News & notes

 Saratoga will begin its summer season this Friday, the 2nd straight year they'll be open on the 4th of July. As an added incentive for fans, the track announced last week that they will have World Cup soccer matches on their television monitors, especially in the clubhouse during the card, for the balance of the tournament. 

The meet will run until Labor Day, September 7.

The Carolina Blaze used a 5 run rally in the 5th inning to overtake the Oklahoma City Spark, 5-4, Monday night. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) was 0-3. After a night off, the series continues tomorrow at 7 pm on ESPN2.

Shenendehowa grad Kevin Huerter will stay in Detroit.

Photo courtesy Albany Times-Union.

Huerter signed a new deal with the Pistons Monday night, when it'd been assumed he'd test the free agent market.

Meanwhile, Andre Jackson, Jr. (Albany Academy/UConn) is a free agent after his rookie contract with Milwaukee expired. You can bet Knicks fans would love to see Jackson in orange & blue, playing for the NBA champs.

News & notes

 Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) was dropped to 6th in the batting order Saturday as Carolina hosted Utah. The Blaze salvaged the final game of the series, 6-1, as Gold 1-3 with an RBI & a run scored. The Blaze are back in action tonight, traveling to Oklahoma City to play the Spark (7 pm, ESPN).

By the way, if you were watching the series vs. Utah, you'd notice the games were moved to the home field of minor league baseball's Durham Bulls. I think Duke had a previous commitment on their field over the weekend.

Viewers tuning in to WCWN, expecting to see the pre-show of NXT's Great American Bash, got screwed by the station Sunday night.

First, an episode of the syndicated World's Funniest aired at 6 pm. Then, an infomercial for Curtis Lumber followed at 6:30. 

Now, why is this? The easy answer is that WCWN sold the air time for the infomercial days, maybe even weeks in advance, but didn't plan on one spot being last night at 6:30 pm. That the wrestling that followed was a hot card with one good match after another made up for the station's gaffe.

NXT's next "PLE" on CW is Heatwave on August 30.

The Tri-City ValleyCats took down Schaumburg, 7-2, Sunday. That was the good news. The bad was the attendance, just under 2000 fans after fireworks the night before. Dylan Broderick, Ian Walters, & Josh Leslie homered for Tri-City.

The 'Cats head north of the border to Ottawa to play the Titans starting tomorrow, before returning home to play Brockton in a 4 game series starting Friday. Bring your sunscreen, as temperatures are expected to be in the 90's.

News & notes

 Former CBA star Jack Donohue, about to enter his senior season in a Boston prep school, is looking to figure out where he'll go to college.

Donohue will visit Siena next week. This report comes the day after former teammate JT Vogel had committed to Princeton.

Speaking of Siena, they'll have one less opponent in the Metro Conference (formerly MAAC) after next season.

That's because Fairfield is leaving the Metro for the Coastal Athletic Alliance (CAA) for the 2027-8 season and beyond, starting in July 2027.

Will the Metro Conference fill the vacancy next year? Stay tuned.

The Carolina Blaze have hit the skids in the AUSL, having lost the first two games of their series with Utah. The Talons shut out the Blaze, 3-0, on Friday. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke), dropped to 5th in the batting order, went 0-3, as she is fighting a mini-slump.

The series finale begins at 2 pm on ESPN.

After getting swept by the NY Boulders, the Tri-City ValleyCats took it out on the Schaumburg Boomers, 9-0, on Friday with just over 2000 fans in attendance at Bruno Stadium. Arlo Marynczak (Bethlehem/Siena) went 5 innings to pick up the win. 

Dylan Broderick, Aaron Whitley, & Josh Leslie homered for the 'Cats, who continue their series tonight at 6:30 pm.

Former Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa hockey standout Tommy Bleyl was drafted by the Nashville Predators in Friday's NHL draft. Bleyl left the Spartan Scotties to play in the juniors before being drafted. The hockey equivalent of the prep school route. Best of luck to Tommy in the pros.

News & notes

 After getting swept in embarrassing fashion by the Chicago Cubs, the Mets return to WTEN tonight, hoping to extract some payback from the Philadelphia Phillies. First pitch is at 7:10 pm.

Speaking of getting swept, the Tri-City ValleyCats were swept by the NY Boulders the last three nights.

Thursday's game was cut short due to rain, with the Boulders picking up a 7-2 win. Tri-City opens a series tonight vs. the Schaumburg Boomers at 6:30 pm.

CBA's multi-sport star, JT Vogel, has committed to Princeton, per the Albany Times-Union, prior to starting his senior season with the Brothers. Vogel starred for CBA in basketball as well as football the last couple of years.

Shaker is losing another piece of their Class AAA women's basketball title team.

Malia Jackson is going the prep school route, transferring to the Darrow School this fall. Best of luck to Malia.

The Albany Times-Union released their softball all-star teams on Thursday, and, aside from the predictable pandering to the Suburban Council, Troy High got dissed again.

Junior Kaylee Kussler & sophomore Gabby Hansen were named to the 2nd team.

Bottom line, the system needs to change. Yesterday.

News & notes

 A week ago, 17 horses were killed in a barn fire at Saratoga Casino & Hotel.

On Sunday, the track will host a memorial service for all 17 horses. WTEN's Lydia Kulbida fills us in.

The Carolina Blaze dropped a 5-1 decision to the Chicago Bandits Monday afternoon. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa/Duke) was 0-2 with a walk, a HBP, and an RBI. After 2 days off, the Blaze return home to Duke University's ballpark to open a series with the Utah Talons on Thursday. The schedule:

Thursday at 7 pm (ESPN).

Friday at 6 pm (CBS Sports Network).

Saturday at 2 pm (ESPN).

Here's to hoping more Section II players join the AUSL.

News & notes

 The Carolina Blaze will try to close out their series with the Chicago Bandits today at 1 pm after last night's game was rained out. What we're not sure of is if the game will be televised.

The Mets return to WTEN after nearly 2 weeks off on Wednesday to host the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is at 7:10 pm.

Over the last few days, the Tri-City ValleyCats have seen two more players leave for the big leagues.

Infielder Parker Coddou had his contract transferred to the Colorado Rockies, where he'll begin play in the minors. On Saturday, Shenendehowa grad Jake Reinisch had his contract transferred to the Athletics, pending a physical, leaving Aaron Whitley (Niskayuna) as the lone Section II alumnus on the roster.

On Sunday, the 'Cats won the rubber game of their series with Brockton, 15-8. David Glancy, Amani Larry, & Brayden Jobert homered for the 'Cats. Whitley went 3-5 with 2 RBI to raise his average to a team leading .392. Tommy Kretzler (Colonie) was held in check again, going 0-2 with 2 walks, but Derek Bender bounced back from an oh-fer of his own on Saturday by going 3-5 himself with an RBI & a run scored.

Tri-City returns home tomorrow to open a series with the NY Boulders. Game time is 6:30 pm.

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.