News & notes

 Ever since leaving Troy High to take the baseball coach's job at Ballston Spa, Curtis Nobles has had the Flying Horses' number.

That was apparent again Monday, as the Scotties rallied from behind to end Troy's season opening five game winning streak, 7-6. However, if you're looking for a box or line score on the game, it won't be in the Albany Times-Union. The game result was not submitted to the paper. 

Ballston Spa also defeated Troy in tennis, 9-0 (Troy remains winless at 0-5), and in softball, 6-5. Olivia DeCitise started for Troy, going six innings, striking out six while giving up three runs, but the bullpen blew the game, as the Lady Scotties, like the guys, rallied late with three runs in the seventh inning.

Troy (3-3) will play Shaker tomorrow.

Troy football/track coach Bob "The Builder" Burns has garnered some unexpected attention from Christian Brothers Academy, according to James Allen of the Times-Union. Burns was mentioned after CBA parted company with Joe Burke after 11 seasons. What did Burke in, like a lot of college and/or pro coaches, was a lack of success in the post-season. The Brothers have won just one playoff game since 2015.

Burns just finished his sixth season as Troy football coach, and has the highest winning percentage of active coaches in Section II, compiling a ridiculous 58-4 ledger from 2015-spring 2021.

I honestly think Burns isn't going anywhere.

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The Tri-City Valleycats have some work to do after losing a pre-season game Monday, 8-6. Sunday's game was not reported, as the Times-Union's method is to do profile pieces on players & coaches rather than do full game reports. The season opens in nine days.

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Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won't be at Saratoga when the meet starts in July, as of right now.

Baffert has been banned from NY Racing Association tracks in the wake of a doping scandal that could still cost Medina Spirit the Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit won't be running at Saratoga, either, a decision NYRA made for the sake of the industry.

Meanwhile, Linda Rice has had her license revoked for three years after committing what amounts to insider trading in horse racing, obtaining information that would help her decide which of her horses would run in certain races. This will last up to about 2024.

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Shenendehowa alumni will descend upon New York again next week, and there's every reason to believe, depending on scheduling, that their two most famous (for now) alums will be playing on the same night.

Braves pitcher Ian Anderson is likely to see the mound at Citi Field vs. the Mets, while Kevin Huerter and the Atlanta Hawks will play the Knicks in the first round of the NBA's Eastern Conference playoffs. Last month, Anderson beat the Yankees in the Bronx, but the Knicks completed a season sweep of the Hawks.

Dates for the Knicks-Hawks series have not yet been announced, nor which network will carry the games. Stay tuned.