News & notes

 The Tri-City Valleycats entered Saturday's game at Evansville having won six of their last seven. The Otters, however, slowed the momentum with a 10-6 verdict over the 'Cats.

Denis Phipps added to his team record total with his 24th homer of the year, a grand slam, but the 'Cats couldn't do anything else to help. Brantley Bell's homer streak ended at 8 games, but he did drive in a run.

The teams finish the series tonight at 6:05.

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Atlanta's Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa) flirted with perfection on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Anderson took a perfect game into the 5th before Jake McCarthy doubled to end the no-hit bid. Anderson, however, won his 9th decision this season, as the Braves beat the D-Backs, 6-2. Anderson went 6 innings, giving up just the one hit while walking one and striking out nine. He's on course to pitch against the Mets at Citi Field as early as Thursday.

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The Albany Empire could win another National Arena League title next week. To do it, though, they have to finally figure out how to beat the Carolina Cobras, who swept a 3 game regular season series from the defending champions.

Albany escaped with a 68-67 victory over Jacksonville after the Sharks scored a touchdown and a 2 point conversion on the final play of the game. Check the video:

News & notes

 For years, there's been five, sometimes six, classifications, depending on the sport, in high school sports.

Come next year, that's going to change.

What the Lords of High School Sports in New York, covering 11 Sections, have decided is that, in 2023, a new classification is being added for men's & women's soccer & basketball, baseball, women's volleyball, and softball.

To the average sports fan, Triple A (AAA) usually means the highest rung in minor league baseball. In 2023. Class AAA will be added to the 7 sports listed above. Surprisingly, football is not included, but, I'd not be surprised if it was by September 2023.

So, then, which schools would be in Class AAA? Figure on the usual suspects that have been in AA for forever (i.e. Shenendehowa, CBA, Shaker, Colonie), which would allow some A schools, such as Queensbury & Burnt Hills, which have never sniffed AA, to finally move up.

In men's basketball & baseball, there are often seasons where Class CC is added to divide the Class C field, which is the extra classification I was referring to earlier.

Waiting for the 2023 schedules to come out next summer will be so much fun.

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When he was with the Yankees, Don Mattingly famously hit homers in 8 straight games, looking to tie or pass former Pittsburgh slugger Dale Long.

The Tri-City Valleycats' Brantley Bell has found that rarefied air.

Bell was one of four Valleycats to homer in Friday's 13-7 win over Evansville, joined by Brad Zunica, Jesus Lujano, and newcomer Cito Culver, a former Yankee prospect. Tri-City stays hot, and their series with the Otters continues tonight.

Meanwhile, in Miami, Mattingly's Marlins choked away two early leads, and dropped a 6-4 decision to the Mets. Starter Sandy Alcantara could only go five innings as the Mets ran up the pitch count early and often. Tonight's game airs on CW15 at 6 pm.

News & notes

 The Albany Dutchmen will wrap up their season tonight, hoping for a playoff spot. If they don't make the post-season, it will mark the end of Nick Davey's tenure as manager.

Davey is retiring after 13 seasons to spend more time with his family, especially now that his sons are playing youth baseball.

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The Tri-City Valleycats took two out of three from the Joliet Slammers in Illinois, winning Thursday's game, 2-1. All-Star Brantley Bell has been on a home run tear, having left the yard in seven straight games as the team heads for Evansville, Indiana tonight to open a series with the Otters, whose ballpark is located on Don Mattingly Way, named for the 80's Yankee icon and current Miami Marlins manager.

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We were in error when we said we'd have the rest of the Troy High winter schedule this week. Aside from basketball, there are only partials.

The next step is taken

 Three of the four Section II alums drafted one week ago have signed with the MLB teams that have drafted them.

The lone holdout is Gavin Van Kempen (Maple Hill), drafted by St. Louis, but instead of signing with the Cardinals, Van Kempen has elected to honor his commitment to West Virginia, and will pitch for the Mountaineers next season.

Mike Kennedy (Troy High) signed with Pittsburgh Wednesday for $1 million dollar bonus, and will be heading to the Pirates' rookie league team in Bradenton, Florida, where the Pirates have had spring training for decades.

File photo courtesy Kyle Adams/The Record/Saratogian.

College graduates Dale Stanavich (Amsterdam/Rutgers) and Luke Gold (Ballston Spa/Boston College) have also signed with their pro teams, Miami & Detroit, respectively, adding to the recent rich history of Section II in MLB. Barring any misfortune, we'll see these four young men in the majors in a few years. We're proud of you, guys.

LaSalle Institute 2022 football schedule

 LaSalle Institute's football schedule for 2022 is available now on the school's page on the Colonial Council website. Turns out that when rival Troy posted their schedule a few weeks back, it was contradicted by Schedule Galaxy, but never corrected.

This year, LaSalle plays a 9 game schedule.

Sept. 2 (week 0): Home opener vs. CBA. The Cadets will try to regain the Sabre after getting thrashed by Bob Burns' Brothers last year.

Sept. 9: @ Shenendehowa.

Sept. 16: @ Niskayuna.

Sept. 23: Collar City Cup vs. Troy. Can the Cadets make it 2 in a row in this series?

Sept. 30: Mohonasen.

October 7: South Glens Falls. 2nd of two visits to the Collar City for the Bulldogs, as they'll be at Troy on Sept. 16.

October 14: Senior Night vs. Columbia.

October 21: @ Averill Park.

October 28: @ Amsterdam.

Troy's schedule had them finishing with Amsterdam at home, but their final two home games have been flip-flopped, as Columbia will now be the Flying Horses' Senior Night opponent, with Amsterdam in town a week earlier for Homecoming. A 4 game homestand in the middle is a little rare in high school sports, though. Figure on the Cadets getting at least one, possibly two, appearances on Spectrum's Friday Night Matchup.

News & notes

 After all the managerial strategy prior to the series, Atlanta's Brian Snitker looked like a chump on Sunday.

Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa) started the finale vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, as the World Champs were looking for the sweep. Instead, Anderson was KO'd after 3 innings, as the Angels salvaged the finale, 9-1. Anderson gave up 7 runs on 8 hits, walked 3, and struck out 2, as his ERA moved back above 5 at 5.31. Local fans will see him at Citi Field next week when the Braves visit the Mets for a 5 game series.

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The Tri-City Valleycats needed 10 innings in order to sweep the Gateway Grizzlies out of town Sunday night.

The two teams were cruising along, needing just over an hour to play 5 innings, but the Grizzlies plated 5 runs in the visiting 6th inning. Tri-City answered with single runs in the 6th & 7th, and, after a rain delay in the 8th, forced overtime, where they walked off the Grizzlies, 6-5.

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Ex-Valleycat Joe Musgrove was almost halfway to his 2nd no-hitter in as many years Sunday, as he held the Mets hitless until the 5th inning.

One inning later, the roof caved in.

After San Diego took the lead in the visiting 6th, Mets slugger Pete Alonso launched a 3 run homer in the home half to put New York up for good. However, reliever Joely Rodriguez nearly flushed the lead in the 9th before being bailed out by Edwin Diaz, and the Mets salvaged the finale, 8-5. Musgrove was tagged with the loss.

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An equipment breakdown on the track led to a race at Saratoga being ruled no contest Sunday afternoon.

Seems the tractor that pulls the starting gate on to the track ran into some engine failure, creating a unexpected obstacle for the horses. All wagers on the race, the 7th, were refunded.

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While the spotlight was on David Ortiz as the highlight of this year's Baseball Hall of Fame class in Cooperstown, the Hall also welcomed posthumously a player from our area.

Bud Fowler, recognized as the first African-American professional baseball player, decades before Jackie Robinson shattered the color barrier, was inducted on Sunday, represented by fellow Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

Photo courtesy Spectrum News.

Fowler, nee John Jackson, Jr., was born in Fort Plain, and spent some time in Cooperstown. Fowler passed away in 1913, and enters the Hall nearly 110 years later.

News & notes

 Lost in all the news after the draft, former UAlbany baseball player Brad Malm was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mets. Talk about being under the radar.

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The Albany Empire took advantage of the Carolina Cobras' late season collapse to capture the National Arena League's regular season title by beating the San Antonio Gunslingers, 65-59, at MVP Arena on Saturday night.

The Empire open defense of their title next Saturday vs. Jacksonville.

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For the 2nd straight night, the Tri-City Valleycats blew out the Gateway Grizzlies, this time by a 13-5 count, at Bruno Stadium. DH Denis Phipps hit two more homers, and Brantley Bell & Joe Campagna, the latter a recent addition, added one each.

During the all-star break, the 'Cats dismissed pitching coach Scott Budner, believing his approach to the pitching staff contributed to some embarrassing losses, including two blowouts at the hands of the NY Boulders. Small wonder the 'Cats have come out of the break looking like a team on a mission.

News & notes

 "Mike Tyson's Fight Night", taking place today at 4 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, was supposed to be a mix of pro & amateur MMA bouts, hosted by the retired boxing icon.

However, the promoters have cancelled the pro matches on the card, so it'll now be an all amateur show, promoted by Cage Wars, who have previously hosted events at the Washington Avenue Armory. With the show built around the fact that the Egg was the site of Tyson's 1st fight in 1985, they simply moved across the road for this event.

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The Tri-City Valleycats sought to trade one of the best and most popular players, Juan Silverio, during the all-star break to an Atlantic League team. The rival Sussex County Miners had other ideas, so they claimed Silverio off waivers on Thursday. Gamesmanship, you know.

So, on Friday, the 'Cats came out of the break, and spanked the Gateway Grizzlies, 16-4, capped by an 8-run 7th inning barrage to put this out of reach. Denis Phipps & Brad Zunica had two homers each, and Brantley Bell added one for the 'Cats.

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Shenendehowa grad Ian Anderson was originally set to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Friday, but Atlanta manager Brian Snitker reset his rotation so Anderson would not have to be opposite the Angels' two-way phenom, Shohei Ohtani. Instead, Charlie Morton got the call, but not the win, as the Braves beat the Angels, 8-1. Anderson instead pitches Sunday, and will likely still have to pitch to Ohtani, who will be the DH as he finishes his 1st visit to Atlanta.

Troy High basketball schedule, 2022-23

 It's mid-July, in the middle of a heat wave, and Troy High is rolling out its winter sports schedule already. For the men, it's year 2 for coach John Keenan, whose Flying Horses came up short of a division title, and went 1-&-done in the sectionals.

Keep in mind more games could be added before the season begins. What you will see is the return of the Troy Holiday Classic, scheduled for December 28-29, with visiting teams to be announced.

Men's games will be listed, with the women at the opposite site.

December 6: Home opener vs. Colonie.

December 9: @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (women's home opener).

December 13: Shaker.

December 16: @ Averill Park.

December 17: Utica Academy of Science (women have the day off).

December 20: Saratoga.

December 28-29: Troy Holiday Classic (women are off as of now).

January 4: Women vs. Bethlehem (men have the night off).

January 6: Ballston Spa.

January 13: Albany.

January 17: @ Schenectady.

January 20: @ Guilderland.

January 27: @ Shenendehowa.

January 29: @ Bishop Ludden (women have the day off).

January 31: Columbia

February 3: @ Niskayuna (women's senior night as of now).

February 7: @ CBA.

February 10: Men's senior night vs. Bethlehem (women's finale).

February 11: @ Goshen.

As you can see, the men's schedule has them playing seven of their final nine on the road, including two non-league games. Home games will be streamed on YouTube, but as we saw with summer scrimmages last week, they still haven't fixed the shadow issues with the scoreboards. That needs to be addressed before the season begins.

We'll post the rest of the winter schedule next week.

News & notes

 He was once known as "The Baddest Man on The Planet". On Saturday, he's coming back to the 518 as the host, if you will, of an MMA card at the Empire State Plaza.

"He", you see, if former boxing champ and part-time actor Mike Tyson, and the event is billed as "Mike Tyson's Fight Night", presented by Cage Wars, which gets underway at 4 pm Saturday afternoon.

File photo courtesy Associated Press, via Albany Times-Union.

It seems inevitable, doesn't it? Tyson has done wrestling (WWE, AEW), so why not lend his name to a MMA card that probably won't get much in the way of television coverage otherwise?

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Writing in the Times-Union today, WNYT's Rodger Wyland believes that Maple Hill grad Gavin Van Kempen, drafted by St. Louis Tuesday, would be better served declining the Cardinals to play college ball at West Virginia. The only reason Van Kempen didn't get drafted until the final round was because of 1) a nationwide draft pool, and 2) Maple Hill being considered a small school in comparison to Troy, Ballston Spa, Amsterdam, et al. Wyland believes Van Kempen will spend three years with the Mountaineers before he likely is drafted again.

The draft ends, and one more Section II player finds a home

 That would be Maple Hill's Gavin Van Kempen, who was drafted in the 20th and final round by the St. Louis Cardinals after more than 600 players, including fellow Section II alums Mike Kennedy (Troy/Pittsburgh), Dale Stanavich (Amsterdam/Miami), and Luke Gold (Ballston Spa/Detroit) had been drafted ahead of him.

It has historically been difficult for local players in any sport in the 518 to be drafted, what with a nationwide draft pool, and a more global one in basketball & hockey. As with the others, Van Kempen has a choice to make. Take the money, and start his pro career as soon as possible, or prepare for college. In the case of Stanavich & Gold, of course, their college careers are over, so their alternate option would be to decline the contracts, and see if their status improves next year (doubtful).WNYT/WTMM's Rodger Wyland, writing in the Albany Times-Union today, is advocating Kennedy signing with Pittsburgh, and following the path of Atlanta pitcher Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa) to the bigs.

Of course, we're going to be watching what happens next.

And, so, the waiting begins

 The 2022 MLB Entry Draft is over, and three players with ties to Section II went in the late rounds today.

Leading the group is Troy High lefthander Mike Kennedy, who was selected by Pittsburgh in the 4th round. Kennedy now has a choice to make. Does he decommit from LSU, or does he choose not to sign, and re-enter next year?

In the 5th round, Luke Gold (Boston College/Ballston Spa) was picked by Detroit. While he has experience as a 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman, and shortstop, Gold projects as a 3B with the Tigers.

Finally, a familiar name that would haunt Troy fans as a football player instead of a baseball player, Dale Stanovich (Amsterdam/Rutgers), was drafted by Miami as a pitcher, his position with the Amsterdam Mohawks in the Perfect Game Collegiate League. Stanovich, you might remember, helped the Rams upset Troy in the 2015 Class A Super Bowl.

Maple Hill's Gavin Van Kampen was not drafted, but that doesn't mean some team won't take a chance on him this summer before re-entering the draft next year.

And, now, comes the waiting game, with less than two months before colleges resume classes.

News & notes

 As of press time, none of the Section II alumni touted for this year's MLB Entry Draft had been called.

However, Vanderbilt grad Kumar Rocker, recently with the Tri-City Valleycats, was drafted 3rd overall by Texas. We'll soon see if the Rangers have better luck signing Rocker than the Mets did last year, when the latter had to deal with sketchy medical information.

Rocker's agent, the notoriously greedy Scott Boras, had Washington star Juan Soto turn down a contract offer worth $440 million over the weekend, which makes one question who's driving that bus.

===============================================

Meanwhile, the 'Cats limp into the Frontier League's All-Star break on a five game losing streak after getting swept in New Jersey over the weekend. Tri-City has plunged to sixth place in the East, and will welcome the Gateway Grizzlies on Friday.

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Going into the weekend, the Albany Empire needed to win out in order the make the playoffs and open defense of their National Arena League title. Part 1 saw them complete a season sweep of the Orlando Predators, 74-53, on Saturday night. Check the video.

The Empire close out the regular season with a rubber match vs. the San Antonio Gunslingers on Saturday night. After the teams split the first two meetings in Texas, the 'Slingers are finally coming East.

News & notes

 And so, it begins.

The New York Racing Association sets up shop at Saratoga today. kicking off a 40-day, 8 week meet that will continue through Labor Day, September 5.

After COVID restrictions scaled back attendance last year, NYRA is expecting a full house for most, if not all of its 40 dates. If you can't make it to the track, there's always OTB, either at their various locations, or on OTB TV, now a digital channel on Spectrum (channel 1250).

For you armchair handicappers, the Albany Times-Union has retired the Bankroll Beatdown column in their Saratoga Green insert, as veteran reporter-handicapper Tim Wilkin has entered full retirement. As they say at OTB, bet with your head, not over it.

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The Tri-City Valleycats avenged a humiliating beatdown in Ponoma on Tuesday by downing the NY Boulders, 6-5, on Wednesday, and this was despite an in-game rainstorm that didn't stop play at all. The two teams will complete the series today at 11 am for Camp/Senior Citizens Day.

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All Elite Wrestling, nearly three full years into its existence, is finally coming to Albany.

It was announced last night on Dynamite that the promotion will hit long time WWE venue MVP Arena on Wednesday, September 14. Matches will be taped before & after Dymanite for their Friday show, Rampage, and their Monday YouTube program, Dark Elevation. Tickets go on sale July 22 at 10 am at the MVP Arena box office.

For wrestlers like the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), who are also officers in the company, this will be their 1st visit to the 518. Others, like WWE-NXT alumni Keith Lee, Bobby Fish, Shane "Swerve" Strickland, Adam Cole, Christian Cage, and Jon Moxley, and no strangers to downtown Albany.

Not to be outdone, WWE will make its 2nd trip to MVP Arena November 21 for an episode of Monday Night Raw. Tickets go on sale tomorrow for that show. However, I suspect that, aside from the casual, generic fans, attendance at Raw could plunge if AEW does as well as expected.

News & notes

 When the Saratoga thoroughbred meet opens Thursday, it'll be a homecoming not only for trainer Chad Brown, a native of Mechanicville, but also for jockey Dylan Davis.

The son of retired jockey Robbie Davis, Dylan is a 2011 graduate of Schenectady High (who knew?) who was the leading rider at Aqueduct this winter, and finished 2nd for the Belmont title behind Irad Ortiz, Jr. as that meet ending on Sunday. Something tells me that, armed with this knowledge, local bettors will be watching anyone Dylan rides.

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Three days after missing the cut at the Twin Bridges Championship, Kennedy Swedick was back in the winner's circle on Tuesday.

Swedick captured the NYS Gold Association's Women's Amateur title, carding a 9 under par for the tournament at McGregor Links in Wilton, the same course where she won the state title in late May. Ohip State's Lauren Peter finished 2nd by 1 stroke.

Next up for the teen sensation is the US Junior Girls Amateur tournament at Brandon Dunes in Oregon at the end of the month.

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The NBA has promoted its off-season summer leagues the last few years, even getting cable contracts.

Here in town, some high schools are holding summer scrimmages.

Troy High coach John Keenan opened the doors of Zotto Gym Tuesday, hosting scrimmages vs. Niskayuna and Schalmont. The scrimmages were initially streamed on the school district's YouTube channel, then taken down after the Schalmont scrimmage ended. This is something new at Troy, and might be the start of a trend in Section II to compete with the summer travel leagues. We don't know if they're doing the same for the women.

Update, 9:33 am. The videos have been reposted to YouTube as one entity.

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After scoring 8 runs in the first 4 innings Tuesday, the Tri-City Valleycats thought they were in position to beat the NY Boulders.

Then, the rockslide got them.

Down 8-5 entering the home 4th inning, the Boulders took the lead with 4 runs against Tom Kretzler (Colonie/Herkimer), and never looked back. Their bullpen shut down the 'Cats the rest of the way, while the Boulders piled on. Ex-Valleycat Chris Kwitzer burned his former team again with 2 homers, as NY beat Tri-City, 23-8. Ouch!

The series resumes tonight at Bruno Stadium at 6:30 pm, followed by the 'Cats' Camp Day matinee tomorrow.

News & notes

 518 Alumni notes: Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa) pitched into the 6th inning Sunday vs. Washington, but did not figure into the decision, as Atlanta needed 12 innings to beat the Nationals. Anderson went 5 1/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits, struck out five, but walked four.

Jeff Hoffman was a winner on Saturday for Cincinnati, as he pitched the 9th inning vs. Tampa Bay, and the Reds walked off the Rays in the home half of the frame. Hoffman pitched a clean inning. Could see him back in the starting rotation in a spot start before the end of the season.

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The Tri-City Valleycats finish their road trip with one game vs. the NY Boulders tomorrow morning at 11 am, as it'll be camp day for the Boulders in Ponoma. Then, the teams move to Troy to play a night game Wednesday and a camp day matinee Thursday morning.

The early start might help Tri-City after they lost, 6-2, to Sussex County on Sunday in a matinee in New Jersey. The 'Cats have now lost 4 of 5 after winning six straight.

News & notes

 Last year, the Sussex County Miners seemed to have the Tri-City Valleycats' number.

Last night, not so much.

The Valleycats scored all of their runs in one big chunk in the 4th inning, capped by a Brantley Bell grand slam, to beat the Miners and end a 3 game losing streak, 7-3. The two teams will finish the series this afternoon at 2 pm

Other 'Cats news: former major leaguer Jay Bell, Brantley's father, was a guest coach for the 'Cats on the last homestand. Bell's major league resume included stops in Pittsburgh, Arizona, and with the Mets.

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Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was in town Saturday for a clinic at UAlbany. The event was a one day event, four hours in all, and you have to believe there were plenty of kids----and adults, too----who had trading cards of Hill for him to autograph. Hill was traded from Kansas City, where he won a Super Bowl in 2020, to Miami in the offseason.

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The Epson tour's Twin Bridges Championship is wrapping up as we write, but among the missing is Albany Academy's Kennedy Swedick. The Section II & state champion missed the cut Saturday after going 11 over par over the first two rounds. Albany Times-Union golf columnist Joyce Bassett is covering the event, and said that Swedick's massive following was one of the biggest among the field. That said, I'd imagine the attendance will be much smaller for the final round today.

For Kennedy, Section II play begins at the end of next month, and, there's always next year, if the Epson tour returns to the 518.

News & notes

 It was not the ending to the season Albany Patroons fans had hoped for.

The Shreveport Mavericks were just as hungry, if not more so, than the Patroons themselves, and the end result was a 137-132 overtime upset in the third and final game of the TBL finals.

Paul Harrison had 36 points to lead all scorers for Shreveport. AJ Mosby led four Pats in double figures with 30 points.

The Patroons will be back. Count on it.

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The Cincinnati Reds had a doubleheader on Thursday vs. Pittsburgh, and Shaker grad Jeff Hoffman was tapped as an opener in the first game.

Hoffman pitched 1 1/3 innings, as he did vs. the Mets on Tuesday, did not give up a run or hit, and struck out three, as he appears to be on a pitch count coming off an injury. Cincinnati won that first game, but dropped the nightcap.

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The Mets won't see Ian Anderson (Shenendehowa) when they visit Atlanta next week. Anderson is set to pitch on normal rest on Sunday.

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As the Tri-City Valleycats open a weekend series with Sussex County in New Jersey, they're smarting from losing in blowout fashion, 15-4, to Quebec on Thursday night. The Capitales never trailed after taking an early 2-0 lead.

Here's to hoping things are better beginning tonight.

News & notes

 After Siena's basketball season ended in March, Ahniysha Jackson (Albany High) had entered the transfer portal. Emphasize the had.

That's because last week, Jackson changed her mind, and decided to return to Siena for next season. Apparently, Jackson realized, as Neil Diamond sang 40 years ago, "home is the most excellent place of all" ("Heartlight").

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One game remains in the TBL finals.

After injuries to Mike Williams in game 1 and Anthony Moe early in game 2, Kam Williams, out of Ohio State, led the Albany Patroons with a season high 28 points to force a 3rd and final game vs. Shreveport, as the Patroons evened the championship series with a 112-102 win Wednesday night before over 2,000 fans at the Washington Avenue Armory.

Mike Williams (no relation to Kam) is a game time decision for tonight's season finale at 7 pm.

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We are a week away from the start of racing season at Saratoga Race Course. However, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won't be there, serving a suspension enforced in NY for his assistants using PED's of the equine kind on some of his horses.

Also, Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal will not be racing at Saratoga due to a training injury which takes him out of next month's Travers Stakes.

The 2022 meet runs from July 14-September 5.

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The Tri-City Valleycats split a doubleheader with Quebec on Wednesday night at Joe Bruno Stadium.

In the opener, Tri-City extended its winning streak to six in a row, but had to hold off a 7th inning rally by the Capitales to pick up a 7-6 win. However, Quebec gained a split with a 7-1 win in the nightcap. The series finale is tonight at 6:30 pm before the 'Cats visit Sussex County tomorrow.

News & notes

 Mere hours before first pitch Tuesday, the Tri-City Valleycats postponed their game with Quebec City due to rain, so they'll play two today, a single admission doubleheader, with first pitch after 4 pm. Each game will be 7 innings. The 'Cats have won five in a row after beating Ottawa on Monday.

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With their collective backs against the wall, the Albany Patroons are once again encouraging fans to bring plenty of noise for game 2 of the TBL finals tonight vs. Shreveport at 7 pm. Albany has yet to lose a home game this season at the Washington Avenue Armory.

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Shaker graduate Jeff Hoffman, back on the active roster for the Cincinnati Reds, pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief vs. the Mets Tuesday night before the Reds walked off the NL East leaders, 1-0.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Ian Anderson rebounded from a poor showing vs. Philadelphia one week ago, dominating the St. Louis Cardinals for 5 innings.

Anderson gave up just the one run, walked one, and struck out eight in picking up his 7th win of the season. Depending on the schedule, his next start likely will be against the Mets next week at Truist Park.

News & notes

The TBL finals are following a familiar script so far.

The Shreveport Mavericks won game 1 on Saturday night, 123-115, setting up another do-or-die situation for the Albany Patroons Wednesday night at the Washington Avenue Armory, with game 3 to follow if needed on Thursday.

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Make it 2 in a row for the Albany Empire.

The Empire returned to San Antonio, and collected a receipt from the Gunslingers, 61-47. Check the video:

San Antonio's three game winning streak, which started with a win over Albany the first time, ended with this game.

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The Tri-City Valleycats confirmed that Kumar Rocker has pitched his last game for the team as he prepares for the MLB draft later this month.

Then, the 'Cats went out and routed the Empire State Greys for the 2nd straight night, 9-4. Leo Crawford picked up the win, but things did get a little dicey in the 9th inning, as the Greys plated three runs against the Valleycats' bullpen. The 'Cats will look for the sweep this afternoon at Bruno Stadium.

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The Albany Times-Union released its 2022 sports awards edition on Thursday. Troy High supporters are just plain giddy after learning that softball ace Olivia DeCitise was named Large School Softball Player of The Year, and LSU commit Mike Kennedy was named Large School Baseball Player of the Year.

To be fair, the small school equivalents went to Gavin Van Kempen (Maple Hill baseball) and Emma Scheltinger (Ichabod Crane softball).

We'll remind that Kennedy and Van Kempen are on a short list of 518 players who could wind up going in the draft, giving local viewers a reason to watch.

News & notes

 The Albany Patroons were given a police escort from the Washington Avenue Armory to Albany International Airport Friday, as they left for Shreveport, Louisiana, for tonight's 1st game in the TBL finals.

Shreveport is also home to Centenary College, which is the site of tonight's game. The Mavericks may be just one of the few teams other than the Patroons to have top-shelf playing facilities in the league. Game 2 is Wednesday at the Armory.

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After four seasons in Atlanta, Shenendehowa grad Kevin Huerter is on the move in the NBA.

Huerter was traded by the Hawks to the Sacramento Kings on Friday, in exchange for Mo Harkless, Justin Holiday, and a 2023 draft pick. Huerter becomes the first 518 player to play for Sacramento since Jimmer Fredette. The question is, will he last longer in a Kings uniform than Fredette did? We'll see.

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If this was Kumar Rocker's finale with the Tri-City Valleycats, he went out with a bang.

Rocker went 5 innings, giving up just a run on 7 hits with a walk and 7 strikeouts, as the 'Cats dispatched the Empire State Greys, 8-3. Brad Zunica & Denis Phipps homered for the 'Cats to back Rocker. Tom Kretzler (Colonie/Brockport) pitched the final 2 innings to secure the win, giving up 2 hits and striking out 2.

News & notes

 The Tri-City Valleycats split a doubleheader Thursday at Trois-Rivieres, losing the 1st game, 6-4, and taking the nightcap, and the series, 7-3. The final series between the two clubs will again be at Trois-Rivieres August 19-21. Meanwhile, Tri-City comes home for a rematch with the Empire State Greys tonight.

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Not a good night for Ian Anderson and the Atlanta Braves on Thursday at Philadelphia.

The Phillies strafed Anderson for 7 runs on 7 hits, with a walk and a strikeout in 2 innings, en route to a 14-4 win. Easily Anderson's worst outing of the season.

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LaSalle Institute's fall 2022 sports schedule is out, at least for the most part. The women's sports program will play a JV schedule in volleyball and soccer, and a varsity schedule in golf and swimming & diving. Not all of the dates are set at the present time.

More dates will be added as the schedule is firmed up further.

August 30: Men's golf home opener vs. Ravena. Home matches are now at Frear Park, which they're sharing with Troy High.

August 31: State champion Kennedy Swedick and Albany Academy will be the 1st opponent for the LaSalle women at Frear Park. The men will play the first of two meets vs. Catholic Central, which, as of press time, does not have a home course. LaSalle men's soccer kicks off at Mohonasen.

September 1: Men's golf vs. Ichabod Crane.

September 2: Soccer vs. Ichabod Crane.

September 7: Women's golf vs. Mohonasen. Men's golf @ Schalmont. Soccer @ Lansingburgh.

September 8: Men's golf vs. Voorheesville.

September 9: Women's golf @ Academy of Holy Names. Men's golf @ Ichabod Crane.

September 10: Soccer vs. Catholic Central.

September 14: Men's golf vs. Mohonasen. Soccer @ Albany Academy.

September 16: Men's golf @ Cobleskill-Richmondville. Soccer vs. Ravena. Swimming @ Ravena.

September 19: Men's golf @ Mohonasen. Soccer vs. Voorheesville.

September 20: Men's golf vs. Catholic Central.

September 21: Men's golf @ Albany Academy. Soccer vs. Cobleskill-Richmondville.

September 22: Swimming @ Mohonasen. Soccer @ Schalmont.

September 27: Golf (Men's & women's) vs. Voorheesville. Soccer vs. Cohoes.

September 28: Soccer vs. Schalmont.

September 29: Men's golf vs. Albany Academy. Swimming vs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo-Duanesburg @ Mohonasen.

October 4: Soccer @ Ichabod Crane.

October 6: Men's golf @ Ravena. Soccer vs. Lansingburgh.

October 7: Swimming @ Emma Willard.

October 11: Soccer @ Catholic Central. Site TBA.

The LaSalle football schedule, including their September 23 home game vs. Troy, is not on the Colonial Council website as of press time. The rest of the schedule is subject to change.