Ex-Valleycats on the move

A year ago, Seth Beer was the Houston Astros' first round draft pick. Nearly 14 months later, Beer finds himself with another organization.

Earlier today, Beer, along with Corbin Martin and two other minor leaguers, was traded by Houston to Arizona for ace pitcher Zack Greinke. It's just the nature of the business of the game.

There were a couple of other deals involving ex-Valleycats in the last 48 hours.

Also today, infielder Tony Kemp, who was designated for assignment by Houston last weekend, was shipped to the Chicago Cubs for catcher Martin Maldonado, who finished 2018 with Houston. The Cubs had acquired Maldonado from Kansas City a couple of weeks back as injury insurance for Willson Contreras, who has since come off the injured list.

On Monday, pitcher Jordan Lyles, who was with Tri-City many moons ago, was traded from Pittsburgh to NL Central rival Milwaukee. Prior to that, A. J. Reed was dealt by Houston to the Chicago White Sox.

The Valleycats have had more than 60 players graduate to the majors since the team began play in 2002. The family tree, if you will, has extended across MLB. Evidence of that was when J. D. Davis was traded in the offseason to the Mets, and has produced for New York as a reserve, currently the starting left fielder. You'd be hard pressed to find a team that doesn't have an ex-Valleycat on their roster. Just try it.

Coming attractions: LaSalle Hockey 2019-20 schedule

Hockey season is still a couple of months away for the pros and colleges. In Section II, high school hockey season will get underway with some non-league scrimmages before Thanksgiving. Bethlehem has won the last two Capital District High School Hockey League (CDHSHL) titles, but have not been able to bring home a state title. In fact, no CDHSHL team has won a state title in the last few years.

For LaSalle Institute, this is their 2019-20 schedule. Home games are at Hudson Valley Community College's Robert Conway Arena.

Scrimmages:

November 22 vs. Queensbury.
November 23 @ Adirondack.
November 29 (Black Friday) vs. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake-Ballston Spa.
November 30 vs. Franklin Academy (12 noon start).

Regular season:

December 7 @ Beekmantown.
December 8 @ Plattsburgh. A rare Sunday regular season game.
December 14 @ Capital District Jets.
December 18: Home opener vs. CBA.
December 21 vs. Albany Academy.
December 27-28 @ Mohawks Tournament (Union College).

LaSalle is scheduled as of now to face Niskayuna-Schenectady-Albany on 12/27, and Saranac on 12/28. I'm thinking the schedule could change between now and then.

January 4 @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake-Ballston Spa.
January 8 vs. Niskayuna-Schenectady-Albany.
January 10 @ Bethlehem.
January 15 vs. Bethlehem.
January 18 vs. Capital District.
January 22-25 vs. Queensbury. The league schedule has LaSalle @ Queensbury on both January 22 & 25, when one game should be at HVCC. Things should clear up as we get closer to the season.

January 24 vs. Saratoga.
January 29 vs. Adirondack.
January 31 @ Shenendehowa.
February 5 @ Albany Academy.
February 8 @ CBA.
February 15 vs. "Guilderville" (Senior Night).

The playoffs begin February 22, with the Sectional title game set for Tuesday, March 3, at Union. We'll know for sure once we get closer, but the January 18 game vs. the Capital District Jets may well be Cadets For Vets III, the first two being such huge successes at the gate. Stay tuned.

News & notes

The Albany Dutchmen swept a Sunday doubleheader from Amsterdam, the champions of the Eastern Division of the Perfect Game Collegiate League, on Sunday at Siena College. The Dutchmen won the opener, 9-2, then took the second game, 11-3, as it was called due to darkness. The Dutchmen's home finale will be a doubleheader vs. Glens Falls Tuesday afternoon before closing at Saugerties on Wednesday.
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The Tri-City Valleycats were on the wrong side of history on Sunday.

The Connecticut Tigers used four pitchers to throw the team's first no-hitter, downing Tri-City, 3-0. Jack O'Loughlin pitched 5 innings for the win. Kyle Serrano pitched one inning to start for Tri-City, with reliever Christian Meijas charged with the loss.

The NY-P L is off today, and action resumes at the Joe on Tuesday.

Siena mens' basketball coach Carmen Maciariello was a guest in the booth with Valleycats announcer Joe Mixie during Sunday's game, but he could barely be heard as the 'Cats are not accustomed to having guests in the booth, so the secondary microphone was not working properly. A bad omen, perhaps, given what transpired in the game? Can't say for sure.
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Speaking of Siena, it was announced last week that Shaker grad Sloane Seymour has requested a transfer after just one season. Apparently, the issue was that Seymour, who also played at CBA before transferring to Shaker, wasn't getting enough playing time under then-coach Jamion Christian last season, and was afraid there would be more of the same under Maciariello.

Conversely, Elijah Burns will finally play for Siena this season, and he'll be joined by 2019 CBA grad Jordan King, as part of the Class of 2023 joining the Saints this season. Burns played at LaSalle before transferring to a prep school for his senior season a few years back.
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The Troy Fighting Irish went on the road and downed the Upstate Predators, 24-14, on Saturday. Of course, no game information is available. The Irish return home to Lansingburgh High on August 3 to play the Auburn Pride.

News & notes

In the Arena Football League of today, teams are determined for ArenaBowl by winning a 2-game playoff series via aggregate score. Not the same traditional playoff system as other leagues, nor when the AFL began play more than 30 years ago.

The Albany Empire collected another receipt on Saturday night, blowing out the Baltimore Brigade, 61-26, at Times Union Center. The teams will meet again in Baltimore next Saturday, and whomever has the most points between the two after that game advances to ArenaBowl on August 11.

And they wonder why the league was dormant for a while.....
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An unusual situation came up on Saturday in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League.

The Albany Dutchmen, having already won the first game of a double-header against Oneonta, 7-2, played to a 3-3 stalemate in the nightcap. It's the last meeting between the two teams in the regular season, which ends on July 31. Game 2 was called likely due to darkness, since Connors Field at Siena College doesn't have lights.

Right now, the Dutchmen would be a 3 seed in the Eastern division, as playoff action begins on Thursday.
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Speaking of receipts, the Connecticut Tigers collected one on the Tri-City Valleycats Saturday night, beating the 'Cats, 9-2. The teams meet again today to wrap up the series at 5 pm.

The Valleycats' last three losses have seen them give up 9 runs in each game (twice against Brooklyn). With so many of Houston's draft picks on the roster this year, it appears the 'Cats won't make the playoffs for the third time in four years.
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Let me take a moment to talk about some of the Valleycats' between innings entertainment.

The Hot Dog Race, which is run after the top of the 8th inning, is not only the closest to a WWE angle they have, but also the longest running storyline, which also speaks as a commentary on the public's preference in condiments.

You see, Relish never wins. Historically, the product has always been a poor third choice behind Mustard & Ketchup. However, the way the races are presented, there are WWE-style contrivances to make sure Relish never crosses the finish line first. Like, there are similar comedy elements to the Mayors' Race after the top of the 6th, but the results are a little more evenly distributed.

Thus, the Hot Dog Race is bordering on stale boredom because the fans already know who isn't winning. That has to change.

Taking a Tiger by the tail (Valleycats 3, Tigers 2)

After losing the last two games to Brooklyn by a combined 18-6, the Tri-City Valleycats, stuck in last place in the Stedler Division of the NY-Penn League, returned home to Bruno Stadium Friday, but the crowd was smaller than usual for a fireworks night. Then again, they didn't initially plan on fireworks on this night. That was a make-good from a rainout last week vs. Lowell.

Tri-City starter Ronel Blanco, on a rehab assignment pitched two innings, retiring all six batters he faced. Vallente Bellozo picked up the baton in the third, and through five innings, the 'Cats were halfway through a combined no-hitter.

Meanwhile, Tri-City jumped on Connecticut Tigers starter Keider Montero for two runs in the home first. Luis Guerrero & Juanrael Paulino had back-to-back singles to start. After a ground out by Korey Lee moved the runners to second & third, Nate Perry cashed in both with a single. However, the threat ended when C. J. Stubbs grounded into a double play, the first of two on the night for the Tigers' defense, both involving Stubbs & Perry.

Montero settled down and kept the 'Cats off the scoreboard for the next four innings. Montero's final line was five innings, two runs, both earned, on eight hits, with three strikeouts and a walk.

In the sixth, the Tigers finally solved Bellozo. With two out, Jose King stroked a single, ending the no hit bid after 5 2/3 innings. Kingston Liniak followed with a single, and Ryan Kreidler tied the game with a double into the gap in left center. Bellozo fanned Hector Martinez to end the inning. Tri-City came back in the home half, Paulino collected his third hit of the game, and with two outs, after stealing second, two wild pitches brought Paulino home with what would be the game winner.

Bellozo picked up the win, going four innings, giving up the two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Juan Pablo Lopez pitched the final three for the save, also fanning four, but giving up just one run.

In other 'Cats news, troubled pitcher Jayson Schroeder was sent down to the Gulf Coast League Astros today, while Zach Biermann went in the opposite direction, the latest to be promoted to Quad Cities. Schroeder trades places with Jairo Lopez, who comes up from the Gulf Coast club. Jordan Brewer, another Astros draft pick from last month, was activated as well.

News & notes

The weekend heat wave may have closed Saratoga Race Course for a day, but their neighbors at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, where the harness track is stationed, had no such issues.

Instead, they simply delayed the start of the evening card by an hour to 8 pm, according to track announcer Mike Sardella, who revealed the change in his Tuesday column for The Saratogian & The Record. The harness track has the advantage of having lights for evening racing, something NYRA will never approve for the Saratoga flat track, but I'd not be too surprised if down the road NYRA does add lights at Aqueduct and/or Belmont downstate.

Saratoga Raceway, as it was once known, was not alone with delays. A national television audience had to wait an extra ninety minutes before the Haskell Invitational, won by Maximum Security, could be run at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
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The Albany Dutchmen swept a doubleheader from Amsterdam on Tuesday night, including the completion of a suspended game, to pull within a game of qualifying for the Perfect Game Collegiate League playoffs, which begin next week.

A youth camp operated by the Dutchmen was to start on Monday, but the opening of the camp was rained out, so they'll start the camp today.
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The Troy Fighting Irish took down another opponent on Saturday, beating Broome County, 12-6, at Lansingburgh High. The team simply doesn't have the resources (i.e. volunteers) to submit game results to the local papers, and the press just ignores them otherwise. That's the world we live in now, folks.
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After taking two of three from Vermont, the Tri-City Valleycats stepped outside the Stedler Division Tuesday, and won a rain shortened game from Brooklyn, 4-1. The game was called after 5 innings due to weather after an hour-plus delay. The 'Cats have won 3 of 4 from the Mets' farm club so far this season. Tri-City comes home Friday to host Connecticut.

News & notes

The Albany Empire closed the Arena Football League's regular season with a receipt handed out to the Philadelphia Soul at Times-Union Center Saturday night, thumping the Soul, 72-27. The second place Soul will begin the playoffs hosting Washington next week, while Albany hosts Baltimore.
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The flags at Saratoga Race Course are likely to be at half-staff for today's 13 race card in memory of socialite Mary Lou Whitney, who passed away on Thursday at 93. Dubbed the "Queen of Saratoga", Ms. Whitney had hoped to embark on a show business career after leaving her native Kansas before meeting and marrying her first husband, Cornelius "Sonny" Whitney, for whom one of the traditional Saturday stakes at the Spa is named.
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A late afternoon thunderstorm forced a suspension of Saturday's Albany Dutchmen-Glens Falls Outlaws doubleheader at East Field, with the hosts leading, 6-1, in the fourth inning. No make-up date has been set, but there are some open dates in the final week and a half of the regular season.
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The Tri-City Valleycats snapped a four game losing streak Saturday in beating Vermont, 8-5, in 10 innings in Bennington. At 13-20 (4-10 in the Stedler Division), the 'Cats still have a ways to go if they want to reach the playoffs. Contrary to what we had assumed, Kyle Serrano will get the start for the 'Cats today, nine days after being pulled from a game after just one inning against State College.

Spinning into defeat (Lowell 6, Tri-City 5)

The Tri-City Valleycats have yet to pick up a win over Stedler division leader Lowell this season, and sought to end that streak in the midst of the hottest weekend of the season Friday night at Bruno Stadium.

Unfortunately, a bad omen turned up once you picked up the lineup sheet posted at the fan service desk.

Jayson Schroder, easily one of the worst pitchers the 'Cats have, was given the start. This time, he didn't last very long. Schroeder walked the bases loaded in the visiting first, leading to a sacrifice fly by Jaxx Groshans to give Lowell a 1-0 lead. A potential double play grounder by Alex Erro was bobbled, allowing a second run to score. Nick Decker then walked to force home another run.

With two out, Ricardo Cubillan lined a base hit to center, plating Erro, but Decker was cut down on a one hop strike from center fielder Wilyer Abreu to catcher C. J. Stubbs to end the inning. By then, Schroder was gone, having been excused for a hastily scheduled piano lesson, and replaced with Edgardo Sandoval. Still, Lowell led, 4-0, going into the home half of the inning.

Tri-City came right back with two of their own to make things interesting. Back to back errors by the Lowell infield set up Nate Perry, who cashed the miscues with a double to center, making it 4-2 after one inning.

In the third, Groshans doubled to center, and came home, one out later, ahead of a two run homer by Decker, his fifth of the season, extending the lead to 6-2. However, Tri-City came right back with two more against Lowell starter Bryan Lucas. Stubbs opened the inning with a single, then moved to third on a double by Joe Perez. Stubbs came home on a sacrifice fly by Abreu, and then, Bryan Arias drove in Perez with a single to make it 6-4 after three.

Lucas went five innings, giving up the four runs, two earned, on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Schroeder's final line had him going two-thirds of an inning, giving up the four runs on one hit, one strikeout, and four walks. Sandoval went 4 1/3, giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

Blair Henley pitched three scoreless innings to keep the game close, giving up two hits, two walks, and a hit batsman, while fanning four.

Ryan Fernandez finished for Lowell, going the final four innings, allowing a run in the home eighth after a one out walk to Abreu, who came home via a ground out and two wild pitches, for the save, as Lowell continues to dominate the league, and Tri-City, with a 6-5 win.

The 'Cats begin a season-long six game road trip tonight in Vermont, followed by three in Brooklyn Tuesday-Thursday, before welcoming the Lake Monsters back to Bruno Stadium next Friday night.

News & notes

While the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox are chasing their ancient nemesis, the Yankees, in the American League East, their NY-Penn League team, the Lowell Spinners, are playing like champions.

Their first visit to Troy this season is playing out just like the Tri-City Valleycats' initial trip to Lowell last month. First game is rained out, made up as part of a doubleheader the next night, etc., rinse & repeat. After getting rained out Wednesday, the Spinners swept a double dip on Thursday, 14-3 & 6-4. The Valleycats have dropped back into the Stedler division basement, and will host Lowell tonight before leaving for a 6 game road trip to Vermont & Brooklyn.
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The Albany Dutchmen, after an off-day following the Perfect Game Collegiate League All-Star game on Tuesday, dropped a 6-4 decision to Oneonta on Thursday night.

The All-Star game, by the way, ended in a 5-5 tie in Saugerties on Tuesday. Both the East & West squads ran out of pitchers after nine innings.
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With an extreme heat wave hitting the 518 today, and promising to be at its worst on Saturday, the New York Racing Association announced on Thursday that they would cancel the Saturday card at Saratoga in an effort to protect the horses, horsemen, and patrons alike from the oppressive temperatures. With the heat index project to hit triple digits, safety is paramount here.

While the Valleycats, for example, prohibit fans from bringing food to Bruno Stadium for games, I'd think a small concession would be made to let them bring their own water or soda for tonight's game. Given the concession prices these days, where a 20 ounce bottle of, say for example, Sunkist orange soda or Diet Rite Cola, costs more than it would at neighboring Market 32 or Deli & Brew ($3.50 at the Joe, $1.99 and higher elsewhere), if I were 'Cats GM Matt Callahan, I'd waive the prohibition for tonight to make everyone happy.

The same goes for the attendance-challenged Troy Fighting Irish, who have a home game scheduled tomorrow vs. Broome County. Baseball & football players are trained and conditioned to play in temperatures as high as 100 degrees on the field. They don't cancel major league games in Phoenix, St. Louis, or Chicago due to heat, but trust me on this. The coaches will have more than enough Gatorade on hand to keep the players hydrated throughout the game.

News & notes

The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League took an unusual step Sunday.

The Albany Dutchmen & Amsterdam Mohawks were to play a double-header at Siena, but only one game was played. The first game was called after five innings, with Albany awarded the game, 4-2. No, it wasn't raining, but, rather, player safety became an issue.

Albany's Luke Gold, a month removed from a state championship with Ballston Spa, was hit on the helmet with a pitch. Understandably, Gold was removed from the game, with concerns about a possible concussion. That would be the last thing Gold needs as he heads off to college. As a fan, you pray that the helmet took the brunt of the blow, lessening the risk of a concussion.

The second scheduled game was postponed, and rescheduled for July 28, also at Siena. Prayers & best wishes to Luke for a speedy recovery.
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The Albany Empire, playing on a Sunday in the regular season for the first time, and this was actually scheduled as such, though no one bothered to explain it to WROW's Ben Patton on Saturday, took advantage of the extra day's rest, and crushed Columbus, 49-18, to lock up the #1 seed and a home game in the playoffs, which begin July 27.

Next up for the Empire is a revenge game vs. Philadelphia on Saturday night at Times-Union Center, which, coupled with racing at Saratoga, will ensure that the Troy Fighting Irish will have another sparse crowd at Lansingburgh High when they take on Broome County. The Irish (4-1) beat Lockport, 14-0, on Saturday. The team just doesn't have the resources to better promote the games, and can't even afford to buy advertising from the local papers.

Even though tickets are more than half the minimum price for the Empire at the TUC, $7 as opposed to $15, most discriminating football junkies will go to Albany due to the lure of television cameras. Apparently, those football hardcores don't want to be seen at a high school field.

News & notes

A shade more than a week before being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was the guest of honor at Saratoga Race Course on Friday. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) needed something to boost attendance for opening weekend, and hyped this to the moon for weeks.

What I'm wondering, though, is if they queued up Metallica's "Enter Sandman" at the track on Friday.....
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The Tri-City Valleycats dropped their second straight on Saturday night, falling 9-6 to the Connecticut Tigers. Today's game will start at 4:05 pm, an hour earlier than most Sunday games in the NY-Penn League. While the 'Cats don't have the resources to have announcer Joe Mixie call road games online, fans can still catch the game by picking up the Tigers' online feed through MiLB.com.
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Due to what I am assuming is a scheduling conflict, the Albany Empire's road game at Columbus takes place today, with kickoff around 3:05. I honestly thought the game was set for yesterday at the same time, and WROW morning host Ben Patton made the same mistake. Live & learn, folks.
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The Albany Dutchmen swept a double-header from Saugerties on Saturday at Siena, after losing to the Stallions on Friday night on the road. The Dutchmen won the resumption of last Sunday's suspended game, 10-9, then took the regularly scheduled game, 7-1, to open some distance between them & Saugerties. Amsterdam's in town today for a 3 pm game at Siena.
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Since 2006, ESPN has partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation for a short, summer docuseries, My Wish, which airs during SportsCenter and its spin-off series, SC Featured. This year's series opener, airing today, has a connection to the 518.

15 year old George Taylor of Cohoes will be profiled today, as he meets NY Giants running back Saquon Barkley. This is getting played up big in the local press, with feature pieces in today's newspapers. Former MTV personality Chris Connelly, who came to ESPN from MTV some 20-odd years ago, narrates the piece.

My Wish airs through Thursday, July 18.

A tale of two series in one

Prior to the start of the Tri-City Valleycats' series vs. the State College Spikes, the team learned they would be without manager Ozney Guillen for the first two games, as the NY-Penn League handed down a two-game suspension against Guillen, stemming from an ejection from the June 23 game vs. Vermont, in which Guillen turned the air blue against the plate umpire.

Former manager Jason Bell, now a minor league fundamentals coordinator for the Houston Astros, returned to Troy to fill in for the two nights, and the 'Cats won both games, extending their winning streak to a season best four in a row heading into Friday's series finale.

Starting pitcher Kyle Serrano, on a rehab assignment from Quad Cities, pitched the first inning only, retiring the Spikes in order. That meant he was, as the trend goes in the majors of late, a opener, and the 'Cats had to go to the bullpen a wee bit earlier than necessary. Or was that the plan all along?

In any event, Blair Henley took over in the 2nd, and kept State College off the board. Henley, however, went four innings due to pitch count, giving up just two hits while walking one and striking out four. In the meantime, the Valleycats took an early 2-0 lead in the home third. Preston Pavlica walked, and moved to third on a double by A. J. Lee. E. P. Reese brought both runners home with a base hit, but when Spikes catcher Carlos Soto couldn't handle the throw to the plate, Reese moved to second on the error. Reese, however, was picked off second by State College starter Emmanuel Solano to end the frame.

Had Henley stayed in the game past the fifth, the Spikes would've spent their last worthless evening in Troy, drowning their sorrows at the Sunset Grill while reading Roger Angell's The Boys of Summer before leaving in a New York minute for their next game. Instead, Guillen made a tactical error by summoning Jayson Schroeder from the 'pen for the sixth inning. Now, I get that the NY-PL is a developmental league, but it seems Schroeder hasn't progressed all that much this season, as if he was getting his advice from Dr. Lucy Van Pelt instead of his pitching coach, John Kovalik.

Roughly translated, Schroeder was in trouble almost immediately. After getting Martin Figueroa to foul out to first to start the inning, Schroeder walked David Vinsky. After Jonatan Machado reached on a fielder's choice, Moises Castillo did the same, as Vinsky was erased. Soto, then, atoned for his miscue earlier by launching a three run homer to right to put State College up, 3-2.

Schroder hung around until the eighth, and went 2 2/3, giving up the three runs on two hits, four walks, and a strikeout. State College added what they hoped was an insurance run in the ninth off Shea Barry, but then, the 'Cats do have this habit of walking off the opposition this season.

Unfortunately, a ninth inning rally for Tri-City against Spikes closer Leonardo Taveras only tied the game. Taveras, a flame thrower, was wild. The Valleycats tied the game with just one hit, two walks, and two hit batsmen, sending the game into extras after Lee popped to first to end the ninth.

State College touched up Barry for two runs in the tenth, and Junior Gonzalez shut down the 'Cats to close it out, with the Spikes leaving town with a 6-4 win. At least they can say they're going home to Happy Valley.

Tri-City hits the road tonight, opening a three game series in Connecticut before returning Wednesday to host Lowell. The schedule makers didn't do the 'Cats any favors again this year, with just four Saturday night home games, one each in July & August. It's not like the racing season at Saratoga is siphoning off attendance, because it isn't, but it's just the quirks of minor league baseball.

News & notes

The first Camp Day, also a Senior Citizens Day, at Bruno Stadium saw the Tri-City Valleycats walk off the Brooklyn Cyclones in 10 innings, 6-5. Nate Perry sent everyone home with a 2-run homer leading off the home 10th. In the minors, as we have documented, they start the extra frames with a automatic runner at 2nd in order to speed the game to the finish. Brooklyn took a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the 10th, but couldn't hold on.

Funny thing was, the day campers left before the game was over, due likely to time constraints, and they missed the big finish. Oh, well, they'll get another chance August 1, when the 'Cats host Batavia.
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The Albany Dutchmen also went extra innings, but dropped a 4-2 decision to Mohawk Valley on Tuesday night. The Dutchmen sit 6 games out of first, and will complete a suspended game vs. Saugerties on Saturday before the regularly scheduled match with the Stallions at Siena. The game was called with the score tied, 9-9, due to darkness. Apparently, Siena doesn't see the need for lights at Connors Field.
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According to Schedule Galaxy, Troy High's road football game at Columbia, scheduled for October 11, has been moved back a day to October 10. Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, takes place two days earlier (October 8), so unless there's some sort of scheduling conflict at Columbia, this doesn't make much sense. We'll likely find out the rest of the story in three months' time, when we get closer to the game.
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WWE-NXT fans take note. NXT will make its annual trip to Albany, as had been speculated previously, and this year, it will be at the Albany Capital Center on August 8. Tickets went on sale nearly two weeks ago, and start at $20. Some ticket brokers will charge more, of course, but your best bet is to contact the Capital Center about ticket availability. Local product Bobby Fish of the Undisputed Era could very well be on the card.

NXT sold out the Washington Avenue Armory each of the last four years, but because of the ancient, faulty sound system, WWE officials finally decided (perhaps with some advice from Fish, we don't know) to move the black & yellow brand down the hill to the newer Capital Center, also the home of the Albany All-Stars women's roller derby team, which moved from the Armory a couple of years ago.

I wonder if Albany Patroons management is paying attention.....

Troy High 2019-20 basketball schedule, 1st edition

Per Schedule Galaxy, we have the varsity schedules for Troy High's men's & women's basketball teams for 2019-20, not including non-league games that haven't been finalized as of press time. While the listed game time for the women's home games is 7 pm, don't count on that happening. Troy will likely move the starting time up, as they have in the past, to 6 pm. The men's varsity home games usually start later due to either the JV or freshmen games running long, usually tipping off around 7:15.

As I discovered last season, there is no admission for women's games, as opposed to the men's games ($3 cover). Title IX, anyone?

Troy will not have their traditional home & home series vs. Albany, Schenectady, & (on the boys' side) CBA this season. Instead, the home & home series will be vs. Bethlehem (December 3 & February 4) and Guilderland (December 10 & January 7).

Here's the schedule:

December 3: Womens' home opener vs. Bethlehem. Men @ Bethlehem.
December 6: Mens' home opener vs. Shenendehowa. Women @ Shen.
December 10: Women @ Guilderland. Men vs. Guilderland.
December 13: Women vs. Schenectady. Men @ Schenectady.
December 19 (Thursday): Women vs. Colonie. Men @ Colonie.

January 7: Women vs. Guilderland. Men @ Guilderland.
January 10 Women @ Albany. Men vs. Albany.
January 14 Women @ Ballston Spa. Men vs. Ballston Spa.
January 17: Women @ Shaker. Men vs. Shaker (the men's game is not listed on the Schedule Galaxy, but assume they will be home vs. Shaker that night).

January 24: Women vs. Niskayuna. Men @ Niskayuna.
January 28: Women vs. Columbia. Men @ Columbia.
January 31: Women @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Men vs. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

February 4: Women @ Bethlehem. Men vs. Bethlehem.
February 7: Women @ Averill Park. Men vs. Averill Park.
February 11: Men @ Christian Brothers Academy.
February 14: Season finales: Women @ Saratoga. Men's Senior Night vs. Saratoga.

Non-league games will be added after the start of the school year. It doesn't make sense that the women would have their senior night so early (January 28), but we'll see. Stay tuned.

The horses will soon be on the track, and so will the drama

Saratoga begins its thoroughbred season on Thursday, the earliest it's been since they went to a 40-day schedule. However, they'll race five days a week (Wednesday-Sunday), save for the first week, and make it up with the traditional closing on Labor Day, September 2.

However, there figures to be some drama away from the track this year.

One of the sport's leading trainers, Mechanicville product Chad Brown, came under scrutiny a couple of weeks back when he was scheduled to be a guest speaker at Mechanicville High's commencement exercises. Seems there's some issues regarding back wages not being paid to workers the last few years, and some Mechanicville students weren't happy with Brown, a MHS alumnus himself, being chosen as a speaker this year. I daresay it'd have been the same thing had he been invited to speak anywhere else in the 518, like Shen or Saratoga Springs High.

What they're looking for is for Brown to do the right thing, and get his house in order financially with the backstretch workers he's employed at Saratoga before the meet begins. It'd be in his best interest if he did.

News & notes

The Troy Fighting Irish got back on the winning track Saturday night, downing the Charlotte (formerly Glove Cities) Colonials, 24-6. Yes, there is a Charlotte, NY, located in the Western part of the state. The Colonials moved out of Gloversville in the off-season. The Irish are off next week as part of a league-wide bye, but don't return to Lansingburgh High until July 20.
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Shenendehowa graduate Ian Anderson, now in the Atlanta Braves farm system, will participate the Futures All-Star Game next Sunday. Anderson is currently with the Braves' team in Mississippi. I still can't get it out of my head that Rodger Wyland predicted at the start of the season that Anderson could get the call to the bigs before the season is over. If that happens, it likely won't be until the rosters expand on September 1.
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The Tri-City Valleycats didn't need extra innings to dispose of Aberdeen on Sunday. Still, the 'Cats' 5-3 win over the Ironbirds was a 3 hour-plus slog. The Valleycats ended June with a 6-9 ledger, putting them in the Stedler Division basement, but don't expect that to last. Tri-City opens July in Staten Island against the Yankees.
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Over in the Perfect Game Collegiate League, the Albany Dutchmen downed Glens Falls, 9-0, on Sunday, to close out the month of June on a positive note as well. The Dutchmen are still within striking distance of first place in their division.