News & notes

 Next stop for the Albany Firebirds: The Meadowlands.

The American Dream Center will be the site for Arenabowl 2024 on July 19. Albany punched its ticket by crushing Salina, 80-59, this afternoon, spoiling the homecoming of LaSalle grad Caleb Smith, who was profiled yesterday in the Albany Times-Union.

The Arenabowl will air on CBS Sports Network.

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Coming home after being swept by New England, the Tri-City Valleycats returned to their winning ways at steamy Joe Bruno Stadium Friday, beating the New Jersey Jackals, 6-3, but that wasn't all.

The 6th inning Mayors' Race, like the hot dog race in the 8th, is a work, as they say in pro wrestling, strictly for entertainment purposes. The Times-Union is reporting that there was a surprise in Friday's Mayors' Race.

1st term Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello, whose doppleganger has won her share of races this year, donned the foam replica of her face herself, ran the race, and won. As Madame Mayor shared with the T-U, she was supposed to run out on the field to help her "twin", but, where's the fun in that? She also owns up to having played baseball & softball in the past, and she does look like an athlete, seemingly being the youngest of the Mayors.

Mantello has thrown down the gauntlet to her counterparts in Albany (Kathy Sheehan) & Schenectady (Gary McCarthy), challenging them to follow her lead and don the foam masks for a match race, presumably not just the usual 6th inning shenanigans, but for charity, which would be the lure, in this writer's opinion.

In other 'Cats news, All-Star catcher Oscar Campos was placed on the 7 day IL with a hamstring issue, meaning he will not play in the Frontier League All Star Game Wednesday in Quebec. The 'Cats signed Bradley Roberto to take Campos' place on the active roster. Roberto arrives with a bit of a championship pedigree.

15 years ago, Roberto was a member of the Chula Vista (California) Little League All Star team that won the Little League World Series. With the 'Cats in the thick of a division race, Roberto finds himself in a familiar scenario. 

Stay tuned.