News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats might've finally solved their pitching problems.

Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem/Siena) got his first start of the season Saturday at Brockton, and went 4 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 6. The bullpen did the rest, while the offense hit double figures yet again in a 12-5 rout of the Rox. 

Bryden Jobert & Josh Leslie homered for Tri-City. ValleyCats pitching shut down Derek Bender (Albany Academy/Coastal Carolina) for once, as he went 0-5, finishing with the dreaded golden sombrero (4 strikeouts). Tommy Kretzler (Colonie) was 0-3 with a sacrifice fly. Jake Reinisch & Aaron Whitley were given the night off, and likely will play in today's Father's Day matinee at 1 pm.

In the AUSL, the mercy rule is a little different than in high school or college softball. If you're up by 8 or more after 5 innings, they'll call the game.

That's exactly what happened on Saturday when Carolina shut out Chicago, 8-0. The Blaze scored three runs each in the 1st & 3rd innings, and that was enough. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) was moved to the leadoff spot, and went 1-4 with a run scored. Rookie Karlya Pickens (Tennessee) went the full 5 to pick up the win.

The teams close the series tonight at 8 (MLB Network).

Former ValleyCat Chris Burgess made it to national television as a member of the Indianapolis Clowns as part of the 2026 Banana Ball World Tour, which brought the Clowns & Savannah Bananas to Cincinnati on Saturday night. The Bananas defeated Indy, 7-3.

The Albany Firebirds have proven mortal after all.

The 'Birds dropped their 2nd straight, 78-69, to Nashville on Saturday, as there were breakdowns on defense & special teams, enabling the Kats to avenge the Arena Crown loss a year. Now, revenge is on the 'Birds' side, as Nashville comes to Albany July 11, but before that, it'll be Beaumont seeking revenge as they welcome Albany in 2 weeks.

News & notes

 The final round of the College World Series is set, as North Carolina & Oklahoma will meet on Saturday in a best of 3 series to determine the national baseball champion.

Oklahoma punched its ticket by beating Georgia for the 2nd time in 3 days, 11-4, on Wednesday. Mike O'Shaughnessy (CBA) didn't start for Georgia, but was a defensive replacement late in what would be his final college game. Now, it's just a question of if he'll be drafted next month.

Jeff Hoffman (Shaker) lost his closer's job with the Toronto Blue Jays due to recent struggles, but looked like he was back to form last night with a scoreless inning vs. Boston, as the Blue Jays defeated the Red Sox, 3-0. Tommy Kahnle didn't get in the game for Boston, but pitched on Tuesday, giving up a run on 2 hits. Hoffman has appeared in both games so far, an inning apiece, clean as a sheet.

It took just over 4 hours before the Tri-City ValleyCats defeated Quebec, 13-12, on Wednesday night. Kai Moody, Jake Reinisch, & Brayden Jobert homered for Tri-City, as Chad Gartland, newly acquired from Down East, picked up the win in relief after blowing the save in the 9th inning.

The teams will close out the series tonight at 6:50 pm.

The Carolina Blaze dropped a 4-3 decision to Chicago Wednesday night in Rosemont, Illinois. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) went 1-4 with an RBI. Her average has dropped to .235 amidst a current slump. After 2 days off, the series resumes Saturday at noon (ESPN2), and, then, they'll be under the lights on Sunday night (MLB Network, 8 pm.).

Suddenly, the Albany Firebirds have one less game on their schedule.

The folding of the Oregon Lightning has created a void in the AF1 schedule for the rest of the season. A game for Albany vs. Kentucky has been cancelled, and now Albany has one home game left, vs. Beaumont, next month.

News & notes

 The Tri-City ValleyCats have given up 32 runs in their last two games. At least they tried to keep up on Tuesday night.

Quebec got the better of the 'Cats again, 13-12, even though their own pitching staff was battered. Jake Reinisch (Shenendehowa/Wake Forest) crushed his 5th homer, a moonshot to left that left the park in a matter of seconds, based on reports.

The teams will continue the series tonight, weather permitting, at 6:50 pm.

In other 'Cats news, pitcher Logan Jones was claimed off waivers by the Florence (KY) Y'alls, and will likely see his former team soon.

Georgia eliminated Texas, 2-0. Tuesday night at the College World Series, and will get a rematch with Oklahoma tonight (7 pm, ESPN). Mike O'Shaughnessy (CBA) was 0-1 with 2 walks, as he has been slumping.

Mickey Mouse has forced RPI & Union to move the Mayor's Cup out of Albany for 2027.

Well, not really.

The 2027 Mayor's Cup will be contested January 23 at Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls due to a scheduling conflict with the Disney on Ice tour, which, due to scheduling reroutes of their own, can only come to Albany on the 23rd at MVP Arena. According to MVP Arena GM Bob Belber, he was contacted by promoter Feld Entertainment in December about the scheduling. Both schools were offered the opportunity to play the games three weeks earlier, on January 2, but both declined. Officials from Glens Falls and Warren County will join Mayors Mike McCarthy & Carmella Mantello in attending the games. No word on if Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs will join in as of press time.

Here's an idea. For those of us plebians who can't make the pilgrimage to Glens Falls, why not have the game broadcast on TV, sponsored, of course, by Harding Mazzotti? Can't hurt.

LaSalle 2026-7 hockey schedule released

 It's mid-June, and LaSalle has finalized its 2026-7 hockey schedule. There are, as of press time, 2 open dates at Knickerbacker Arena, meaning coach Tim Flanigan is looking to schedule some teams from outside Section II to fill those dates.

The lineup:

December:

4: @ Plattsburgh.

5: vs. Beekmantown @ Plattsburgh State.

9: @ Saratoga.

12: Home opener vs. opponent TBA.

18-19: Hawks tournament at M & T Bank Mohawk Harbor Center. Mohawk Valley & Iroquois Arlen are the out-of-section opponents. LaSalle will play Iroquois Arlen on the 18th, and Mohawk Valley on the 19th.

23: @ Adirondack.

January:

2: Shenendehowa.

8: CBA.

9: @ CD Jets.

15: Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa.

16: Cadets For Vets vs. CD Jets.

22: @ CBA.

23: @ Guilderville.

29: Bethlehem.

30: Queensbury.

February:

5: @ Hawks.

6: @ Bethlehem.

12: TBA.

13: Senior Night vs. Guilderville.

Dates are subject to change due to weather or other factors.

News & notes

 17 horses are dead following an overnight barn fire near the Saratoga Casino & Raceway. The fire started around 2:30 am this morning, and is still under investigation.

As a result, today's matinee card has been cancelled.

Niskayuna has found its next varsity football coach.

Pete Furey was hired over the weekend to succeed Brian Grasdorf, who stepped down over the winter. Furey's father, John, has been coaching for more than 2 decades, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the elder Furey on the Nisky sideline this fall.

Georgia will look to avoid being eliminated from the College World Series tonight (7 pm, ESPN) after losing to Oklahoma, 4-3, on Monday. Mike O'Shaughnessy (CBA) went 0-3, striking out twice.

If Georgia defeats Texas tonight, they could see the Sooners again in an instant rematch tomorrow night.

A year ago, the now-Carolina Blaze couldn't buy a win in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

Now, however, they're 4-1 after sweeping the Texas Volts, 6-5, in 9 innings on Monday. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) went 1-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored. The Blaze will hit the road on Wednesday to open a series vs. the Chicago Bandits (6 pm, CBS Sports Network, Spectrum channel 315).

News & notes

 Broom service hasn't arrived for the Tri-City ValleyCats just yet.

The NY Boulders avoided being swept Sunday night, as they pounded out 20 hits in a 19-8 win over the 'Cats in front of just over 3,000 fans at Bruno Stadium. The 'Cats hit the road this week at Quebec & Brockton before returning home on June 23.

Former Union College star Shayne Gostisbehere is a Stanley Cup champion.

Gostisbehere and the Carolina Hurricanes claimed the Stanley Cup Sunday night as the 'Canes defeated Las Vegas to win their 2nd title. Shayne started his NHL career in Philadelphia a number of years back.

Congratulations to Shayne & the Hurricanes.

Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) went 0-1 with 2 walks and a run scored, as the Carolina Blaze (3-1) took down the Texas Volts, 9-1 in 6 innings on Sunday in a game delayed from Saturday due to the Volts suffering from transportation issues in getting to Durham and the Duke campus. The conclusion of this miniseries takes place tonight at 7 on ESPN2.

At the College World Series, we're keeping an eye on Georgia's Michael O'Shaughnessy, a CBA graduate. The senior transfer from Davidson is currently hitting .287 with 20 homers and 55 RBI. The Bulldogs will play SEC rival Oklahoma in a winners' bracket game tonight at 7 (ESPN).

Basketball season is officially over in the 518, as the NY Phoenix were eliminated from the 94x50 league playoffs in a 115-95 loss to Jersey Shore on Saturday night. There's always next year.

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.