Michele Larson is back in the Meyer's RV Monday NFL League at Mancuso Bowling Center after a three-year absence and so are her high scores.
The Batavia resident rolled a 704 series last week, posting games of 202-234-268.
The right-hander averaged 197 in 2019-20 and 201 in 2018-19 and has three honor scores to her credit -- 300 in 2014, 290 in 2002 and 299 in 2001.
In other league action, Albion's Brandon Gurnsey finished with a 290 game last week for a 774 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
The Batavia boys soccer team picked up its sixth win of the season, against four losses, by beating Attica 2-1 on Saturday.
"It was a contentious game in which Attica gained a 1-0 lead early on before Troy Hawley eventually equalized on an assist by Owen Halpin," said Head Coach Graham Halpin.
Hunter Mileham's game-winning goal in the second half was assisted by Owen Halpin..
The defensive line and goalkeeper Ben Stone were instrumental in containing Attica's offense, along with notable contributions from Noah Whitcombe, Finn Halpin, Patrick Suozzi, and Eli Michalak, said Coach Halpin.
The Pembroke Dragons improved to 5-0 on the season with a 69-28 win over C.G. Finney/Northstar on Saturday.
The Dragons amassed more than 500 yards in total offense while running only 30 plays.
Tyson Totten ran for 249 yards and five touchdowns on eight carries. The effort put him over 100 total career touchdowns.
Fullback Caleb Felski had 136 yards rushing and three touchdowns on four carries.
Quarterback Vijay Dhanda added 72 rushing yards and a touchdown while also throwing for 42 yards and the Dragons' first passing TD of the season to receiver Sean Pustulka.
Defensively, the Dragons were led by Caleb Felski, with 11 tackles and two interceptions. Totten added nine tackles of his own, while Octavius Martin, Jayden Mast, Madden Perry, Landon Suro and Jayden Bridge all added at least five each.
The Dragons have yet to punt this season.
The Dragons Host 4-1 Allegany-Limestone out of Section VI next Friday for Homecoming.
Also, on Saturday, Notre Dame beat Geneseo/Mount Morris 35-0. Jay Antinore was 8-14 passing for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Antinore ran four times for 74 yards and a TD. Roy Ricks had 59 yards on seven carries. Ryan Fitzpatrick scored a TD while hauling in five passes for 85 yards. Jacob Sherwood and Antinore also each had TD receptions.
Canisteo-Greenwood beat Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, 19-12. Avery Watterson gain 172 yards on 24 carries and scored twice. Gavin Armbrewster was 7-12 passing for 83 yards. Jack Cianfrini had three receptions for 52 yards. Ashton Bezon had 14 tackles.
York/Pavilion beat Avon 28-18
LeRoy’s Merritt Holly (15) soars at the Attica-Alexander PAT kick. Photo by Ed Henry.
Le Roy’s Drew Strollo (34) and DJ O’Geen (54) look to stop Landyn Thomas (3). Photo by Ed Henry.
The Le Roy defense converges on Attica-Aleander’s Tyler Marino (22). Photo by Ed Henry.
Xavien Walker is a valuable return specialist for the Knights. Photo by Ed Henry.
The Le Roy defense looks to stop Attica-Alexander star Clayton Bezon (44). Photo by Ed Henry.
Le Roy’s Connor Hegeman hauls in a Le Roy TD pass against three defenders. Photo by Ed Henry.
Le Roy’s Tony Piazza (22) follows his O-line for a late-game TD. Photo by Ed Henry.
The Le Roy defense swarms Attica-Alexander RB Levi Pearl (33). Photo by Ed Henry.
After a long reception early in the third quarter, Vertus Charter was threatening to score near the goal line when Batavia's Mekhi Fortes grabbed QB Malachi Jones, knocking the ball loose, allowing Maggio Buchholz to recover the fumble. Photo by Howard Owens.
With an aggressive Blue Devils defense harassing Vertus QB Malachi Jones all night, forcing turnovers and lost yardage, Batavia was able to securing a convincing win over Vertus Charter 37-16.
Bronx Bucholz was 11-16 passing for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Cole Grazioplene had two receptions for 18 yards, and 22 yards on one carry, with two TDs and a defensive interception.
Zailen Griffin had 10 carries for 89 yards.
Carter Mullen had four receptions for 44 yards and touchdown.
Mekhi Fortes, who was also a dominant presence on defense, had three receptions for 43 yards and ran for a touchdown.
The Blue Devils are now 2-2 on the season.
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Flushed from the pocket, QB Malachi Jones spikes the ball to prevent a sack by Mekhi Fortes in the first quarter. Photo by Howard Owens
Zailen Griffin sprints away from a defender in the second quarter. Photo by Howard Owens.
Mekhi Fortes with the ball over the endzone in the second quarter. Photo by Howard Owens
Zailen Griffin Photo by Howard Owens
Mekhi Fortes with the stiff arm in the second-quarter. Photo by Howard Owens
A defensive stop in the second quarter left Vertus inside the one-yard line. Photo by Howard Owens.
Leading to a touchdown on a fumble recovery. Photo Howard Owens.
DaShaun Wright and teammates celebrate his fumble recovery in the endzone for a touchdown. Photo by Howard Owens.
Maggio Buchholz with the reception on the PAT. Photo by Howard Owens.
Cole Grazioplene with a third-quarter interception. Photo by Howard Owens.
Offensive lineman Karvel Martino with a block. Photo by Howard Owens.
Photo of Makadushin N Cheez courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Makadushin N Cheez led from gate to wire to win his sixth of the year in the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 29).
Kevin Cummings sent Makadushin N Cheez to the front off the gate and took the full field of nine to the quarter in an easy :29 flat, and put the opposition to sleep with an even slower :59 half. An outer flow formed through turn three but couldn’t get near the leader by three-quarters. That left Makadushin N Cheez still in command with only the pocket-sitting Lunar Credit (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Mugshots Bro (Jim Morrill Jr.) tracking closely. At the top of the lane, Lunar Credit pulled and Mugshots Bro came up the pylons in chase, and they were joined by Joxter (Dan Daley) brushing late from far back. But none would catch Makadushin N Cheez, who won by one-half length in 1:57.3.
Makadushin N Cheez ($2.90) scored his 25th lifetime win for owners Joe D’Agostino, Molly D’Agostino, Philip Kadushin, and David Dewhurst, who also trains the winner.
In the $13,000 Open II trot, Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) made a three-wide move from fourth around the breaking Grey Clouds (Dan Daley) in the last turn, caught the front-running Lepanto (Kevin Cummings) and held off the late closing Da Boogie Man (Kyle Cummings) and Gracious Triumph (Jim Morrill Jr.) to win by one-half length in 1:57.2, which was a new lifetime mark.
Mary Warriner owns Good Boy ($3.60) who is trained by Ryan Swift.
Driver Jim Morrill Jr. won three more races on Friday while John Cummings Jr., Kevin Cummings, Kyle Cummings and Ray Fisher Jr. each doubled up.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 30) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $1,013 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
As the 2023 live racing season at Batavia Downs reached the halfway mark, the numbers show that bettors came out in full force, and that may lead to the track's most profitable year since Western Regional Off-Track Betting reopened the property for racing in 2002.
Through the first 26 days of the scheduled 53-day summer/fall meet, the total handle is up 57 percent over the first 26 days of the 2022 season, with an average nightly handle of $240,438, compared to $153,229 at this point last year. And Don Hoover, Director of Live Racing, is expecting this surge to continue.
“Based on what we are seeing to this point of the meet, I believe these numbers will hold true throughout the remainder of the 2023 live season and easily eclipse the previous high-water mark (since WROTB purchased Batavia Downs) of $146,987 per night set in 2021,” said Hoover.
“We had a very strong winter meet at the start of this year that set two daily handle records (for the WROTB era) on consecutive Wednesdays, and the momentum for our product has clearly carried over to our current meet. As a result, I expect this substantial increase in wagering dollars to continue throughout the second half of the season.”
Hoover is also quick to point out that it has been a total team effort that has resulted in this increase.
“More horses are stabled on the grounds at Batavia Downs right now than in previous years, directly resulting in more races and fuller fields that lead to more wagering opportunities. And with the Tioga Downs meet recently coming to a close, we will most likely see more ship-ins from those horsemen as well, providing an even larger pool of horses to fill all our classes. And our simulcast department has been hard at work sending our races to more outlets throughout North America, which in turn, exposes more customers to our product,” said Hoover.
Batavia Downs is currently racing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday right through October 28. Then the schedule changes to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday from November 1 through December 9, which is the final night of live racing for the meet.
Photo of Xenia’s Chip courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Overlooked by the bettors at 13-1 despite a convincing win two weeks ago in a lower class, Xenia’s Chip made a statement Wednesday night (Sept. 27) by winning the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares at Batavia Downs.
Xenia’s Chip (Kevin Cummings) got away third as Imprincessgemma A (John Cummings Jr.) skated to the quarter in :28.3. Just past that station, Won Surreal Deal (Dave McNeight III) pulled first-over and made her way to second passing the half, with two mares following in the outer flow that left Xenia’s Chip locked in at the pylons.
As the race motored up the backside, Imprincessgemma A continued to own the lead but was under duress from Won Surreal Deal and the pocket-sitting Come Out And Play (Jim Morrill Jr.), who pushed her to a :27.4 third panel. The top three positions remained the same around the last turn but then Xenia’s Chip finally had room to advance and made her way to the five-path at the top of the stretch. With four horses still ahead of her, Xenia’s Chip dug deep and paced furiously to the line where she won by one-half length in 1:54.3, taking a new lifetime mark.
It was the eighth win of the year for Xenia’s Chip ($33.00) who is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Jim Graham.
In the secondary featured $11,500 mid-level conditioned pace for female participants, the well-traveled and win-laden Doyoukissfirstdate (Dave McNeight III) took no prisoners after striking the front, controlling the pace by a gapped margin and pacing home easily by 1-½ lengths in 1:55.4 to score her 12th win of the year. Doyoukissfirstdate ($7.20) is owned by Gary Ballowe and trained by David Russo.
The Downs second leading driver, Jim Morrill Jr., won five races on the card Wednesday. He scored with Tobin’s Diva (1:56.2, $3.60), A Black Diamond (1:55.2, $2.60), Silverhill Blaze (1:56.4, $2.80), American Jazz (1:55.3, $2.50) and Flo (1:56, $3.90). Morrill’s last three wins were a natural hat trick in races 11, 12 and 13. Morrill now has 96 wins at the current meet and trails Kevin Cummmings (105) by nine wins.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 29) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $697 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Bet Eightthirtyone courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Driver Kevin Cummings and trainer Angelo Nappo teamed up to take the top two feature races at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Sept. 23) over a speed-bearing track on a beautiful fall evening.
First in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace, Cummings got away fifth with Stranger Things while Gunslinger Hill (Drew Monti) shot to the quarter in :28.3. However Stranger Things wasted little time getting into the mix, coming first over halfway through the second turn and engaging Gunslinger Hill by the half. After trading strides up the backstretch, Cummings rocked Stranger Things to the front and crossed over at three-quarters in 1:25.3. From there, Stranger Things closed it out on his own, holding off another late bid from Gunslinger Hill and winning by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.
After taking a new lifetime mark of 1:52.2 last week, Stranger Things ($3.60) made it two straight wins despite moving up in class for owners Kathy Schoeffel, Virginia Schoeffel, and James Reuther.
Then in the $12,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Cummings took a similar path to victory with Bet Eightthirtyone. After getting away fifth as Remember The Beach (Dave McNeight III) commanded the fractions, Cummings tipped Bet Eightthirtyone second-over behind Nox Vegas Bluechip (Jim Morrill Jr.) at the half and followed his cover to three-quarters where he went three-wide around the fading Nox Vegas Bluechip. He was then kept in the three path by Mighty Santana N (Joe Chindano Jr.), who slipped out of the pocket under him. At the top of the stretch, Remember The Beach, Mighty Santana N and Bet Eightthirtyone were even and all were under heavy drives by their pilots. In deep stretch the race was down to Mighty Santana N and Bet Eightthirtyone with Bet Eightthirtyone getting the nod by one-half length in 1:54.2, tying his seasonal mark.
Bet Eightthirtyone ($7.60) got his sixth win of the year for his owner Super Mile.
Cummings went on to win a total of four races during the night including a natural hat trick in races nine, 10, and 11. Trainer Jim Rothfuss had a hat trick of his own to lead all conditioners on Saturday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Sept. 27) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $365 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Stranger Things courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
After scoring his second straight win at Batavia Downs in the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot on Friday night (Sept. 22), Lougazi attained a career milestone by surpassing one-half million dollars in lifetime earnings.
Lougazi (Ray Fisher Jr.) got away sixth while Makadushin N Cheez (Kevin Cummings) took the outside route to the lead as he passed the quarter in :28.4. Then just before the half, I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) led an outer-flow charge while Lougazi got in gear and followed. I Got The Looks pushed Makadusin N Cheez to three-quarters and that’s where Lougazi tipped three wide into the last turn. By the time they hit the top of the stretch, the three horses trotted evenly across the track, but then Lougazi kicked away in deep stretch and won by a length in 1:57.2.
It was the 57th lifetime win for Lougazi ($6.10) and it pushed his career bank to $501,366 for owner Mary Warriner. The Ryan Swift trained Lougazi has not missed the board in nine Batavia Downs starts this year, posting three wins, four seconds and two thirds to this point.
In the $13,000 Open II Handicap trot, Ricky Be Sharp (Mike Baumeister) was let go by the betting public at 28-1 and pulled a major upset after making a three-wide move at three-quarters, trotted by the race leader Worthy Of Honor (Drew Monti) and then held off the late closing Da Boogie Man (Kyle Cummings) and E Street (Jim Morrill Jr.) to win by a head in 1:57.3, tying his lifetime mark.
Ricky Be Sharp ($59.50) got his 40th career win for owner Jennifer Signor. Ron Baumeister trains the winner.
Jim Morrill Jr. led all drivers with three wins on Friday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 22) at 6 p.m.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Ricky Be Sharp courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Lockport resident and Batavia native Paul Bacon continues to make his mark in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
The 58-year-old right-hander averaged 220 in the league last season and is off to a hot start this season.
Earlier this week, he rolled games of 258, 276 and 264 for a 798 series, bowling with partner Brian Cline, on lanes 3-4.
Bacon spun 10 strikes in each of the first two games and strung the first nine strikes in the third game before leaving two pins on the first ball of the 10th frame. He missed the spare, and finished just two pins shy of his second 800 series. His other 800 -- 824 -- came in December 2004 at Brad Angelo Lanes in Lockport.
"My feet got a little quick in that last frame and I pulled the shot," said Bacon, who is employed as an operator at WestRock packaging facility in North Tonawanda. "Still, I'm pretty happy about that score."
Bacon said he used a 900 Global Eternity en route to his 29-strike effort.
In other action at Mancuso's, Attica's Mark Brown found perfection in the County Line Stone Friday Trios League with a 300 middle game on lanes 21-22. His other games were 200 and 234 for a 754 series.
Brown rolled a 300 in January in the same league.
For a list of high scores around the Genesee Region USBC, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
With a 49-16 win over Frewsburg (Section VI) on Friday, the Pembroke Dragons improved to 4-0 on the season.
The Dragons held Frewsburg scoreless until the fourth quarter.
Behind the blocking of Ben Steinberg, Jayden Mast, Jayden Bridge, Madden Perry, JJ Gabbey, Octavius Martin and Hayden Williams, Vijay Dhanda drew first blood with a 5-yard rushing TD.
Tyson Totten rushed for 177 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries to eclipse 1,000 yards on the season, while fullback Caleb Felski added 102 yards and one touchdown of his own on just five carries.
Defensively the Dragons were led by Caleb Felski with nine tackles.
Octavius Martin and Tyson Totten recorded seven each, with Landon Schoonover and Landon Suro adding five a piece. JJ Gabbey, Vijay Dhanda and Tyson Totten each had a fumble recovery, while Madden Perry had two. Tyson Totten took his recovery to the house on a 55-yard score.
Sean Pustulka was 7-7 on extra points. The Dragons have yet to punt this season.
"We've got a young team still trying to find their way," said OAE Head Coach Tyler Winter. "A lot of guys are playing competitive minutes of football, and it's a new experience. The loss hurts, but the goal remains the same. If we can persevere and build upon the positives, our best football is still in front of us."
UPDATE with Notre Dame's stats:
Jay Antinore, 8-12 passing for 80 yards, seven carries for 51 yards and a TD.
George Woodruff, 62 yards rushing on 23 carries, one TD. On defense, he had 8 1/2 tackles.
Gabe Castro scored a TD on three carries for two yards. On defense, he had eight tackles.
Jaden Sherwood had two receptions for 25 yards and a TD.
Balance Beam: 1. Elizabeth Power (Pittsford): 9.1, 2. Roan Finn (Genesee): 8.35, 6. Mady Underhill (Genesee): 7.3, 8. Ashlyn Reynolds (Genesee): 7.1, 11. Nee'Kay Smith (Genesee): 6.55, 12. Emma Cooper (Genesee): 6.5, 13. Lei St. Clair (Genesee): 5.8
Floor Exercise: 1. Katie Kull (Pittsford): 9.0, 3. Roan Finn (Genesee): 8.55, 8. Ashlyn Reynolds (Genesee): 6.9, 9. Lei St. Clair (Genesee): 6.45, 11. Samantha Copani (Genesee): 6.25, 12. Emma Cooper (Genesee): 5.9
The next meet is Saturday, Sept. 30, at Rush-Henrietta Gymnastics at 5:30 p.m.
Monroe handed Batavia a second straight loss on Friday night at Van Detta Stadium, and at 40-0, it's the largest deficit suffered by the Blue Devils in more than a decade.
No stats are available for the game.
Batavia will play charter school Vertus next Friday at home at 7 p.m.
Photo of Louie The Lilac courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Press Release:
Louie The Lilac has been smelling like a rose at the current Batavia Downs meet and her success continued on Wednesday night (Sept. 20) after she extended her winning streak to five in the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace for fillies and mares.
Kevin Cummings pushed away the gate with Louie The Lilac and opened up a two-length advantage at the :28.3 quarter and it only got worse for the competition from there. Louie The Lilac opened up 3-½ lengths at the half and extended her lead to four as she passed three-quarters in 1:26, with the field following loosely behind her. As the race rounded the far turn, Casie’s Believer (Joe Chindano Jr.) made her way to second from mid-pack but had two lengths yet to make up. However that wasn’t going to happen on this night as Louie The Lilac cruised home first under a line drive from Cummings in 1:55.1.
It was the seventh win this year for Louie The Lilac ($2.60) and owner Mike Torcello. Sam Smith trains the winner.
Dave McNeight III had a grand slam on Wednesday, winning with Dancing Lisa (1:55.2, $8.70), Chipper Daisy (1:57.3, $4.20), Bngs Express (1:58.2, $29.60) and Ashlee’s Delight (1:55.4, $17.40).
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in the 13th race. The combination of 9-5-2-1-7 returned $6,404.90 for a 20-cent wager.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Sept. 22) at 6 p.m.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Tim Bojarski, longtime writer, columnist, and racing publicist for Batavia Downs racetrack, has been elected to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame as a Communicator by the members of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA).
Bojarski began his contact with harness racing communications in 1986 at Batavia Downs by writing horsemen profiles and authoring a tip sheet. Since then the Akron, resident has written feature articles for renowned racing magazines Horseman And Fair World, Trot Magazine, and most notably Hoof Beats Magazine, where he is in his 23rd year of feature writing for the award-winning magazine of the United States Trotting Association.
Besides his current position with Batavia Downs, the busy Bojarski is also employed as a publicist by Plainridge Park near Boston, Massachusetts, the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Sire Stakes, the New York Sire Stakes, and the Goshen Standardbred Sales.
Bojarski served two years as the National President of USHWA (2016 to 2017) and has been the president of the Upstate New York Chapter of USHWA since 2008. He was named USHWAN of the Year in 2007 and received the 2017 Clyde Hirt Memorial Media Award for excellence in harness racing reporting from Harness Horsemen International.
Also being inducted as a Communicator is the late Dave Brower, who worked for many years at the Meadowlands Racetrack and covered every major race in the sport, trainer Jim Campbell, owner/breeder David McDuffee, and driver Ed Lohmeyer (in the Veteran category) who will all be entering the Hall for their racing achievements.
Bojarski will be honored in two upcoming ceremonies. He will receive his first formal recognition at the Dan Patch Awards Banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, on Feb. 25, 2024, at the Rosen Centre Resort in Orlando, Fla. The second event will be the formal induction to the Hall of Fame in Goshen, New York on July 7, 2024.
Acknowledging that "it took a while" to get there, Bergen resident Jeff Parton nonetheless now can say that he's a member of bowling's 300 club.
The 66-year-old right-hander rolled his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game last week -- capping a 705 series with 12 straight strikes on opening night of the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.
Competing on lanes 1-2, Parton started with a 180 game, before switching to the MOTIV Venom Shock in game two. That was the right ball change as he proceeded to post 225 and 300.
His previous high games were 299 and 298.
Parton, a retiree, is a regular member of the Wednesday and Thursday leagues at Rose Garden Bowl.
In other action, Tom Baker of Pavilion is off to a hot start in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center, posting 706 and 769 in weeks one and two.
For a list of high scores from the Genesee Region USBC, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
