News & notes

 The Tri-City Valleycats took down the Ottawa Titans, 8-4, on Education Day at Bruno Stadium Thursday in front of what was reported as a sold out crowd. We'll see if they draw the same kind of crowd for tonight's game vs. the expansion New England Knockouts, who replaced the Empire State Greys. First pitch is at 6:30 pm.

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

Duke University is in the losers bracket in the Women's College World Series after dropping a 9-1 decision to Oklahoma in 6 innings due to the mercy rule. Ana Gold (Ballston Spa) is still mired in a post-season slump, going 0-3. Duke will play Alabama with their season on the line later today.

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

Things got chippy between the Albany Patroons & Frederick Flying Cows at the Washington Avenue Armory Thursday, such that the game officials called the contest with under a minute left in the 4th quarter, and Albany having already clinched the game, 130-118. Expect Frederick to go into game 2 tomorrow in Maryland short-handed.

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

A quick reminder that WWE's Friday Night Smackdown takes over MVP Arena tonight, with the live broadcast on Fox beginning at 8 pm. There will be a preliminary match or two without the cameras starting around 7:30. Tickets start at $30, though, given recent trends, the show could be sold out.

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

Thursday's state regional scoreboard:

Softball:

Class A: 

Ichabod Crane 13, Plattsburgh 0 (5 innings). Kate Graziano twirled a perfect game with 13 strikeouts. The Riders will host Camden at Luther Forest Saturday at 5.

Class B:

Schuylerville 13, Gouverneur 1. Next for the Black Horses will be Saranac tomorrow in Plattsburgh at 3 pm.

Also ahead:

Class D: Salem vs. Crown Point, today at 4:30 at Plattsburgh.

Class C: Berne-Knox-Westerlo vs. St. Lawrence Central, Saturday at noon at St. Lawrence University.

Class AA: Burnt Hills vs. Whitesboro, Saturday at 5 at Luther Forest.

Class AAA: Saratoga vs. Liverpool, Saturday at 1 at Luther Forest.

Baseball:

Class A: Albany Academy 3, Plattsburgh 1. The Cadets move on to face Jamesville-DeWitt at Auburn Saturday at noon.

Class B: Taconic Hills 7, Saranac 5. The Titans will play Canton Saturday at 11 am at Dutchman Park in Guilderland.

Class C: Chatham 18, Tupper Lake 10. The Panthers host Ticonderoga at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam Saturday at noon.

Also ahead:

Class D: Hadley-Luzerne vs. Parishville-Hopkinton, Saturday at noon at St. Lawrence University.

Class AA: Bethlehem vs. West Genesee, Saturday at Dutchman Park at 2 pm.

Class AAA: Shenendehowa vs. CBA-Syracuse, Saturday at Onondaga Community College at 6 pm.