News & notes

 They finished championship month in Saratoga in style Wednesday, as both Saratoga Catholic and Saratoga Springs High were honored by the city's mayor, John Stafford, and given a parade. Stafford also did a coin toss with coaches Alphonse "Phonsey" Lambert & Andy Cuthbertson to see who'd get their mayoral proclamation first. Coupled with the Belmont Stakes Festival at the track, you can understand why it was "championship month" in Spa City.

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For some reason, NYRA is promoting next week's live racing separately from the rest of the summer meet, pushing a 4 day July 4 Racing Festival (July 3-6) as a much more special event.

Here's a thought. Next year, just start with the Belmont Festival in June, and go from there with the longest meet in Spa history. Shoot, I'm old enough to remember when it was just a 24 day meet back in the day.

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For the 2nd time in less than a week, the Tri-City Valleycats got a complete game pitching performance.

Easton Klein checked Ottawa on 4 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5 as Tri-City evened the series with a 7-0 win. Jake Reinisch, for the 2nd straight game, went 1-2 with 2 walks, this time adding 2 RBI with his 6th homer of the season.

The series concludes tonight before the 'Cats travel to Sussex County tomorrow.

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Bernie Williams left baseball behind after retiring after the 2007 season, but the former Yankee outfielder, who started his career with the Class AA Albany-Colonie Yankees in 1989, is returning to New York this weekend.

Williams and his jazz band will play at a festival in Millbrook, Dutchess County, where Williams will unveil his brand of wines, his latest hobby. The closest he's come playing in the 518 proper was at the Pruyn House in Latham in 2017 at a benefit for the Center For Disability Services.

Can we get him to play the Troy Music Hall? Just asking for a friend.

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DJ Jones had a tough act to follow when he succeeded Jamil Hood at Green Tech, but three sectional titles and a Class AAA state title later, Jones is moving on.

After 7 seasons as the head man at Green Tech, Jones will take on the dual roles of athletic director and men's varsity basketball coach at KIPP Capital Region, located on Northern Boulevard in Albany. Point guard Indavier Barnes is transferring to KIPP-CR to join Jones. KIPP-CR will be a Class C school as it is getting its feet wet in Section II.

Stay tuned.