News & notes

 The Tri-City Valleycats have returned to Canada for a weekend series with the Ottawa Titans, carrying a chance to overtake the Titans for the 3rd & final Eastern Division playoff spot, a post-season berth that has eluded the 'Cats, who are in their 4th season in the Frontier League.

Tri-City defeated Trois-Rivieres, 4-3, in 11 innings Thursday to complete a 3 game sweep as they continue their push to the playoffs.

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Siena, it turns out, had already released its MAAC schedule for the women's basketball team for 2024-5. Unlike the men, no non-conference games have been scheduled for 1st year coach Terry Primm's group.

Here we go:

December:

19: Niagara.

21: Canisius.

January:

2: @ Manhattan.

4: @ Iona.

9: Quinnipiac.

16: @ Sacred Heart.

18: Merrimack.

23: @ Mount St. Mary's.

25: Iona.

30: Marist.

February:

1: @ Quinnipiac.

6: @ St. Peter's.

8: Rider.

13: @ Marist.

15: Sacred Heart.

20: @ Niagara.

22: @ Canisius.

March:

1: Mount St. Mary's.

6: @ Fairfield.

8: Senior night vs. Manhattan.

Game times and non-conference games will be announced at a later date.

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You know that Major League Baseball once had a franchise in Troy, which evolved into today's San Francisco Giants.

But, did you know that the 518 also had a Negro League franchise? Like, I didn't, until reading a piece in today's Albany Times-Union.

The Mohawk Giants played their home games in Schenectady as far back as 1913, playing their home games at Island Park Stadium, long since torn down. A plaque erected Thursday tells us that Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson brought an all-star team to the Electric City in the fall of 1913, only to lose to the Giants, 1-0, before 7,000 fans.

As MLB is doing its part to unite the history of the Negro League with its own, it'd be a good idea to send some researchers to Schenectady to learn more about the Giants, don't you think?