News & notes

 Pickleball is a fast rising sport. You might've seen the E-trade kids playing it in a Super Bowl commercial.

Well, it's got a home in the 518.

They're converting the former Ideal Food Basket (which, before that, was a Save-a-Lot supermarket) into a pickleball arena at Mid-City Shopping Center in Menands. It's set to open sometime later this year.

Next thing ya know, they'll start playing it in high school.......!

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When Siena opens baseball season Saturday in Longwood, Virginia, they'll have a new skipper in the dugout.

Alex Jurczynski, son of former Schenectady mayor Al Jurczynski, was named head coach, succeeding Joe Sheridan, who finished out the 2023 season after the retirement of Tony Rossi. The Saints will try to reverse their fortunes after a dismal 2023 campaign that saw them finish 7-17 in the MAAC, 14-41 overall. A MAAC coaches poll has Siena finishing 10th. That should be motivation enough to prove the doubters wrong.

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Notes from LaSalle's win over Cohoes on Tuesday:

Kate Gilooly led the way with a game high 18 points, as LaSalle overcame a 1st quarter deficit to hold the Tigers in single digits in each of the last three quarters.

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UAlbany is still looking for its 1st win in women's lacrosse this season.

The Lady Danes fell to Boston College, 15-7, on Wednesday. They fell behind, 6-1, after the 1st quarter, and never recovered.

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Wednesday's hockey scoreboard:

Shenendehowa 4, Queensbury 3. The Plainsmen claim the regular season title, and snap the Spartans' 10 game winning streak.

LaSalle 3, Adirondack 2. The skidding Rivermen have now dropped 7 straight. Chase Rose, Nick Kraz, & Danny Wiese scored for the Cadets (8-12 overall), who will host the Mohawks on Saturday. Speaking of which.......

Let's take a look at the Section II hockey playoffs, which begin on Friday.

Friday:

Guilderville @ CBA: The Storm sank into the CDHSHL basement, having lost 5 straight. CBA, under 2nd year coach Aiden Melrose, has shown much improvement from last season. The winner plays Saratoga on Monday, and I don't see an upset here.

Pick: CBA.

Albany Academy @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa. Academy can be thankful they didn't finish in the cellar, and can send thank you cards to the Storm. Burnt Hills, at one point, was within shouting distance of first place, but a midseason fade proved costly. Winner will play Bethlehem on Monday, and, again, I don't see an upset.

Pick: Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa.

Saturday:

Mohawks @ LaSalle. These two teams met last month, with the Cadets winning. Tim Flanigan's Cadets have been up & down since, leading to last night's win over Adirondack. The bad news for the winner is that they only have 48 hours or less to prep for Shen on Monday.

Pick: LaSalle.

We'll preview the quarters on Monday. Of course, I could be wrong.