloversville 0. The Tartans will stay in the Foothills Council, with Broadalbin-Perth next.

Albany Academy 9, Lansingburgh 0. The Cadets get one more crack at Cohoes.

Class B:

Schuylerville 16, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 4 (5 innings).

Catskill 5, Hudson 2.

Stillwater 9, Fonda-Fultonville 6. A #13 over a #4. 3rd upset of the day in baseball.

Coxsackie-Athens 2, Corinth 0.

Mechanicville 11, Voorheesville 1.

Granville 2, Cairo-Durham 0.

Johnstown 13, Salem-Cambridge 1. The Sir Bills await the winner of today's game between Taconic Hills & Cobleskill-Richmondville.

Saturday:

Granville @ Mechanicville.

Catskill @ Schuylerville.

Stillwater @ Coxsackie-Athens.

Class C:

Chatham 8, Hoosic Valley 1.

Maple Hill 6, Berne-Knox-Westerlo 2.

Waterford 4, Middleburgh 3. Another 13 over a 4.

Duanesburg 2, Mayfield 0.

Saratoga Catholic 18, Whitehall 0

Hoosick Falls 8, Schoharie 1.

Greenwich 11, Galway 1.

Canajoharie 7, Lake George 5.

Saturday:

Hoosick Falls @ Canajoharie.

Greenwich @ Saratoga Catholic.

Waterford @ Duanesburg.

Maple Hill @ Chatham.

Softball:

Class AAA:

Saratoga 8, Colonie 0. A 5 over a 4. A common upset.

Guilderland 7, Albany 3.

Tuesday @ Luther Forest:

Guilderland vs. Shaker.

Saratoga vs. Shenendehowa.

Class AA:

Burnt Hills 10, Bethlehem 5.

Troy 8, South Glens Falls 5 (8 innings). The 6th seeded Flying Horses, 2-time Class A champs, get another crack at Columbia next.

Ballston Spa 6, Averill Park 3. Another 5 over 4. The Scotties will play Burnt Hills next.

Columbia 8, Queensbury 0.

Class A:

Ichabod Crane 18, Emma Willard 0 (5 innings).

Hudson Falls 4, Cohoes 0.

Schalmont 3, Scotia-Glenville 0.

Glens Falls 2, Broadalbin-Perth 0.

The Classes A & AA semis are at Clifton Commons on Tuesday.

Tamarac 2, Voorheesville 1 (8 innings).

Holy Trinity 11, Stillwater 5.

Mechanicville 5, Greenville 4.

Schuylerville 2, Coxsackie-Athens 1.

The semis will be at Moreau Recreation on Tuesday.

Class C:

Chatham 2, Maple Hill 0.

Hoosick Falls 3, Galway 0.

Greenwich 5, Duanesburg 4 (8 innings).

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 9, Saratoga Catholic 0.

Semi-finals at Schalmont on Tuesday.

Women's lacrosse:

Class C:

Queensbury 33, Academy of Holy Names 2.

Burnt Hills 15, Albany Academy 3.

South Glens Falls 21, Scotia-Glenville 11.

LaSalle 2024-5 hockey schedule revealed

 It's only mid-April, but we are privy to LaSalle Institute's 2024-5 hockey schedule.

As of now, the Cadets will play their home games at Frear Park for the 3rd straight season, and 4th in 5. As of now, and this likely will change as we get closer to the season, some of the early season games at Frear have morning start times. Again, this is likely to change come the fall.

December:

6: @ Plattsburgh.

7: vs. Beekmantown @ Plattsburgh State University.

11: Home opener vs. Mohawks.

14: Bethlehem.

20-21: Mohawks tournament @ Union College. Traditionally, this takes place after Christmas, so there might be a schedule conflict with Union.

January:

3: Queensbury.

4: Shenendehowa.

10: @ Albany Academy.

11: Christian Brothers Academy.

17: @ Christian Brothers Academy.

18: Cadets For Vets night vs. CD Jets.

24: Gates-Chili (Section 5).

25: Penfield (Section 5).

31: Saratoga.

February:

1: @ Adirondack.

7: Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa.

8: @ Bethlehem.

14: vs. Guilderville @ Bethlehem.

15: Senior night vs. Albany Academy.

The annual coaches meeting will take place February 16, with the playoffs to begin 2 nights later, with the finals set for Union College March 2. It would appear that the disparity between home & road games will be reconciled come the fall. Schedule is subject to change due to weather and other complications.

News & notes

 As of press time, Section II had not yet released the pairings for the men's lacrosse sectionals, which would start next week.

Troy High would be well off if they don't get a bid.

The Flying Horses finished a winless regular season Tuesday night by getting blown out at Columbia, 17-0. Brody DeLaMeter led the Blue Devils with a hat trick and 4 assists. To suggest Troy was overmatched would be a gross understatement.

There's always next year, of course.

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Jhon Vargas pitched 7 1/3 innings to pick up the win as the Tri-City Valleycats salvaged the final game of their series with Schaumberg, 8-5, Wednesday afternoon, in the first mid-week matinee of the season.

The 'Cats are off today, and will open the home portion of their schedule tomorrow vs. Washington.

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22 years ago, Glenn Clark was a member of the Toronto Rock team that won the National Lacrosse League title over the Albany Attack, one of 5 titles he garnered as a player.

Beginning tomorrow, Clark will seek to win his first title as a coach, and bring the NLL title to Albany, as he leads the FireWolves against in-state rival Buffalo in the NLL championship series. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, as there are no plans for over-the-air cable coverage, due likely to college baseball, softball, or lacrosse on ESPNU. Game time is 7 pm.

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Illustrating again the lack of actual interest, last night's flag football playoffs have not been reported as of press time. We are, however, assuming that it will be Colonie vs. Albany, and Bethlehem vs. Columbia in games to be played tomorrow. We should have clarification by this time tomorrow.

Update, 5/17, 7:52 am. Here are the scores:

Bethlehem 35, Schenectady 13.

Saratoga 25, Colonie 12.

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Wednesday's sectional scoreboard:

Women's lacrosse:

Class A: 

Shenendehowa def. Guilderland. No score was reported. The Plainswomen advance to play Saratoga on Tuesday.

Class D:

Cohoes def. LaSalle.

Greenwich def. Hoosick Falls.

Again, scores were not reported. The Cohoes-LaSalle game was moved to LaSalle's turf field, as apparently, Cohoes has a grass field that was unplayable.

Tuesday:

Greenwich @ Voorheesville.

Cohoes @ Schuylerville.

Baseball:

Class AAA:

CBA def. Colonie. No score was reported. CBA will play Shenendehowa in a best-of-3 series starting Friday.

Class C 1st round:

Hoosic Valley 2, Berlin-New Lebanon 1.

News & notes

 The Albany Firebirds have filled the vacant spaces on their schedule the next two weekends. 

For starters, the Southwest Kansas Storm will visit MVP Arena Sunday at 1 pm. Ticket giveaways resumed this morning on WROW's Magic in The Morning show with Ben Patten, and will continue through Friday. Then, next Friday, May 24, the West Texas Desert Hawks roll into town.

In the midst of this, Lee Hutton III was voted out as commissioner, replaced by former NFL coach Jeff Fisher, the president of the Nashville Kats. Hutton, for whatever reason, would not communicate with the media over the first three weeks of the season. Fisher, prior to this season, was coach/GM of the USFL's Michigan Panthers (now part of the UFL).

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Please check with your schools today to see if sectional games scheduled will go on despite the weather. It is expected to rain all day today, and possibly also tomorrow.

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Tuesday's college scoreboard:

Baseball:

UAlbany & LeMoyne played to a 4-4 tie in 7 innings due to weather.

Fairleigh Dickinson 14, Siena 5.

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Tuesday's sectional scoreboard:

Tennis:

Class A final:

Burnt Hills 4, Queensbury 3.

Softball:

Class AA first round:

Bethlehem 10, Mohonasen 1.

Queensbury 13, Niskayuna 2.

Class B first round:

Holy Trinity 13, Albany Academy 2.

Greenville 10, Fonda-Fultonville 3.

Voorheesville 6, Granville 0.

Stillwater 5, Taconic Hills 1.

Coxsackie-Athens 6, Cobleskill-Richmondville 5.

Class C first round:

Maple Hill 4, Whitehall 0.

Galway 9, Hoosic Valley 3.

Greenwich 25, OESJ 0.

Saratoga Catholic 6, Schoharie 5.

Hoosick Falls 11, Lake George 0.

Duanesburg 10, Mayfield 2.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo 9, Cambridge 0.

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Guilderland won the Suburban Council women's track championship on Tuesday. Troy High finished 11th in their final meet in the league.

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The Tri-City Valleycats will play their first mid-week matinee today, hoping to salvage the final game of their series with Schaumburg. The Boomers blew out the 'Cats, 9-1, Tuesday night. Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem/Siena) pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 1 strikeout.

2024 Section 2 flag football sectional pairings

 Earlier this morning, the seedings were announced for the first-ever sectional tournament in flag football for women. 

Section 2's 12 team league is split into two unbalanced divisions, in that 2 teams are in Division 2, the rest in Division 1.

Here we go:

Division 1:

Wednesday:

Colonie @ Saratoga, winner plays top-seeded Albany on Friday.

Schenectady @ Bethlehem, winner plays #2 Columbia on Friday.

Friday:

Niskayuna @ Shenendehowa.

Troy @ Shaker. These two last met on May 6, with Shaker winning.

The semi-finals will be on Monday, with the finals at Picken Field (Troy High) May 22. The regional finals are at Steuerwald Stadium (Shen) on May 25.

Division 2:

Albany Leadership & Burnt Hills will meet at Troy on Monday. A sub-regional will take place in AuSable on May 23, with the finals at Shen May 25.

The women's lacrosse tournament begins tomorrow as well. The pairings:

Class A:

Wednesday:

Guilderland @ Shen, winner plays Saratoga next Tuesday.

May 21:

Shaker @ Colonie.

The winners meet for the title at Schuylerville May 28.

Class B:

May 22:

Columbia @ Niskayuna, winner meets Bethlehem for the title at Schuylerville May 29.

Class C:

Thursday:

Academy of Holy Names @ Queensbury.

Albany Academy @ Burnt Hills.

Averill Park @ Glens Falls.

Scotia-Glenville @ South Glens Falls.

The semi-finals are May 22, and Schuylerville hosts the finals on May 29.

Class D:

Wednesday:

Hoosick Falls @ Greenwich. Winner will play Voorheesville next Tuesday.

LaSalle @ Cohoes. Winner to meet Schuylerville next Tuesday. The Black Horses will host the final in 2 weeks.

Good luck to all the teams.