News & notes

 It is zero hour for Shenendehowa grad Kevin Huerter and the Atlanta Hawks.

Down 3-1 in games to the Eastern Conference's top seeded Miami Heat, Atlanta needs to win in enemy territory tonight to keep their season alive. Not only has the Heat's defense shackled Huerter, limiting him to 33 points in 4 games, or, an average of 8.1 points per game in the series (Huerter was held to 4 points on Sunday), but also leading scorer Trae Young, who had just 9 points in Sunday night's loss. 

The game airs on NBA TV (Spectrum channel 308) at 7 pm.

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When RPI begins hockey season in October, the Engineers will be looking for a new captain.

Ture Linden announced Monday he is transferring to Penn State for next season. A move like this enhances Linden's chances of being drafted to the NHL. RPI hasn't had very many players drafted since the NCAA title team of 1984-5, which saw Adam Oates, Joe Juneau, and George McPhee, among others, reach the NHL.

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Walks have become a problem for Atlanta Braves pitcher Ian Anderson (Shen).

Anderson didn't figure into the decision in Saturday's game against Miami, and was actually in line for the win, but the Atlanta bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Anderson gave up 3 runs (2 earned), walked 3, and struck out 4 in 5 innings Saturday in a game Miami ultimately won, 9-7. Anderson's likely next start is Friday, which means he won't face the Mets next week at Citi Field.

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Troy High snapped a 6 game losing streak in lacrosse on Saturday, beating Albany, 5-4. They will try to build on that tonight with a twilight game vs. Averill Park at Picken Field. Game time is 7 pm. Expect mostly crickets in the bleachers, since most fans will be paying more attention to either the Hawks or the Yankees.

On Monday, Troy baseball took advantage of 6 Falcon errors in blowing out Albany, 15-0. The Flying Horses, who've now won 6 in a row, scored 8 runs in the 2nd inning to put this one away.

Also at the Plumeri Sports Complex on the College of St. Rose campus, Olivia DeCitise spun Troy's 2nd straight no hitter in softball, fanning 11 while going 2-3 at the plate with a triple and 2 RBI's as the red hot Lady Horses shut down Albany, 11-0. Sean Geisel's club, which has also won 6 in a row, will try to make it 7 if/when they play at Shaker this afternoon in a make-up game from a rainout earlier this month. Weather permitting, of course.

For what it's worth, Albany salvaged what otherwise was a miserable day by beating Troy in---what else?---tennis. 

Troy has already postponed today's non-league baseball game at Mohonasen in anticipation of rain, but it doesn't look like the game will be played at all.

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LaSalle and Albany Academy engaged in baseball's version of the Battle of The Cadets on Monday at Geer Field. Jesse Braverman's club plated 9 runs in the third inning, and the mercy rule was invoked after five, as LaSalle blew out Academy, 11-1.

LaSalle also defeated Cobleskill-Richmondville in tennis, 5-2.