News & notes

 Congratulations to Fort Plain baseball coach Craig Phillips, who won his 800th career game Tuesday as Fort Plain defeated Mayfield. The 800 wins include post-season victories, unlike in the pros, for example, where post-season wins are counted separately.

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When the Albany Empire open their season on May 29 at Times-Union Center, loosened restrictions will allow up to 4,000 vaccinated fans to attend. Tickets start at $15, but they're requiring you to buy a two-seat pod for social distancing purposes. Pods can be from 2-6 seats. In contrast, the Tri-City Valleycats, knowing a lot of fans travel as singles, will sell their pods in increments of 1-6 seats. That will avoid a lot of unnecessary drama at the box office, especially with the 'Cats' home opener on June 4.

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The Albany Twilight League has begun its 2021 season. The Albany Athletics, who won a hybrid summer league title in a loop that merged the ATL with the Perfect Game Collegiate League last year, are 2-0 to start the season after blowing out Twin Town, 14-2, on Wednesday. There are only 7 teams in the league this season, but because the league usually has a 1-game-per-night schedule, it isn't as bad as you'd think.

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Troy High's baseball & softball teams rebounded from losses to Ballston Spa on Monday by dispatching Shaker on the road on Wednesday.

For the baseball team (6-1), Mike Kennedy went the distance, struck out 14, and helped his own cause with a homer as Troy shut out the Bison, 2-0.

Similarly, Olivia DeCitise pitched a complete game for the softball team (5.-3, 4-3 Suburban Council). She went 4-5 at the plate with a double and 3 RBI as the Lady Horses blew away Shaker, 13-5.

Shaker, though, swept a tennis meet vs. Troy, 9-0. Troy has not won a set on the court yet this season, and are now 0-6. Troy's home lacrosse match vs. Niskayuna was not reported, and we're thinking space considerations with the local papers may be the reason it isn't showing up on their scoreboards.

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LaSalle's baseball team suffered its first Colonial Council loss Wednesday, 15-9, to Voorheesville, dropping the Cadets to 7-1 on the season. Meanwhile, Albany Academy remains undefeated, and needed only 6 innings in a 19-0 drubbing of Cohoes.