Batavia resident Chris Humel completed teaching a six-week course on cartooning at the Senior Center on Bank Street on Thursday.

The students were instructed on drawing and telling stories through cartoon panels or hitting the punch line in a single panel.

"We go through corny jokes and illustrate them," Humel said. "I encourage them to think of funny stories in their everyday life, or, you know, everybody's got those stories in their life, in their family, where just something hilarious happens. So I try to get them to think about those stories and then look for things that make them smile throughout the week."

The class was funded through a $5,000 state grant administered through GO ART!

Humel is a musician, singer-songwriter, and visual artist who got started in cartooning in the 1990s while living in New Hampshire. He said a friend of his would send him illustrated letters that made him laugh, so he wrote back with "a little bit of artistic skill, not a lot really" with his own funny drawings. They combined on a small cartoon book that Humel put in a spinner rack at Ava Art Gallery in New Hampshire and that led to a chance to teach cartooning to a class of middle school students.  Humel said he's taught cartooning several times over the years since.

"I like teaching. It's empowering for me to share my knowledge and skills, and I think (the students) benefit by just having fun," he said.

Shop Oliver's Candies in-store or online. Visit The Sweet Life Country Store on Facebook or stop in and shop for all your Easter goodies!

Tom Sargent and his wife, Jennifer Stevens, had been humming along with Homeslice 33 Pizzeria in Corfu for about three and a half years when they kept getting more ideas for growth without the room to spare. There was, however, a vacant parcel right next door.

So instead of trying to cram more food items into the busy pizza shop on Main Street, they bought the adjacent 10 E. Main St. and, in just 10 weeks time, renovated the 800 square feet into a charming general store with a bit of a market, a candy store, bakery, assorted coffees and teas, homemade macaroni salads, a book nook, gift and novelty items and seating for at least 10.

Sargent credits his wife for coming up with a more succinct tagline.

“It’s all that and a cup of coffee,” he said at the site that opened in the last week. “As mayor, I hear we need to have a grocery store. We were gonna add some deli meats and salads over at the pizzeria, and then we were just kind of, slip in other things that we could possibly do to increase sales at the pizzeria, and we ran out of space with everything that we were coming up with, and wanting to be able to do — give fresh products to the locals, produce, bakery items, try to bring Yancey Fancy cheeses back, which we were able to do. So this property just happened to be available, so next door just made sense."

There’s method to the madness, so to speak, in that the fresh produce can serve twofold: either for customer needs or for products at the pizzeria, say, green peppers for pizzas, salads and subs, he said, and the Market is a conduit for several local vendors — 16 at this time and possibly more — to sell their goods.

Those goods include Yancey’s Fancy cheeses, Shelby M. Turner’s Ready Or Not sourdough-based baked goods, Oliver’s Candies, Upstate Milk products, a few maple syrup and honey companies, including Merle, Great Lakes coffees, Mac salad from Homeslice 33 Pizzeria, and other locally made baked goods, such as the purple-decorated lavender iced cookies, lemon blueberry mini muffins, and a line of gluten-free items.

Since opening on April 2, all vendor goods have been selling, he said. The hours are assertive: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“We have coffee, so we want to get people in the mornings with coffee. And we're here because we do brew coffee, and we do grind fresh coffee for people,” Sargent said. “And then we want to get the people who come home a little later in the evening, and they need an onion for dinner or whatever it is, they need lunch meat for the next day. So, yeah, we're pretty steady right through till seven o'clock.”

Jordan Stevens has joined her parents to help out at the Market, and they have hired another employee as they gauge the beginning of business. Towards the back is a deli counter with Boarshead meats, hummus and cheeses, and freshly brewed coffee and tea that can be enjoyed at the cozy seating up front in a sunny window.

Salad, sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches, are on the horizon for a hopeful May debut, and Sargent is also hoping to get more locally sourced produce once warmer weather arrives. He’s also thinking ahead to those apple orchards in fall for some cider and apples, and other fresh treats when they become available.

“The alternative is to drive 15 minutes to Batavia or Alden to get that fresh produce or those deli meats, so now they can come here to the village and it’s more of a convenience for them,” he said.

Other items include freeze-dried candies, beeswax and soy-based candles, tea towels, chocolate-covered pretzels, Kindle bookmarks, olive wood cutting boards, bottle stoppers, mugs, dairy and non-dairy goods and cold drinks. One might say it's all that and a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

For more information, go HERE.

WBTA, Batavia's hometown radio station, was honored on Thursday by the Business Improvement District as the BID's Business of the Year.

BID Director Shannon Maute praised station owner Jim Ernst for the innovations he's initiated that have helped keep Batavia residents engaged. 

"They have really gone a long way with changing how things are done at this radio station," Maute said.

Ernst gave credit to his staff.

"I didn't do anything special except put a really great team together," Ernst said. He singled out staff member Marc Tillery as "the one who did all the work," especially with his efforts to get the station involved in the Box Car Derby, the Wine Walk, and the FeBREWary.

"I wouldn't have had this opportunity without Jim Ernst," Tillery said. "He's the one who brought me in nearly two years ago and I appreciate every chance he's given me."

Tillery was also recognized with the first-ever Supporter of the Year Award.

"Things have changed this year," Maute said before introducing Tillery. "New people are helping out and getting involved. And this person, I don't know if I could do as much as I have been doing without him. He's a huge supporter. He is always there to help. He helps promote. He comes up with all these new ideas."

Kelsey Dilcher, marketing and community coordinator at Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union, was named Volunteer of the Year. 

“Kelsey is always the first to help with anything that the BID needs," Maute said. "You always see her with a smile on her face. So, I just want to say thank you for everything that you do. I greatly appreciate you. You are down for everything and so I want to present you with this amazing award."

The BID's annual meeting was held at Center Street Smokehouse.

Press Release:

On March 15, for the third consecutive year, a Byron-Bergen student advanced to the state Poetry Out Loud (POL) competition. Under the leadership of Secondary English Teacher and POL coordinator Andrew McNeil, Byron-Bergen has established itself as a serious regional competitor. After placing first in the school, senior Jade Wolff advanced to Regionals in Buffalo and then States in Albany.

The competition, now in its 20th season, was initiated at Byron-Bergen by English Teacher John Tomidy in 2006, the program’s inaugural year. Since then, thousands of Byron-Bergen High School students have participated in the classroom-level recitation process, hundreds have entered the school-level contest, and dozens have competed in the regional competition. 

Now retired, Tomidy stays connected to POL by serving as a judge for the school-level competition. In further recognition of the hard work and dedication of the POL participants, Tomidy founded monetary prizes for two competitors which were awarded on April 3.

The first award goes to the participant with the most outstanding performance at the school-level competition of 10 or more participants, as determined by the panel of judges. Additionally, the recitation must be exceptional as a stand-alone performance, not just within the context of the competition. 

The second award goes to the student who, according to teacher observation, experiences the most enlightened growth resulting from the memorization/recitation process. The student will show an increased appreciation not only for the poetic form but also for the skills enhanced by memorization and recitation. 

This year’s award recipients are Jade Wolff and Gianna Graff, respectively. 

Tomidy stated, “Judging this year brought back fond memories. Poetry Out Loud was always near and dear to me, so it’s good to feel reconnected to it. My aim is to continue judging and providing the awards for the foreseeable future.” 

Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies. The goal of the program is to engage high school students in “a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence and teach them about literary history and contemporary life” (poetryoutloud.org).

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

For the second year in a row, Nahiely Dones, a senior in the Health Dimensions program at the Batavia CTE Center, earned first place in the Personal Care event at the Spring Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Leadership Conference. Her back-to-back victories are a testament to her skill, determination, and drive to succeed in the healthcare field.

“I was literally shaking when they were announcing the winners,” Nahiely said. “When they finally called my name for first place, I was just so happy and excited.”

Nahiely first competed in the event as a junior and won first place, giving her the confidence to return this year and aim even higher. She chose to participate again not just to defend her title, but also to prepare for her upcoming Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam.

“I knew the competition would help me get more comfortable with the CNA test,” she said. “The skills are really similar, and being around judges and people makes me nervous. I thought it would be good exposure so I could feel more prepared and confident.”

During the competition, Nahiely was assigned to perform the skill of making an unoccupied bed—but with an unexpected twist. The bed was king-sized, which added an extra challenge she hadn’t trained for. Still, she handled it with professionalism and poise.

“I wasn’t used to that size bed,” she said. “But we practiced so much in class. We went over the skills again and again—repeating them, reviewing them, and making sure we really understood every step. Since I competed last year, I had a strong base to build on.”

Her teacher was thrilled with the results. “I was so glad that Nahiely’s hard work had paid off. She’s done well because she’s put in the time and consistently pushes herself to improve.”

Throughout the year, Nahiely demonstrated incredible growth—not just in technical skills, but in personal confidence. She said overcoming anxiety and learning to handle high-pressure situations independently were some of the biggest challenges she faced.

“I used to hate speaking in front of people or being in crowded spaces,” she said. “And during the competition, I had to go in completely on my own. Just me and the judge—no one else. That was a big step for me.”

Nahiely credited her teachers for supporting her along the way. “They’ve been amazing,” she said. “I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Her teacher echoed that sentiment, noting Nahiely’s compassion, empathy, and determination as key strengths. “Nahiely is a very special person,” she said. “She’s demonstrated love and care for everyone around her. Despite facing significant personal challenges, she’s remained positive and proven that she’s capable of achieving anything she sets her mind to.”

Nahiely plans to take her CNA exam in May and is already exploring job opportunities in healthcare for the summer. Looking ahead, she hopes to become a nurse and specialize in trauma care.

Participating in HOSA helped shape her goals and boost her confidence. “Before HOSA, I didn’t think I could do a lot of things,” she said. “But now I know nothing is impossible. No matter how hard it is, you just have to keep going and never give up.”

If you're a musical act playing a show in Genesee County, or a Genesee County music venue, send your press releases about your shows to Logan Music at jlogan6505@gmail.com or use the "+ Add your event" button above.

An adult Cecropia moth’s sole function is to mate and lay eggs before dying in a very brief two-week lifespan, as the baby caterpillar is born and feeds on leaves before creating a silken cocoon for the metamorphosis stage of evolving into an intricately designed moth. And the process repeats again and again.

It was that process in Mother Nature, and watching the development of those art-laden wings that captured Robert Alan “Bob” Olmstead’s attention and heart for years until he died at 69 in January 2022. Now, his collection will be able to capture some well-deserved recognition in return.

“He lived in Jamestown an went to 4-H and someone started him with a collection, and he won a ribbon at the Chautauqua Fair in Dunkirk … so he just took off from since he was 5 years old, collecting specimens, trading, purchasing them, he even sold cocoons to people who needed them for their schools. He really enjoyed doing that,” his wife Arlene Olmstead said. “And he didn’t think he was a professional, but he was a perfectionist. They said that he did an excellent job at Colgate with his collection. He’s taught many people how to do the specimens.”

Olmstead amassed a vast specimen collection of more than 75 boxes, most of which were donated to Colgate University’s Biology and Environmental Studies Department. Student James Millmore, Class of 2027, worked on the collection and plans to speak about “the inspiration and creation” of the display at 3:30 p.m. May 2 in the atrium of Olin Hall at Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton. The event is open to the public.

Millmore’s studies include exploring the role of collectors such as Olmstead in the scientific world.

“Especially how he helped to connect his community to the natural world and the value of contributions like his collection to modern science,” Millmore said in an email. “In recent years, the development of nature identification apps has opened up the practice of amateur collecting and observation of the natural world to a much wider audience.

“The practice is being called citizen science, as the data generated contributes directly to research,” he said. “The exhibit would trace the evolution from early naturalists and collectors into the modern day, with an emphasis placed on encouraging viewers take up the practice and interact with their local environments.”

Arlene and some of her family, which includes three sons and two stepsons, plan on attending the college event. After all, these collections have been part of their lives as well. Bob raised two types of moths every year (the Luna and Cecropia moths). He raised the cocoons and refrigerated them in one special section.

“Everybody knew they couldn’t touch them,” Arlene said. “Then in the spring he would put them in boxes to hatch.”

They adjusted to moth cocoons in the fridge and an ongoing ritual of watching Dad, often with Mom’s help, meticulously clean and change the leaves every day for the caterpillars to feed on. His passion drew her in as a fellow entomologist.

“We shook the leaves and the trees to get all the junk off of the leaves, and we’d inspect the leaves to see if they were any good because sometimes the leaves have something on there that could kill the caterpillars. And so he would just put the sleeves over it and tie it up, and we made a lot of caterpillars, a lot of moths that were able to be in the process for those two weeks to stay alive for weeks without somebody killing it. You know, the cars kill them, the trucks, the squirrels, some mice, and any little insect could kill them, and the birds,” she said. “So they have a short life, you know. And so Bob really preserved them to get as many caterpillar moths mating so we can let them live for two full weeks. And he enjoyed working with those two moths, and they were easy to do, but it was a lot of work because the caterpillars was growing so fast and big that they needed more leaves, you had to get more leaves all the time.”

A member of Boy Scout Troop #6031 in Bergen, Bob taught many children in both the Boy and Girl Scouts, as well as in schools and churches, Arlene said. He became more widely known for his love of moths, butterflies, and other types of bugs, coupled with a desire to teach what he knew, such as the cycle of life, how and what they ate, and how to catch them safely. Perhaps no surprise, he also taught groups about trees.

Given these creatures are caterpillars and moths that live extremely short lives, why did he enjoy this so much?
“Well, he enjoyed the whole process of all the insects, the moths, and the butterflies, and the beauty of them. Some of these caterpillars and moths have two different colors and designs on each side; they’re gorgeous, they’re really gorgeous,” Arlene said. “He really enjoyed once the caterpillars reached maturity, they spun into large brown cocoons. And he enjoyed that process, the two weeks that the moths live. After they mate, they die. And then there’s the little eggs, and then they hatch into little tiny caterpillars. And then we put them in little jars, and when they start eating more and more, we have to get bigger jars and make sure that they are clean inside and make sure they go through the process without dying.

“My husband loved the outdoors. He knew every tree, every plant, and every bird. He knew nature inside and out. And he could name off anything he could see, anything really, find things that he could see. He started that since he was 5 years old, and he just would walk the fields every time we'd drive down the road. It took us two or three times longer to get there because he could see something along the side of the road and take it off,” she said. “A lot of people don't see a lot of things on, even on the bushes … he just would pick up things and take care of them, let them live longer in life, in nature. And that's a great thing. I really appreciate my husband doing that.”

Photos submitted by Arlene Olmstead

Amy Smith was as sad as anybody about the Mogadore Hillton closing with her mother's retirement.

The bar and restaurant had been part of her life for 45 years. So, after much discussion with her husband, David Scroger, she decided to take the business over herself, with Scroger's help.

"It's just been a very family-oriented community, and in December, my mom decided to retire, and the community was very depressed because people come in as customers, then become friends, and then they really become family. So I could not close the doors on everyone," Smith said.

Smith and Scoger opened the doors under their ownership for the first time on Wednesday. With the restaurant closed, the couple worked a few months to renovate the kitchen and bar. 

The Mog Bar & Grill, as its now called, has a long history. The building is 168 years old. It was originally a hotel for farmers who brought their grain to the mill on the other side of North Pembroke Road.

Smith's grandfather, Albert Smith, bought the building in 1971 and opened a bar. His daughter, Amy's mother, Linda Smith (Albert's daughter-in-law), took it over 10 years later and five years later added the restaurant. 

"I did grow up in this business," Amy said. "My mother moved all three of her kids into the attached apartment. So I've grown up with this for about 45 years now. I've been helping my mom as a waitress and bartender for the past 20 years."

Amy teaches English as a new language in Le Roy, and Scroger is a car hauler. They're both keeping their full-time jobs. Linda is working four days a week and Amy's niece, Hannah, is helping out on the day shift.

"We had to hire outside the family for the first time ever," Smith said. "We have a new cook."

The menu classic country road bar fare -- soups and salads, pizza, wings and things, hamburgers, and on Friday, haddock and shrimp are on the menu.

What will you find when you visit The Mog? Amy says, "When you come, everyone is just so friendly. It's very country, very cozy. We have really good bar food. On Fridays, we have fish fries, and my mother makes a homemade special every Friday. So it's about friendship and community and bringing everyone together."

That's what The Mog means to her, Amy said. Family."

"The Mog means just family to me, honestly, because growing up here and all these people have seen me grow up since I was five years old. So I mean, they're kind of like my extended family. So yeah, The Mog honestly means family and friendship to me. I'm just excited to welcome back familiar faces and a lot of new faces who have come in today."

The Mog's grand opening is April 19.

The Mog Bar and Grill is at 8100 North Pembroke Road, Batavia. The phone number is 585-762-9917. Its hours are Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m., Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m., Friday from noon to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 1 to 8 p.m.; it is closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

A citizen of Ecuador accused of re-entering the country after being deported was arrested in Elba on March 26 during a traffic stop following an investigation that began in Buffalo.

Luis Castro Mayancela, 24, is charged by criminal complaint with re-entry after prior removal, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

On the day of the arrest, agents of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement were conducting surveillance of a residence on Mill Street when a blue Chevrolet Silvarado pulled up to the house.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the arresting agent in federal court, the target of the surveillance was a person accused of entering the country illegally. 

Two Hispanic males left the house and got into the vehicle.

Enforcement and Removal team members began a mobile surveillance. 

Border Patrol agents conducted a vehicle stop on Ford Road, Elba, at 11:20 a.m. on March 26.

The complaint states that four people were in the vehicle, including Mayancela.

An immigration judge ordered Mayancela to leave the country on Dec. 13, 2019. He was placed on a flight to Ecuador, departing Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana, on Dec. 30, 2019.

The arresting agent stated that there was no evidence that Mayancela had been granted permission to be in the U.S. prior to his arrest.

He was processed at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia. A fingerprint scan indicated that his fingerprints matched those previously obtained for Mayancela. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer ordered that Mayancela be detained pending further court proceedings.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sasha Mascarenhas and Andrew J. Henning are prosecuting the case.

Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Steven Kurzdorfer, supervised the investigation.

The newest vendor experience is back! Picker’s Paradise is an indoor Local Market Fair made to bring all makers and sellers together under one roof. There hasn't been much to do on Sundays until now! We’re creating a themed experience for our community every 1st Sunday of the month, May - August! Starting with Foodie Day! Of course everyone is welcome, but we’re showcasing all the great local food vendors around!

Visit The Batavian's booth at the Home Show this weekend & enter to win 2 VIP Pilot's Lounge tickets to the Wings Over Batavia Air Show!

HOME SHOW Special: Sign Up for Early Access pass before the end of April and get the first month of membership for only $1 or $8 off an annual membership. Visit my.thebatavian.com to sign up and use the coupon code HOME25. 

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Home Show is this Friday from 5-9pm, Saturday 10-5pm, and Sunday 10-3pm.

Friends of Ascension are celebrating a win, albeit it’s uncertain for how long, with the Dicastry's decision to accept a second appeal from Ascension Parish to halt its closure in Batavia.

Longtime parish member Bill Brach dropped that second appeal to the Buffalo Diocese in the mail in mid-December. That action was another step in a relentless process of collecting petitions, sending out updates, encouraging participation, and ongoing financial support as a display that the Sacred Heart Church community wasn’t going away without a fight.

Member Nancy Brach had said at the time that it was one thing for a parish to lose its home based on legitimate underutilization, poor physical condition, and lack of financial viability; however, none of that was the case for Ascension.

“But to close healthy churches that are needed, cared for, and loved in their communities is another story,” she said in December. “It is clear that individual parishes are being closed due to the transgressions of the Diocese.”

Those transgressions were from sex abuse lawsuits filed against the Diocese and costly settlements resulting in church closures and merging assets to pay off the plaintiffs instead of the defendants paying directly, according to prior news articles.

Attorney Ilan Schard said, “If the diocese is going to survive as an entity, other parishes, even those without claims directly against them, can contribute to help fund a settlement. It’s been done in every other settlement across the country,” according to the Buffalo News.

Brach disagreed.

“While this may be legally correct, it is ethically wrong to punish people for the sins of others,” she said. 

The parish was one of more than 10 “from all corners of our diocese” that received letters from the Nuncio in Washington notifying them that their appeals had been acknowledged and accepted for further review, the nonprofit group Save Our Buffalo Churches said.

“In addition, the letters mentioned that the decrees issued were suspended pending the review in Rome.  Of note, the letters all mentioned that the Dicastry would be corresponding with Bishop Fisher on the matter,” the nonprofit said in an email to The Batavian.  “Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik is the prefect.   Most of the letters were written on 3/25, the feast of the Annunciation, when we celebrate the incarnation of our Lord Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nine months before Christmas. 

Also, our faith community is eager to learn about the status of the bankruptcy as well as the class action lawsuit. Since no settlement nor closure for either has been formally announced, we do not understand why the diocese is informing various parish and church offices to expect ‘bills’ for their share of the settlement,” it stated. “In the 2020 document issued by Bishop Scharfenberger entitled ReOrganizing for the Future Together, page 9 states: ‘The Diocese cannot use parish assets or property to settle claims.’ The document is linked from our webpage.”

Nonprofit members continue “to pray for abuse victims,” it states, as each parish community in the diocese continues to operate “as is,” celebrating Easter and other holy traditions and services, it stated.

“We continue to pray for the bishop, priests of our diocese as well as the faithful Catholics in our diocese as we complete the holy season of Lent,” it stated. “God bless you all.”

It's time for "Lights, Camera, Action" at Main St. 56 Theater in Batavia.

The Batavia Players are presenting a show tunes showcase, a cabaret, this weekend.

Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $22 online and $24 at the door. Students and seniors pay $20/$22.

For more information or tickets, click here.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Press Release:

Emmanuel Baptist Church’s Community Garden is looking for green thumbs to come and grow! We have 20 raised 3x4 garden plots, along with water, tools, seeds, and fertilizer to help you get started.

We need gardeners!

Do you want to provide fresh veggies or flowers from the garden for your family? Come grow with us!

This year, we will be completely refilling our plots and working to keep the climbing bindweed out. We could really use some help with this project, which will begin as soon as it’s warm enough.

The cost is $15 per plot. For more information or to sign up, call 585-343-4905 or email ebcbatavia@gmail.com.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

The Law Street Yard Waste Station will open for the season on Monday, April 14, for City Residents.

The station will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, until Daylight Savings Time in November when operating time will change to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The station will be closed on the following dates: 

• May 26 (Memorial Day)
• July 4 (Independence Day)
• September 1 (Labor Day)
• November 27th (Thanksgiving)

The Yard Waste Station will close for the season in early December.

City residents may bring yard waste material (grass, leaves and limbs) to the Law Street Yard Waste Station as there is no spring curb side pickup of these materials. 

The following items cannot be accepted at the station:

• Tree stumps, building materials, rock, fill (soil and stone) other debris. Yard waste shall be free of trash (paper, plastic, bottles, cans...etc.), as this material cannot be processed.

Use Law Street entrance to enter and exit the City Yard Waste Station only.

Press Release:

The Batavia Muckdogs are excited to announce their next five signings for the 2025 season.

Some new faces join the Muckdogs as well as some local western NY talent. 1B – Connor Gibbs, LHP -Evin Hollandsworth, OF & Lockport Native – Brayden Hy, INF – Jackson Inman & INF – Grady Lacourciere join the Dogs this summer at Dwyer Stadium.

Connor Gibbs is a 6’3 first baseman from Helena, AL, currently playing at Bevill State Community College. A consistent presence at the plate, Connor delivered an impressive .316 batting average last season across 48 games and 155 at-bats.

Evin Hollandsworth is a 6’2 freshman pitcher at Saddleback College from Dana Point, CA. Before committing to baseball full-time, Evin was a standout dual-sport athlete while attending Dona Hill High School, excelling in both football and baseball. 

Brayden Hy is a 5’9 freshman outfielder from Lockport, currently playing at Canisius University. Before joining the Golden Griffins, he was a standout player at Royalton Hartland High School, where he posted an impressive .417 batting average, recorded 108 hits, including 9 home runs, and 94 RBIs.

Jackson Inman is a 6’1 freshman infielder from Damascus, MD, making a strong impact in his debut collegiate season. He is currently hitting .346 on the season while adding power with three home runs with 25 RBIs.

Grady Lacourciere is a 6’2 freshman infielder from Lyme, CT, attending Hofstra University where he has started pitching. Bringing an impressive high school resume to the collegiate level, a standout athlete at Lyme-Old Lyme High School, he played four years of baseball and two years of football, showcasing his versatility and athleticism.

Opening Day is Saturday May 31 at 6:30 p.m. vs the Elmira Pioneers with free post-game fireworks. If you are someone you know has interest in sponsoring the Muckdogs, season ticket information, hosting a group event or picnic please contact General Manager Marc Witt (mwitt.canusa@gmail.com). The Muckdogs full schedule is available online at www.canusamuckdogs.com.

Submitted photos.