News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats snapped a six game losing streak in beating Down East, 9-2, Tuesday night. The teams will play a matinee this morning, starting at 11 am.

In order to make the playoffs, the 'Cats would have to do all but run the table in the season's final  month.

Torrential rains have forced postponement of what would've been the 1st Wednesday card at Saratoga race course. They'll be back at it tomorrow.

Staying in the Spa City, Saratoga High is merging with three Foothills Council schools---Queensbury, South Glens Falls, & Hudson Falls, to form Northern Peaks for women's wresting, starting in December.

Former Siena men's lacrosse coach Liam Gleason, who passed away last year, is being honored by his alma mater at UAlbany, entering their Hall of Fame.

The NY Knockout captured the American Women's Football League title over the weekend, defeating Carolina, 19-8, in San Antonio. Congratulations to the ladies. Now, local fans are hoping the Albany Firebirds can rebound after losing three of their last 4 to retain the AF1 title when playoff action starts this weekend.

Section II athletes on the move

 In recent days, we've seen four Section II athletes make college commitments, one of which is surprisingly early.

That would be Stillwater lineman James Cocozzo, son of former NFL lineman Joe Cocozzo (Chargers), who is foregoing his senior season at Stillwater to play for Greg Schiano at Rutgers. It is not common for players to give up their senior seasons in high school, so we figure James may already have enough credits to graduate next year, if he hasn't already done so.

Staying in the Wasaren League for a moment, Saratoga Catholic reliever Luke Dejnozka, who will begin his senior season in the fall, has committed to Binghamton, and will pitch for the Bearcats beginning in 2028.

On the women's side, Payton Galuski, who has played both men's & women's soccer at Waterford, has committed to Penn State. I don't know if the Nittany Lions will see her as the next Clare Hutton, but who knows?

Finally, Mohonasen's Ella Mullin has committed to playing soccer at Wisconsin.

Best of luck to all four.

News & notes

 It was Camp Day at Bruno Stadium Wednesday. WNYT's Chris Onorato brought the crew from their new morning yack-fest, Capital Region Lifestyle, to do a feature piece.

Unfortunately for WNYT & the campers, the ValleyCats offense wasn't exactly at peak form.

With Camp Day extended to a doubleheader due to a Tuesday rainout, the 'Cats were swept by Ottawa by a combined total of 26-5. OUCH!

The teams will conclude the series tonight.

It wasn't so long ago that Irad Ortiz, Jr. had come off the suspended list at Saratoga.

Now, his brother, Jose, gets sat down for today's card due to a violation with his riding crop. Jose shares the lead in the jockeys' race with Flavian Prat with 19 each going into today's card, which begins at 1:10 pm.

There was a barn fire at the Old Spa on Tuesday, but this time, no horses were killed, unlike the fire that struck the harness track last month. Officials are still investigating at press time.

As we've been checking on Arbiter the last couple of weeks, they have Jeff Sitterly, who has been an assistant to Paul Reinisch the last few years, listed as athletic director. Nothing has been written about Reinisch, who has been at Troy the last 20-odd years, leaving. Hmmmmmmmm.

News & notes

 It's becoming a trend, with pro athletes in other sports moonlighting as horsemen, owning racehorses.

The first example is former Philadelphia & Washington star Jayson Werth, whose horse, Magic Chuck, named for his manager with the Phillies, Charlie Manuel, was euthanized over the weekend after a training injury.

The latest is Shen grad Kevin Huerter of the Detroit Pistons. Huerter looked so dapper Saturday, as a horse has a share of, The Good Life, upset first time starter Powerline in the 1st race under jockey Manuel Franco.

On the same card, hometown star Dylan Davis scored with Shape Note in the 4th race. Sister Katie finally found the winners' circle in Sunday's 3rd race with Big Brooklyn. Dylan came back three races later to win with Braums Run, then made it two in a row with Silvology in the 7th.

Racing resumes Thursday.

The season is over for the Carolina Blaze.

After Monday's game vs. Oklahoma City was suspended by rain with the Blaze already up by double digits, they resumed play earlier today, and the Blaze won via mercy rule, 11-1, in 5 innings. Ana Gold went 0-2 with a walk. There's always next year.

News & notes

 If you believe WWE's math, they drew more people to MVP Arena, 7300 and change in this case, for last night's Smackdown broadcast on USA Network. This morning, the wrestlers are headed back to New York for the 2nd half of Fanatics Fest.

Siena normally averages anywhere from four to six thousand fans for home games at the arena.

Adam Pearce, former NWA champ and current Monday Night Raw general manager, was filling in for his Smackdown counterpart, and another former NWA champion, Nick Aldis, for the 2nd time in 3 weeks.

Check the highlight reel:

Saturday Night's Main Event, emanating from Madison Square Garden, and referenced frequently in the above video, takes place tonight (Peacock, 8 pm).

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has wasted little time reestablishing himself as the top dog in the jockeys' room at Saratoga.

Ortiz had 4 winners on Friday's card, brother Jose had 2, on the 10 race card. Most of today's card will air on FS1 in addition to OTB-TV.

The Tri-City ValleyCats, back from the All Star break, split a doubleheader with Quebec, winning the opener, 9-0, then dropping the nightcap, 7-5. Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna) batted 9th in game one, then was elevated to 3rd in the 2nd game, and finished with a 1-7 ledger with 2 runs scored.

News & notes

 Manuel Franco had a riding triple Thursday at Saratoga as racing resumes, beginning week 3 of the summer meet. First post today is 1:10 pm.

If you can't afford a ticket for tonight's Friday Night Smackdown card at MVP Arena, take comfort in knowing it'll air on USA Network starting at 8 pm. 

The next Mets game to air on WTEN will be Sunday at 1:30 at Philadelphia. WXXA has the finals of the World Cup at 3 pm.

The Carolina Blaze were officially eliminated from the AUSL playoffs Thursday, losing to Chicago, 15-7. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) snapped out of a slump with a 2 run homer, but it just wasn't enough.

The Bandits won the game via mercy rule in 6 innings. As we've outlined before, the mercy rule's a little different than it is at the high school level, where a team up by 8, instead of 10 or more, runs can close out a game early.

News & notes

 Riley Mulvey (Albany Academy/Siena) is turning pro, but not here in the US just yet.

Mulvey has signed with BKM Lucenec in the Slovak Basketball League. No word on when their season starts.

Saratoga's Ben Coryea will stay in the 518 to play college football.

Coryea has signed on as a walk-on with UAlbany after a standout senior season with the Blue Streaks. We'll be keeping an eye on him during the fall.

It doesn't look as though the Carolina Blaze will reach the AUSL playoffs, which start next week.

The Blaze dropped a heartbreaker, 7-6, to Chicago on Wednesday night, their 7th straight loss, which all but eliminates them from the postseason. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) is continuing to struggle, going 0-4 on the night, as the game went 8 innings.

Game 2 is tonight at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network.