News & notes

 Shaker High graduate Jeff Hoffman has found a new home in the majors.

Hoffman was traded earlier this week from Colorado to Cincinnati, which made a surprising run to the playoffs, only to be swept out by Atlanta in the 1st round. They'll find room for Hoffman either in the starting rotation, with Trevor Bauer likely gone via free agency, or in the bullpen.

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Troy High has released its revised bowling schedule for 2020-1. The first four matches originally scheduled--at home vs. CBA & Schenectady, on the road at Bethlehem & Shenendehowa---have not yet been rescheduled.

The lineup, as of now:

December 21-home opener vs. Colonie.

January 4-Guilderland.

January 7-Albany.

January 11-Ballston Spa.

January 20-Niskayuna.

January 21-Columbia.

January 26-@ Saratoga.

January 28-@ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.

As of now the Flying Horses would have a six match homestand at Uncle Sam Lanes, but we'll see how the schedule finally takes shape, probably before the holidays.

The Troy-CBA swimming/diving schedule remains intact.

News & notes

 In addition to the Suburban Council soccer championships decided on Saturday, men's cross country and women's swimming & diving were determined as well.

Shenendehowa, having swept the soccer championships, the women's title shared with Shaker, and having also won the field hockey title on Friday, won the swimming & diving championship as well. Troy High, for what it's worth, finished 9th in the team competition, an indicator of how the Troy-Averill Park combined unit had improved from last year, when the two schools were competing individually.

Meanwhile, Saratoga won the men's cross country title. Troy did not field a full team, and had two individual runners near the bottom of the standings.

The women's cross country championships should be wrapping up as these words are being written.

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The 518 lost another sports icon, but to today's generation, he might be better known as a businessman.

Bob Daubney, 89, had bowled five games at Spare Time-Latham the other day before suffering a stroke, Daubney, whose pro shop had been located in Albany & Colonie before settling into Latham a few years back, passed away Saturday. It would not surprise anyone if Spare Time, located next door to the shop, would organize and host a memorial tournament before the end of the year.

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Speaking of tournaments, we have not heard anything about the traditional Thanksgiving Eve & Thanksgiving Day tournaments hosted by Walsh Bowling Centers being cancelled for this year. With social distancing in place, the lanes are active, so the fields for the doubles tournament on Wednesday at Green Island Lanes, and the Red Richard singles at Uncle Sam Lanes Thanksgiving Day are going to be smaller than normal. Stay tuned.

A most unlikely assist

 The Suburban Council soccer tournaments began on Tuesday with Shenendehowa getting a last minute bye into the semi-finals in the men's tournament when Colonie was forced to forfeit due to the discovery of a COVID-19 case in relation to the Colonie roster.

Four days later, the league was forced to declare Shen & Shaker co-champions of the women's tournament when the Lady Bison were forced to cancel their trip to Clifton Park for the title game due to another COVID-19 case on their campus. As was the case on Tuesday, the cancellation of today's game came virtually at the 11th hour, and the only fair thing to do was to declare co-champions.

One can only imagine how it's going to be if this happens during basketball season, if there is one, come January.

Oh, by the way, Shen won the men's tournament, downing CBA, 3-2. While the Plainsmen have their share of haters because of being an elite program, you can't fault them for the misfortune that has plagued their league rivals in Colonie & Latham. Albany County has seen a greater surge of COVID-19 cases of late, more so than Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties.

As the late Walter Cronkite often said, that's the way it is.

News & notes

 While RPI & Union have cancelled their hockey schedules for 2020-21 due to coronavirus, RPI goaltender Owen Savory decided he could not remain bunkered at the Troy campus.

Savory is transferring to UMass-Lowell, which, at present, is planning on playing this season. According to WNYT sports director/anchor Rodger Wyland, in his column in the Albany Times-Union, Savory needs to practice & play to keep himself in game shape and ready for a future pro career. Well, ya can't blame him for that.

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The Adirondack Thunder of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) have chosen to opt out for 2020-21 as well. That means there won't be any hockey played in the 518 until at least January, when high school hockey could possibly start. It also keeps ancient Cool Insuring Arena dark until further notice.

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Soccer season is officially over at Troy High.

The Flying Horses' men's team lost to Columbia, 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon, finishing at 1-12-1 for the season. Wins have been hard to come by for coach Mike Murnane's club the last three years. Since he's also a physical education teacher at Troy, his job is safe. That would not be the case if he were coaching a college team.

Update, 10:37 am: Troy's women's team shut out Albany, 3-0, and finish at 3-10-1.

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As for the Suburban Council tournaments, Shenendehowa could finish their season on Saturday by winning both the men's & women's tournaments. The ladies will play Shaker, while the men face CBA. Shen is also in position to capture the Suburban Council field hockey title, also on Saturday. And let us not forget that league championships in swimming & cross country track will be decided this weekend as well.

Figure on this. Outside of Clifton Park, crickets will likely be chirping if Shen runs the table. That's the price of being an elite program in Section II.

Suburban Council soccer results, 11/17

 STOP THE PRESSES!!! Troy High finally won a men's soccer game!

Yes, it's true, but it's a pity that it was in the consolation tournament. Troy avenged an earlier loss to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake by shutting out the Spartans, 2-0, on the road Tuesday night. Mike Murnane's club will finish their season today at Columbia, which beat Schenectady, 2-1.

Men's quarterfinal results:

Shenendehowa defeated Colonie via forfeit due to COVID-19 concerns (a Colonie player tested positive).

CBA 3, Albany 1.

Niskayuna 3, Shaker 0.

Saratoga 3, Guilderland 2.

Thursday:

Saratoga @ Shen.

Niskayuna @ CBA.

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Women's quarterfinal results:

Columbia defeated Guilderland via penalty kicks after the teams played to a 1-1 draw after regulation and double overtime.

Shen 1, Colonie 0.

Niskayuna 1, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 0.

Shaker 6, Saratoga 1.

Consolation semi-final, winner plays @ Troy on Thursday: Albany 10, Schenectady 0.

Also Thursday:

Niskayuna @ Shen.

Columbia @ Shaker.

The finals for both the men & women are on Saturday.

News & notes

 The other day, we reported that low-to-moderate risk sports such as bowling would be delayed until December 14. Now, the NYS Public High School Athletic Association is back-tracking, saying that bowling and other low-risk sports can start practices on November 30. High risk sports such as hockey & basketball would now start January 4.

Here is the official memo from NYSPHSAA:

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RPI & Union College have cancelled their 2020-1 hockey seasons for both men & women due to coronavirus concerns. These schools are taking every precaution available, and with basketball also off the table, the season without sports at both schools continues.

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Some quick notes from today's Suburban Council men's soccer tournament:

Colonie @ Shenendehowa has been cancelled. The way the notice on Shen's Twitter feed was written, it appears that the Garnet Raiders have forfeited, due to coronavirus cases turning up at Colonie. Shen will face the Saratoga-Guilderland winner on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Niskayuna downed Shaker, 2-0, and CBA tripped up Albany, 3-1, to advance to the semi-finals.

We should have the rest of the results tomorrow.

Suburban Council women's soccer pairings

 Here are the pairings for the 2020 Suburban Council women's soccer tournament, which begins tomorrow.

8. Colonie @ 1. Shenendehowa.

7. Saratoga @ 2. Shaker.

6. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake @ 3. Niskayuna (game at Schenectady High).

5. Guilderland @ 4. Columbia.

Troy will play in a consolation tournament, same as the guys. For some unknown reason, the Lady Horses' two wins are considered non-league (over Albany & Schenectady). The information in that regard may very well be incorrect. In any event, Troy will have one more go at it vs. Albany, while Schenectady travels to Averill Park. We'll have the results on Wednesday.

Update, 11/17/20, 11:43 am: According to Schedule Galaxy, the women's game is set for Thursday vs. an opponent to be named, as apparently it might not be Troy vs. Albany III after all. Instead, Troy gets a bye while Albany & Schenectady will play today. Troy will be the home team Thursday at 4:30 pm at Picken Field.