Hockey previews
The Democrat & Chronicle released its preview capsules for Section 5 hockey teams, including Batavia and Notre Dame. They can be read here.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame's Lapple is AGR
Notre Dame junior Stephanie Lapple has been named to the All-Greater Rochester team by the Democrat & Chronicle.
Lapple had the lowest scoring average in Section 5 this past fall, averaging 39.75 during eight golf matches. She tied for sixth at sectionals with a 90, earning a trip to states. She also won the City-Catholic qualifier with a 42.
Friday night could be historic for Burke
The boys basketball season will be getting started this weekend and opening day could be a historic one for one of Notre Dame's Section 5 rivals.
Prattsburgh will be playing Whitesville and coach Jim Burke could join Notre Dame coach Mike Rapone in the 500 win club if the Vikings pick up a victory.
The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. and you won't even have to leave the house to keep up with potential history. The game will be broadcast on WABH 1380 AM and locally it can be heard on the net at www.localsportsedge.com.
Notre Dame girls looking to rebound
Last season was a down year for the Notre Dame girls basketball team.
The program was going through a transition year and went 15-7, getting knocked out of the sectional playoffs in the quarterfinals - to rival Elba.
That loss hurt. And the four returning starters from that team are going to remember one of the earliest sectional losses the Fighting Irish have had in a long time when the season starts.
There is no reason to believe Notre Dame can't be one of the top teams in the Genesee Region League and make a serious run at a sectional title this season. The returning starters, a key addition and some solid depth gives ND a ton of hope.
Tri-captains Trisha Pike, Nichole Hart and Brittany Morelli all started last season and can get the job done.
Hart was the second scoring option for ND last season and Pike is a natural point guard with the ability to score as well. The two work very well together in the backcourt.
Morelli and Liz Geandreau showed their potential last season and will have to make up for the graduation of Charlie Scott-McGrail, who scored 13 points with 10 rebounds per game a year ago.
Coach Dave Pero got a nice surprise this season when Jill Marshall transfered from Elba to Notre Dame. The switch from one rival to another could make a huge impact on this season.
Marshall scored 10 points and had seven rebounds per game for the Lancers last season and was named to the Genesee Region League all-star squad.
The Fighting Irish also have plenty of solid reserves coming off the bench and shouldn't have a problem spelling starters when they need a rest.
Pero expects the GR to be strong again this year, but the highlight games are always between Elba and Notre Dame. Those games are on Dec. 16 and Feb. 10, with a third probably in the sectional playoffs.
Notre Dame: Recycling adds up
It’s been just about a year since members of Miss Betsey Bodine's ND Environmental Awareness Club started actively filling up the large, green and yellow Abitibi recycling container which is located in the parking lot behind Notre Dame! Who says every little piece of paper doesn't add up!
Members of the ND family -faculty and staff, students, parents and friends of ND - can be proud of the fact that 25.27 tons - yes, tons!!! - of paper have been recycled during the past year through our Abitibi!
Congratulations on a job well done and keep up the good work!
Please pass the word . . . you do not have to be a member of the ND family to recycle in our recycling bin! Please encourage your friends, neighbors and relatives to use our Abitibi for recycling their papers and magazines and join us in our attempt to keep our campus - and our little bit of the world - GREEN!
Picture caption: Student recyclers pose next to the Abitibi pickup truck on Friday, October 3, 2008. (L to R): Haley Alexander '10, Alex Sandra Morgan '10, Sidney Moag '11, Sophia DelPlato '11 and Paul Teresi '11.
Item submitted by Notre Dame.
Notre Dame: Senior in the Spotlight
Elizabeth Fischer, daughter of Michael and Mary Anne Fischer of Medina, and a member of the ND Class of 2009 has been designated a Commended Student in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students are recognized for having demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their strong performance on the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) which our current Juniors and Seniors took last October. Our current Sophomores and Juniors will take the 2008 version of the NMSQT on Wednesday, October 15, 2008.
Beth’s high Selection Index score on the PSAT exam last October places her among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students in over 21,000 high schools who entered the 2009 competition. Commended students are named on the basis of a national selection index of 200 which is applicable to all participants, without regard to state-by-state distribution.
A member in good standing of the ND Chapter of the National Honor Society since her Sophomore year, Beth has earned High Honor roll status in each quarter of her ND career, as well as highest average recognition in Biology and Global Studies 9 (2005-2006); Chemistry, Math 10, and Global 10 (2006-2007), and Physics, Math 11, AP US History, Spanish III and Theology (2007-2008). She has also been an active member of the ND Student Senate, Science Club, and Mission Club and also currently serves as a morning PA announcer.
Beth is also very active in her parish (Holy Family) where she serves as a lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and altar server.
Beth plans on pursuing a career in Biomedical Engineering and lists Cornell University, RIT, and Roberts Wesleyan as possible college choices. She will receive recognition for her Commended Student achievement at Notre Dame’s annual end-of-the-year Celebration of Gifts and Talent in May 2009.
Congratulations, Beth on this noteworthy achievement!
Information submitted by Notre Dame
Notre Dame: Seniors answer the call
This year's ND graduating class stands forty-two strong. Thirteen members of the Class of 2009 were commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at our Opening Day Mass on Friday, September 5, 2008. Father Michael Rock, OdeM., Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Le Roy, New York and a member of the ND Board of Trustees, performed the commissioning ceremony as part of the first mass of the year at ND.
Eleven of the students were trained at ND last spring by Deacon Tom Casey. The remaining two were trained at their parish. We look forward to their service to our community.
Caption: L to R – Row #1: Henri Burdett, Eric Shormann, Melissa Smith, Brad Cohen, Kristen Francis and Beth Fischer
L to R – Row #2: Craig Houseknecht, Stacy Squire, Paige Scofield, Kate Spadaccia, Matt Jackson, Ashley Calarco, Sean Zawicki
Information submitted by Notre Dame
Notre Dame: Ride for Camden
The Notre Dame Volleyball Teams are fundraising to defray costs for Notre Dame students who will be participating in this year’s missionary experience to Camden, New Jersey. The girls have been bicycling in the “Ride for Camden” effort for the last couple of weeks. Each girl is riding fifty miles and asking for sponsorships per mile. If anyone would like to sponsor one of these athletes please contact Rhonda DiCasolo, Carolyn Babcock, or any of the Notre Dame volleyball players. Pledges from a penny to a dollar per mile are welcome as are donations in any amount. We hope to provide an opportunity for more Notre Dame students to attend the life-altering experience of a week at Camden’s Romero Center. Our trips in the past have always had such a tremendous impact on our students and staff. Thank you to all who have already sponsored a volleyball player.
Prattsburgh's Burke elected to HOF
Notre Dame boys basketball coach Mike Rapone and Prattsburgh coach Jim Burke have had some great battles over the years. Burke won a regular season contest between the two squads last season, making Rapone wait another game before getting his 500th career victory as a boys basketball coach.
Rapone beat Burke to the 500-win plateau as Burke is still sitting at 499 career victories heading into this season. But Burke beat Rapone to the Section 5 Hall of Fame and will be inducted on Saturday at the Clarion Riverside Hotel in Rochester.
Burke's daughter, Jamie, will also be inducted at the ceremony as well as NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy, who is a Brockport native.
Here is the description given on Burke at the Section 5 Web site.
ND, Pembroke represent area well at Cross Country States
The fantastic season of the Notre Dame Boys Cross Country Team wrapped up with a third place finish at the New York State Cross Country Championships at Sunken Meadow State Park in Long Island. Beaver River was the winning team with 57 points and Barker squeaked ahead of ND by one point. Junior Kevin Pawlak was the top Irish harrier, finishing in 18th place in 18:05. Freshman Quin O'Connor, ND's #1 man, was injured on the first downhill of the race after the mile mark, but fought through the final two miles to finish in 24th place in 18:15 (it was discovered yesterday that he fractured his heel in the race. He will be back on his feet in late December). Senior Eric Shormann had another great race and finished 40th, with Seniors Matt Jackson 44th, and Taylor Alexander 55th. Junior Nate Flumerfeldt came in 71st and Freshman Marshall Argenta was 109th.
The Pembroke team ran to a seventh place finish with 156 points. Newark Valley won a one point decision with 62. Colin Bartholomew taking 24th place. Matt Seward was 48th, Adam Mahaney 69th, Kyle Mauer 70th, Mark Riegel 91st, Ben Farley 103rd, and Ethan Burns 108th.
Other area racers included: Class C Girls: Kristina Martin of Holley placed 21st, Katie Piechowiak of Attica placed 60th. Class D Girls: Kim Mills of Oakfield placed 7th, Liz Valento of Pavilion placed 10th. Class B Girls: Angela Jarvela of Batavia finished in 23rd place. Class C Boys: Frank Johnson of Letchworth placed 14th, Jaked Krautweist of Leroy placed 34th and Jack Bennett of LeRoy placed 51st. Class D Boys: Kevin Grazioplene placed 8th, Justin Richardson of Pavilion placed 17th, and Craig Cicero of Perry finished 25th.
Congrats to all the Cross Country runners from the area on a great season!
Hometown Hoops for Hope game is Nov. 29
Notre Dame and Batavia High alums will be getting together to play some basketball and raise money for a good cause on Saturday, November 29 at Notre Dame.
The Hometown Hoops for Hope game will feature Batavia and Notre Dame grads battling each other on the court.
The game is going to be held to raise money for the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation, which is set up in honor of Michael Napoleone, who passed away from Burkitt's Lymphoma/Leukemia.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is just $2 at the door.
Daily News sports, Monday
In Monday's Daily News, The Sports Staff writes that Notre Dame's boys cross country team took third in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships at Sunken Meadow State Park.
ND finished just a point behind second-place Barker.
Kevin Palwak finished in 18:05 to lead the way for the Fighting Irish, taking 18th. Quin O'Connor was injured during the race and finished 24th.
"Quin has been our top runner and was expected to finish in the top 10," ND coach Eric Geitner told The Daily News.
Oakfield-Alabama's Kevin Grazioplene was the top finisher of all local runners, taking eighth in 17:35.
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Also in the edition was Batavia's Helen Zickl taking fifth in the Class B Section 5 Diving Championships over the weekend.
The 8th grader had a score of 304.95 points. The Section 5 Swimming Championships are later this week, with the finals on Friday, in Webster.
We encourage you to pick up a copy of the Daily News at your local newsstand. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.
The Notre Dame no-call
I love video.
Jim Nigro did a great job of covering the Notre Dame/Dundee game for us this past weekend and he described a controversial no-call that allowed Dundee to score its first touchdown of the game.
Dundee won the sectional finals contest 22-14 in overtime and what appeared to be an offensive pass interference call wound up costing the Fighting Irish, big time.
Here is some video I was given today (not the best quality, but does the job) that shows the play in question. It does appear that Dundee WR Dustyn Thompson did push off and the call was not made. What do you think?
Notre Dame, Pembroke moving on to State Championships
The Cross Country Programs at Notre Dame and Pembroke are celebrating as both will be representing Section V in the Boys New York State Cross Country Championships at Sunken Meadow State Park in Long Island.
The Pembroke Team won a close one over Greece-Odyssey and Leroy, who tied for second in the Class C race. Pembroke and Odyssey have been back and forth all year, but Pembroke got it done on Saturday. Colin Bartholomew of Pembroke took second in the race with Matt Seward behind in 5th place. Odyssey made a surge taking 7th, 9th 10th and 11th place, but Pembroke got their next three runners in, Kyle Maurer 13th, Adam Mahaney, 15th and Ethan Burns 16th to seal the win for Pembroke.
In the Class D race, Notre Dame won its third consecutive sectional title, and outdistanced Oakfield by 15 points in the merged D/DD resutls to earn the school's first ever Boys Cross Country Team representation at the State Meet. Freshman Quin O'Connor battled Kevin Grazioplene of Oakfield the whole way, finally breaking away with 1/2 mile to go in the race to break the tape in first. Notre Dame put their top five in the top ten of the Class D race to easily win the Class D title. Kevin Pawlak placed 5th, Eric Shormann 7th, Matt Jackson 8th, and Taylor Alexander 10th.
The Genesee-Livingston Cross Country League won ever class that it represented and has many representative moving on to the State Meet. Here is a rundown:
Boys Team Championships: Class B -- HFL, Class C -- Pembroke, Class CC -- Bath-Haverling, Class D -- Notre Dame, Class DD -- Oakfield
Girls Team Championships: Class B -- HFL, Class C -- Byron Bergen, Class CC -- Attica, Class D -- Geneseo, Class DD -- Oakfield
Along with the Pembroke and Notre Dame Boys Teams qualifing for the state meet, HFL Boys and Girls Team also qualified. Many league individuals also qulaified for the State Meet. The boys that will be representing Section V and the GR/LC League are: Frank Johnson of Letchworth Jake Krautwuist and Jack Bennett of Leroy, Cohen Miles Rath of Wayland-Cohocton, Kevin Grazioplene of Oakfield, Ben Strickland of Geneseo, Craig Cicero of Perry, Justin Richardson of Pavilion,
The girls that will be representing Section V and the GR/LC League are: Kristina Martin of Holley, McKenzie Bennett of Dansville, Katie Piechowiak of Attica, Abby Decker of Wayland-Cohocton, Kim Mills of Oakfield, and Liz Valento of Pavilion.
Notre Dame Comes Up Short In Class D Final
Notre Dame proved to be the sternest test of the year for the Dundee Scotsmen, and who knows what might have been if not for a controversial non-call which resulted in the game’s first score. In the end, the Fighting Irish gave undefeated Dundee all they could handle before coming up short in overtime.
Hard hitting was the order of the day. For most of the first half, Dundee and Notre Dame jockeyed for field position by trading punts. With 5:56 to go in the second quarter, Dundee quarterback Justin Schenk fired a long pass downfield. Dustyn Thompson, the intended receiver, shoved the Notre Dame defensive back with both hands, knocking him off balance. With the defender out of the picture, Thompson caught the ball uncontested and raced to the end zone. No flag was thrown, the point after was good and the half ended 7 - 0.
In the third quarter Notre Dame’s Justin Shenk (not to be confused with Dundee’s Justin Schenk) blocked a punt and Cam McDonald recovered. The opportunity was squandered by a combination of timely defense and penalties.
At the 4:19 mark of the quarter Mike Raplee caught a quick strike from Justin Schenk and turned it into a 51 yard touchdown. After the PAT the Scotsmen led 14 - 0 and at this point Notre Dame began playing inspired defense. At 11:56 Kevin Schildwaster scored on a five yard run. Point after made it 14 – 7. The Scotsmen were stopped yet again by the Fighting Irish and Bochicchio drove his team toward the goal line. This time it was Mike Pratt carrying the ball into the end zone at the 4:10 mark.
With time running out Dundee moved the ball to the Notre Dame ten but time ran out. Steven Webb scored on the third play of overtime and the Scotsmen went for two. The conversion was good and Dundee was up 22 – 14.
On their final possession, the Fighting Irish made it close, but an illegal procedure penalty nullified a completion inside the five and the resulting first down.
Offensively for Notre Dame Mark Schildwaster carried seventeen times for 60 yards. Mike Pratt carried thirteen times, also for 60 yards. Nick Bochicchio was 7 of 12 passing for 46 yards.
For Dundee Steven Webb carried 14 times for 94 yards and quarterback Dustin Thompson was 7 of 14 passing for 140 yards, 2 Td’s and an interception.
Defensively for Notre Dame, Kevin Francis had 7.5 tackles, 1.5 for a loss and 3 assists. Craig Houseknecht amassed 6.5 tackles and 7 assists. Cam McDonald added 6 tackles and 6 assists.
Football fun day
Today is the big day.
Notre Dame is playing Dundee at PAETEC Park at Noon in the Class D finals while Le Roy plays Letchworth and Oakfield-Alabama and Pembroke do battle in Class C semifinal action at Aquinas High School.
Keep checking in to The Batavian today for results, photos and video from these games.
Football previews in sports
This is a huge weekend for area high school football as five teams are still alive. The Batavian will have coverage at every game featured this weekend.
All of the previews are done, and all have video. Check them out.
Class D, finals: Notre Dame vs. Dundee
Notre Dame (6-2) vs. Dundee (8-0)
Noon, Saturday, at PAETEC Park
The Notre Dame football team has been on a roll, cruising through the opening two rounds of the playoffs by a combined score of 111-6.
The Fighting Irish blasted DeSales 55-6 in the first round and then thrashed Perry 56-0 last week. Everything is clicking.
The defense has only allowed a total of 142 yards rushing in two games and the Yellowjackets only had one serious chance to score in the semifinals.
Craig Houseknecht, Rick Lair and the rest of the defense is playing near-perfect football; and they are going to have to keep that up to avenge last year's 18-13 loss in the semifinals at the hands of Dundee.
The Scotsmen have put 385 points on the scoreboard this season and have crushed some teams, even giving Red Jacket an 89-6 beat-down in Week 5.
The offense is led by junior running back Steve Webb, who earned Offensive Player of the Week in a 53-14 win over Marcus Whitman, when he rushed for 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Dundee will throw the ball a little and does have a few other options, but Webb is the go-to guy.
Notre Dame's offense has turned from good to great in recent weeks and will also face a stiff challenge because the Scotsmen have only given up 45 points this season. Marcus Whitman is the only team to score over 10 points in a game this season against them and Dundee is coming off a 49-0 blowout of Geneseo.
The Fighting Irish have a ton of team speed and last week it was Mike Pratt to take advantage of the East Rochester turf, picking up 109 yards with three touchdowns. He is now at 615 yards on the season.
Kevin Schildwaster is a speedster in the backfield and has 675 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The passing game will most likely be needed because of Dundee's stout defense, and Notre Dame has had little difficulties with that.
Nick Bochicchio threw two more touchdown passes last week, even though there was little need to throw the football. His top target is always going to be Kevin Francis.
Francis had a nice punt return last week but is the biggest threat on the turf. It is only a matter of time before he gets some space on a kick return, punt return or short reception and he's going to make a big play. There aren't many players as fast as Francis playing football in the smaller schools in Section 5.
Neither team lacks experience as Dundee has a bunch of players that return after going to the sectional finals last season and Notre Dame has plenty of talent that were sophomores on the 2006 sectional championship squad.
Dundee is sixth in the state in Class D and the Fighting Irish debut at No. 15 this week.
5 local teams still alive
I'll be visiting the five teams that are still playing in the Section 5 playoffs this week, doing video previews as well as my written ones. They will all be on The Batavian on Thursday to help fans get ready for the games.
Notre Dame will be playing Dundee on Saturday at noon at PAETEC Park in the Class D finals.
Le Roy will play Letchworth at 1 p.m. with Pembroke vs. Oakfield-Alabama to follow at Aquinas in the Class C semifinals on Saturday.
Then Attica will play Bath at 6 p.m. Sunday at PAETEC in a Class B semifinal game.
I attended two practices today and will visit the other three teams on Wednesday and Thursday. You will get the most in-depth previews for local teams as we go deeper into the playoffs here at The Batavian.
I will also be covering games this weekend as well as doing a radio preview and guest appearance during the game on WVIN for the Attica/Bath game on Sunday. You will be able to hear the broadcast locally at www.localsportsedge.com.
WBTA will also be broadcasting local games this weekend. The Notre Dame/Dundee game can be heard on 1490 AM or at www.wbta1490.com, and then at the conclusion of that game, Le Roy/Letchworth will be picked up. WBTA will stay on the air to cover the Oakfield-Alabama/Pembroke contest.
You will be able to see video highlights, a game story and photos of each game as soon as possible on The Batavian as well.
GR gets four Players of the Week
With four teams still alive in the Section 5 playoffs, the Genesee Region League is having a heck of a postseason.
That was shown this week as four league players earned Player of the Week honors.
Notre Dame thumped Perry 56-0 in the Class D semifinals and got both the offensive and defensive POY.
Running back Mike Pratt rushed the ball nine times for 109 yards and three touchdowns and gets the offensive honor. Pratt is a 5-foot-9, 180-pound sophomore that led the Fighting Irish as the team rushed for 259 yards in the contest.
6-foot-1, 225-pound senior linebacker Craig Houseknecht had a sack on the opening Perry possession and finished the game with six solo tackles, six assists, the sack, a forced fumble and 1 1/2 tackles for losses of 26 yards to earn the defensive honor.
Pembroke beat Bishop Kearney 32-12 and 6-foot-5, 220-pound defensive end Ken Babcock was named the defensive POY. He had eight solo tackles, seven assists and knocked down a pass in the victory. Babcock also caught a touchdown pass in the win.
Attica's Dave Jennings was key in a historic 18-0 victory over East Rochester/Gananda this past weekend.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound linebacker had nine tackles, a sack and an interception in the victory as the Blue Devils won a sectional football game for the second time ever.
Attica will be playing Bath in a semifinal game on Sunday while Oakfield-Alabama and Pembroke play each other in the semifinals on Saturday. Notre Dame gets to try to avenge last season's loss to Dundee in the finals on Saturday as well.
Snub alert: Oakfield-Alabama's Tim Smith rushed for 196 yards, had 331 all-purpose yards and scored six touchdowns in a 63-34 win over Dansville in a Class C game. How did he not get recognized?
