News & notes

 Troy High's flag football season ended with a thud on Friday afternoon at Shaker, as the Bison blew out the Lady Horses (6-6) for the 2nd time in as many weeks, 59-19. Shaker will play Columbia tonight, while Shenendehowa travels to Albany to play the red hot Falcons, winners of 9 in a row. The winners of tonight's games visit Picken Field at Troy High on Wednesday night.

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The Tri-City Valleycats closed their home schedule in 2023 by getting swept by Sussex County.

The 2024 home schedule starts with the 'Cats getting swept again, this time by the Washington Wild Things.

You can say it's early, and it is, but Tri-City (3-6) left 14 runners on base on Sunday, including leaving the bases loaded at the end of the game when Oscar Campos made the last out on a ground out.

The 'Cats are in Canada this week while Section II takes over The Joe.

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All last week, local media was hoping Mystik Dan would win the Preakness, setting up the prospect of Saratoga, in hosting its first Belmont Stakes on June 8, possibly also hosting a Triple Crown winner.

Nope, not happening.

Seize The Grey, trained by 88 year old D. Wayne Lukas, held off Mystik Dan to win the Preakness on Saturday night in Baltimore.

Saratoga will still be packed on June 8, but the biggest lure available is gone. Well, maybe next year.

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The Albany Times-Union has begun charting the progress of local players in the majors for 2024. 

Kevin Smith (Columbia) was optioned to the Yankees' top farm team in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he's hitting .220 with 1 homer and 13 RBI in 24 games as of May 19. He'll be back in the Bronx later this season.

Otherwise:

Luke Gold (Ballston Spa) is playing for Detroit's West Michigan team, where he's batting .294 with 8 homers and 23 RBI through 34 games.

Brian O'Keefe (Colonie), now in the Kansas City chain, is batting .269 for Omaha, the Royals' top farm team, with 3 homers and 9 RBI through 18 games.

Zach Remillard (LaSalle), is hitting .313 for the Chicago White Sox, having played just 7 games this season.

Adam Zebrowski (CBA) is playing for Atlanta's Rome team in the South Atlantic League, batting .236 with 2 homers and 17 RBI through 30 games.

Ben Anderson (Shen) is back on the mound for Frisco, a Texas League affiliate of the World Series champion Texas Rangers. Anderson is 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 31 innings with 27 strikeouts in 7 games. Twin brother Ian is still recovering from injuries and has not pitched for Gwinnett (Atlanta) this season.

Matt Gage (Broadalbin-Perth) is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA for Oklahoma City, the top farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Gage has pitched 5 1/3 innings in 6 games with 6 strikeouts.

Jeff Hoffman (Shaker) is off to a good start for Philadelphia, helping the NL East leaders with a 2-0 record through 20 games, aided by a ridiculous 0.90 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

Mike Kennedy (Troy) is 1-2 with Bradenton (Pittsburgh) through 7 games with a 3.71 ERA through 34 innings, with 41 strikeouts.

John Rooney (Hoosic Valley) is Gage's teammate with Oklahoma City, and is currently 2-2 in 17 games coming out of the bullpen, with a 3.20 ERA & 22 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.

Dale Stanavich (Amsterdam) is 2-2 for Beloit (Miami) with a 2.77 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 13 innings over 11 games.

Tommy Kahnle (Shaker) is on a rehab stint in Somerset for the Yankees. He's pitched in 2 games, 2 innings, with 6 strikeouts. He, too, should be up in the Bronx soon.