News & notes

 Is arena football cursed?

We have to ask because the Albany Firebirds now have an unscheduled bye week after the Minnesota Myth cancelled their game with the 'Birds, set for tomorrow at MVP Arena, which would have been the first of two games between the two teams over a 3 week period, with the 2nd game, also at MVP Arena, scheduled for week 5.

As week 3 of the 2024 season began last night, 6 of the original 16 teams were not playing, other than the Firebirds. The Myth's cancellation makes it 4 games wiped off the schedule. Three teams--the Georgia Force, Iowa Rampage, & Philadelphia Soul, have folded or have suspended operations for the duration. 

The Myth are owned by Diana Hutton, wife of AFL Commissioner Lee Hutton III. The Myth and the Louisiana Voodoo are facing uncertain futures.

As previously noted, it's all about player safety because of field configurations, and, of course, money, or a lack thereof. WOFX afternoon host Jeff Levack, director of media for the Firebirds, and co-owner Mike Kwarta are assuring fans the 'Birds will finish the season.

The Soul, a franchise once owned by rock icon Jon Bon Jovi, were scheduled to be at MVP Arena one week from today, but Kwarta has said a replacement has been lined up.

Stay tuned.

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Shadell Millinghaus (Troy/Schenectady) led six Patroons in double figures with 26 points as Albany won again on Saturday, downing Jamestown, 124-113. The two teams will meet again Friday at the Washington Avenue Armory at 7 pm.

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On championship Saturday in college softball, two 518 schools took home titles, and nearly a 3rd.

UAlbany clinched the America East title, beating UMass-Lowell for the 2nd time in 3 days, 4-0. Olivia DeCitise (Troy) did not pitch or even play in the field.

Over in the MAAC, Siena defeated Canisius, 7-6, to capture the title.

RPI, however, couldn't complete the hat trick, losing the Liberty League title, to Rochester, 1-0. RPI finishes 34-5-1.

In other college action:

Baseball:

Marist 10, Siena 1.

George Washington 3, UMass-Amherst 2. Brett Young stays hot. The Albany Academy alum went 2-4 with 2 runs scored.

Manhattan 7, UAlbany 3.

NAC title:

Husson 9, Cobleskill 1.

Men's lacrosse:

Division III, 2nd round:

RPI 15, St. Mary's (Maryland) 5.

Stevenson 12, Union 11.

Men's tennis:

Division III, 2nd round:

Williams College 5, RPI 3.

Women's tennis:

Division III, 2nd round:

Amherst 5, Skidmore 0.

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Not a good day for Troy High on Saturday.

The men's tennis team wrapped a winless season by getting shut out, 7-0, by Queensbury in the Class A quarterfinals. I'm told there were only 5 active players for Troy. Not good for a program that was once a contender in the Big 10 40 years ago.

The result of the men's lacrosse match vs. Hoosick Falls-Tamarac has not been reported as of press time. Likewise, the softball game at Columbia has not been reported, or, at least, no score. 518 Softball is showing that Columbia won the game, as Troy finishes the regular season at 8-11 overall (5-8 Suburban Council).

A source at Troy tells me that softball coach Sean Geisel already knows his team will be the #6 seed in Class AA with the sectional pairings to be announced tomorrow.

Trevor McCarthy's first year as baseball coach ended with a thud, as I am not convinced they'll make the sectionals.

McCarthy lifted starter Dan Keefe after 4 innings with Troy leading Schalmont, 8-2, after scoring 5 runs in the 4th. However, the bullpen coughed up the lead, as the Sabres came back with 6 in the 5th to tie it up, and, then, broke the tie with a homer in the 6th, sending Troy to its 6th straight loss, 9-8. Troy finishes the regular season 4-14 overall. That may not be enough for sectionals when the seedings are announced on Tuesday.

The rest of Saturday's high school action:

Baseball:

Patroon Conference:

Cairo-Durham 8, Maple Hill 4.

Wasaren League:

Tamarac 6, Berlin-New Lebanon 4.

Non-league:

Shenendehowa 10, Queensbury 3.

Johnstown 6, Fonda-Fultonville 2.

Men's lacrosse:

Columbia 12, Colonie 8.

Women's lacrosse:

Queensbury 17, Wappingers Falls 5.

Softball:

Wasaren League:

Stillwater 10, Hoosic Valley 6.

Non-league:

Glens Falls 10, Fonda-Fultonville 0.

Tennis:

Class B quarter-final:

Glens Falls 7, Ravena 0.

Men's track & field:

Saratoga won the Queensbury-Irion Invitational. The closest Section 2 team behind the Blue Streaks was 3rd place Queensbury, which finished nearly 20 points behind Saratoga.

Colonie won the Shenendehowa Invitational. Troy finished in 17th place. Host Shen finished 5th.

Women's track & field:

Saratoga also won the Queensbury-Irion Invitational, outpointing their male counterparts by nearly 100 points. KIPP Troy Prep entered a team, and finished 22nd.

In the Shenendehowa Invitational, the host Plainswomen salvaged the day, winning the tournament. Troy placed 20th, and LaSalle ended up last.

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The Tri-City Valleycats dropped the middle game of their series with Windy City, 5-3. The teams will finish the series this afternoon. Arlo Marynczyk (Bethlehem/Siena) made his Frontier League debut, giving up a hit and a walk in 2 innings.