News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats said goodbye to pitcher Nate Nabholz prior to Saturday's game vs. the NY Boulders. Nabholz, with 3 saves on the season, had his contract transferred to the San Francisco Giants, who will assign him somewhere in their farm system. Best of luck to Nate.

Then, the 'Cats gave Nabholz a going-away present in the form of a 13-5 beatdown of the Boulders on Star Wars Night at Bruno Stadium. Jake Reinisch, David Glancy, & Josh Leslie all homered, as Mason Martinez picked up his 2nd win.

The 'Cats will go for the sweep today at 5 pm.

In addition to watch parties for the just-concluded NBA Finals, they're holding watch parties here in the 518 for the FIFA World Cup, and in a most unlikely place in Albany.

Fans got to see Team USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay under the stars at Jennings Landing How cool is that? With basketball season finally over, I'd guess any future watch parties will be at MVP Arena.

The high school sports season came to an end on Saturday as well........

Softball:

Class B final:

Chatham 13, Dobbs Ferry 2. The Panthers scored 3 in the 7th to lock down the B title.

Class C:

Deposit-Hancock 4, Galway 3.

Class D:

Oakfield-Alabama 4, Windham-Ashland-Jewett 1.

A word about Windham-Ashland-Jewett. Despite being based in the boundaries of Section II, the district is in Section IV due to geographical reasons.

Like, seriously? The district is in Greene County, along with Cairo-Durham & Catskill. They play in Section IV's Delaware League, and had a breakout season. Good thing they did schedule some games against their territorial rivals, else they'd have stayed below the radar.

Baseball:

Class C:

Saratoga Catholic 4, Kendall 1.

Class D:

Duanesburg 9, Fillmore 4.

Section II closes out with 5 state titles on the day, as we'd previously reported Averill Park sweeping the Class A titles. By the way, NYSPHSAA still has AP identified as the "Warriors" instead of the current "Golden Knights". Someone's not paying attention.

News & notes

 "All good things must come to an end."-Geoffrey Chaucer.

After a narrow escape at Michigan earlier this season, the Albany Firebirds saw their 20 game win streak end at MVP Arena at the hands of the Arsenal, 57-39, on Friday night. Sam Castronovo had 4 TDs, including a rushing touchdown, but was also responsible for 4 Firebird turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 lost fumbles) that proved to be costly.

MVP Arena will host a watch party for tonight's Game 5 of the NBA finals between the Knicks & San Antonio (WTEN, 8:30 pm).

A correction from earlier this week. Last night's Mets-Braves game was not on WTEN, but instead on Apple TV. The Mets won, 7-5, behind 6 RBI from Bo Bichette. Game 2 is today at 4 on SNY.

The Tri-City ValleyCats got back on the winning track Friday, downing the NY Boulders, 7-1. Game 2 is tonight at 6:30, but good luck finding a ticket, as it's Star Wars night, and that usually is a sell-out, especially with post-game fireworks.

State regional results from Friday & today:

Women's lacrosse:

Friday:

Class A semi-final:

Penfield 18, Shaker 4.

Class B:

Victor 17, Queensbury 8. Victor went on to win the title earlier today.

Class C:

Jamesville-DeWitt 7, Burnt Hills 2.

Softball:

Friday:

Class AAA:

Lancaster 17, Saratoga 2 (6 innings). Lancaster overpowered the Lady Streaks with 12 runs in the 6th to put this one away.

Class A:

Averill Park 6, Maine-Endwell 2.

Class B:

Chatham 8, Susquehanna Valley 7.

Class C:

Galway 1, Pine Plains 0.

Class D:

Windham-Ashland-Jewett 1, Fort Ann 0.

Today:

Class A final:

Averill Park 6, Pearl River 3.

Baseball:

Friday:

Class A: 

Averill Park 9, Grand Island 0.

Class C:

Saratoga Catholic 5, Tuckahoe 3.

Class D:

Duanesburg 13, Bridgehampton 0 (5 innings).

Today:

Class A:

Averill Park 5, Plainedge 0.

News & notes

 Troy High was planning an exhibition soccer tournament for Thursday to commemorate the start of the 2026 World Cup tournament. However, the tournament was postponed in anticipation of inclement weather that didn't come until much later. It's been rescheduled for June 24, with a 1:30 start at Picken Field.

The Tri-City ValleyCats return home tonight for a series vs. the NY Boulders, weather permitting, at 6:30 pm, after the 'Cats fell to Three Rivers, 11-10, on Thursday night, snapping a 3 game winning streak. Jake Reinisch (Shen/Wake Forest) & Amani Larry homered for the 'Cats.

It was not a good day for Section II at SUNY Cortland on Thursday, as all 4 men's lacrosse teams were eliminated in the state semi-finals.'

Class A:

West Genesee 12, Shaker 5.

Class B:

Victor 17, Niskayuna 9.

Class C:

Jamesville-DeWitt 20, Burnt Hills 3.

Class D:

Marcellus 18, Schuylerville 4.

The women will have their semi-finals today, along with baseball & softball in Binghamton. Shaker sophomore Olivia Zayas, we should note, is the daughter of NYSPHSAA boss Robert Zayas, so figure he'll be at today's game.

News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats have finally won a series.

David Glancy hit his team leading 6th homer of the season, Dylan Broderick extended his hitting streak to 16 games, and Austin Dill went 7 strong innings to help the  'Cats topple Three Rivers, 7-2. The teams will close the series tonight at 6:55 pm

However, we caution ahead of time to not only bring sunscreen, but umbrellas for Friday & Sunday's games, with rain in the forecast.

MVP Arena in Albany hosted a watch party for Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks rallied from a 29 point 2nd half deficit to defeat San Antonio, 107-106, setting up an opportunity to clinch the title for the first time since 1973 on Saturday. With the Firebirds playing tomorrow night instead of Saturday, the chances are MVP Arena will again host a watch party.

You probably know by now that the AUSL, with 6 teams instead of 4 as was the case last year, has decided to end the barnstorming, and each of the 6 teams have home fields this year. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) is one of the faces of the league, per ESPN promotional ads, and is back on familiar ground, as the Carolina Blaze are playing their home games at Duke's softball field in Durham, North Carolina. The Blaze are 2-0 after beating the expansion Portland Cascade, 11-2, in 5 innings on Wednesday night. Gold went 3-3 with a walk, a run scored, and 3 RBI, and is currently hitting .600 on the season, heading into the series finale tonight. The Blaze will get a day off before hosting the Texas Volts on Saturday (12 noon, ESPN). Today's game, by the way, will air on CBS Sports Network (Spectrum channel 315).

News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats scored 5 runs in the 5th inning, leading to a 10-6 win over Three Rivers on Tuesday night. The teams will meet again tonight, just before 7 pm.

While Section II lacrosse, softball, & baseball teams will vie for state titles starting tomorrow, a state title was claimed in golf.

Hayden Knapp, a sophomore at South Glens Falls, finished at -2 to win the individual championship on Monday.

Photo courtesy Albany Times-Union.

The closest Section II player behind Knapp was Maria Glavin of LaSalle, who finished 9th at +8.

On the men's side, Francisco Cupp of Saratoga was the highest finisher for Section II, placing 4th at -2 behind Ryan Liu of Manhasset (Section 8). Tanner LaTorre (Ichabod Crane) finished at +9 in a tie for 25th place. Troy's Joey Degnan was in a tie for 27th at +10.

Renovations have been completed on the tennis courts at Central Park in Schenectady, which explains why this year's men's tennis sectional finals were held on neutral campuses. The Section II finals figure to be back in Schenectady next year. The Schenectady City Council, however, is tabling the idea of pay-for-play fees, which., reportedly, are rarely enforced. Why bother with them, then, and open the courts to the public?

So they brought back the Uncle Sam baseball tournament. Let's not wait another 10 years for it to return

 I just don't get the seeming lack of interest in making the Uncle Sam baseball tournament an annual thing.

The 2026 edition, played May 15 & 17 at Lansingburgh High, and won by LaSalle, should signal the start of an annual tradition. This year, Tamarac, based in the Cropseyville suburb, replaced Catholic Central as the 4th team representing the city, along with Troy High.

By this time next year, Catholic Central will be just an elementary school in Latham, with the high schoolers moving to Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons in Schenectady, having already ended decades old sports rivalries with the other city schools, so Tamarac would make a perfect substitute.

But, then, there is a question of whether or not Lansingburgh would host the tournament every year. 'Burgh has hosted the last two, the 2017 edition being played next door at Knickerbacker Park. LaSalle plays most of their home games at Geer Field, home of South Troy Little League, and as such, wouldn't be suitable for the tournament. They try to play at least one home game a year at Bruno Stadium, weather permitting, but the tournament would have to be scheduled prior to the start of the Tri-City ValleyCats season, since they host the Section II baseball semi-finals & finals, as was the case two weeks ago. Troy, like 'Burgh, has a turf field in their sports complex on Burdett Avenue, and added a couple of electronic scoreboards in the last decade. The only thing missing would be a secondary PA system on that side of the complex.

The easy solution would be to work out a deal with the 'Cats and Hudson Valley Community College to schedule the tournament the weekend before the 'Cats begin their home schedule.

But, in this era of equality, what about a Uncle Sam softball tournament? Troy, 'Burgh, LaSalle, & Emma Willard would be the four teams. Lansingburgh hosted the Section II softball championships for the first time this year, with Troy hosting the Class A semi-finals. Emma Willard, like Tamarac, would represent the Wasaren League, while the others are in the Colonial Council.

In this case, the four schools could rotate hosting the tournament, given Emma Willard's close proximity to Troy High. Weather, of course, would be a factor, though this year's tournaments were not affected by weather all that much, surprisingly.

Something to think about.

News & notes

 Shaker is not getting a state flag football championship.

The Lady Bison fell to Half Hollow Hills East, 26-12, Sunday afternoon at SUNY Cortland.

For what it's worth, Yorktown captured the Class B title, and Pioneer won the Class C title. Congratulations to all three teams.

The Tri-City ValleyCats snapped a four game losing streak in beating Ottawa, 7-5, on Sunday. Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem/Siena) earned his 3rd save. The 'Cats are heading to Canada to play Three Rivers starting Tuesday.

Speaking of the 'Cats, Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna) landed on SportsCenter's top 10 plays on Friday with a highlight reel catch in the loss to Ottawa, and made a case for another one on Sunday. The 'Cats return home to play the NY Boulders on Friday.

There was one other local connection on Saturday at Saratoga during the Belmont Stakes Festival.

Eddie Fazzone owns Buttah, who won the 6th race. Fazzone, based out of Schenectady, merited a feature article in the Daily Gazette on Sunday. Congratulations, Eddie.

The NY Phoenix closed out their home schedule with another win on Sunday at M & T Bank Arena. The playoffs await after a season ending road trip.

The Mets will be back on WTEN on Friday while Fox begins coverage of the World Cup soccer tournament.