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The Batavia Concert Band performed its first concert of the 2021 season last evening in Centennial Park.

The public is encouraged to attend the free concerts at 7 p.m. every Wednesday through Aug. 4 in Centennial Park, located at 151 State St. in the city.

These concerts are "made completely possible through local funding."

Upcoming concerts and/or their sponsors:

• June 30th -- In memory of Robert Knipe, Gary Bird, Dave Funston and Ange Pillo
• July 7th -- Made possible by WBTA our season-long media sponsor and The Pacino Family, Gold Sponsor
• July 14th -- In memory of Neil Hartwick
• July 21st -- Made possible by Batavia Rotary Club, Gold Sponsor and Silver Sponsor, H.E. Turner & Co, Bohm-Calarco-Smith, Burdett & Sanford Funeral Homes
• July 28th -- In memory of John Arent by his family as Gold Sponsors, made possible by GCASA and Brighton Securities as Bronze Sponsors
• Aug. 4th -- Made possible by Great Lakes Insurance Services Group (Batavia Office), Gold Sponsor​

Photos by Howard Owens.

Press release:

Wednesday was the Muckdogs' first doubleheader of the 2021 season, traveling to Sal Maglie Stadium in Niagara Falls to face the Power. The day started off with miscommunication on the report time with the bus, pushing game one’s start time back 30 minutes to 5 p.m.

Nathan Hinkley got the ball in game one with the Muckdogs trying to push their win streak to three, and in the process, making it for straight losses for Niagara. The Power would strike in the first inning, as five of the six hits over the seven-inning game occurred in the first three frames. TCU shortstop hit a deep home run down the left-field line in his first at-bat with Niagara to make a 1-0 ballgame.

Batavia would respond in the top of the fourth with a leadoff bunt single by Charlie Szykowny, and later would be driven in on the RBI single from first baseman Joe Georger to tie the game. Hinkley would settle in and groove in the last three innings, as the Keystone College right-hander allowed just one hit and three other base runners during that time in the complete game.

Base-running errors were crucial for both teams throughout the game, as Hinkley picked off four Niagara base runners at first base, and Brice Mortillaro was thrown out going home on an Ethan Sarimento double in the fifth. With the game still knotted at one heading into the seventh, Spencer Marcus smacked a leadoff triple into the right-center gap for his first hit of the day.

After Abner Benitez was walked on four pitches as reliever AC Chavez game into the game; Jerry Reinhart had the go-ahead RBI on an infield single that scored Marcus from third. Mortillaro would also redeem himself with a standup double where Reinhart showed off his speed and almost beat Benitez to home plate.

Hinkley would continue being the man on the mound in the seventh, retiring Casey Saucke for the final out to get his first win of the season and leading the Muckdogs to a 4-1 victory in a game that was one hour and 42 minutes long.

Game two was anticipated to start 30 minutes after the completion of game one, not leaving much time for players to get ready and eat some food on dollar cheeseburger day. Five minutes before the first pitch, penciled in starting pitcher Blair Frederick informed the coaching staff that he was not able to throw to due shoulder discomfort, creating a sense of panic in who was going to start for Batavia.

Kyle Kohlhafer would get his first start in PGCBL action, as his first appearance in a Muckdog uniform came against the Mansfield Destroyers in a friendly nonleague game. Kohlhafer’s start would only last one and two-thirds innings after giving up three earned runs and five hits. Colin Noeth came into the game to get the final out of the second inning but only lasted an inning as he let up three runs on one swing of the bat from the University of Virginia commitment Casey Saucke.

Nate Novia was handed the ball to start the fourth, but could not get an out in the fifth as Utah catcher Brock Rudy had a bases-clearing triple that made it a 10-2 game. Relievers George Osbourne and Kyle O’Neill did not allow a run to score in their combined two innings of work, striking out four Power batters.

The Batavia bats were pretty stagnant in game two, only mustering up three hits compared to Niagara’s 11. Mitch Fleming and Michael Florides would score the two Muckdog runs back in the third inning to make it a 3-2 ballgame before seven unanswered runs for Niagara. Florides, Charlie Szykowny, and Abner Benitez were responsible for the Muckdogs hits.

In a less than ideal scenario in game two, with Frederick not being able to throw with short notice to the other pitchers, Batavia’s win streak is snapped at three games to sit at an 8-10 record. Geneva currently sits at 8-8 as they are riding a three-game losing skid after Wednesday night’s loss to the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.

The Muckdogs will be back home tonight on Guaranteed Win Night against the Geneva Red Wings with the opportunity to jump into third place in the Western Division as they currently sit one game back.

First pitch of game one is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Dwyer Stadium. It can be viewed on YouTube Live by subscribing to “BataviaMuckdogBaseball.”

Make sure to follow our Twitter @BataviaMuckdogs and like our Facebook Page, “BataviaMuckdogBaseball.”

At about 1 a.m., a motorist was in need of some assistance at Main and Oak in Batavia and two Batavia police officers stopped to help change a tire -- Pete Flanagan and Jordan McGinnis.

Tom Wood, former chief for Le Roy, was driving past and couldn't stop for a picture but thought the officers deserved some recognition.

"With all the negativity around police officers, I thought I should share this," Wood said.

Press release:

The Muckdogs early last week were sitting at 5-5, riding a three-game winning streak before entering a four-game losing streak heading into action this past Sunday. Inconsistencies on both sides of the ball were credited to that losing streak said skipper Joe Martinez.

“It felt like when we would get runs and immediately give them right back,” Martinez said.

Looking to get back to their winning ways, Batavia played their most complete game of the season on Father’s Day on Sunday versus the Niagara Power. Just three days before, Niagara held a combined perfect game heading into the ninth inning as starting pitcher Ben Miller had a masterful performance.

Miller threw seven scoreless frames, not allowing a base runner and striking out 11 Muckdogs. Due to Miller only pitching seven and two-thirds innings prior to that appearance, he was pulled after 83 pitches. Cameron Gallardo was given the ball in the bottom of the eighth and kept the perfect game intact with just three outs remaining. Daniel Burroway broke the perfect game with a single past Casey Saucke down the third baseline.

Later in the inning, Joe Georger hit a line drive over the head of centerfielder Nathan Manning, putting the Muckdogs on the board as two runs would score on the Georger triple. The late-game rally came up short as the Muckdogs lost to the Power 5-2.

Fast forward to their next matchup against the Power, Batavia struck first in the fourth and did not look back as Spencer Marcus had a leadoff single off Power starter Joey Schott and would later score. Trey Bacon had a leadoff single off Gallardo in the fifth and tallied another run for the Dogs to go up 2-0.

For Batavia, former PGCBL Pitcher of the Week, Andrew Parr had his first start of the season, holding the Power scoreless. In six innings pitched Parr struck out six, allowing four hits, while also picking up his fourth win of the season. Parr currently leads the PGCBL in ERA (0.00) and Wins (4).

Ethan Frasca, Cameron Conley, and Charlie Szykowny scored runs in the sixth to go up 5-0, and Conley scored again in the eighth on Spencer Marcus’ RBI single. Batavia would snap the losing skid at four games in the 6-0 win and be tied with the Newark Pilots at 6-9.

Monday’s friendly matchup against the Elmira Pioneers was canceled at Dwyer Stadium due to a storm in Batavia. The Muckdogs then shifted their focus to the Pilots as they visited Colburn Park for the first time this season on Tuesday.

With both teams tied in fourth place in the Western Division at 6-9, Newark got out to an early 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Blake MacMillian started on the mound for the Pilots, and Batavia had no answer for the Niagara University southpaw. MacMillian went five scoreless innings with only two Muckdogs reaching base but was taken out due to him mainly coming out of the pen.

Jimmy Dougherty was the man in relief, and the Muckdogs' bats came alive in the sixth. Brice Mortillaro started things off with a single; Michael Florides and Caden Walton had three straight singles. Abner Benitez knocked in two of them on a slicing double down the left-field line.

The game was tied 3-3 in the top of the seventh until Blair Frederick’s go-ahead two-run blast to go up 5-3. The flood gates opened as the Dogs scored eight runs in the seventh, batting through the entire lineup.

Batavia pitchers Dathon McGrath, Tyler Prospero and Carlos Rodriguez struck out 17 Pilots during the game, with an impressive outing from Prospero as he was responsible for six of them in his two innings of relief.

Batavia now sits at 7-9, heading into their doubleheader tonight with the Niagara Power at Sal Maglie Stadium. The rainout from this past Friday in Niagara Falls is responsible for the two seven-inning games with the opportunity for the Muckdogs to get back to .500.

First pitch of game one is scheduled for 5 p.m., with the second game starting 30 minutes after the completion of game one.

It can be viewed on YouTube Live by subscribing to BataviaMuckdogBaseball. Make sure to follow our Twitter @BataviaMuckdogs and liking our Facebook Page, “BataviaMuckdogBaseball.”

A car has reportedly hit a pedestrian at Clinton Street and East Main Street, Batavia.

The victim is down in the road.

City fire, Mercy EMS, Batavia PD responding.

UPDATE 5:35 p.m.: The bicyclist apparently sustained minor cuts and abrasions. He was a sign-off. Sgt. Mitch Cowen said it appears the bicyclist was crossing Clinton eastbound when a black SUV had the right-of-way. There were no marks on the SUV, so the bicyclist might not even have been struck. He may have hit his breaks suddenly and fell. No citations will be issued.

Fourth graders today competed in Batavia's annual Fourth Grade Track Meet at Van Detta Stadium.

In 2019, the competition was held in Oakfield because the Van Detta was under construction and in 2020 the meet was canceled because of COVID-19, so this year's fourth-grade class is the first group of fourth graders to hold its meet in the new Van Detta Stadium. 

That's something they'll be bragging about in 50 years said Athletic Director Mike Bromley.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, City Church, at its St. Anthony facility, has continued to offer free food to anybody who drives through on the distribution today. There was another distribution this morning with a line of cars stretched down Liberty Street and dozens of volunteers helping with the distribution.

Three Batavia High School student-athletes have signed letters of intent to continue both their studies and their sports careers in college.

Stone Siverling, above, will play basketball at Alfred State College. Pictured with him are: Jason Siverling, Holly Siverling, Coach Tim Stevens, Coach Buddy Brasky, Sawyer Silverling, Sheldon Silverling, and Morgan Murray.

Rebekah Daniszewski, center, will compete at Seton Hill University in track and field. Pictured are Paul Daniszewski, Douglas Daniszewski, Wendy Daniszewski, and Coach Dan Geiger.

Tyler Kleinbach, second from left, will swim at Genesee Community College. Pictured, David Kleinbach, Desire Kleinbach, and coaches Eric Geitner and Frank Dibacco.

Rebbecca Storm Wissinger, 29, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with: endangering the welfare of a child; custodial interference in the second degree; and second-degree harassment. Wissinger was arrested at 5:03 p.m. June 21 after an incident at GC Social Services on East Main Street Road in Batavia. It is alleged that she became physical with a third party while trying to take custody of her children, against a GC Family Court order. Following her arrest, she was released with appearance tickets to be in Batavia Town Court June 24. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Hale, assisted by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.

Thomas Joseph Scheuerlein, 56, of Overlook Drive, Batavia, is charged with second-degree harassment. Following an incident at 4:48 p.m. June 21 in the Town of Batavia, Scheuerlein was arrested, arraigned in Alabama Town Court, then released. He is due in Genesee County Court on Aug. 11. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Dimmig, assisted by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush.

Grace Crystal Murray, 22, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with third-degree criminal trespass. At 11:50 a.m. on June 23, Murray was arrested on a bench warrant and arraigned in Batavia City Court, then "returned" on her own recognizance. The case was handled by Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Zachary Hoy.

Interview with Dr. Ahmet Guler at the ribbon cutting last week for his new cardiology and wellness center at 34 Swan St., Suite 3, Batavia.

Press release:

The Salvation Army in partnership with Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia will be hosting their final food box distribution at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 28^th.

The distribution will take place at the church's north campus located at 8160 Bank Street Road. This is a drive-thru distribution.

Be sure your trunk/hatch are cleared out for the volunteers to place the boxes in your vehicle. You will need a photo ID for each household you will be picking up for.

There will be boxes of assorted fresh produce and boxes of assorted dairy items. The distribution will continue until the boxes are gone.

When lining up ahead of time please do not block traffic and stay in your vehicle until it is time to procede.

From the city's Department of Public Works:

The City of Batavia Water Department is going to be repairing a water line at 10 Vernon Ave. at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23. The repair will require the road to be shut down for through traffic. 

This will include emergency vehicles.

The road should be open by 3 p.m.

The City appreciates your patience while we perform this repair.

A caller reports a small child, about age 2, is driving a motorized scooter in and out of the roadway in the area of State Street and Lewis Place. City police are responding.

UPDATE 4:54 p.m.: An officer is speaking with someone about this call at State and Hutchins Place.

Press release:

The City Church and St. Anthony's are excited to announce the opening back up of their Tuesday Night Activity Nights on July 6th.

They offer basketball, four square, a game room and the Liberty Arts room will be open.

The gym floor has been recently updated and is ready to be played on!

This will occur every Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. at the St. Anthony's Community Center located on 114 Liberty St. in Batavia.

Everyone is welcome and food will be provided.

They are excited to welcome the community for a night of fun and friendship!

A dog is reported to be on the roof in the first block of Washington Avenue in the city. Officers are responding.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Dispatch has left a message on the resident's voicemail machine. An officer at the residence reports the dog has opted to go back inside the house, but still has access the roof. "I'll be hanging in the area until we get it secured," says the officer.

A car vs. pedestrian accident with possible serious injuries is reported at 229 W. Main St., in front of Ken Barrett's Chevolet dealership. City fire is en route. Mercy medics are responding. Police are on scene. Mercy Flight out of Batavia is on ground standby.

UPDATE 2:13 p.m.: Mercy Flight is called to scene and directed to land behind city fire headquarters in a grassy area off Evans Street. City Ladder #15's crew is the ground contact.

UPDATE 2:23 p.m.: Mercy Flight has landed behind city fire headquarters.

UPDATE 2:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and heading to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. The city assignment on West Main is back in service.

UPDATE 4:35 p.m.: From the City of Batavia Police Department -- The City of Batavia Police Department is investigating a car vs. pedestrian personal injury accident that occurred on Tuesday, June 22, at about 2:03 p.m. in front of 229 W. Main St., Batavia. A pedestrian was crossing West Main Street and was struck by an SUV that was traveling eastbound. The pedestrian was transported by Mercy Flight to Strong Hospital to be treated for his injuries, which are unknown at this time. The investigation is ongoing and the names of the individuals involved will not be released at this time. The City of Batavia Police Department would like to thank the City of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy EMS and Mercy Flight Air Crew for their assistance with the initial investigation.

Top photo: City police say this dark-colored SUV was involved in the accident where a pedestrian was struck.

Below: Emergency personnel at the scene while the patient is being stablized in the ambulance in order to transport them to city fire headquarters where Mercy Flight has landed.