News & notes

 A few weeks back, Seattle Mariners pitcher Domingo Santana was the first major league player to be ejected from a game for using a foreign substance on the mound under MLB's new guidelines.

Those same guidelines are being used in the minors and in independent leagues such as the Frontier League, and, on Saturday night, Sussex County's Max Herrmann became the 2nd pitcher throughout baseball that we know of to be caught.

In the 2nd inning of the 2nd game of a doubleheader at Bruno Stadium, Tri-City Valleycats manager Pete Incaviglia, acting on the advice of his players & coaches, had umpire Dave Simon check Herrmann. Seconds later, Herrmann was sent to the showers, forcing Miners manager Bobby Jones, a former major leaguer with the Rockies & Mets, and having had a history of feuding with Incaviglia, to go to the bullpen sooner than he would've liked.

Employing a little gamesmanship, Jones had Tri-City closer Trey Cochran-Gill checked in the top of the 7th. Cochran-Gill came back clean, and the 'Cats salvaged a split of the doubleheader, 9-6, after losing the opener, 4-1.

The teams close out the series today, but the Miners will be back in town August 27-29 for the Valleycats' final home weekend of the season.

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The Albany Athletics rolled through the Albany Twilight League season undefeated. Now, they're on the cusp of winning the national Stan Musial tournament in Weymouth, Massaschusetts.

The A's have to win a game today to avoid elimination and reach the finals, as their only loss this season came in the tournament.

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Different league, same result.

The Albany Empire, in their first season in the National Arena League, captured the league title in front of the home fans at Times-Union Center, taking down the Columbus Lions for the 3rd time this season, 79-62. Congratulations to coach Tom Menas and his staff on a terrific season.

Check the video:

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The NYS Dept. of Education is recommending, but not mandating, that high risk sports such as football & volleyball be pushed back again this fall due to surges in COVID-19 cases.

According to media sources, Section II plans to forge ahead with the fall season, which will start with golf later this month. Football begins September 10, with soccer starting a week prior.

But, as the Albany Times-Union's Chris Churchill reports today, town officials in Guilderland are dealing with opposition to mask mandates in the city's school system. Unlike in the south, some parents have rational, logical solutions, such as designated play areas for students. Unvaccinated, masked students would need to socially distance, of course, but vaccinated kids would be given room to roam.

Whether or not this affects the athletic schedule in Guilderland remains to be seen.