News & notes

 Tradition vs. political correctness.

That's what it really came down to Thursday when the Cambridge school board voted to retain the team name, "Indians", for their sports teams going forward. They realize how the images of Native Americans used by other teams (i.e. Washington until 2020) were considered offensive, so they're going to look for a more positive Native American imagery in time for the 2021-2 season. In addition, new curriculum on Native Americans will be added to the schools' programs next season.

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Before walking off the NY Boulders, 2-1, on Thursday, the Tri-City Valleycats got some good news of a nostalgic bent.

Pitcher Bud Norris, who began his pro career 15 years ago after he was drafted by Houston, is expected to return to Troy in about a week to ten days, according to his agent, Scott Lonergan of Ballergee Group. Norris has been a major league journeyman, with stops in Houston and St. Louis among the teams on his resume.

In an unrelated note, unless they're already there, baseball card enthusiasts should expect to see the usual supply of packs from Finnegan's Sports Cards of Colonie by the time the 'Cats return home from their road trip next week. Finnegan's and the 'Cats were charging anywhere from $2.50 to $5 a pack prior to last year's panic buying binges by greedy newbies to the hobby, so we'll see what happens.

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The excitement is building among high school baseball fans in the hometown, particularly with the prospect of an all-Troy final in the Class A tournament.

Troy High did their part, and shut down Albany Academy, 6-0, behind junior lefty Mike Kennedy. The Flying Horses (11-6 overall) will travel to South Glens Falls tomorrow in the semi-finals against the top seeded Bulldogs, and, in a matter of school pride, seeking revenge after South High eliminated Troy in softball on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, closer to home, second-seeded LaSalle eliminated Amsterdam, 5-3, with Eddie Girtler leading the way with 15 strikeouts. Up next for Jesse Braverman's Cadets will be Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, which took down Queensbury. South High put down Averill Park, 3-0, to advance to their semi-final date with Troy.

Keep in mind that if Troy and LaSalle do win tomorrow, LaSalle hosts the final round game, likely at Geer Field, on Tuesday. If it's Troy vs. Suburban Council rival Burnt Hills, the game is at Troy. If South High beats Troy, they host the final.

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Other scores:

Baseball:

Class AA:

Colonie 8, Columbia 0. Tyler Sausville with a no-hitter and 11 strikeouts. Tyler Figueroa hit two homers to back up Sausville.

Shaker 9, Ballston Spa 6.

Guilderland 2, Bethlehem 1. This game had been suspended twice because of weather. The Dutchmen play CBA today, with the winner to face Colonie on Saturday. Shaker will play Saratoga in the other semi-final.

Class B:

Schalmont 6, Schuylerville 2.

Ichabod Crane 5, Tamarac 2.

Class C:

Galway 6, Maple Hill 5.

Lake George 4, Stillwater 2.

Canajoharie 2, Hoosic Valley 0.

Chatham 8, Greenwich 0.

Saturday's semi-finals sees Galway at Canajoharie, and Lake George at Chatham.

Class D:

Argyle 9, Northville 1. The Scots will play Fort Ann on Saturday.

Hartford-New Hartford 8, Salem 2. H-NH will play top-seeded Germantown on Saturday.

Softball:

Class AA:

Shenendehowa 6, Guilderland 1.

Bethlehem 3, Ballston Spa 2.

It'll be Bethlehem @ Shen on Saturday.

Class A:

Amsterdam 4, Burnt Hills 2.

South Glens Falls 7, Queensbury 2.

It's an all-Foothills Council final between the Rams and the Bulldogs on Saturday.

Class B:

Tamarac 13, Catholic Central 1 (5 innings). Tamarac plays Greenville on Saturday.

Ichabod Crane 12, Fonda-Fultonville 0 (6). Ichabod Crane plays Schalmont on Saturday.

Class C:

Warrensburg 4, Saratoga Catholic 2.

Whitehall 4, Stillwater 0.

The other games were not reported in time for today's editions.

Class D:

Salem 7, Argyle 3. Salem becomes the first sectional champion of the season.