News & notes

 UAlbany's sprawling campus encompasses Washington & Western Avenues in the capital city. Strangely, while the Great Danes are restarting the Albany Cup series vs. Siena, they might do well to help a neighbor.

The College of St. Rose's campus is about a mile down the road from UAlbany on the Western Avenue side, but these two teams do not play each other very often. In fact, Wednesday's pre-season game was the first time the men's teams had met in several years. For the Golden Knights, this was their pre-season opener, and while they hung tough against the Danes, UAlbany pulled away in the 2nd half to pick up a 73-66 win. UAlbany opens the regular season vs. Towson on Monday.

Keegan Zoller (Ballston Spa) had 11 points for the Knights. Shane O'Dell (Schalmont) & Alex Barnhill (Mekeel Christian, via Bridgton Academy) didn't play.

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Wednesday's sectional scoreboard:

Men's soccer:

Class B sub-regionals:

Mechanicville 3, Salmon River 0. The Red Raiders return to LaSalle on Saturday to host Plattsburgh.

Class C sub-regionals:

Maple Hill 2, Canton 1. The Wildcats will play Northeastern Clinton Saturday at LaSalle.

Class D sub-regionals:

Greenport 4, Loudonville Christian 3.

Women's soccer:

Class C/CC final:

Waterford 7, Voorheesville 1. Waterford moves on to play the winner of Northeast Clinton-Canton, date, site, & time TBA.

Men's volleyball:

Division 1 semi-finals:

Bethlehem 3, Columbia 1. The Eagles will play either Saratoga or Shenendehowa in the finals at Rensselaer on Friday.

Women's volleyball:

Class AA semi-finals:

Shenendehowa 3, Shaker 0.

Bethlehem 3, Saratoga 0.

The finals are at Saratoga on Friday.

Class A semi-finals:

Burnt Hills 3, Holy Names 0.

Class B semi-finals:

Ichabod Crane 3, Schalmont 1.

Class C semi-finals:

Galway 3, Tamarac 0.

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The Houston Astros' roster is still loaded with some Tri-City Valleycats alumni, some of whom were key players in Wednesday's combined no-hitter over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Starter Cristian Javier and reliever Bryan Abreu were with the 'Cats in 2016, and shortstop Jeremy Pena was part of the 2018 team. 2B Jose Altuve dates all the way back to 2009-10 with the 'Cats. Catcher Jason Castro isn't playing due to injury in his 2nd tour of duty with Houston, but he, too, has the 'Cats on his resume. Javier & Abreu combined to pitch the first six innings, and both were also instrumental in the Astros' combined no-hitter over the Yankees back in June at Yankee Stadium.

This was also the 2nd time this season that the Phillies were no-hit. The Mets used five pitchers to throw just the 2nd no-no in team history back in April. With the series even at 2 games apiece going into tonight's game 5, Houston is assured of returning home Saturday, and could possibly close out Philadelphia if Justin Verlander can get over his World Series yips tonight.