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.

News & notes

 Saratoga native Cherie DeVaux added the Belmont Stakes to her resume Saturday night, as Golden Tempo won the Belmont at Saratoga. Count on Golden Tempo returning "home" to the Old Spa next month for the annual summer meet.

The Tri-City ValleyCats might be feeling somewhat embarrassed after a 10-7 loss to Ottawa at Bruno Stadium Saturday, such that they haven't done a game recap as of press time.

The series finale, weather permitting, takes place today at 5 pm.

WROW's Ben Patten didn't get the memo on the Albany Firebirds.

In reading a list of events set to take place on his Saturday morning show, Patten included the Firebirds' game vs. Beaumont, which, of course, took place Friday. Well, to be fair, we assumed the game was to have been last night, too, 'til we saw the YouTube video Saturday morning.

Saturday's state regional results:

Flag football:

Class A semi-final:

Shaker 20, Penfield 13. The Lady Bison return to Homer High today to play Half Hollow Hills East. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 am.

Women's lacrosse:

Class A:

Shaker will play Penfield at SUNY Cortland, Friday at 9 am.

Class B:

Queensbury will play Victor at SUNY Cortland, Friday at 11:30 am.

Class C:

Burnt Hills 19, Massena 1. The Lady Spartans await the winner of Jamesville-DeWitt vs. Honeoye Falls-Lima, which has not been reported as of press time.

Class D:

Canton 9, Schuylerville 6.

Men's lacrosse:

Class A: 

Shaker plays West Genesee Thursday at 7 pm at SUNY Cortland.

Class B:

Niskayuna 14, Fayetteville-Manilus 13. Victor is next for Nisky, Thursday at 4 pm at SUNY Cortland.

Class C:

Burnt Hills 18, Massena 10. The Spartans play Jamesville-DeWitt Thursday at 4:30 at SUNY Cortland.

Class D:

Schuylerville 11, Potsdam 10. Next for the Black Horses will be Marcellsu, Thursday at 6:30 at SUNY Cortland.

Softball:

Class AAA:

Saratoga will play Lancaster, Friday at 1 in Binghamton.

Class A:

Averill Park 9, New Hartford 1. The Golden Knights hit Binghamton on Friday to play Maine-Endwell at 10 am.

Class B:

Chatham 9, Canton 0. The Panthers will next play Susquehanna Valley, Friday at 4 in Binghamton.

Class C:

Galway will play Pine Plains, just after 5 pm on Friday.

Class D:

Fort Ann 6, Crown Point 0. Next for Fort Ann will be Windham-Ashland-Jewett, Friday at 11:30 am.

Baseball:

Class AA:

West Genesee 2, Bethlehem 1.

Class A:

Averill Park 4, New Hartford 0. Next stop is Binghamton University for the Golden Knights, where they'll play Grand Island Friday at 4 pm.

Class B:

Notre Dame 7, Taconic Hills 5.

Class C:

Saratoga Catholic 7, Chapel Field Christian 0. Next for the Saints will be Tuckahoe, Friday at 1 at Mirabito Stadium.

Class D:

Duanesburg 1, Bolton 0. Duanesburg goes to Union-Endicott to play Bridgehampton, Friday at 1.

News & notes

 Cable Guide waited until the last minute to sub in the Mets-Padres broadcast for Fox programming from 9-10 pm last night. Next week, with the World Cup getting underway, the Mets likely will be back on WTEN, but we'll see.

For the record, the Mets defeated San Diego, 5-0.

Friday's state regional results:

Men's lacrosse:

Class A:

Shaker 15, Plattsburgh 5. The Bison await the winner of today's game between Penfield & West Genesee, with the semi-finals taking place on Thursday at SUNY Cortland.

Women's lacrosse:

Class B: 

Queensbury 20, Potsdam 0. The Lady Spartans will face either Victor or Fayetteville-Manilus next Friday at SUNY Cortland.

Baseball:

Class AAA:

Liverpool 3, Saratoga 1.

Softball:

Class AAA:

Saratoga 2, Cicero-North Syracuse 0. The Lady Streaks will play either Lancaster or Corning-Painted Post next Friday in Binghamton.

Class AA:

Fayetteville-Manilus 6, Columbia 5.

Class C:

Galway 18, Ticonderoga 1 (5 innings). Galway awaits the winner of today's game between Tuckahoe & Pine Plains in the semifinals next Friday.

The Tri-City ValleyCats wasted a strong start by Wes Albert, who went 6 innings, and could not come back from a late Ottawa rally, falling to the Titans, 7-6, in 10 innings. Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem/Siena) blew the save in the 9th, allowing 3 runs. Jake Reinisch (Shen/Wake Forest) was 1-4 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

Game 2, weather permitting, is tonight at 6:30 pm.

Another night, another win for the Albany Firebirds.

With a rare Friday home game at MVP Arena, the 'Birds blitzed Beaumont, 45-12. The Renegades briefly led in the first quarter before Albany took control for good.

On the first of back-to-back 14 race cards at Saratoga, Flavian Prat had 3 winners, Irad Ortiz, Jr. & Luis Saez had two apiece, and Chad Brown (Mechanicville) saddled a pair. Today's card begins at 11 am.

News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats still haven't won a series yet this season.

The struggling 'Cats dropped a 9-8 heartbreaker to Sussex County on Thursday afternoon, despite homers from Jake Reinisch (Shenendehowa/Wake Forest) and Ranko Stevanovic (a grand slam, the 2nd ValleyCat slam in the series), and two defensive gems from Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna). Sussex County goes to 4-2 on the season vs. Tri-City.

The 'Cats will try to turn things around vs. Ottawa tonight at 6:30.

Marcus Jackson will continue his college basketball career outside the 518.

Jackson will play for Mercyhurst next season after spending the last three years between UAlbany & Siena.

Dylan Davis hasn't yet reached the winner's circle at Saratoga during the Belmont Stakes festival, but, on Thursday, Flavian Prat & Manuel Franco had 8 of the 11 winners between them, with 4 each. Tyler Gaffalione had 2 and Irad Ortiz, Jr. had the other.

Racing at Saratoga continues through Sunday.

Windham-Ashland-Jewett advanced to the Class D state semi-finals with a 10-1 win over Chapel Field on Thursday. They'll next play the winner of Fort Ann vs. Crown Point, taking place tomorrow, next Friday at 11:30 am in Binghamton.

Former Shaker star Tommy Kahnle is back in the major leagues. 

Kahnle was called up by Boston on Thursday from AAA Worcester, just in time for a weekend series against the Yankees. We'll be keeping an eye on that.