News & notes

What we neglected to mention in Friday's game summary of Troy High's win over LaSalle is that head coach Bob Burns now doubles as offensive coordinator. Mike Grasso left after last season to become the men's varsity basketball coach at Niskayuna, which will make things interesting when Troy & Nisky play this winter.

But of course, a certain newspaper will ignore the game, just like they ignored the Collar City Cup game. Again. Stay tuned.
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Due to the ongoing embargo against El Cheapo Media, sports editor Joe Boyle covered the Averill Park-Columbia game on Friday. At least the Blue Devils scored this time. 11 months after being shut out by the Warriors, Columbia actually put some points on the board, but Averill Park won again, 40-6. Troy will visit AP & Columbia in weeks 5-6.
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Lansingburgh has not solved its woes after going winless last year. The Knights traveled to the North Country Saturday, and were blown off the field by defending Class B champion Glens Falls, 67-6. Ouch! Noah Girard, cousin of Joseph Girard III, directed the offense, which scored 8 touchdowns in the first half alone against a still-undermanned 'Burgh defense.

Apparently, they still haven't reinstated the JV program, if not also the cheerleaders & band, at Lansingburgh. For coach Jeff Pasinella, the lean times will continue until those factors go back in the budget.
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Troy High's women's soccer team is playing a Hall of Fame tournament in Niskayuna this weekend, and are off to a bad start, getting shut out by Holland-Patent, 4-0, Saturday morning, to fall to 1-2 overall (1-1 Suburban Council). They'll play Schoharie this afternoon before returning home to play Colonie Tuesday night.

What about a collegiate Collar City Cup?

Last night's Collar City Cup game between Troy High & LaSalle, while exciting, was a slog, crawling to the finish after more than three hours due to penalties and injuries. However, it got me thinking.

Troy has two colleges that are located in the same general areas as their high school counterparts. Despite the fact that Hudson Valley Community College, a 2 year school that plays in a junior college league, is virtually next door to LaSalle, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) practically encircles the Dudley Van Arnam Campus that is home to the Troy Middle & High Schools, their sports teams have never played each other.

I say, screw the disparity between HVCC & RPI. Never mind that RPI plays Union for the Dutchmen's shoes every year. There has to be some sort of incentive that would bring two of the city's three colleges (Russell Sage, now a co-ed school, is the other, and has been linked to RPI) together on the playing field. RPI's rarely, if ever, played UAlbany or Siena, either, but that's beside the point in this case, too. The Saints & Great Danes won't be playing basketball this year because of their own issues over home court, but what's stopping RPI from showing HVCC some respect? A fair number of HVCC graduates move on to RPI to finish their education.

Consider the football venues. East Campus Village Stadium is situated behind the Houston Field House. HVCC's home field is just a short distance in back of Bruno Stadium on the Vikings' campus. In basketball, HVCC has the Ed McDonough Field House, and probably can seat more than RPI can in their gym. The only way that changes is if RPI, which has hosted the Harlem Globetrotters in the past, can convert Houston Field House from hockey to basketball. Baseball? Don't ya think RPI players would jump at the chance to play at The Joe? Enough said.

It's up to the college presidents (i.e. Dr. Shirley Jackson) and the mayor's office to make it happen. If it happens, who wins? Everyone.

High School Fridays: X Marks The Spot (Troy @ LaSalle, 9/6/19)

Rare is the time when a high school football game, even on opening night, spills out over three hours.

Yes, you read that right. Three. Hours.

The Collar City Cup was on the line as Troy High sought to retain the Cup in their season opener at LaSalle Institute. After a narrow escape last year at home, the Flying Horses, beginning their fifth season with Bob Burns as head coach, wanted no part of starting the season 0-1, as they did last year. John Audino, in his 2nd season at LaSalle, wanted to get his Cadets off to a fast start.

Well, at least someone's wish was granted.

LaSalle won the coin toss, and took the opening kickoff. After an offsides penalty on Troy, LaSalle QB Bo Catherwood, a transfer from Tamarac, sliced through the defense, and raced 76 yards untouched into the end zone. Mike Tobin added the extra point, and less than 30 seconds into the game, LaSalle led, 7-0.

Back came Troy. On their opening possession, QB Alex (Hungry Like The) Wolfe hit Nasir Dawud-Soto with a 14 yard touchdown catch. Thanks to an ill-timed LaSalle penalty, Troy opted for the 2 point conversion, and Xavier Leigh cashed in to give Troy a brief 8-7 lead.

Brief because on LaSalle's next offensive play, Traydon Lawrence, another transfer, this one from Green Tech, took advantage of his offensive line blowing open the door, and scampered 68 yards to paydirt. However, the 2 point conversion failed, and LaSalle led, 13-8, at the end of the frame. Troy was on the march at the end of the quarter, and just six seconds into the second quarter, took the lead for good, as Leigh scored from 11 yards out. New Troy kicker Jonah Griswold's PAT was low, and wide left, leaving the score at 14-13 in favor of Troy.

Seven minutes later, Leigh found the end zone again, this time from 25 yards after back to back penalties took Troy from first & goal to fourth and goal from the 25. Again, the 2 point conversion failed, and Troy took a 20-13 lead into the break.

There was so much dirty laundry on the carpet in the first half with all the penalties, you'd swear LaSalle had planned on hiring Don Henley for post-game entertainment. That it took them nearly 90 minutes to play the first half had to be galling to both teams.

Troy received the second half kickoff, and marched down the field, ending with Wolfe finding Makai (Don't Be) Cruel in the corner of the end zone from 13 yards out. Leigh scored his 2nd 2 point conversion of the game, and the lead stretched to 28-13.

However, instead of penalties, injuries ruled the second half. Players on both sides, including Leigh, Lawrence, and, at the end of the game, Wolfe, had issues with cramps. Leigh, in fact, might've had hamstring issues, and missed most of the second half.

LaSalle tried to make it interesting in the fourth quarter. Eddie Yamin, a freshman quarterback who alternated with Catherwood, got the Cadets back within shouting distance with a 49 yard strike to Brady Fenton. Unfortunately, the 2 point conversion failed again. Now, it was 28-19, and Audino had a decision to make with just over 8 minutes left. Should the Cadets kick off, or try an onside kick.

They kicked off. Big mistake.

Troy ate up some clock, and then, it was Wolfe to Cruel, again, this time for 18 yards. Again, the 2 point conversion failed. The lead was back to 15 at 34-19.

However, LaSalle's next possession was a disaster. Catherwood lost the handle, and Jayden Riggins recovered the fumble, LaSalle's second turnover of the night, as Catherwood had thrown a pick earlier to Austin Francis to kill a drive. Wolfe cramped on the first play, and came out of the game. Two plays later, Xavier Ward, in the Wildcat formation, slammed the door shut on the game with a 15 yard run with 1:24 left in the game.

LaSalle had one last chance, but simply ran out of time. Troy retains the Cup, 40-19, in a marathon that took 3 hours and 8 minutes. In other words, it was your average NFL game played by high schoolers.

Both teams have to clean things up heading into next week. Troy has to hope that two of their key playmakers, Wolfe & Leigh, can return for the home opener vs. Amsterdam.
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Other Troy High news:

Thursday was a productive day for the Flying Horses as well. The boys' soccer team played to a scoreless draw with Schenectady for the second straight season, moving their record to 1-1-1 (0-1-1 in the Suburban Council). The women bounced back from a loss to Shenendehowa by blanking the Lady Patriots, 4-0. Troy also beat Schenectady in volleyball, three sets to one, as both the volleyball & women's soccer teams even their records at 1-1.

The tennis meet between Troy & Schenectady was not reported to the press.

News & notes

The Albany Patroons are taking the first steps toward improving the team's overall look heading into the 2020 season, where the Pats, champions of The Basketball League, will be opening defense of their title.

Under league ownership last season, the team was purchased by Dr. Timothy Maggs, 65, of Schenectady, and a press conference was held on Wednesday.

 

The last time the team tried out a "new look", it was after they'd moved into the then-Knickerbocker Arena, and ultimately changed their name to the Capital Region Pontiacs, which led to them being forced to leave town due to poor attendance at the arena.

Attendance is still a problem at the ancient Washington Avenue Armory, though more than 2,000 fans turned out for the championship clincher. However, it's been tough trying to recapture the magic of the team's glory years, and it was like that a decade ago during the rebirth of the Continental Basketball Association.

The next step? Moving out of the Armory is a must, and going back downhill, this time to the Capital Center, may be the key to the team's overall survival.
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Troy High's golf match with Ballston Spa was a victim of early afternoon rain on Wednesday. They'll try again on Monday. Meanwhile, the school's soccer, tennis, & volleyball teams play Schenectady today.

Troy High update, 9/3

Momentum is a fickle thing.

Troy High's boys' soccer team found that out on Tuesday night in their home opener, also their Suburban Council opener, in dropping a 3-0 decision to Shenendehowa. Five days removed from beating Hudson Falls was perhaps too much time in between games for Mike Murnane's club, which will go back on the road Thursday to visit Schenectady.

One problem Troy had last year was scoring goals, both on the boys & girls' teams, and that proved to be a problem again for the Troy women in their league opener, as the Lady Plainsmen routed the Lady Horses, 9-0. Ouch! The home opener will be tomorrow against Schenectady.

Shen, in fact, also bested Troy in golf, volleyball, & tennis, leaving Troy winless in all three.

By the way, Monday's non-league volleyball match vs. Catholic Central was cancelled, likely because it was scheduled on Labor Day, perhaps by mistake. No make-up date has been set.

Troy's records as of 9/4:

Golf: 0-4. Troy is scheduled to travel to Ballston Spa this afternoon, weather permitting.
Volleyball: 0-1.
Boys' soccer: 1-1 overall, 0-1 league.
Girls' soccer: 0-1.
Girls' tennis: 0-4.
Cross country track: 0-1.

If you feel you can't make it to LaSalle's Sutton Field for Friday's Collar City Cup game, don't despair. The game will be seen as the season premiere of Spectrum Sports' Friday Night Matchup, with kickoff shortly after 7 pm.

News & notes

The Tri-City Valleycats' 2019 season ended Monday, but the season finale vs. Vermont was washed out by rain, and the threat of late afternoon thunderstorms that threatened to add to the precipitation that had already hit the city. The 'Cats close out on a three game winning streak, so they can say that they went out on a high note.

Catcher-first baseman Nate Perry, who was a member of last year's championship team, has a chance for a second ring. Perry was lifted from Sunday's game after popping out in the home 6th, and was notified by manager Ozney Guillen that he was being promoted to Class A-advanced Fayetteville (North Carolina), which has qualified for the Carolina League playoffs. Perry led the 'Cats with 12 homers, the last of which he hit on Saturday.
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Troy High's men's soccer team figures to have momentum on their side heading into tonight's home opener vs. Shenendehowa. On the other hand, Troy is 0-4 vs. Shen since entering the Suburban Council. Something has to give in a twilight game that gets underway at 6:30 pm at Picken Field.

Meanwhile, the Lady Plainsmen, who lost out on a sectional title last season to Bethlehem, open at home vs. Troy in the season opener for both clubs. The Lady Horses will have their home opener Thursday night vs. Schenectady.
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The Troy Fighting Irish have not updated their web page in over a month, so we have no way of knowing who they'll face or where in the first round of the Northeastern Football Alliance playoffs on Saturday. That does not sound good.

Youth will be served (Valleycats 3, Vermont 1, 8/31/19)

They've always said baseball was a young man's game.

The Tri-City Valleycats sent 18 year old Jairo Lopez to the hill Saturday night against Vermont, and Lopez saved his best performance of the season for his last, going five innings, giving up one hit while striking out eight, matching a season & career high, and walking one. Lopez was perfect through three innings before issuing the walk to Marty Bechina to start the fourth.

Meanwhile, the 'Cats got to Lake Monsters starter Michael Murray in the home third. Matthew Barefoot singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Luis Guerrero. Two outs and a stolen base later, Guerrero came home on a single by Luis Santana to give the hosts a 2-0 lead through three. Nate Perry homered in the fourth, a blast into the berm behind the visiting bullpen, to close the scoring.

Vermont tried to make a game of it in the seventh against Derek West. With one out, West walked Dustin Harris. A single by Jordan Diaz brought up Kevin Richards, who brought Harris home with a single. Richards, however, was erased on a double play to end the frame. Maybe if this baseball thing doesn't work out, Richards can find another career in radio.

Daniel Cody got five outs for his first pro save, as the Valleycats have now won three of their last four, beating Vermont, 3-1. The teams will meet again this afternoon, followed by a first-ever Labor Day matinee, with a 3 pm first pitch, on Monday.