Sports

Press release: 

BATAVIA, NY – Tonight’s game between the Batavia Muckdogs and Brooklyn Cyclones has been postponed due to rain and wet field conditions. This game will be made up as part of a double-header on Wednesday, Aug. 10. We will play two seven-inning games, with the first game starting at 5:05 p.m. Gates will open at 4 p.m. Any person with tickets to tonight’s game can exchange their tickets for any other regular season game, subject to availability.

The Rob Ray autograph appearance will be rescheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27. 

Press release:

Batavia, NY – The 2011 New York-Penn League All-Star roster will include a league high of six players from Batavia. They will send catcher Juan Castillo, infielders Joey Bergman and David Medina, and pitchers Jonathan Cornelius, Seth Maness and Todd McInnis to the game to be held Tuesday, Aug. 16 at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.

Perez was an undrafted free agent signing in 2006 and has started 27 games as catcher for the Muckdogs this season. He is currently batting .327 with eight doubles and 15 RBI’s. Castillo has also been solid behind the plate this year and has helped guide the pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.85.

Bergman, a 33rd round pick in the 2010 draft, will be making his second consecutive all-star appearance and has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Bergman currently ranks fifth in the league in hitting, with a .320 batting average, to go along with eight doubles and 17 RBIs.

David Medina was signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2006 and is enjoying a stellar first season with the Muckdogs. His seven home runs are tied for fourth in the league and his 33 runs scored are third in the league. Medina who plays a mixture of first base and outfield, was selected as a first baseman for this year’s squad.

A 24th round pick out of Florida Tech, Cornelius is 1-2 with 37 strikeouts in 11 outings for the Muckdogs. The left-hander’s ERA of 2.85 ranks him ninth in the league and hitters are only hitting .194 against him, good for second in the league.

St. Louis drafted Maness out of Eastern Carolina in the 11th round of the 2011 draft. He has appeared in nine games and has a 0-0 record with a 0.52 ERA. In 34.2 innings of work, he has struck out 27 batters and only allowed 20 hits.

McInnis, a 25th round pick out of Southern Mississippi, is third in the league with 2.12 ERA and a record of 3-2. His WHIP of just 0.92 leads the league and batters are hitting just .208 against him.

Batavia holds the fourth-place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 24-26. This marks the third time in four years that the Muckdogs have sent at least five players to the All-Star game. The Muckdogs sent five players to the 2008 All-Star game, three in 2009 and five in 2010.

Photo: Joey Bergman from earlier this season. By Howard Owens

I spent a little time at the Attica Rodeo on Saturday hoping to come away with some pictures of Genesee County residents competing. I came away with two.

Above, Rob Wright of Alexander wrestles with a calf. Below, Tim and Todd Buckenmier compete in calf roping.

Below, a slide show of other photos I took while I was there.

The Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football Team is selling raffle tickets for a 2011 Johnny Pag Spyder motorcycle.

The tickets are $40 each and only 150 will be sold.

The drawing is scheduled for Aug. 28 during the seniors' game at John Kennedy School (approximately 2:45 p.m.)

Tickets may be purchased at IR Systems, 309-311 West Main St., or potential winners can call John Riegle at (716) 228-5787 or Ken Proefrock at 794-6034 for tickets.

Pictured above are Riegle, left, and Proefrock with the bike.

Batavia Soccer Club U19 girls soccer team finished off an undefeated season Tuesday with a championship win over Spencerport, 4-2.

The team finishes the year with a 12-0 record in the Monroe United Recreational Soccer League.

Scoring for Batavia were Randi Zakes, Kaeleigh DiSalvo and Haley Tangeman. Goalie Brooke Ranney had 11 saves.

Batavia was able to pull out a victory despite having only enough players Tuesday to cover the field. There were no substitutes available.

Players on the team, which is sponsored by Genesee Orthopedics, range in age from 14 to 19, and include four pairs of sisters.

"This year this team of old and young players really meshed," Coach Gary DiSalvo said.

The roster consisted of (players in bold participated in Tuesday's game): Kaitlyn Allen, Allison Bartholomew, Raven Bentkowski, Brenda Castaneda, Chelsea Cleveland, Kaeleigh DiSalvo, Nicole DiSalvo, Taylor Dziuba, Andrea Easton, Taylor Grazioplene, Erin Hale, Michaela Hale, Cady Hume, Jenna Hume, Jenifer Igoe, Savannah Matteson, Katie Newton, Brooke Ranney, Emily Sallome, Haley Tangeman, Bittany Wall, Morgan Zakes and Randi Zakes.

Over the course of the season, Batavia beat teams from Gates; Irondequoit; Churchville, Chili, Spencerport, Le Roy/Pavilion and Rush/Henrietta.

Slide show of more photos from the game below. To purchase photographic prints from this event, click here.

Batavia's 11-year-old All Stars run at a championship season came to an end Monday with an 12-2 loss to Tonawanda.

Tonawanda moves on to the state championship next week in Pinebush.

Batavia made it to the District 1 regional championship game after beating Seneca Falls and Oleans.

Batavia’s Casey Radka turned a double play for the team, with Jerry Reinhart who pitched well in the loss to Tonawanda. Nick Bezinque and Evan Bender had the hits for Batavia in a well-played game by both teams. 

The 2011 11-year-old All Star roster included: Evan Bender, Alex Jones, Jerry Rinehart, Philip Koziol, Taylor Stefaniak, Nick Bezinque, AJ Marcello, Casey Radka, Griffen Moore, Michael Calderon and Cameron Ells.

The coaches were James Soggs, Dave Hall and Todd Bender

The team was coached by James Soggs, Dave Hall and Todd Bender.

Slide show of more photos below (be sure to click on the button in the lower right for full screen version).

Pictures from this event can be purchased by clicking here.

When you try to put together a youth sports team here in Batavia, you're usually lucky to get more than 30 kids on board -- let alone 30 of the most most athletic kids, like in the larger districts near Buffalo and Rochester.

That's why it's all the more impressive that Batavia's U12 (under 12) soccer team won 11 out of 12 games and suffered no losses -- the exception to the winning streak being a tied game, which was played on a 92-degree evening -- during the 2011 season.

Led by Head Coach Pete Cecere, along with assistant coaches Mike Burns and Steve Moore, the team of 11- and 12-year-olds competed against several Rochester area teams, including: Penfield, Victor, Webster, Churchville-Caledonia, Livonia and Bloomfield (that was the tied game).

On Friday night, Cecere and Burns -- who, in addition to coaching the team, are also on the board of directors for Genesee Amateur Soccer Association (GASA) -- took time to answer some questions for The Batavian at Cecere's home, where the team had a pool party to celebrate their successful season.

Cecere gave a lot of credit to the girls for the effort they put into the games.

"A good core of the team played with me year-round (in preparation)," he said. "We had tremendous defense, great goalies," including Paige Hamiester, Courtney Burns and Maggie Cecere.

"Pete has taken the girls a long way," Burns said.

Up until now, U12 was more of a recreational league than anything else. Cecere, along with other GASA board members, wanted to take it up a notch.

As an assistant coach for the Batavia High School varsity team, he understood the challenge that awaited these girls as they approached the age where they would get into modified sports. Soon, they will match athletic prowess with top-notch athletes from some of the region's bigger districts, where coaches have a much larger pool of players from which to draw.

For that reason, the board wanted to take this "rec" program and make it more competitive.

"About half the girls on this team are going to be playing modified in the fall," Cecere said. "And we (the GASA board) decided that the only way they were going to get better was by swimming with the sharks."

Passionate as he was about this prospect, he was also realistic.

"I said, 'Rochester teams have 150 girls when we're beggin' to get 30, so we probably won't do very well. But the girls (our kids) will be playing now are the same girls they'll be playing in modified, and the only way they're going to be prepared is if they actually get out there and play."

To him, it was about how to make the kids better players rather than how to get more kids on the team.

So what did he and the other coaches do to guide these young ladies through this surprising streak of impressive games? Basically, the strategy involved getting them excited about the game of soccer -- including the whys and wherefores of the game's rules and mechanics.

According to Burns, "you could definitely see the spark in their eyes" as they grew in their knowledge of the game.

"One of the beauties of soccer is that it's a game that teaches itself," Cecere said. The girls were able to "learn by doing," as they say.

Cecere, for his part, made sure that there was always activity on the fields during practices.

"I'm a firm believer that there shouldn't be a lot of standing around at practice," he said. "I try to keep them moving, change up activities so they don't get bored, and be supportive. (It's important to) accentuate the positive."

And whenever he does point out any given player's mistake, he phrases it in the form of a question (for instance, "Can you tell me where you went wrong here?")

"And nine times out of 10, they know the answer."

You could say he's a tough coach. He had his girls play the tough teams, and he definitely kept them movin' during those practices. But as a coach, he is also encouraging and fun.

"He has a great rapport with the girls," Burns said. "It's fun to watch someone who can connect with them, both on a game level and on a fun level -- whether it's goofing around on the sidelines or teaching them about how the game works."

For Cecere, it's all about passion for what he does.

"There is literally nothing I like better than coaching these girls," he said.

For more information on GASA, visit www.gasabatavia.org.

Photo taken by Barbara Paserk

The coaches of the Batavia Bulldawgs hosted a youth football clinic at Kibbe Park over Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Press release:

Through the kindness of a local benefactor, Batavia Youth Football, celebrating its 45th season, is excited to offer Tri-County cheerleaders and players an anniversary discounted rate for this season. With the matching donation participants will pay just $45 for the upcoming season.

For 45 years Batavia Youth Football has provided 7 – 13 year olds of our community the opportunity to learn the basics of football within a league focused on player development, guaranteed playing time, annually updated equipment and the ability to play all games locally. The 12-team league consists of three divisions that call Lions Park their home with all games being played on Saturdays.  

The league that was started by area businessmen and funded by local companies and service organizations in 1967 has benefited each high school program in the area. Thousands of area players and many high school coaches came through the ranks of Batavia Youth Football and have starred on and coached State Championship teams, won countless Sectional Championships and earned League Champion accolades. 

Any players or cheerleaders who previously paid the standard registration fee will be refunded the difference by the league administration. Also, available through local generosity, prospective participants who find the cost prohibitive a sponsorship program is available.

The league will be holding its final weekend of registration sign-ups at the Genesee Country Mall (Batavia City Centre) July 29th and 30th. Anyone interested in signing up can do so between the times of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. You can also contact Batavia Youth Football, Inc., at BYFinc@gmail.com or call Steve Grice at 585-344-4636 or Cal Klippel at 585-356-2728.

A good number of the fans who packed into Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday got what they paid for, and some of them went home disappointed.

The Staten Island Yankees, behind the slugging of #1 draft pick Cito Culver, slammed the Batavia Muckdogs 10-1.

Culver, a Rochester-area native, playing his first game before a sort-of-hometown crowd, didn't take long to give friends, fans and family in the stands something to cheer about, driving a first-inning home run over the right field wall on the third pitch he saw (picture below).

In his third at bat, Culver hit another shot over the right field wall (pictured above) with two runners on base.

The home runs were Culver's HRs of 2011. He's now hitting .295 on the season.

The Muckdogs' (20-19, two games out of first) lone run came on a solo home run from German Medina in the sixth inning.

For the Muckdogs, Joey Bergman had two hits, raising his average to .327. Roberto Reyes also had two hits.

Starter Jose Almarante (2-2) lasted only 3.2 innings getting tagged for seven earned runs and raising his ERA to 4.26.

Culver and the Staten Island Yankees (29-9) return to Dwyer on Thursday. Game time is 11 a.m. The teams meet again on Friday at 7 p.m. (fireworks after the game).

The Staten Island Yankees arrived in Batavia this morning and climbing off the bus for a workout at the YMCA was the Yankees #1 draft pick in 2010, Cito Culver.

He's a Rochester native and this will be his first game played close to home.

Between the Yankee's connection and Culver's WNY roots, big crowds are expected at Dwyer over the next three days. Game times are 7:05 tonight, 11:05 a.m. tomorrow and 7:05 p.m. on Friday (with fireworks afterward).

Culver, who some predict is the future starting shortstop, replacing Derek Jeter for the Yankees, comes to town swinging a hot bat. He's hitting .350 over the past 10 games, including two three-hit games last week.

As for the young player, he's ignoring the Rochester-area media hoopla around his sort-of-homecoming and concentrating on getting ready to play his game.

"I try to stay away from looking at all that," Culver said. "I'm just happy that my mom and my sisters and my close friends can come watch me play. It's been a long time since my grandma and my grandpa came to see me play, so I'm really excited for that."

Meanwhile, the Muckdogs (20-18) are wrapped up in a tight pennant race, tied for second with Williamsport, one game behind three times tied for first (Jamestown, Auburn and Mohoning Valley, all at 21-17).

Staten Island comes into the series with a 28-9 record, seven games ahead of Brooklyn (21-16) in the McNamara division.

Monday, Batavia Downs opened its 2011 harness racing season. Like last year, I spent some time in the stables and the grandstands taking a few pictures of the big day.

Just because it's hot and muggy doesn't mean it's not too early to start thinking about football, Batavia Youth Football, that is.

BYF is conducting registration for its 48th season Friday and Saturday at Batavia City Centre in the main concourse.

Children ages 7 through 13 with a weight between 45 and 130 lbs. are eligible.

There are three divisions, ages 7 and 8, ages 9 and 10, and ages 11, 12 and 13.

Cost is $85 per player. 

All games are played at Lions Park with the season opener Sept. 3. The season runs through October.

Practices begin Aug. 8 with a scrimmage and picnic at Kibbe Park on Aug. 27.

A birth certificate and weigh-in is required at sign up.

The registration on Friday and Saturday will be the last two days to register for BFA.

Sign ups on Friday are from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On those days, children may also register for cheerleading. The is is $65 and registration will be capped at the first 150 to sign up. Cheerleading is open to children age 7 through 13.

For more information, contact Steve Grice at 344-4636 or byfinc@gmail.com.

Press release:

Batavia, NY -- With the Batavia Downs Casino wiener races scheduled for Aug. 28, “Rudy” a veteran of the Batavia races, begins his training.

The now 8-year-old dachshund has been one of the top competitors in the Downs' dog races. He sports a win and then back-to-back seconds over the last three years, for his owner Ron Schiller.

Jane Smart’s “Jake Arnold” has been Genesee County’s fastest dachshund. He’ll look to three-peat when the races are contested after the last harness races on Aug. 28. Post time for the harness races is 1:15 p.m. The wiener dog races, sponsored by Petco of Batavia, begin approximately 4:15 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

The wiener dog races are part of Family Fun Day at the races with all activities for the kids running from 2 until 4 p.m.

Anyone wishing to register your dachshund should call Arna Tygart at 585-343-3750, ext. 437, beginning normal business hours on July 25. The field will be limited to 64 dogs; the first 50 dogs that sign up receive doggy bags courtesy of Petco.