Just a quick reminder for Albany Empire fans that tomorrow's game vs. Washington will be a matinee game, starting at 3:30. No explanation, though I suspect they're looking to draw people coming out of the Freihofer's Run For Women, taking place earlier in the day, as long as they're still downtown.
=====================================
As expected, Siena's Jalen Pickett has withdrawn from next month's NBA draft, returning to Siena for his sophomore season after using the last month or so for information gathering. Something tells me next year will be different.
======================================
Per James Allen of the Albany Times-Union, it would appear that embattled Averill Park softball coach Ken Bailey will not return next season. Bailey reportedly stated as much in today's editions, after allegations of body shaming and bullying, which Bailey, predictably, has denied, came out prior to the Lady Warriors' loss to Troy on Wednesday. Assistant coach Dave Pugilese, who is also the men's varsity basketball coach, and is an assistant coach in football, made the decision not to use either Kelsey Mohl or Jayden Lee Wednesday, but according to Allen, it appears the two seniors had designs on quitting as early as two weeks ago after a loss to Ballston Spa.
So far, the T-U is the only newspaper covering this story. Just as predictably, The Record, given its own issues with Troy High, wasn't taking any chances. Based on Allen's account, it's turning into she said/he said. Who would you believe?
Karma being what it is, Troy went on to lose to South Glens Falls, 8-5, yesterday.
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We mentioned before how Troy's baseball team dropped 30+ runs on Green Tech last month. Found out the final score on April 25 was a football-esque 38-3. Ouch! The game was called after 5 innings to save the Eagles further embarrassment. It was Green Tech's first varsity season in baseball, and, unlike in football & basketball, they played like an expansion team, getting blown out in almost every game.
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There's no rain in the forecast today for what is now a triple-header at Bruno Stadium, but tomorrow is a different story. Reportedly, another storm system will blow into town in mid-afternoon, right around the time the Class C title game is supposed to be played. Uh-oh.........
Friday, May 31, 2019
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Good to the last bounce (Saratoga vs. Shenendehowa, 5/30/19)
Anyone that has closely followed the territorial rivalry between Shenendehowa and Saratoga knew this wasn't going to be a lopsided affair Thursday afternoon at Bruno Stadium. Far from it.
Saratoga's three sport senior star, Nate Chudy, took the hill for the Blue Streaks, opposed by Shen's Evan Jones. Neither had perfect control, nerves likely a factor. Jones gave up a single to Saratoga's Luca Bonacio with one out in the first, but Bonacio was thrown out trying to steal. Jones kept wriggling out of trouble, with help from his defense.
Chudy, on the other hand, was, for a lack of a better term, schizophrenic on the hill. He had seven strikeouts through four innings, but that was counter-balanced by five walks. Still, the game was scoreless after four.
Shen finally broke through against Chudy in the fifth. Jones led off with a single, and was lifted pro tempore for pinch-runner C. J. Latham. With two outs, Latham on third and Evan Dean on second, Ben Lavery broke the ice with a two run double, plating both Latham & Dean before Chudy fanned Thomas Krill for the third time in the game to end the frame.
In the seventh, Jones gave up a lead-off single to pinch hitter Christian Arpey. After a single by Christian Kondo, Jones was lifted in favor of Brendan Disonell. With two out, Chudy, who had been lifted himself for reliever Josh Henderson in the sixth, batted for Henderson, in effect, and tied the game with a two run single. Unfortunately, Chudy ran the Streaks out of the inning when he was caught stealing, setting the stage for the final frame.
In the home seventh, Pat McGuire walked, and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk to Lavery, Jake Reinisch lined a base hit to left. McGuire came around, and scored when Saratoga catcher Ryan Dolan failed to corral the relay from the outfield. Shen moves on to the title game, 3-2.
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While there was a temporary drizzle before the game, the rains came in earnest before the nightcap. Guilderland was three batters deep in the top of the first, with a run already home, before the game was called due to rain. Guilderland and Niskayuna will try again Friday afternoon at 2, ahead of the previously scheduled double-header of the Class D & B finals.
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Other scores:
Softball results from today, courtesy of the Albany Times-Union:
Saratoga's three sport senior star, Nate Chudy, took the hill for the Blue Streaks, opposed by Shen's Evan Jones. Neither had perfect control, nerves likely a factor. Jones gave up a single to Saratoga's Luca Bonacio with one out in the first, but Bonacio was thrown out trying to steal. Jones kept wriggling out of trouble, with help from his defense.
Chudy, on the other hand, was, for a lack of a better term, schizophrenic on the hill. He had seven strikeouts through four innings, but that was counter-balanced by five walks. Still, the game was scoreless after four.
Shen finally broke through against Chudy in the fifth. Jones led off with a single, and was lifted pro tempore for pinch-runner C. J. Latham. With two outs, Latham on third and Evan Dean on second, Ben Lavery broke the ice with a two run double, plating both Latham & Dean before Chudy fanned Thomas Krill for the third time in the game to end the frame.
In the seventh, Jones gave up a lead-off single to pinch hitter Christian Arpey. After a single by Christian Kondo, Jones was lifted in favor of Brendan Disonell. With two out, Chudy, who had been lifted himself for reliever Josh Henderson in the sixth, batted for Henderson, in effect, and tied the game with a two run single. Unfortunately, Chudy ran the Streaks out of the inning when he was caught stealing, setting the stage for the final frame.
In the home seventh, Pat McGuire walked, and was sacrificed to second. After an intentional walk to Lavery, Jake Reinisch lined a base hit to left. McGuire came around, and scored when Saratoga catcher Ryan Dolan failed to corral the relay from the outfield. Shen moves on to the title game, 3-2.
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While there was a temporary drizzle before the game, the rains came in earnest before the nightcap. Guilderland was three batters deep in the top of the first, with a run already home, before the game was called due to rain. Guilderland and Niskayuna will try again Friday afternoon at 2, ahead of the previously scheduled double-header of the Class D & B finals.
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Other scores:
Softball results from today, courtesy of the Albany Times-Union:
CLASS AA
Colonie 4, Shenendehowa 3 (Final)
Bethlehem 11, Columbia 4 (Final)
Colonie 4, Shenendehowa 3 (Final)
Bethlehem 11, Columbia 4 (Final)
CLASS A
South Glens Falls 8, Troy 5 (Final)
Ballston Spa 13, Scotia 0 (Final)
South Glens Falls 8, Troy 5 (Final)
Ballston Spa 13, Scotia 0 (Final)
CLASS B
Ichabod Crane 1, Tamarac 0 Final)
Schuylerville 9, Mechanicville 3 (Final)
Ichabod Crane 1, Tamarac 0 Final)
Schuylerville 9, Mechanicville 3 (Final)
CLASS C
Chatham 4, Hoosic Valley 0 (Final)
Lake George 5, Greenwich 4 (Final)
Chatham 4, Hoosic Valley 0 (Final)
Lake George 5, Greenwich 4 (Final)
CLASS D
Whitehall 11, Germantown 0 (Final)
Fort Ann 3, Salem 0 (Final)
Whitehall 11, Germantown 0 (Final)
Fort Ann 3, Salem 0 (Final)
Troy's season is over, but they do have some key players returning next year for coach Sean Geisel, and they will be players. The finals are now set for Luther Forest & Moreau State Park on Tuesday.
Sectional update, 5/29
Lacrosse season is over in Section II, at least for the boys.
All four teams representing the home district played regional semi-final games on Wednesday, and all four were eliminated.
At Columbia High in East Greenbush, Class A champion Niskayuna saw its undefeated season end with a 11-6 loss to Mamaroneck. Class B titlist Ballston Spa fell to John Jay-Cross River, 14-6.
In Schuylerville, the host Black Horses dropped a 5-3 Class D game to Briarcliff, while Class C champ LaSalle ended its season with a 13-6 loss to Rye.
============================================
On May 18, Jayden Lee pitched a complete game for Averill Park, leading the Lady Warriors past Troy, 8-3, in the regular season finale for Averill Park.
Wednesday, when they needed Lee the most, the Lady Warriors didn't have her on the field for a Class A quarterfinal rematch vs. the Lady Horses. Worse, DH Kelsey Mohl also sat out.
Why? Seems there are issues between the two seniors and coach Ken Bailey amid allegations of body shaming and other forms of verbal abuse. The story broke on television via WTEN & Spectrum News, but there is nothing to be found in the newspapers today as of this writing.
Given that similar allegations against then-Troy women's basketball coach Paul Bearup led to a botched attempt at an expose by The Record two years ago, I'd understand the print media shying away.
But, there was a game to be played. Assistant coach Dave Pugilese, the varsity men's basketball coach & assistant football coach, decided that Mohl & Lee would not play vs. Troy. Big mistake.
Troy, down 6-1 entering the 7th inning, scored 7 runs, capped by a 2-run single by Lauren McElligott, to upset Averill Park, 8-6. The Lady Warriors finish at 15-6 for the season, while Troy goes to 10-10. There is, however, no rest for the weary, as Troy moves on to play South Glens Falls, a 7-3 winner over Lansingburgh, later today at Schalmont.
There is some irony here, though. Three years ago, then-Troy coach George Rafferty had a meltdown during a regular season game at Averill Park, and was ultimately dismissed. However, that had more to do with the perception, in his mind, anyway, of biased umpiring in favor of the Lady Warriors.
While Mohl & Lee have played their last game for Averill Park, has Bailey coached his last game? Given how schools tend to keep personnel decisions in-house and away from the press, we may never know.
===============================================
Other scores:
Softball:
Class AA:
Columbia 5, Saratoga 2.
Colonie 2, Shaker 1.
Bethlehem 8, Guilderland 7.
Class A:
Ballston Spa 7, Amsterdam 0.
Scotia-Glenville 2, Mohonasen 1.
Class B:
Schuylerville 2, Glens Falls 0.
Ichabod Crane 13, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 1.
Tamarac 6, Greenville 0.
Mechanicville 5, Cobleskill-Richmondville 1.
Class C:
Lake George 10, Hoosick Falls 0.
Chatham 12, Fort Plain 0.
Greenwich 9, Canajoharie 1.
Hoosic Valley 3, Mayfield 2.
Class D:
Germantown 5, Heatly 4.
Whitehall 10, Argyle 0.
Fort Ann 3, Hartford-New Hartford 2.
Salem 15, North Warren 0.
Baseball:
Class A:
Averill Park 3, Amsterdam 2 (13 innings).
Ballston Spa 4, Queensbury 0.
Class C:
Fort Plain 6, Greenwich 1.
Hoosick Falls 2, Chatham 1.
Class D:
Hartford-Fort Edward 11, Germantown 3.
Whitehall 10, Salem 0.
The Class AA semi-finals will be played today at Bruno Stadium. The schedule:
4 pm: #3 Saratoga vs. #2 Shenendehowa.
7 pm: #5 Guilderland vs. #1 Niskayuna.
The winners will meet Monday. The rest of the finals are set:
Friday:
Class D: Hartford-Fort Edward vs. Whitehall, 4 pm.
Class B: Schuylerville vs. Mechanicville, 7 pm.
Saturday:
Class C: Fort Plain vs. Hoosick Falls, 4 pm.
Class A: Averill Park vs. Ballston Spa, 7 pm.
All four teams representing the home district played regional semi-final games on Wednesday, and all four were eliminated.
At Columbia High in East Greenbush, Class A champion Niskayuna saw its undefeated season end with a 11-6 loss to Mamaroneck. Class B titlist Ballston Spa fell to John Jay-Cross River, 14-6.
In Schuylerville, the host Black Horses dropped a 5-3 Class D game to Briarcliff, while Class C champ LaSalle ended its season with a 13-6 loss to Rye.
============================================
On May 18, Jayden Lee pitched a complete game for Averill Park, leading the Lady Warriors past Troy, 8-3, in the regular season finale for Averill Park.
Wednesday, when they needed Lee the most, the Lady Warriors didn't have her on the field for a Class A quarterfinal rematch vs. the Lady Horses. Worse, DH Kelsey Mohl also sat out.
Why? Seems there are issues between the two seniors and coach Ken Bailey amid allegations of body shaming and other forms of verbal abuse. The story broke on television via WTEN & Spectrum News, but there is nothing to be found in the newspapers today as of this writing.
Given that similar allegations against then-Troy women's basketball coach Paul Bearup led to a botched attempt at an expose by The Record two years ago, I'd understand the print media shying away.
But, there was a game to be played. Assistant coach Dave Pugilese, the varsity men's basketball coach & assistant football coach, decided that Mohl & Lee would not play vs. Troy. Big mistake.
Troy, down 6-1 entering the 7th inning, scored 7 runs, capped by a 2-run single by Lauren McElligott, to upset Averill Park, 8-6. The Lady Warriors finish at 15-6 for the season, while Troy goes to 10-10. There is, however, no rest for the weary, as Troy moves on to play South Glens Falls, a 7-3 winner over Lansingburgh, later today at Schalmont.
There is some irony here, though. Three years ago, then-Troy coach George Rafferty had a meltdown during a regular season game at Averill Park, and was ultimately dismissed. However, that had more to do with the perception, in his mind, anyway, of biased umpiring in favor of the Lady Warriors.
While Mohl & Lee have played their last game for Averill Park, has Bailey coached his last game? Given how schools tend to keep personnel decisions in-house and away from the press, we may never know.
===============================================
Other scores:
Softball:
Class AA:
Columbia 5, Saratoga 2.
Colonie 2, Shaker 1.
Bethlehem 8, Guilderland 7.
Class A:
Ballston Spa 7, Amsterdam 0.
Scotia-Glenville 2, Mohonasen 1.
Class B:
Schuylerville 2, Glens Falls 0.
Ichabod Crane 13, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 1.
Tamarac 6, Greenville 0.
Mechanicville 5, Cobleskill-Richmondville 1.
Class C:
Lake George 10, Hoosick Falls 0.
Chatham 12, Fort Plain 0.
Greenwich 9, Canajoharie 1.
Hoosic Valley 3, Mayfield 2.
Class D:
Germantown 5, Heatly 4.
Whitehall 10, Argyle 0.
Fort Ann 3, Hartford-New Hartford 2.
Salem 15, North Warren 0.
Baseball:
Class A:
Averill Park 3, Amsterdam 2 (13 innings).
Ballston Spa 4, Queensbury 0.
Class C:
Fort Plain 6, Greenwich 1.
Hoosick Falls 2, Chatham 1.
Class D:
Hartford-Fort Edward 11, Germantown 3.
Whitehall 10, Salem 0.
The Class AA semi-finals will be played today at Bruno Stadium. The schedule:
4 pm: #3 Saratoga vs. #2 Shenendehowa.
7 pm: #5 Guilderland vs. #1 Niskayuna.
The winners will meet Monday. The rest of the finals are set:
Friday:
Class D: Hartford-Fort Edward vs. Whitehall, 4 pm.
Class B: Schuylerville vs. Mechanicville, 7 pm.
Saturday:
Class C: Fort Plain vs. Hoosick Falls, 4 pm.
Class A: Averill Park vs. Ballston Spa, 7 pm.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Sectional update, 5/28
Rain wiped out the entire softball schedule on Tuesday, plus the Class D baseball semi-finals, all of which will be played today. Weather permitting, of course.
However, Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam has a turf field, so the Class B semi-finals in baseball took place.
Top seeded Coxsackie-Athens was upset by the #4 seed, Schuylerville, 7-0. Meanwhile, Mechanicville tripped Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, 2-1, eliminating the last hope of the Colonial Council to capture a sectional championship in baseball. Schuylerville will play Mechanicville Friday night at Bruno Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 pm, but again, it all depends on the weather.
However, Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam has a turf field, so the Class B semi-finals in baseball took place.
Top seeded Coxsackie-Athens was upset by the #4 seed, Schuylerville, 7-0. Meanwhile, Mechanicville tripped Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, 2-1, eliminating the last hope of the Colonial Council to capture a sectional championship in baseball. Schuylerville will play Mechanicville Friday night at Bruno Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 pm, but again, it all depends on the weather.
Monday, May 27, 2019
News & notes
Another night, another win for the Albany Empire. The undefeated Empire overcame a one point halftime deficit to beat Atlantic City, 54-35, on Saturday night. The Empire return home to Times Union Center on June 1, but there's going to be some competition at the box office this week.
That's because Saturday also means a sectional doubleheader at Bruno Stadium, as the Class C & A titles will be decided. The Class C game is set for 4 pm, with the A title game to follow at 7.
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Former WRGB sports anchor Budd Mishkin spent the last several years with NY1 (now Spectrum NY1), and also forged a career as a singer-songwriter and an actor. His resume includes appearances on USA Network's Mr. Robot, and, currently, he's moved to radio, reading headlines for CBS News on weekend overnights (and some weeknights) between midnight & 5 am. Budd was with WRGB in the early 90's before heading to New York.
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One of Budd's successors, Joe Tessitore, is defining what it means to be a company man for ABC/ESPN.
Two years ago, Tessitore co-anchored ABC's failed attempt to revive the 70's cult favorite, Battle of The Network Stars. Last year, he was promoted from college football play-by-play to take over Monday Night Football, and that was big news around here.
Next month, Tessitore teams with Fox's Rob Riggle (Fox NFL Sunday) to host the comedy game, Holey Moley, a bizarre miniature golf competition, which boasts NBA star Stephen Curry as one of the executive producers. Fittingly, it airs on the same night that Battle did, on Thursdays. Well, it gives the dude something to do before NFL season starts.
That's because Saturday also means a sectional doubleheader at Bruno Stadium, as the Class C & A titles will be decided. The Class C game is set for 4 pm, with the A title game to follow at 7.
===========================================
Former WRGB sports anchor Budd Mishkin spent the last several years with NY1 (now Spectrum NY1), and also forged a career as a singer-songwriter and an actor. His resume includes appearances on USA Network's Mr. Robot, and, currently, he's moved to radio, reading headlines for CBS News on weekend overnights (and some weeknights) between midnight & 5 am. Budd was with WRGB in the early 90's before heading to New York.
============================================
One of Budd's successors, Joe Tessitore, is defining what it means to be a company man for ABC/ESPN.
Two years ago, Tessitore co-anchored ABC's failed attempt to revive the 70's cult favorite, Battle of The Network Stars. Last year, he was promoted from college football play-by-play to take over Monday Night Football, and that was big news around here.
Next month, Tessitore teams with Fox's Rob Riggle (Fox NFL Sunday) to host the comedy game, Holey Moley, a bizarre miniature golf competition, which boasts NBA star Stephen Curry as one of the executive producers. Fittingly, it airs on the same night that Battle did, on Thursdays. Well, it gives the dude something to do before NFL season starts.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Sectional update, 5/25
For teams such as Albany Academy and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, who played yesterday, there was no rest of the weary, as they had to turn around and return to action today. Here's today's baseball results, courtesy of the Glens Falls Post-Star:
Class AA:
Saratoga 9, Christian Brothers Academy 0.
Niskayuna 10, Bethlehem 4.
Guilderland 5, Colonie 0.
Shenendehowa 5, LaSalle 4.
Class A:
Queensbury 3, South Glens Falls 0.
Ballston Spa 9, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 8 (8 innings).
Averill Park 2, Mohonasen 1.
Amsterdam 10, Albany Academy 0.
The Cadets, 2-time Class B champions, only go as far as the quarters in Class A. With Academy, Mohonasen, & LaSalle losing, the Colonial Council is again denied in Classes AA & A.
Class B:
Mechanicville 6, Schalmont 2.
Schuylerville 10, Catskill 0.
Coxsackie-Athens 2, Hudson 1.
Ravena 7, Tamarac 3.
Class C:
Chatham 19, Lake George 3.
Hoosick Falls 5, Canajoharie 1.
Fort Plain 10, Hoosic Valley 0.
Greenwich 7, Maple Hill 1.
The Wildcats were last season's champions, and thus we will have new champions in Class C this year.
Class D:
Hartford-Fort Edward 7, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville 5.
Salem 2, Fort Ann 1.
Class AA:
Saratoga 9, Christian Brothers Academy 0.
Niskayuna 10, Bethlehem 4.
Guilderland 5, Colonie 0.
Shenendehowa 5, LaSalle 4.
Class A:
Queensbury 3, South Glens Falls 0.
Ballston Spa 9, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 8 (8 innings).
Averill Park 2, Mohonasen 1.
Amsterdam 10, Albany Academy 0.
The Cadets, 2-time Class B champions, only go as far as the quarters in Class A. With Academy, Mohonasen, & LaSalle losing, the Colonial Council is again denied in Classes AA & A.
Class B:
Mechanicville 6, Schalmont 2.
Schuylerville 10, Catskill 0.
Coxsackie-Athens 2, Hudson 1.
Ravena 7, Tamarac 3.
Class C:
Chatham 19, Lake George 3.
Hoosick Falls 5, Canajoharie 1.
Fort Plain 10, Hoosic Valley 0.
Greenwich 7, Maple Hill 1.
The Wildcats were last season's champions, and thus we will have new champions in Class C this year.
Class D:
Hartford-Fort Edward 7, Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville 5.
Salem 2, Fort Ann 1.
High School Fridays: Sectional update, 5/24
Two years ago, Sebastian Geiger was a sophomore on LaSalle's Section II title-winning hockey team. In the spring, he swaps his skates for lacrosse gear, as do some of his hockey teammates.
On Friday, Geiger tallied eight goals in helping the Cadets overcome a 8-7 halftime deficit to defeat and unseat Glens Falls as Class C men's lacrosse champions, 16-12, in the first half of a doubleheader at Schuylerville. The hosts would claim the Class D title later in the evening, crushing Johnstown, 16-2.
First year LaSalle lacrosse coach C. J. Squires had slipped under the radar last month, since no mention had been made in the press of his predecessor, Shane Hendry, stepping down after one season and leaving LaSalle to pursue other career opportunities. Squires inherited a team that had fallen short of the title last year in Class A. Dropping to Class C led to the Cadets winning their first lacrosse sectional title in 15 years, and now, it's on to state play.
==================================
Meanwhile, Niskayuna winning a sectional title in men's lacrosse has become as inevitable as death & taxes. The Silver Warriors made it 17 straight sectional titles, defeating Bethlehem, 11-6, to win the Class A title. Brock Buhrman had a hat trick to lead Nisky, while Liam Ferris did the same for Bethlehem.
In Class B, Ballston Spa repeated as champs, beating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 13-7.
On the women's side, Queensbury & Niskayna completed their game after it'd been suspended on Thursday night due to weather. The Lady Spartans claimed the Class B title, 16-12.
==================================
Speaking of changes not made public before the season, two-time defending Class B baseball champ Albany Academy moved up to Class A this year, and had played fewer games than their Friday opponent, Troy, which had won just six games on the regular season, four in the Suburban Council.
Ethan (no relation to Zip-a-Dee) Duda drove in the game winner as Dave Rider's Cadets walked off Troy in 8 innings, 7-6. Academy is now 11-6 on the season, but there's no rest, as they must turn around and travel to Amsterdam this afternoon to play the Rams at Shuttleworth Park. Seems Amsterdam either doesn't have a baseball field of their own, or they get to use Shuttleworth, also home to a Perfect Game Collegiate League team in the city, to ensure a big crowd.
Troy's Michael Kennedy smacked a 3 run homer to tie the game, but it just wasn't meant to be. On the upside, Troy tripled its win total from last year, when they won just 2 games. Still, coach Chris Strack would be on the hot seat anywhere else after winning just 8 games in two seasons at Troy.
===================================
Other scores:
Baseball:
Class AA:
Bethlehem 8, Columbia 6. The Eagles now play Niskayuna later today.
Class A:
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 14, Scotia-Glenville 1.
Class B:
Schuylerville 9, Cobleskill-Richmondville 0.
Mechanicville 3, Voorheesville 0.
Tamarac 8, Saratoga Central Catholic 3. The Saints, runners-up to Albany Academy two years ago, go one-&-done this year.
Schalmont 3, Ichabod Crane 2. The Riders were last year's bridesmaids, and they too are gone after the first round. That ensures that we'll see some fresh blood in the finals next Friday at Bruno Stadium.
Catskill 1, Broadalbin-Perth 0.
Class C:
Maple Hill 3, Warrensburg 0.
Canajoharie 18, Holy Trinity 7.
Fort Plain 10, Rensselaer 0.
Hoosic Valley 3, Waterford 1.
Greenwich 14, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 0.
=======================================
Softball results:
Class B:
Glens Falls 15, Fonda-Fultonville 1.
Schuylerville 8, Corinth 0.
Cobleskill-Richmondville 6, Cohoes 4.
Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 6, Watervliet 0.
Tamarac 4, Schalmont 3.
Greenville 4, Taconic Hills 3.
Mechanicville 10, Hudson 1.
Class C:
Canajoharie 2, Maple Hill 1.
Fort Plain-OESJ 12, Saratoga Central Catholic 4.
Hoosick Falls 1, Galway 0.
Our final High School Fridays report for the season will be after the Class B title game on May 31.
On Friday, Geiger tallied eight goals in helping the Cadets overcome a 8-7 halftime deficit to defeat and unseat Glens Falls as Class C men's lacrosse champions, 16-12, in the first half of a doubleheader at Schuylerville. The hosts would claim the Class D title later in the evening, crushing Johnstown, 16-2.
First year LaSalle lacrosse coach C. J. Squires had slipped under the radar last month, since no mention had been made in the press of his predecessor, Shane Hendry, stepping down after one season and leaving LaSalle to pursue other career opportunities. Squires inherited a team that had fallen short of the title last year in Class A. Dropping to Class C led to the Cadets winning their first lacrosse sectional title in 15 years, and now, it's on to state play.
==================================
Meanwhile, Niskayuna winning a sectional title in men's lacrosse has become as inevitable as death & taxes. The Silver Warriors made it 17 straight sectional titles, defeating Bethlehem, 11-6, to win the Class A title. Brock Buhrman had a hat trick to lead Nisky, while Liam Ferris did the same for Bethlehem.
In Class B, Ballston Spa repeated as champs, beating Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 13-7.
On the women's side, Queensbury & Niskayna completed their game after it'd been suspended on Thursday night due to weather. The Lady Spartans claimed the Class B title, 16-12.
==================================
Speaking of changes not made public before the season, two-time defending Class B baseball champ Albany Academy moved up to Class A this year, and had played fewer games than their Friday opponent, Troy, which had won just six games on the regular season, four in the Suburban Council.
Ethan (no relation to Zip-a-Dee) Duda drove in the game winner as Dave Rider's Cadets walked off Troy in 8 innings, 7-6. Academy is now 11-6 on the season, but there's no rest, as they must turn around and travel to Amsterdam this afternoon to play the Rams at Shuttleworth Park. Seems Amsterdam either doesn't have a baseball field of their own, or they get to use Shuttleworth, also home to a Perfect Game Collegiate League team in the city, to ensure a big crowd.
Troy's Michael Kennedy smacked a 3 run homer to tie the game, but it just wasn't meant to be. On the upside, Troy tripled its win total from last year, when they won just 2 games. Still, coach Chris Strack would be on the hot seat anywhere else after winning just 8 games in two seasons at Troy.
===================================
Other scores:
Baseball:
Class AA:
Bethlehem 8, Columbia 6. The Eagles now play Niskayuna later today.
Class A:
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 14, Scotia-Glenville 1.
Class B:
Schuylerville 9, Cobleskill-Richmondville 0.
Mechanicville 3, Voorheesville 0.
Tamarac 8, Saratoga Central Catholic 3. The Saints, runners-up to Albany Academy two years ago, go one-&-done this year.
Schalmont 3, Ichabod Crane 2. The Riders were last year's bridesmaids, and they too are gone after the first round. That ensures that we'll see some fresh blood in the finals next Friday at Bruno Stadium.
Catskill 1, Broadalbin-Perth 0.
Class C:
Maple Hill 3, Warrensburg 0.
Canajoharie 18, Holy Trinity 7.
Fort Plain 10, Rensselaer 0.
Hoosic Valley 3, Waterford 1.
Greenwich 14, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 0.
=======================================
Softball results:
Class B:
Glens Falls 15, Fonda-Fultonville 1.
Schuylerville 8, Corinth 0.
Cobleskill-Richmondville 6, Cohoes 4.
Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 6, Watervliet 0.
Tamarac 4, Schalmont 3.
Greenville 4, Taconic Hills 3.
Mechanicville 10, Hudson 1.
Class C:
Canajoharie 2, Maple Hill 1.
Fort Plain-OESJ 12, Saratoga Central Catholic 4.
Hoosick Falls 1, Galway 0.
Our final High School Fridays report for the season will be after the Class B title game on May 31.
Friday, May 24, 2019
Sectional update, 5/23
The threat of severe weather, which came later in the day, forced postponement of some sectional games on Thursday, including Troy High @ Albany Academy (they'll try again today at 3). However, some games were played in baseball, softball, & lacrosse.
Baseball results:
Class C:
Hoosick Falls 5, Granville 2.
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 7, Fonda-Fultonville 6.
Chatham 19, Duanesburg 4 (6 innings).
Lake George 3, Schoharie 1.
Hudson 12, Taconic Hills 2.
Softball results:
Class B:
Greenville 4, Taconic Hills 1.
Class C:
Mayfield 12, Rensselaer 2.
Women's lacrosse:
Class D finals:
Johnstown 12, Academy of Holy Names 8.
Class B finals:
Queensbury 13, Niskayuna 9 (game suspended due to weather, will resume today at 4 at Mohonasen).
Burnt Hills had previously captured the Class C title, and Bethlehem won the A title on Wednesday, beating Shenendehowa.
The men's lacrosse finals are set for today. The schedule:
At Columbia High:
Class A final: Bethlehem vs. Niskayuna
Class B final: Burnt Hills vs. Ballston Spa.
At Schuylerville:
Class C final: Glens Falls vs. LaSalle.
Class D final: Johnstown vs. Schuylerville.
More rain is in the forecast for Saturday, which could again wreak havoc with the schedule. Stay tuned.
Baseball results:
Class C:
Hoosick Falls 5, Granville 2.
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 7, Fonda-Fultonville 6.
Chatham 19, Duanesburg 4 (6 innings).
Lake George 3, Schoharie 1.
Hudson 12, Taconic Hills 2.
Softball results:
Class B:
Greenville 4, Taconic Hills 1.
Class C:
Mayfield 12, Rensselaer 2.
Women's lacrosse:
Class D finals:
Johnstown 12, Academy of Holy Names 8.
Class B finals:
Queensbury 13, Niskayuna 9 (game suspended due to weather, will resume today at 4 at Mohonasen).
Burnt Hills had previously captured the Class C title, and Bethlehem won the A title on Wednesday, beating Shenendehowa.
The men's lacrosse finals are set for today. The schedule:
At Columbia High:
Class A final: Bethlehem vs. Niskayuna
Class B final: Burnt Hills vs. Ballston Spa.
At Schuylerville:
Class C final: Glens Falls vs. LaSalle.
Class D final: Johnstown vs. Schuylerville.
More rain is in the forecast for Saturday, which could again wreak havoc with the schedule. Stay tuned.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
2019 Section II softball & baseball sectionals announced
The sectionals will begin in softball & baseball tomorrow with first round action. Following is a class-by-class schedule:
Softball:
Class AA:
Tournament action begins Tuesday. Shenendehowa is the #1 seed, and the only team to draw a 1st round bye.
Tuesday, May 28:
#7 Saratoga @ #2 Columbia.
#6 Guilderland @ #3 Bethlehem.
#5 Shaker @ #4 Colonie.
Thursday, May 30: Semi-finals @ Luther Forest, Malta:
Shaker-Colonie winner vs. Shen.
Bethlehem-Guilderland winner vs. Columbia-Saratoga winner.
Tuesday, June 4: Championship game @ Luther Forest.
===========================================
Class A:
Thursday:
#9 Catholic Central vs. #8 Amsterdam @ Shuttleworth Park.
Tuesday, May 28:
#7 Lansingburgh @ #2 South Glens Falls.
#6 Troy @ #3 Averill Park. These two teams just played @ Troy on Saturday, with AP winning, 8-3.
#5 Scotia @ #4 Mohonasen.
CCHS-Amsterdam winner @ #1 Ballston Spa.
The semi-finals are at Schalmont on May 30, with the title game at Luther Forest on June 4.
============================================
Class B:
Thursday (weather permitting):
#15 Hudson @ #2 Mechanicville.
#14 Fonda @ #3 Glens Falls.
#13 Taconic Hills @ #4 Greenville.
#12 Schalmont @ #5 Tamarac.
#11 Corinth @ #6 Schuylerville.
#10 Cobleskill @ #7 Cohoes.
#9 Watervliet @ #8 Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons.
Tuesday, May 28:
Watervliet-ND/BG winner @ Ichabod Crane.
Sites to be determined for the remaining quarter-finals.
Semi-finals @ Luther Forest on May 30, championship game on May 4.
=========================================
Class C:
Thursday:
#12 Rensselaer @ #5 Mayfield.
#11 Canajoharie @ #6 Maple Hill.
#10 Galway @ #7 Hoosick Falls.
#9 Saratoga Catholic @ #8 Fort Plain/Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville (game @ Fort Plain).
Tuesday, May 28:
SC-FP/OESJ winner @ #1 Chatham.
Galway-Hoosick Falls winner @ #2 Lake George.
Maple Hill-Canajoharie winner @ #3 Greenwich.
Mayfield-Rensselaer winner @ #4 Hoosic Valley.
The semi-finals are at Moreau State Park on May 30, with the title game on June 4, also at Moreau.
=========================================
Class D:
Tuesday, May 28:
#5 Heatly @ #4 Germantown.
#6 Hartford/Fort Edward @ #3 Fort Ann.
#7 North Warren @ #2 Salem.
#8 Argyle @ #1 Whitehall.
Semi-finals are at Moreau on May 30, and the title game is on June 4.
=======================================
Baseball:
Class AA:
Thursday:
#9 Columbia @ #8 Bethlehem.
Saturday:
Columbia-Bethlehem winner @ #1 Niskayuna.
#7 LaSalle @ #2 Shenendehowa. Yes, LaSalle is a AA school in baseball, just like in basketball. Go figure.
#6 Christian Brothers Academy @ #3 Saratoga.
#5 Colonie @ #4 Guilderland.
Semi-finals will be on May 30 at Joe Bruno Stadium, with the finals there on June 3.
============================================
Class A:
Thursday:
#9 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake @ #8 Scotia-Glenville.
#10 Troy @ #7 Albany Academy. The defending Class B champs move up to Class A this year. First meeting vs. Troy.
Saturday:
Burnt Hills-Scotia winner @ #1 Ballston Spa.
Troy-Albany Academy winner @ #2 Amsterdam (game to be played at Shuttleworth Park).
#6 Averill Park @ #3 Mohonasen.
#5 South Glens Falls @ #4 Queensbury.
The semi-finals will be at the College of St. Rose next Wednesday, with the finals at Bruno Stadium on June 1 at 7 pm.
========================================
Class B:
Thursday:
#15 Tamarac @ #2 Saratoga Catholic.
#14 Voorheesville @ #3 Mechanicville.
#13 Cobleskill-Richmondville @ #4 Schuylerville.
#12 Catskill @ #5 Broadalbin-Perth.
#11 Ichabod Crane # #6 Schalmont.
#10 Fonda-Fultonville @ # 7 Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk.
#9 Hudson @ #8 Taconic Hills.
Saturday:
Hudson-Taconic Hills winner @ #1Coxsackie-Athens.
sites to be determined for the other quarter-finals.
Semi-finals will be at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam on May 28, with the title game at Bruno Stadium on May 31 at 7 pm.
=============================================
Class C:
Thursday:
#16 Duanesburg @ #1 Chatham.
#15 Rensselaer @ #2 Fort Plain.
#14 Warrensburg @ #3 Maple Hill.
#13 Hoosick Falls @ #4 Granville.
#12 Canajoharie @ #5 Holy Trinity (Game played @ Knickerbocker Park in Troy).
#11 Greenwich @ #6 Bishop Gibbons (Game played @ Veterans Park in Rotterdam).
#10 Waterford-Halfmoon @ #7 Hoosic Valley.
#9 Schoharie @ #8 Lake George.
Saturday:
Quarterfinals-sites to be determined.
Semi-finals are at Shuttleworth Park on May 29, with the title game at Bruno Stadium on June 1 at 4 pm.
=========================================
Class D:
Saturday:
#6 Hartford/Fort Edward @ Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville.
#5 Salem @ #4 Fort Ann.
Tuesday, May 28:
Salem-Fort Ann winner vs. #1 Whitehall.
H/FE-OESJ winner vs. #2 Germantown.
The title game will be at Bruno Stadium on May 31 at 4 pm.
===============================
We are assured of a new champion in Class B in baseball, but will form otherwise hold? That's why we play the games.
Softball:
Class AA:
Tournament action begins Tuesday. Shenendehowa is the #1 seed, and the only team to draw a 1st round bye.
Tuesday, May 28:
#7 Saratoga @ #2 Columbia.
#6 Guilderland @ #3 Bethlehem.
#5 Shaker @ #4 Colonie.
Thursday, May 30: Semi-finals @ Luther Forest, Malta:
Shaker-Colonie winner vs. Shen.
Bethlehem-Guilderland winner vs. Columbia-Saratoga winner.
Tuesday, June 4: Championship game @ Luther Forest.
===========================================
Class A:
Thursday:
#9 Catholic Central vs. #8 Amsterdam @ Shuttleworth Park.
Tuesday, May 28:
#7 Lansingburgh @ #2 South Glens Falls.
#6 Troy @ #3 Averill Park. These two teams just played @ Troy on Saturday, with AP winning, 8-3.
#5 Scotia @ #4 Mohonasen.
CCHS-Amsterdam winner @ #1 Ballston Spa.
The semi-finals are at Schalmont on May 30, with the title game at Luther Forest on June 4.
============================================
Class B:
Thursday (weather permitting):
#15 Hudson @ #2 Mechanicville.
#14 Fonda @ #3 Glens Falls.
#13 Taconic Hills @ #4 Greenville.
#12 Schalmont @ #5 Tamarac.
#11 Corinth @ #6 Schuylerville.
#10 Cobleskill @ #7 Cohoes.
#9 Watervliet @ #8 Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons.
Tuesday, May 28:
Watervliet-ND/BG winner @ Ichabod Crane.
Sites to be determined for the remaining quarter-finals.
Semi-finals @ Luther Forest on May 30, championship game on May 4.
=========================================
Class C:
Thursday:
#12 Rensselaer @ #5 Mayfield.
#11 Canajoharie @ #6 Maple Hill.
#10 Galway @ #7 Hoosick Falls.
#9 Saratoga Catholic @ #8 Fort Plain/Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville (game @ Fort Plain).
Tuesday, May 28:
SC-FP/OESJ winner @ #1 Chatham.
Galway-Hoosick Falls winner @ #2 Lake George.
Maple Hill-Canajoharie winner @ #3 Greenwich.
Mayfield-Rensselaer winner @ #4 Hoosic Valley.
The semi-finals are at Moreau State Park on May 30, with the title game on June 4, also at Moreau.
=========================================
Class D:
Tuesday, May 28:
#5 Heatly @ #4 Germantown.
#6 Hartford/Fort Edward @ #3 Fort Ann.
#7 North Warren @ #2 Salem.
#8 Argyle @ #1 Whitehall.
Semi-finals are at Moreau on May 30, and the title game is on June 4.
=======================================
Baseball:
Class AA:
Thursday:
#9 Columbia @ #8 Bethlehem.
Saturday:
Columbia-Bethlehem winner @ #1 Niskayuna.
#7 LaSalle @ #2 Shenendehowa. Yes, LaSalle is a AA school in baseball, just like in basketball. Go figure.
#6 Christian Brothers Academy @ #3 Saratoga.
#5 Colonie @ #4 Guilderland.
Semi-finals will be on May 30 at Joe Bruno Stadium, with the finals there on June 3.
============================================
Class A:
Thursday:
#9 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake @ #8 Scotia-Glenville.
#10 Troy @ #7 Albany Academy. The defending Class B champs move up to Class A this year. First meeting vs. Troy.
Saturday:
Burnt Hills-Scotia winner @ #1 Ballston Spa.
Troy-Albany Academy winner @ #2 Amsterdam (game to be played at Shuttleworth Park).
#6 Averill Park @ #3 Mohonasen.
#5 South Glens Falls @ #4 Queensbury.
The semi-finals will be at the College of St. Rose next Wednesday, with the finals at Bruno Stadium on June 1 at 7 pm.
========================================
Class B:
Thursday:
#15 Tamarac @ #2 Saratoga Catholic.
#14 Voorheesville @ #3 Mechanicville.
#13 Cobleskill-Richmondville @ #4 Schuylerville.
#12 Catskill @ #5 Broadalbin-Perth.
#11 Ichabod Crane # #6 Schalmont.
#10 Fonda-Fultonville @ # 7 Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk.
#9 Hudson @ #8 Taconic Hills.
Saturday:
Hudson-Taconic Hills winner @ #1Coxsackie-Athens.
sites to be determined for the other quarter-finals.
Semi-finals will be at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam on May 28, with the title game at Bruno Stadium on May 31 at 7 pm.
=============================================
Class C:
Thursday:
#16 Duanesburg @ #1 Chatham.
#15 Rensselaer @ #2 Fort Plain.
#14 Warrensburg @ #3 Maple Hill.
#13 Hoosick Falls @ #4 Granville.
#12 Canajoharie @ #5 Holy Trinity (Game played @ Knickerbocker Park in Troy).
#11 Greenwich @ #6 Bishop Gibbons (Game played @ Veterans Park in Rotterdam).
#10 Waterford-Halfmoon @ #7 Hoosic Valley.
#9 Schoharie @ #8 Lake George.
Saturday:
Quarterfinals-sites to be determined.
Semi-finals are at Shuttleworth Park on May 29, with the title game at Bruno Stadium on June 1 at 4 pm.
=========================================
Class D:
Saturday:
#6 Hartford/Fort Edward @ Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville.
#5 Salem @ #4 Fort Ann.
Tuesday, May 28:
Salem-Fort Ann winner vs. #1 Whitehall.
H/FE-OESJ winner vs. #2 Germantown.
The title game will be at Bruno Stadium on May 31 at 4 pm.
===============================
We are assured of a new champion in Class B in baseball, but will form otherwise hold? That's why we play the games.
News & notes
Former Shenendehowa star Kevin Huerter was named to the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team. Well, while he was meriting headlines on the late news here, he wasn't as big a fish nationally, especially since Atlanta ended up a lottery team. Congratulations, just the same.
==========================================
Troy High's softball team will find out who they'll play in the sectionals later today, but Sean Geisel's club has some momentum heading into the tournament.
On Monday, Troy clobbered Schenectady, 17-1, with Olivia DeCitise picking up the win in the circle. Yesterday, they finally finished the regular season at Guilderland, and Troy knocked off the Lady Dutch, 3-2.
Funny thing. Last week, the Albany Times-Union's weekly softball rankings, which has Troy as a team to watch in Class A, had the Flying Horses at 7-8, heading into the final six games of the season. Seems to me there were some issues with the math, because in yesterday's editions, counting Monday's win, the girls were at 8-10, meaning they would be 9-10 after beating Guilderland. To recap the final week:
May 15: Beat Ballston Spa.
May 16: Lost to Columbia.
May 17: Lost to Shaker.
May 18: Lost to Averill Park.
May 20: Beat Schenectady.
May 21: Beat Guilderland.
If Troy really did play 21 regular season games (which I think is over the limit?), their record would be 10-11, wouldn't it? We'll know for sure after the final pairings are announced later today. It isn't helping that the T-U isn't posting standings for softball or baseball for the 2nd straight season.
=====================================
As of now, Troy baseball's senior day game vs. Schenectady was never reported. As bad as the Patriots have been, we will wait for the sectional pairings to come out. If Troy beat Schenectady, they will have qualified.
======================================
LaSalle has advanced to the finals of the Class C lacrosse tournament after beating Scotia-Glenville, 16-8, last night at Sutton Field. The Cadets will travel to Glens Falls for the title game on Friday.
==========================================
Troy High's softball team will find out who they'll play in the sectionals later today, but Sean Geisel's club has some momentum heading into the tournament.
On Monday, Troy clobbered Schenectady, 17-1, with Olivia DeCitise picking up the win in the circle. Yesterday, they finally finished the regular season at Guilderland, and Troy knocked off the Lady Dutch, 3-2.
Funny thing. Last week, the Albany Times-Union's weekly softball rankings, which has Troy as a team to watch in Class A, had the Flying Horses at 7-8, heading into the final six games of the season. Seems to me there were some issues with the math, because in yesterday's editions, counting Monday's win, the girls were at 8-10, meaning they would be 9-10 after beating Guilderland. To recap the final week:
May 15: Beat Ballston Spa.
May 16: Lost to Columbia.
May 17: Lost to Shaker.
May 18: Lost to Averill Park.
May 20: Beat Schenectady.
May 21: Beat Guilderland.
If Troy really did play 21 regular season games (which I think is over the limit?), their record would be 10-11, wouldn't it? We'll know for sure after the final pairings are announced later today. It isn't helping that the T-U isn't posting standings for softball or baseball for the 2nd straight season.
=====================================
As of now, Troy baseball's senior day game vs. Schenectady was never reported. As bad as the Patriots have been, we will wait for the sectional pairings to come out. If Troy beat Schenectady, they will have qualified.
======================================
LaSalle has advanced to the finals of the Class C lacrosse tournament after beating Scotia-Glenville, 16-8, last night at Sutton Field. The Cadets will travel to Glens Falls for the title game on Friday.
Monday, May 20, 2019
News & notes
Try figuring this one out.
LaSalle was dropped from Class AA to Class A in all sports except basketball and lacrosse after last season. Since there is no Class AA in lacrosse, the Cadets must've been in Class B in the spring sport, like Troy High is.
However, LaSalle is in Class C as the top seed, and will host Scotia-Glenville Tuesday night at Sutton Field. Question is, will there be television cameras and/or newspaper reporters? LaSalle tends to get the Rodney Dangerfield treatment most nights.
=================================
Early morning rains on Sunday forced postponement of a softball game between Troy & Guilderland. They'll try again on Tuesday in what would be the season finale for both teams. Troy is supposed to have Senior Day today vs. Schenectady, but, as I write, it's raining again.
I get that the farmers benefit from all the rain, but we always get too much rain.
Meanwhile, the drainage system at Bruno Stadium allowed Cohoes & LaSalle to play baseball Sunday afternoon. It was originally meant to be a Cohoes home game, but it's really a de facto home game for the Cadets, who won, 9-1. The Tigers are at the bottom of the Colonial Council standings. and likely will miss the sectionals with just three wins on the season.
=================================
The Albany Empire keeps right on rolling.
The AFL leaders beat Columbus for the 2nd time in 3 weeks, spoiling the Destroyers' home opener, 56-40, on Saturday night.
Empire receiver Malachi Jones got a tryout with the NFL's Tennessee Titans during the run-up to the game. Hmmmm.
===================================
This last item has zero to do with sports in the 518, but then..........!
Troy Prep history teacher Conor Quinn placed second in the Jeopardy! 2019 Teachers Tournament on Friday night. Wolfe's Biergarten in Albany hosted a viewing party for the show, which drew cameras from WTEN, the local home of Jeopardy!, for the puff piece. For what it's worth, an RPI graduate now teaching in New Paltz, won first prize.
Anyone want to bet on Conor throwing out the first ball at a Valleycats game this summer?
Two nights later, Shaker High student Madison Vandenburg's dream run on American Idol came to a crashing end in the finals, as Madison placed third. And, yeah, I think the 'Cats will be calling her about singing the National Anthem, probably as soon as opening night next month, which happens to also be Father's Day.
LaSalle was dropped from Class AA to Class A in all sports except basketball and lacrosse after last season. Since there is no Class AA in lacrosse, the Cadets must've been in Class B in the spring sport, like Troy High is.
However, LaSalle is in Class C as the top seed, and will host Scotia-Glenville Tuesday night at Sutton Field. Question is, will there be television cameras and/or newspaper reporters? LaSalle tends to get the Rodney Dangerfield treatment most nights.
=================================
Early morning rains on Sunday forced postponement of a softball game between Troy & Guilderland. They'll try again on Tuesday in what would be the season finale for both teams. Troy is supposed to have Senior Day today vs. Schenectady, but, as I write, it's raining again.
I get that the farmers benefit from all the rain, but we always get too much rain.
Meanwhile, the drainage system at Bruno Stadium allowed Cohoes & LaSalle to play baseball Sunday afternoon. It was originally meant to be a Cohoes home game, but it's really a de facto home game for the Cadets, who won, 9-1. The Tigers are at the bottom of the Colonial Council standings. and likely will miss the sectionals with just three wins on the season.
=================================
The Albany Empire keeps right on rolling.
The AFL leaders beat Columbus for the 2nd time in 3 weeks, spoiling the Destroyers' home opener, 56-40, on Saturday night.
Empire receiver Malachi Jones got a tryout with the NFL's Tennessee Titans during the run-up to the game. Hmmmm.
===================================
This last item has zero to do with sports in the 518, but then..........!
Troy Prep history teacher Conor Quinn placed second in the Jeopardy! 2019 Teachers Tournament on Friday night. Wolfe's Biergarten in Albany hosted a viewing party for the show, which drew cameras from WTEN, the local home of Jeopardy!, for the puff piece. For what it's worth, an RPI graduate now teaching in New Paltz, won first prize.
Anyone want to bet on Conor throwing out the first ball at a Valleycats game this summer?
Two nights later, Shaker High student Madison Vandenburg's dream run on American Idol came to a crashing end in the finals, as Madison placed third. And, yeah, I think the 'Cats will be calling her about singing the National Anthem, probably as soon as opening night next month, which happens to also be Father's Day.
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Troy High update, 5/18
Lacrosse season is over at Troy for 2019.
The Flying Horses, as expected, went 1-&-done, dropping a 13-1 decision to Columbia this morning. In two losses to the Blue Devils, Troy was outscored 25-2. Ouch!
Troy finishes 2-16 for the season.
===========================================
Troy baseball has the day off today after beating Shaker, 7-6, on the road on Friday. A win over Schenectady on Senior Day (Monday) gets Chris Strack's club into the sectionals. Considering Troy won just two games last year, five is an improvement.
However, I suspect, depending on how they're seeded in the Class A tournament when pairings are announced on Wednesday, that Troy will end up 1-&-done here, too.
===========================================
On the other hand, Troy softball could be on fumes by the time the sectionals start.
Sean Geisel's team has lost two straight, and three of four, and have two more games left to play.
On Friday, Troy fell at Shaker, 3-1. Today was the next to last home game of the season vs. Averill Park in what amounted to what they would call a businessman's special if this was a weekday game in baseball, with first pitch at noon.
Perhaps knowing that fans would be comfortable with some music between innings, Geisel keeps a CD player in the dugout. and put together a compilation disc that includes everyone's favorite, Neil Diamond's classic "Sweet Caroline", and Smash Mouth's "All Star". Maybe Geisel is sending a message to the school board to add a PA system on that side of the sports complex, I don't know, but I am digging the concept.
Unfortunately, a late defensive breakdown enabled the Lady Warriors to pull away with two runs in the fifth, and three in the sixth, to get the measure of Troy yet again, 8-3. Jadyn Lee was the winning pitcher for Averill Park, which finishes its regular season at 15-5. Troy falls to 8-11 with two games remaining. They're at Guilderland tomorrow, and wrap at home vs. Schenectady on Monday. Weather permitting, of course.
The Flying Horses, as expected, went 1-&-done, dropping a 13-1 decision to Columbia this morning. In two losses to the Blue Devils, Troy was outscored 25-2. Ouch!
Troy finishes 2-16 for the season.
===========================================
Troy baseball has the day off today after beating Shaker, 7-6, on the road on Friday. A win over Schenectady on Senior Day (Monday) gets Chris Strack's club into the sectionals. Considering Troy won just two games last year, five is an improvement.
However, I suspect, depending on how they're seeded in the Class A tournament when pairings are announced on Wednesday, that Troy will end up 1-&-done here, too.
===========================================
On the other hand, Troy softball could be on fumes by the time the sectionals start.
Sean Geisel's team has lost two straight, and three of four, and have two more games left to play.
On Friday, Troy fell at Shaker, 3-1. Today was the next to last home game of the season vs. Averill Park in what amounted to what they would call a businessman's special if this was a weekday game in baseball, with first pitch at noon.
Perhaps knowing that fans would be comfortable with some music between innings, Geisel keeps a CD player in the dugout. and put together a compilation disc that includes everyone's favorite, Neil Diamond's classic "Sweet Caroline", and Smash Mouth's "All Star". Maybe Geisel is sending a message to the school board to add a PA system on that side of the sports complex, I don't know, but I am digging the concept.
Unfortunately, a late defensive breakdown enabled the Lady Warriors to pull away with two runs in the fifth, and three in the sixth, to get the measure of Troy yet again, 8-3. Jadyn Lee was the winning pitcher for Averill Park, which finishes its regular season at 15-5. Troy falls to 8-11 with two games remaining. They're at Guilderland tomorrow, and wrap at home vs. Schenectady on Monday. Weather permitting, of course.
Friday, May 17, 2019
News & notes
With the regular season scheduled to finish on Monday, and sectional seeding meetings scheduled for Wednesday, baseball & softball teams in Section II are scrambling to finish on time.
In addition to blowing out Niskayuna at Bruno Stadium, Shenendehowa had another makeup game to play, and crushed CBA, 12-3. With the game played in Colonie, it didn't take long for the Plainsmen to hop on the bus and head up the thruway to Troy for the nightcap.
However, it is raining as I write this morning, leaving today's slate of games in danger of being postponed or cancelled outright. We'll see as the day progresses.
===========================================
Professional sports teams are accustomed to playing virtually every day, like, for example, the Tri-City Valleycats, who will open their 2019 home schedule on Father's Day, after starting with two games on the road, and only get a couple of off days a year, not counting the NY-Penn League All-Star break in August.
By the end of business on Monday, a lot of teams are going to be exhausted. Troy High's softball team is one of them. Closing the regular season with six games in as many days, Sean Geisel's club rebounded from a Wednesday loss to Ballston Spa by blowing away Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, 12-0, in a non-league home game Thursday afternoon. Olivia DeCitise threw a two hitter, striking out three, as Troy improves to 8-9 overall on the season. Today's game at Shaker will likely be rained out, and the girls return home Saturday for a matinee with arch-rival Averill Park.
I think one of the reasons Troy chose to enter the Suburban Council four years ago was because of a developing rivalry with Averill Park in women's basketball, which has since extended to other sports. The fact that the two schools aren't that far apart geographically was a big factor. AP has owned Troy in softball in recent years, and Geisel has yet to notch a win over the Lady Warriors since taking over the Troy program in 2017.
We'll know tomorrow if things change for the better for Troy.
Troy's baseball team, meanwhile, dropped a 6-5 decision on the road at Guilderland. With two games remaining, the prospects of a sectional run don't look good.
In addition to blowing out Niskayuna at Bruno Stadium, Shenendehowa had another makeup game to play, and crushed CBA, 12-3. With the game played in Colonie, it didn't take long for the Plainsmen to hop on the bus and head up the thruway to Troy for the nightcap.
However, it is raining as I write this morning, leaving today's slate of games in danger of being postponed or cancelled outright. We'll see as the day progresses.
===========================================
Professional sports teams are accustomed to playing virtually every day, like, for example, the Tri-City Valleycats, who will open their 2019 home schedule on Father's Day, after starting with two games on the road, and only get a couple of off days a year, not counting the NY-Penn League All-Star break in August.
By the end of business on Monday, a lot of teams are going to be exhausted. Troy High's softball team is one of them. Closing the regular season with six games in as many days, Sean Geisel's club rebounded from a Wednesday loss to Ballston Spa by blowing away Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, 12-0, in a non-league home game Thursday afternoon. Olivia DeCitise threw a two hitter, striking out three, as Troy improves to 8-9 overall on the season. Today's game at Shaker will likely be rained out, and the girls return home Saturday for a matinee with arch-rival Averill Park.
I think one of the reasons Troy chose to enter the Suburban Council four years ago was because of a developing rivalry with Averill Park in women's basketball, which has since extended to other sports. The fact that the two schools aren't that far apart geographically was a big factor. AP has owned Troy in softball in recent years, and Geisel has yet to notch a win over the Lady Warriors since taking over the Troy program in 2017.
We'll know tomorrow if things change for the better for Troy.
Troy's baseball team, meanwhile, dropped a 6-5 decision on the road at Guilderland. With two games remaining, the prospects of a sectional run don't look good.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Walking right into defeat (Niskayuna vs. Shenendehowa, 5/16/19)
The Coaches vs. Cancer baseball series resumed at Bruno Stadium tonight, as Suburban Council rivals Shenendehowa and Niskayuna played a make-up game for a rainout on April 26.
The Silver Warriors drew first blood against Shen starter Brendan Disonell in the first inning. Aaron Whitley opened the game with a single. So did Jacob Hand. After Cole Hedden reached on a force play, Nisky starter Tim Schaffer helped himself with a sacrifice fly.
However, it didn't take long for Schaffer to give the run right back. After fanning Nick Lemire to open the home first, Schaffer walked Pat McGuire and Ben Lavery. With two out, Tom Krill laced a two-run single to right center to put Shen in front. That lead didn't last, either, as Nisky tied the score in the top of the second. Chris Erickson led off with a single, and came around on a ground out to even things at 2.
The score remained that way until the home fifth. Back to back walks to Lavery and Jake Reinisch, son of Troy athletic director and former CBA star Paul Reinisch, put Shen in prime position with no one out. Chase Carroll brought home pinch runner Jack Sandberg with the tie-breaking run, and the Plainsmen took it from there.
With the score 4-2 in favor of Shen in the sixth, McGuire led off with a single. That was all Nisky coach Chris Bianchi needed to see, as he lifted Schaffer in favor of Shawn Vena. Unfortunately, Vena poured gasoline on the fire, as he promptly walked Lavery. With one out, Krill got his third hit of the game, scoring McGuire. That closed the book on Schaffer, who was charged with 5 runs, 4 earned in 5+ innings, striking out six, but an unsightly eight walks proved to be the difference. By the time Brian Bowman got the last out in the sixth, Shen had stretched its lead to 10-2.
In the visiting seventh, Sam Morra led off with his third hit of the game, a sharp single that went past Reinisch at third. However, Morra was held to a single, but he would come around on a hit by Hand for the final tally of the evening. Shen gains a split of the regular season series, 10-3.
Disonell went 6 1/3 innings, giving up the three runs on eight hits, while striking out five. The bullpen slammed the door shut, as Jim Murphy made the last out to end the game.
The Coaches vs. Cancer series resumes Sunday afternoon with LaSalle vs. Cohoes at 3 pm.
The Silver Warriors drew first blood against Shen starter Brendan Disonell in the first inning. Aaron Whitley opened the game with a single. So did Jacob Hand. After Cole Hedden reached on a force play, Nisky starter Tim Schaffer helped himself with a sacrifice fly.
However, it didn't take long for Schaffer to give the run right back. After fanning Nick Lemire to open the home first, Schaffer walked Pat McGuire and Ben Lavery. With two out, Tom Krill laced a two-run single to right center to put Shen in front. That lead didn't last, either, as Nisky tied the score in the top of the second. Chris Erickson led off with a single, and came around on a ground out to even things at 2.
The score remained that way until the home fifth. Back to back walks to Lavery and Jake Reinisch, son of Troy athletic director and former CBA star Paul Reinisch, put Shen in prime position with no one out. Chase Carroll brought home pinch runner Jack Sandberg with the tie-breaking run, and the Plainsmen took it from there.
With the score 4-2 in favor of Shen in the sixth, McGuire led off with a single. That was all Nisky coach Chris Bianchi needed to see, as he lifted Schaffer in favor of Shawn Vena. Unfortunately, Vena poured gasoline on the fire, as he promptly walked Lavery. With one out, Krill got his third hit of the game, scoring McGuire. That closed the book on Schaffer, who was charged with 5 runs, 4 earned in 5+ innings, striking out six, but an unsightly eight walks proved to be the difference. By the time Brian Bowman got the last out in the sixth, Shen had stretched its lead to 10-2.
In the visiting seventh, Sam Morra led off with his third hit of the game, a sharp single that went past Reinisch at third. However, Morra was held to a single, but he would come around on a hit by Hand for the final tally of the evening. Shen gains a split of the regular season series, 10-3.
Disonell went 6 1/3 innings, giving up the three runs on eight hits, while striking out five. The bullpen slammed the door shut, as Jim Murphy made the last out to end the game.
The Coaches vs. Cancer series resumes Sunday afternoon with LaSalle vs. Cohoes at 3 pm.
News & notes
Siena's Jalen Pickett has until May 29 to decide whether or not he'll go ahead and enter the NBA draft, which takes place 3 weeks later. According to media reports, Pickett has been impressive in G League camps, but the question is whether or not he's willing to take the chance. Stay tuned.
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You can add one more college sports program to the 518, and it's a most unlikely place.
Bryant & Stratton, better known as a business school, began an athletic program this season that has already seen its men's basketball & baseball teams reach the post-season. If the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights taught us anything last year, it's the fact that "expansion" teams aren't easy outs anymore. Best of luck to B & S next season.
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Troy High began a killer stretch run in softball & baseball Wednesday. While it wasn't reported to the Albany Times-Union, likely out of fear of embarrassment, the baseball team was thumped, 8-1, by Ballston Spa. Guilderland is up next today, on the road, and then it'll be Shaker tomorrow, before Senior Day vs. Schenectady on Monday.
B-Spa also prevailed in softball, dropping Troy to 7-9 on the season with a 4-3 win. Sean Geisel's club is in the midst of a season-ending run , playing six games in as many games. Today, they host Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons in a non-league game. The rest of the lineup:
Friday (weather permitting): @ Shaker.
Saturday: Lunch matinee vs. Averill Park.
Sunday: @ Guilderland.
Monday: Senior Day vs. Schenectady.
To give Troy credit, they added electronic scoreboards for both baseball & softball last year, but they don't add up how many hits each team racks up. It's just the score, inning, and outs. Well, it's a start. Now, all they need is a public address system on that side of the sports complex, and programs for softball, baseball, lacrosse, and, during the fall, soccer (men's & women's). They also need some more volunteers willing to help report scores. Stress willing.
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You can add one more college sports program to the 518, and it's a most unlikely place.
Bryant & Stratton, better known as a business school, began an athletic program this season that has already seen its men's basketball & baseball teams reach the post-season. If the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights taught us anything last year, it's the fact that "expansion" teams aren't easy outs anymore. Best of luck to B & S next season.
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Troy High began a killer stretch run in softball & baseball Wednesday. While it wasn't reported to the Albany Times-Union, likely out of fear of embarrassment, the baseball team was thumped, 8-1, by Ballston Spa. Guilderland is up next today, on the road, and then it'll be Shaker tomorrow, before Senior Day vs. Schenectady on Monday.
B-Spa also prevailed in softball, dropping Troy to 7-9 on the season with a 4-3 win. Sean Geisel's club is in the midst of a season-ending run , playing six games in as many games. Today, they host Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons in a non-league game. The rest of the lineup:
Friday (weather permitting): @ Shaker.
Saturday: Lunch matinee vs. Averill Park.
Sunday: @ Guilderland.
Monday: Senior Day vs. Schenectady.
To give Troy credit, they added electronic scoreboards for both baseball & softball last year, but they don't add up how many hits each team racks up. It's just the score, inning, and outs. Well, it's a start. Now, all they need is a public address system on that side of the sports complex, and programs for softball, baseball, lacrosse, and, during the fall, soccer (men's & women's). They also need some more volunteers willing to help report scores. Stress willing.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Sectionals or bust
Troy High & Guilderland will try again on Thursday to play a baseball game, which has been postponed twice in as many days due to rain. Unfortunately, rain is also in the forecast for Thursday. As it is, Chris Strack's Flying Horses will start a stretch today where they will play their last four games in a six day period, starting with a game vs. Ballston Spa, whose coach, Curtis Nobles, had been at Troy before taking the B-Spa gig a few years ago. Strack is the second man to coach Troy since Nobles left. Will Whitty, whom Strack replaced, is now at Mohonasen.
Assuming they can get the Guilderland game in, Troy will then host Shaker on Friday before Senior Day next Monday vs. Schenectady in what is meant to be the final regular season game. If Troy can win two out of these four, they'll qualify for the sectionals. We have learned that Troy defeated Burnt Hills, 2-0, on May 7, a game that was never reported to the media for reasons known only to the school.
Six wins are required for teams to qualify for the sectionals. The Troy softball team has already qualified at 7-8, and will likely be a mid-level seed in the Class A sectionals when the pairings are announced next week. With four wins, the baseball team, four days removed from a 9-2 loss to Averill Park at home, would be happy to win out to ensure a spot in the tournament, but I don't see it happening, not when they have to play B-Spa today.
Will they get to the sectionals? I'm going to say yes. They won't beat B-Spa, but Shaker and possibly Schenectady are do-able, not so sure about Guilderland. Stay tuned.
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If they're lucky, the Coaches vs. Cancer series at Bruno Stadium will wrap on Monday with Tamarac vs. Green Tech. The start time for the game has been moved from 4 pm to 5:30, the better to get more people to the ballpark. Last Friday's LaSalle-Cohoes game has been rescheduled for Sunday at 3 pm, weather permitting, of course, and tomorrow starts what potentially is a string of three games in five days, assuming Shenendehowa & Niskayuna are able to have their rematch.
Assuming they can get the Guilderland game in, Troy will then host Shaker on Friday before Senior Day next Monday vs. Schenectady in what is meant to be the final regular season game. If Troy can win two out of these four, they'll qualify for the sectionals. We have learned that Troy defeated Burnt Hills, 2-0, on May 7, a game that was never reported to the media for reasons known only to the school.
Six wins are required for teams to qualify for the sectionals. The Troy softball team has already qualified at 7-8, and will likely be a mid-level seed in the Class A sectionals when the pairings are announced next week. With four wins, the baseball team, four days removed from a 9-2 loss to Averill Park at home, would be happy to win out to ensure a spot in the tournament, but I don't see it happening, not when they have to play B-Spa today.
Will they get to the sectionals? I'm going to say yes. They won't beat B-Spa, but Shaker and possibly Schenectady are do-able, not so sure about Guilderland. Stay tuned.
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If they're lucky, the Coaches vs. Cancer series at Bruno Stadium will wrap on Monday with Tamarac vs. Green Tech. The start time for the game has been moved from 4 pm to 5:30, the better to get more people to the ballpark. Last Friday's LaSalle-Cohoes game has been rescheduled for Sunday at 3 pm, weather permitting, of course, and tomorrow starts what potentially is a string of three games in five days, assuming Shenendehowa & Niskayuna are able to have their rematch.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
News & notes
Following up on an earlier column, which I've edited, the real reason Troy High ended its junior varsity lacrosse season early was that 1) two players were dismissed from the team for academic reasons, leaving them short on available players, and 2) three current players were called up to the varsity roster. At 2-15, I don't like the prospects of a Cinderella sectional run.
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Troy's Saturday baseball matinee vs. Averill Park was advertised for a 11 am start, but was moved up an hour to 10 am. Didn't matter to the visiting Warriors, but the reason for the early start had to do with RPI's commencement at the Houston Field House, and Troy loaned its parking lot, as it does every year at this time, to help with the overflow of traffic.
Anyway, as a result of the time switch, ye scribe arrived during the 3rd inning, with the Warriors already leading, 1-0. They tacked on two more runs in the frame. Troy chipped away with single runs in the 3rd & 4th innings, but Averill Park put the game away with two in the 5th, and four more in the 7th, putting a damper on Troy's sectional hopes with a 9-2 verdict.
Predictably, The Record didn't receive the score in time for today's edition. Troy has four games remaining, starting with a home game vs. Guilderland tomorrow (weather permitting, of course), and would have to win three of those four to qualify for the sectionals.
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The Albany Empire are now 3-0 after beating Philadelphia, 57-48, on the road on Saturday night. The fact that the Soul, who no longer count singer Jon Bon Jovi among their owners, drew less than 10,000 fans to the Wells Fargo Center, which also is home to the NHL Flyers & NBA 76ers, as opposed to Albany drawing better than 10,000 for their two home games each, should tell you something.
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Troy's Saturday baseball matinee vs. Averill Park was advertised for a 11 am start, but was moved up an hour to 10 am. Didn't matter to the visiting Warriors, but the reason for the early start had to do with RPI's commencement at the Houston Field House, and Troy loaned its parking lot, as it does every year at this time, to help with the overflow of traffic.
Anyway, as a result of the time switch, ye scribe arrived during the 3rd inning, with the Warriors already leading, 1-0. They tacked on two more runs in the frame. Troy chipped away with single runs in the 3rd & 4th innings, but Averill Park put the game away with two in the 5th, and four more in the 7th, putting a damper on Troy's sectional hopes with a 9-2 verdict.
Predictably, The Record didn't receive the score in time for today's edition. Troy has four games remaining, starting with a home game vs. Guilderland tomorrow (weather permitting, of course), and would have to win three of those four to qualify for the sectionals.
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The Albany Empire are now 3-0 after beating Philadelphia, 57-48, on the road on Saturday night. The fact that the Soul, who no longer count singer Jon Bon Jovi among their owners, drew less than 10,000 fans to the Wells Fargo Center, which also is home to the NHL Flyers & NBA 76ers, as opposed to Albany drawing better than 10,000 for their two home games each, should tell you something.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
News & notes
Well, they did play last night at Bruno Stadium.
Despite a brief shower more than an hour before the scheduled game time, Shaker & Ballston Spa had it in what was supposed to be the nightcap of a Friday doubleheader. Cohoes-LaSalle was postponed due to weather after morning rains, but the skies had cleared during the afternoon.
According to the Tri-City Valleycats' Twitter feed, they expected a brief delay to the start of the game after the shower. Under overcast skies, the game was played, as Ballston Spa blew out Shaker, 13-2.
The Coaches vs. Cancer series continues will continue next week, as Shenendehowa & Niskayuna will play on Thursday night. That, of course, is weather permitting.
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While all the attention was on UAlbany & Siena's lacrosse teams, Union quietly won the Liberty League title, and have advanced to the 3rd round of the NCAA tournament, where they will face RIT today. Union has already lost the regular season series to their league rival, but an upset over the top team would be nice.
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Shaker graduate Tommy Kahnle has been doing yeoman work out of the Yankees' bullpen as one of Aaron Boone's set-up relievers, creating a bridge to closer Aroldis Chapman. Kahnle pitched one inning Friday at Tampa Bay, yielding no runs as the Yankees moved a step closer to overtaking the AL East leading Rays with a win.
At last check, fellow Shaker alum Jeff Hoffman is in the minors with the Colorado Rockies. Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson, pitching for Atlanta's Mississippi farm team, was struck by a line drive on Friday night, and is said to be "sore, but smiling". At least he's in good spirits. I wonder if they play any Jethro Tull music for him.......
Despite a brief shower more than an hour before the scheduled game time, Shaker & Ballston Spa had it in what was supposed to be the nightcap of a Friday doubleheader. Cohoes-LaSalle was postponed due to weather after morning rains, but the skies had cleared during the afternoon.
According to the Tri-City Valleycats' Twitter feed, they expected a brief delay to the start of the game after the shower. Under overcast skies, the game was played, as Ballston Spa blew out Shaker, 13-2.
The Coaches vs. Cancer series continues will continue next week, as Shenendehowa & Niskayuna will play on Thursday night. That, of course, is weather permitting.
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While all the attention was on UAlbany & Siena's lacrosse teams, Union quietly won the Liberty League title, and have advanced to the 3rd round of the NCAA tournament, where they will face RIT today. Union has already lost the regular season series to their league rival, but an upset over the top team would be nice.
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Shaker graduate Tommy Kahnle has been doing yeoman work out of the Yankees' bullpen as one of Aaron Boone's set-up relievers, creating a bridge to closer Aroldis Chapman. Kahnle pitched one inning Friday at Tampa Bay, yielding no runs as the Yankees moved a step closer to overtaking the AL East leading Rays with a win.
At last check, fellow Shaker alum Jeff Hoffman is in the minors with the Colorado Rockies. Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson, pitching for Atlanta's Mississippi farm team, was struck by a line drive on Friday night, and is said to be "sore, but smiling". At least he's in good spirits. I wonder if they play any Jethro Tull music for him.......
Friday, May 10, 2019
News & notes
As of this writing, with more rain still in the forecast for this afternoon, the Coaches vs. Cancer double-dip at Bruno Stadium is still a go. Check with the schools involved (Cohoes, LaSalle, Ballston Spa, Shaker) or www.tcvalleycats.com before heading to the ballpark.
Update, 2:23 pm: Cohoes-LaSalle has been postponed. As of now, no make-up date has been set.
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Troy High's lacrosse team ended the regular season with another abysmal showing on Senior Night at Picken Field last night, dropping an 18-2 decision to Shaker.
The Flying Horses finish the regular season 2-15 overall, the only two wins coming against Albany. Even if they enter the sectionals, they won't last very long.
Troy has had a lacrosse program since around 1988, and has never had a winning season that I know of. The talent simply isn't there right now, and the fact that the junior varsity team ended its season early, cancelling their remaining games, due likely to a lack of players, suggests the program may not be long for the school. Stay tuned.
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Meanwhile, Troy softball dropped a 5-0 decision to Columbia on Wednesday afternoon. Overall, the Lady Horses are 7-8 on the season for third year coach Sean Geisel, so they will be in the sectionals, which begin in two weeks. The baseball team scored a rare Suburban Council victory over Columbia, but needed extra innings to pull out a 4-2 win.
That gives Troy three wins on the season overall, two of them being non-league wins. With a week-plus left in the regular season, second year coach Chris Strack has to win out in order to qualify for sectionals. Again, the talent just isn't there right now, and the rebuilding process will continue for a while to come.
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The fire that destroyed Alpha Lanes on Wednesday leaves Lansingburgh High without a home alley for their bowling team headed into the 2019-20 season. The Knights are coming off a state title, and will have to share space with other teams for at least next season.
The likely candidates?
Uncle Sam Lanes in downtown Troy is Troy High's long time home, but they've also hosted Catholic Central this past season. Scheduling will be an issue.
Hi-Way Recreation in Wynantskill is home to LaSalle. I don't think coach Roland Blanchet will want his troops going all the way across town unless it's really necessary.
USL owner Tom Walsh, Jr. also runs Cohoes Bowling Arena & Green Island Lanes, the latter would be a likely destination for the Knights, since I don't think Heatly has a bowling team, and in the event of scheduling conflicts at USL with either Troy or CCHS, the Knights would likely end up at Green Island anyway.
Stay tuned.
Update, 2:23 pm: Cohoes-LaSalle has been postponed. As of now, no make-up date has been set.
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Troy High's lacrosse team ended the regular season with another abysmal showing on Senior Night at Picken Field last night, dropping an 18-2 decision to Shaker.
The Flying Horses finish the regular season 2-15 overall, the only two wins coming against Albany. Even if they enter the sectionals, they won't last very long.
Troy has had a lacrosse program since around 1988, and has never had a winning season that I know of. The talent simply isn't there right now, and the fact that the junior varsity team ended its season early, cancelling their remaining games, due likely to a lack of players, suggests the program may not be long for the school. Stay tuned.
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Meanwhile, Troy softball dropped a 5-0 decision to Columbia on Wednesday afternoon. Overall, the Lady Horses are 7-8 on the season for third year coach Sean Geisel, so they will be in the sectionals, which begin in two weeks. The baseball team scored a rare Suburban Council victory over Columbia, but needed extra innings to pull out a 4-2 win.
That gives Troy three wins on the season overall, two of them being non-league wins. With a week-plus left in the regular season, second year coach Chris Strack has to win out in order to qualify for sectionals. Again, the talent just isn't there right now, and the rebuilding process will continue for a while to come.
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The fire that destroyed Alpha Lanes on Wednesday leaves Lansingburgh High without a home alley for their bowling team headed into the 2019-20 season. The Knights are coming off a state title, and will have to share space with other teams for at least next season.
The likely candidates?
Uncle Sam Lanes in downtown Troy is Troy High's long time home, but they've also hosted Catholic Central this past season. Scheduling will be an issue.
Hi-Way Recreation in Wynantskill is home to LaSalle. I don't think coach Roland Blanchet will want his troops going all the way across town unless it's really necessary.
USL owner Tom Walsh, Jr. also runs Cohoes Bowling Arena & Green Island Lanes, the latter would be a likely destination for the Knights, since I don't think Heatly has a bowling team, and in the event of scheduling conflicts at USL with either Troy or CCHS, the Knights would likely end up at Green Island anyway.
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
News & notes
Former Shenendehowa women's basketball coach Ken Strube, already in a couple of Halls of Fame, will go into the NY Public High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame, per James Allen's column in Tuesday's Albany Times-Union. Strube was the architect of Shen's sensational women's teams in the 80's & 90's, before giving way to current coach Joe Murphy.
Congratulations to Coach Strube.
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The lacrosse season can't end fast enough at Troy High. Senior night is tomorrow night, and the Flying Horses will limp into the final after another blowout loss, 18-1, under the lights at Picken Field last night at the hands of Ballston Spa. Two games remain unreported for whatever reason, and the team's record now in an unsightly 2-8 in the Suburban Council, since, yes, they did get blown out by Shen, but games against Colonie & Columbia remain unreported.
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Troy's softball team, on the other hand, downed Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 6-5, on Tuesday afternoon. Maddie Rifenberick scored the game winning run to walk off the Lady Spartans in the bottom of the 7th. Troy now qualifies for the sectionals with their 6th win of the season.
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Breaking news: A long time Lansingburgh institution has been decimated by fire.
Alpha Lanes, one of a group of bowling houses run by the Sciaccia family, was the victim of a morning fire. It's also cut power to schools in the area, forcing early dismissals at nearby Lansingburgh High, Knickerbocker Middle School, & Rensselaer Park Elementary. It's a total loss, signaling the end of an era on the North side. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as of this writing.
Congratulations to Coach Strube.
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The lacrosse season can't end fast enough at Troy High. Senior night is tomorrow night, and the Flying Horses will limp into the final after another blowout loss, 18-1, under the lights at Picken Field last night at the hands of Ballston Spa. Two games remain unreported for whatever reason, and the team's record now in an unsightly 2-8 in the Suburban Council, since, yes, they did get blown out by Shen, but games against Colonie & Columbia remain unreported.
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Troy's softball team, on the other hand, downed Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 6-5, on Tuesday afternoon. Maddie Rifenberick scored the game winning run to walk off the Lady Spartans in the bottom of the 7th. Troy now qualifies for the sectionals with their 6th win of the season.
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Breaking news: A long time Lansingburgh institution has been decimated by fire.
Alpha Lanes, one of a group of bowling houses run by the Sciaccia family, was the victim of a morning fire. It's also cut power to schools in the area, forcing early dismissals at nearby Lansingburgh High, Knickerbocker Middle School, & Rensselaer Park Elementary. It's a total loss, signaling the end of an era on the North side. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as of this writing.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
News & notes
The Albany Patroons became champions of The Basketball League on Friday, beating Yakima, 122-111 in front of over 2200 fans at the Washington Avenue Armory. Yakima fired their coach/GM after game 2 on Tuesday due to some untimely remarks on social media, which pretty much sealed the Sun Kings' fate. Shadell Millinghaus, who'd played his high school ball at Schenectady & Troy High, led Albany with 37 points, and was named playoff MVP.
The lure of a championship was what bolstered attendance, but at the end of the day, Albany is still a college/high school town now, not a pro town, arena football aside. Speaking of which......
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The Albany Empire made it two in a row on Saturday, avenging last year's playoff ouster by outlasting Washington, 36-27. QB Tommy Grady had five TD passes to lead the way. The Empire go on the road in week 3, and will face Philadelphia, also 2-0.
If I'm not mistaken, John Imbriale, the play by play announcer on the AFL Network, may be the same guy who's been the #2 announcer for the New York Racing Association for years. Stay tuned.
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Troy High completed a season sweep of Albany in lacrosse on Saturday afternoon with a 9-8 win at Picken Field. Per the Albany Times-Union, Troy is 2-8 overall, with three games unreported (Shen, Colonie, Columbia). I'm going to guess that the record conceivably is actually 2-11, but who knows? Individual scorers for Troy were not reported as of this writing. Apparently, the issue at Troy is that there aren't enough people willing to volunteer their time, win or lose, to ensure that game results are reported to the local press. That culture needs to change, preferably yesterday.
The lure of a championship was what bolstered attendance, but at the end of the day, Albany is still a college/high school town now, not a pro town, arena football aside. Speaking of which......
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The Albany Empire made it two in a row on Saturday, avenging last year's playoff ouster by outlasting Washington, 36-27. QB Tommy Grady had five TD passes to lead the way. The Empire go on the road in week 3, and will face Philadelphia, also 2-0.
If I'm not mistaken, John Imbriale, the play by play announcer on the AFL Network, may be the same guy who's been the #2 announcer for the New York Racing Association for years. Stay tuned.
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Troy High completed a season sweep of Albany in lacrosse on Saturday afternoon with a 9-8 win at Picken Field. Per the Albany Times-Union, Troy is 2-8 overall, with three games unreported (Shen, Colonie, Columbia). I'm going to guess that the record conceivably is actually 2-11, but who knows? Individual scorers for Troy were not reported as of this writing. Apparently, the issue at Troy is that there aren't enough people willing to volunteer their time, win or lose, to ensure that game results are reported to the local press. That culture needs to change, preferably yesterday.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Mercy, mercy me! (Watervliet vs. Mohonasen, 5/4/19)
After some early morning drizzle, the sun finally shined on Joe Bruno Stadium Saturday afternoon, as the 2019 Coaches vs. Cancer baseball series finally got underway.
In the opener, a Suburban Council matchup, CBA defeated Guilderland, 6-3.
The second game, advertised for a 4 pm start, was delayed by 20 minutes for unknown reasons, even though the first game had finished in plenty of time for the field to be freshened up for the nightcap.
The Colonial Council took over the spotlight for the second game, with Mohonasen, in its first season in the league, designated the home team over Watervliet, which was actually closer to Bruno Stadium than Mohonasen is (Mohonasen is based in Rotterdam).
Nick Howard started for Mohonasen, and was just brilliant on the mound. Due to pitch limits, Howard went 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball, walking one and striking out ten. The Mighty Warriors opted to use the designated hitter, while Watervliet did not, and, as it turned out, it was all the difference in the world.
In contrast to Howard, Watervliet starter James Strock just didn't have it. Yet, coach Nick Tambolleo kept Strock in the game for four innings before lifting him for a pinch hitter in the top of the 5th. Strock gave up seven runs, while walking four and striking out two. Mohonasen scored their first run without the benefit of a hit in the home half of the 1st. Dominick DePiero walked, stole second, moved to third on an error by catcher Tyler Beauregard, and scored on a ground out. So major league.
What really did Strock in was a wild second inning, in which he walked three, threw two wild pitches, and gave up two hits, as Mohonasen tacked on two more runs. At that point, Tambolleo should've considered lifting his starter, but, in fairness, he was hoping Strock could pitch his way out of trouble.
Funny thing. The Tri-City Valleycats must've hired one of Mr. Magoo's grandchildren to be an official scorer, as no errors were posted on the scoreboard, but it was clear that Beauregard should've been charged with one.
In the fifth, Watervliet outfielder Ihsan Khan was moved to the mound in relief, but was not effective, as he matched Strock's wildness with three walks of his own, plus a hit batsman. In the sixth, with the Warriors up, 9-0, infielder Joe Brown was moved to the mound, but failed to record an out, as a base hit by Jacob DeGuire plated Luke Pusz with the 10th & final run of the afternoon. The Colonial Council, after a zillion lopsided games last year, added the mercy rule this year. The umpires called the game after the DeGuire single, and Mohonasen completed the shutout, 10-0.
Kameron Canavally, who relieved Howard in the fifth, rang up four strikeouts of his own in 1 2/3 innings of work.
In the opener, a Suburban Council matchup, CBA defeated Guilderland, 6-3.
The second game, advertised for a 4 pm start, was delayed by 20 minutes for unknown reasons, even though the first game had finished in plenty of time for the field to be freshened up for the nightcap.
The Colonial Council took over the spotlight for the second game, with Mohonasen, in its first season in the league, designated the home team over Watervliet, which was actually closer to Bruno Stadium than Mohonasen is (Mohonasen is based in Rotterdam).
Nick Howard started for Mohonasen, and was just brilliant on the mound. Due to pitch limits, Howard went 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball, walking one and striking out ten. The Mighty Warriors opted to use the designated hitter, while Watervliet did not, and, as it turned out, it was all the difference in the world.
In contrast to Howard, Watervliet starter James Strock just didn't have it. Yet, coach Nick Tambolleo kept Strock in the game for four innings before lifting him for a pinch hitter in the top of the 5th. Strock gave up seven runs, while walking four and striking out two. Mohonasen scored their first run without the benefit of a hit in the home half of the 1st. Dominick DePiero walked, stole second, moved to third on an error by catcher Tyler Beauregard, and scored on a ground out. So major league.
What really did Strock in was a wild second inning, in which he walked three, threw two wild pitches, and gave up two hits, as Mohonasen tacked on two more runs. At that point, Tambolleo should've considered lifting his starter, but, in fairness, he was hoping Strock could pitch his way out of trouble.
Funny thing. The Tri-City Valleycats must've hired one of Mr. Magoo's grandchildren to be an official scorer, as no errors were posted on the scoreboard, but it was clear that Beauregard should've been charged with one.
In the fifth, Watervliet outfielder Ihsan Khan was moved to the mound in relief, but was not effective, as he matched Strock's wildness with three walks of his own, plus a hit batsman. In the sixth, with the Warriors up, 9-0, infielder Joe Brown was moved to the mound, but failed to record an out, as a base hit by Jacob DeGuire plated Luke Pusz with the 10th & final run of the afternoon. The Colonial Council, after a zillion lopsided games last year, added the mercy rule this year. The umpires called the game after the DeGuire single, and Mohonasen completed the shutout, 10-0.
Kameron Canavally, who relieved Howard in the fifth, rang up four strikeouts of his own in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Friday, May 3, 2019
High School Fridays: Rain, rain go away!
The sun may be shining now as I write, but for the second week in a row, the Friday Night Lights Coaches vs. Cancer double-header at Bruno Stadium has been postponed. It had stopped raining at mid-morning, but apparently, the rain had reached the stadium around that time, and the decision was made to postpone.
Today's games will be made up tomorrow, but the start times have been moved up:
CBA vs. Guiklerland, 1 pm.
Watervliet vs. Mohonasen, 4 pm.
Also, last week's games have been rescheduled. Shenendehowa & Niskayuna will have a rematch at The Joe on May 16 at 7 pm, while Green Tech & Tamarac will play four days later on May 20 at 4 pm. Sectional play begins before Memorial Day, with the sectional title games set for Bruno Stadium May 28-31.
Today's games will be made up tomorrow, but the start times have been moved up:
CBA vs. Guiklerland, 1 pm.
Watervliet vs. Mohonasen, 4 pm.
Also, last week's games have been rescheduled. Shenendehowa & Niskayuna will have a rematch at The Joe on May 16 at 7 pm, while Green Tech & Tamarac will play four days later on May 20 at 4 pm. Sectional play begins before Memorial Day, with the sectional title games set for Bruno Stadium May 28-31.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
News & notes
Could it happen? Could the Albany Patroons become champions again?
The Pats have extended the Yakima Sun-Kings to a 3rd and decisive game in The Basketball League championship series, which will be played at the Washington Avenue Armory tomorrow night, after splitting the first two games in Yakima earlier this week. Stay tuned.
===============================================
Troy High's softball team just can't get one particular monkey off their collective backs.
Averill Park bested their territorial rivals, 3-1, on Wednesday, to improve to 10-2 overall this season. Troy has now dropped two straight to fall to 5-6 overall. The Warriors also defeated Troy in baseball (5-3) and tennis (9-0). Troy's tennis team is still without a win this season.
Meanwhile, we have finally discerned, thanks to the Colonial Council website, that Troy's baseball team drilled Cohoes, 12-2, back on April 1. The game, you'll recall, was never reported to the press, and we're still waiting for confirmation on the April 29 game vs. Queensbury, which may have, in all probability, been cancelled due to inclement weather.
We're also waiting for the result of Tuesday's lacrosse match vs. Columbia, as that has not been reported as of press time.
==================================================
While we still don't have the final score on Troy's April 18 baseball game vs. Green Tech, one parent told me that day that while the home teams have the responsibility to report scores, they won't report losses, likely to avoid embarrassment. As I wrote two weeks ago, it seems the volunteers in charge of reporting scores were on vacation ahead of spring vacation for the district, which began the next day.
This is a culture that needs to change, preferably yesterday. You have alumni who don't have internet access, and rely on the local papers and TV/radio for information, and if the press doesn't get scores, we're all screwed.
===================================================
Rain is in the forecast again for tomorrow, which means we might not have baseball at Bruno Stadium again. CBA-Guilderland and Watervliet-Mohonasen is the scheduled double-header, starting at 4 pm. Check with your schools, or the Tri-City Valleycats' website, to see if the games are still on, and I'd start checking first thing tomorrow morning. You'll be glad you did.
The Pats have extended the Yakima Sun-Kings to a 3rd and decisive game in The Basketball League championship series, which will be played at the Washington Avenue Armory tomorrow night, after splitting the first two games in Yakima earlier this week. Stay tuned.
===============================================
Troy High's softball team just can't get one particular monkey off their collective backs.
Averill Park bested their territorial rivals, 3-1, on Wednesday, to improve to 10-2 overall this season. Troy has now dropped two straight to fall to 5-6 overall. The Warriors also defeated Troy in baseball (5-3) and tennis (9-0). Troy's tennis team is still without a win this season.
Meanwhile, we have finally discerned, thanks to the Colonial Council website, that Troy's baseball team drilled Cohoes, 12-2, back on April 1. The game, you'll recall, was never reported to the press, and we're still waiting for confirmation on the April 29 game vs. Queensbury, which may have, in all probability, been cancelled due to inclement weather.
We're also waiting for the result of Tuesday's lacrosse match vs. Columbia, as that has not been reported as of press time.
==================================================
While we still don't have the final score on Troy's April 18 baseball game vs. Green Tech, one parent told me that day that while the home teams have the responsibility to report scores, they won't report losses, likely to avoid embarrassment. As I wrote two weeks ago, it seems the volunteers in charge of reporting scores were on vacation ahead of spring vacation for the district, which began the next day.
This is a culture that needs to change, preferably yesterday. You have alumni who don't have internet access, and rely on the local papers and TV/radio for information, and if the press doesn't get scores, we're all screwed.
===================================================
Rain is in the forecast again for tomorrow, which means we might not have baseball at Bruno Stadium again. CBA-Guilderland and Watervliet-Mohonasen is the scheduled double-header, starting at 4 pm. Check with your schools, or the Tri-City Valleycats' website, to see if the games are still on, and I'd start checking first thing tomorrow morning. You'll be glad you did.
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