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Batavia Drops Second Straight to Williamsport

By Mollie Radzinski

 Batavia (27-18) could only score one run to Williamsport's (24-21) ten for their second straight loss.  George Brown (0-2) started on the mound and got the loss.  He threw five innings with three hits, two runs, and four strikeouts.  Tyler Cloyd (3-1) earned the win in his seven innings with seven hits, one run, one walk and six strikeouts.

The Muckdogs scored first in the 2nd when Charley Cutler singled and Edwin Gomez doubled to send in their only run on the night.  The Crosssutters answered in the 4th when Cody Overbeck reached on a force out and Steve Susdorf followed him with a single.  Troy Hanzawa then singled to plate both runners.

 

They added three insurance runs in the 6th on a Susdorf single, Jim Murphy double, Hanzawa walk and single by Brandon Haislet.  The Crosscutter's other big inning came in the 7th when they added three more on a Susdorf homerun, Murphy walk, Hanzawa double then a Bryan Frew RBI single.

The best bat on the Muckdogs side came by Gomez.  He went 2-for-3 with a triple and one RBI.  Batavia is off tomorrow before facing Auburn at home for a doubleheader on Wednesday.  The first game starts at 5:05.

Video: Muckdogs Sweep State College Recap

By Mollie Radzinski

 

Going into tonight's game versus Williamsport, here is where we stand:

  • we are two games behind Jamestown and still hold the second best record in the NYPL at 27-17
  • Jermaine Curtis is 10th in the league in batting average (.308)
  • Arquimedes Neito is 2nd in the league in pitching (4-0, 1.73 ERA)
  • Adam Reifer leads the league in saves and games (12; 19)
  • Jose Garcia is tied for 3rd in the league in stolen bases (15)
  • Jon Edwards is 2nd in on-base percentage and 4th in slugging percentage (.425; .561)
  • Shane Peterson is 4th in on-base percentage (.409)
  • Colt Sedbrook is tied for second in triples (5)
  • overall, the team is 2nd in batting (.266) and 6th in pitching (3.36 ERA)

McMahon Irish Dancers win big — again!

By Philip Anselmo

Congratulations are in order — again — for everybody's favorite Irish dancers: the young ladies and gentlemen of the McMahon School of Irish Dance.

On July 12, dancers from the McMahon School of Irish Dance competed at this year’s Rochester Feis (pronounced fesh), along with 1200 others from schools in the United States and Canada.  Long hours of practice paid off for the McMahon dancers, who brought home 60 medals, including 17 first place awards.

Binghamton will host the Southern Tier Feis in a couple weeks on August 16. In the meantime, The Batavian hopes to get over to the McMahon dance studio here in Batavia to capture some of the action on video, so be sure to check back with us for that.

Visit the McMahon School's Web site for more information about enrolling in classes or learning more about the art and sport of Irish dance.

Police Blotter: August 1 through August 3

By Philip Anselmo

All of the following calls were reported by the City of Batavia Police Department. Listed offenses do not imply that charges were filed. Calls may result in no official action.

Friday:

  • 12:36am, 345 W. Main St., trespass
  • 1:08am, 104 Jackson St., harassment
  • 2:27am, 5 Thomas Ave. (Apt: 2), harassment
  • 12:05pm, 10 W. Main St., larceny
  • 1:40pm, 21 Columbia Ave., menacing
  • 2:33pm, Main Street, accident
  • 3:38pm, 8 Walnut St., criminal contempt
  • 3:52pm, 428 Ellicott St., larceny
  • 4:07pm, 427 E. Main St., harassment
  • 5:56pm, 7 Prune St., harassment
  • 6:21pm, 563 E. Main St., fraud
  • 7:25pm, 412 E. Main St., larceny

Saturday:

  • 1:23am, (no address listed), assault
  • 2:03am, Pearl Street, burglary
  • 2:50am, 23 Harvester Ave., harassment
  • 3:05am, 419 W. Main St., criminal mischief
  • 9:44am, 155 Jackson St., larceny
  • 10:22am, 542 E. Main St., accident
  • 1:53pm, 220 E. Main St., accident
  • 6:52pm, 73 Union St., trespass
  • 11:30pm, 345 W. Main St., larceny

Sunday:

  • 12:24am, Hutchins Place, menacing
  • 3:31pm, 522 E. Main St., harassment
  • 8:40pm, 119 State St., menacing

Note: We don't include noise complaints, domestic disputes and routine police business.

News roundup: A queen, a rodeo, a barbecue and a birthday

By Philip Anselmo

There was no lack of entertainment in Genesee County this past weekend. And it seems that Daily News reporter Roger Muehlig got a little taste of it all. Muehlig was in Attica Sunday for the 51st annual Attica Rodeo that drew more than 7,000 spectators over the weekend. Says Waterport resident Carl Miller of the rodeo: "We like it."

Muehlig was also at the Elba Onion Festival Saturday for the crowning of the Onion Queen. Seventeen-year-old Nicole Heffle received the honor. "It's always (been) like my dream to be Onion Queen," she said.

As if those two grand events weren't enough for one tireless reporter, Muehlig got over to the Toys for Kids chicken barbecue fundraiser Saturday outside T-Shirts Inc.'s new location at 438 East Main St. All proceeds from the barbecue will benefit Don Carroll's Toys for Kids campaign for Christmas.

I hope Muehlig is home taking a day off today.

The one place Muehlig wasn't to be found this weekend was at the town of Murray's bicentennial celebration. No matter, Tom Rivers was on hand to cover the festivities that culminated in a bocce tournament Sunday.

For more on these and other stories, pick up a copy of the Daily News. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Weekend Arrests: August 1 through August 4

By Philip Anselmo

Charles J. Wride, 21, of Bergen, was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment Friday relating to an incident on July 19 in the village, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Wride is accused of backing out of a driveway while someone was standing in the way of the car door.

David M. Hinkson, 53, of 5163 Sunset Terrace, Batavia, was charged with driving while intoxicated Saturday afternoon, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Hinkson was stopped on Route 33 near the intersection with Route 5. He was also ticketed with failure to stop for stop sign and depositing refuse upon the highway.

Joseph Beszczynski IV, 22, of Darien, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana early this morning, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Beszczynski was stopped on South Main Street in Batavia for driving without front or rear license plates. His vehicle was subsequently searched, and police allegedly found marijuana and a smoking pipe.

All of the above arrests were reported in published releases from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

News roundup: Arrests made in LeRoy related to burglaries

By Philip Anselmo

LeRoy police have arrested two men in relation to the string of burglaries there early last week, according to WBTA's Wayne Fuller. Chad Bagg, 29, of LeRoy, was charged with five counts of burglary, three counts of petit larceny and two counts of attempted larceny. Bagg is accused of burglarizing four businesses in LeRoy — including the Eagle Hotel, which he allegedly robbed twice. Bragg has been sent to jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. Jonathan Blasdell, 18, of LeRoy, was charged with one count of burglary. Blasdell allegedly broke into the Mill Street Liquor Store. He was sent to jail in lieu of $1,000 bail.

Batavia's Charter Review Commission will meet tonight at 6:30pm at City Hall. That meeting is open to the public.

Muckdogs End Win Streak

By Mollie Radzinski

The Muckdogs (27-17) looked like they were going to add a game to their win streak, but a Williamsport (23-21) three-run 9th inning was enough for the Crosscutters to win 6-5.  Scott Gorgen (2-1) suffered the loss for Batavia, pitching three innings with three hits, three runs, two walks and three strikeouts.  The winning pitcher was Brain Rosenberg (2-1), who threw two innings with one hit, one run, two walks and three strikeouts.

 Williamsport struck first in the 3rd inning, scoring two runs when Bryan Frew reached on a fielder’s choice and Brandon Haislet singled to put two on.  D’Arby Myers then singled to send both home.  They added one more in the 5th on a Frew single and Travis D’Arnaud double.

 Batavia got on the board in the 5th after Colt Sedbrook singled and eventually scored when Domnit Bolivar grounded out.  They went on to take the lead in the 6th.  Frederick Parejo walked and Edwin Gomez singled before advanced a base on a Beau Riportella sacrifice bunt.  An error later in the inning got Jose Garcia on base and scored Parejo and Gomez.  Sedbrook then singled to score Garcia.

 The Muckdogs added one more in the 8th when Parejo walked, stole second and scored on a Riportella single.  However, the Crosscutters came on in the 9th to score three runs that the Muckdogs could not answer.  Troy Hanzawa singled and Tim Binkoski, Frew and Haislet walked to start the rally.  Myers and D’Arnaud both reached on a fielder’s choice to score the last two.

 Riportella was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and stolen base.  Sedbrook had the only other multi-hit night for the Muckdogs, going 2-for-4.  The two teams face each other again Monday night. 

See you at today's Muckdog's Game

By Howard B. Owens

My wife and I are going to see one of the hottest teams in professional baseball at 4 p.m. -- the Batavia Muckdogs.

If you attend and want to say hello, I imagine I'll be the only fellow there wearing an old-school San Diego Padres ball cap (brown, with mission gold "SD").

Photo Journal: Elba Onion Festival

By Philip Anselmo

Thanks again to Steve Ognibene for getting us some great photos of a local event. This time, Steve was at the opening night parade for the Elba Onion Festival. Seen in the first picture (below) is Steven Bezon with his two children, Leah and Ashton.

Muckdog's competitive in tough division

By Howard B. Owens

Centre Daily Times, which covers the State College Spikes, has an article this morning about "brutally competitive" Pinckney Division of the NY-Penn league.

The six-team Pinckney Division, the largest in size and smallest in markets of the New York-Penn League’s three divisions, has turned brutally competitive.

Consistent Jamestown entered Saturday holding a tenuous lead.

Talented Batavia, which includes four players selected in the first five rounds of this year’s draft and five teenagers, trailed the Jammers by a game.

Two games behind Batavia rested Auburn which has won the division every year since 2002.

Two games behind Auburn stood Williamsport.

The Jammers (27-15), Muckdogs (26-16) and Doubledays (24-18) entered this weekend with the league’s best records.

It should be a great race to the wire.  Jamestown, Batavia and Auburn all won yesterday.

Today's game is at 4:05 p.m. against Williamsport. Tickets are only $5 per person for general admiission. 

UPDATE: Here's an article from the Auburn perspective.

results for racng at genesee speedway on 8/2

By chris johnson
Greg Mrzywka Picks Up First Win of 2008 at Genesee Speedway

 

BATAVIA, NY (August 2, 2008)- Once again on a Saturday, the storm clouds found a detour around Genesee County and allowed racing to get in.  The end result would be the largest car count in years and a night to remember a great ambassador of racing.

 

With the white flag flying in the Troyer Chassis Sportsman, there were still four drivers that had a chance to easily lead the next time around; as it would turn out, consistency would be the way for Greg Mrzywka to get to Victory Lane.

 

Mrzywka, of Holley, took the lead from rookie Henry Maier on lap five and did the job holding off past champions Brian Sage and Rob Pratt for the win.

 

On the races final restart, Pratt moved from fourth to second and began to pressure the No. 04 of Mrzywka.  Pratt nearly lost control of his No. p38 in turn two though and would give the leader just enough room to hold on.

 

It was Greg’s first win since 2006 at the 1/3-mile.  He would also become the seventh different winner in the division this season.

 

Pratt would hang on for second, with Brian Sage, who was so fast early on, slipping to third.  Rounding out the top-five would be Stubby Pangrazio and Don Spatorico, the top two in points.

 

The Castle Powered Late Models simply could not get into a rhythm in their feature, with six cautions falling in the first six laps.  In an effort to allow the solid field to regroup, the decision was made to send the cars to the pits to run at the end of the night.  As it would turn out, the hard 11:00 p.m. curfew would end up postponing the event until August 16, when the race will be completed.  J.J. Mazur had taken the lead just before the final caution.

 

Jeb Walworth inherited the lead in the Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature on lap 7 when Nathan Arnold took his car pit side.  He would stretch out his advantage and cruise to his second win of the year.

 

Walworth survived a number of challenges to defeat Colton Chappius Jr., Lee Zimmerman, Matthew Pfalzer and Jason Babbit.

Russ Wassner shook off the bad luck of 2008 by picking up the first win in the Professional Driver Institute Mini Stock Feature.

 

Wassner took the lead on lap three from Mike Sweeney and held him off on the race’s only restart on lap 9.  He would pull away in the closing laps to continue his streak of winning seasons.

 

Behind Wassner was Sweeney, Dan Norton, Rick Johnson and point leader Brandon Aradine.

 

P.J. Havens became the eighth different winner in the DML Driveway Sealing Division, taking the lead early and winning the final event of the night over James Maier and Tom Urban.

 

Genesee Speedway Results: 8/2/2008-

American Cancer Society Jack Veach Memorial Night

 

Castle Powered Late Model Feature (15 Laps)- Postponed until 8/16

 

Lap Leaders- T. Pangrazio 1, Mogavero 2-5, Mazur 6-

Heat Winners- Rivers, Babbitt, Boyle.

 

Troyer Chassis Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)- GREG MRZYWKA, Rob Pratt, Brian Sage, Stubby Pangrazio, Don Spatorico, John Baker, Steve Schumacher, Sandy Pembleton, John Panattoni, Justin Wright, Guy Steffen, Henry Maier, John Venuto, Jason Hallett, Ricky Newton, Rob Richmond Jr., Tim Downs, Kerry Ball, Don Ogden.

 

Lap Leaders- Downs 1-2, Maier 3-4, Mrzywka 5-20.

Heat Winners- Baker, Downs.

 

Power Trip Energy Drink Street Stock Feature (20 Laps)- JEB WALWORTH, Colton Chappius Jr., Lee Zimmerman, Matthew Pfalzer, Jason Babbit, Jeremy Denton, John Fry, John Giles, Dave Downs, Dave Conant, Mark Loveland, Dave Bansmer, Dan Pries, Nathan Arnold, Bill Kowsky, Chip Wood, Kevin Mitchell, Kyle Rupp, Steve Austin, Darrel Moyer.

 

Lap Leaders- Arnold 1-6, Walworth 7-20.

Heat Winners- Loveland, Walworth.

 

Professional Driver Institute Mini Stock Feature (15 Laps)- RUSS WASSNER, Mike Sweeney, Dan Norton, Rick Johnson, Brandon Aradine, Alan Kemp, Randy Barclay, Jason Hull, Samantha Burch, Duane Pingrey, Tom Amico, Ed Neal, Sean McKeller, Bobby Dickinson, Pat Powers, Mark Forsha.

 

Lap Leaders- Sweeney 1-2, Wassner 3-15.

Heat Winners- Aradine, Johnson.

 

DML Driveway Sealing Bandits Top 3 (8 Laps)- P.J. HAVENS, James Maier, Tom Urban.

 

Lap Leaders- Maier 1, Havens 2-8

 

Top Content for July

By Howard B. Owens

The following posts were the most viewed in July, based on our web tracking stats.

A note for employers

By Howard B. Owens

We launched our free employment listings during the middle part of the July.

I was just looking over our stats -- in just that short of a time, more than 1,000 people looked at the jobs page. That tells me, there is a local online audience looking for employement opportunities.

Click on the "jobs" tab above and follow the directions on how to post your free employment ad.

We can easily assume that Batavian readers are engaged, informed, energetic people; you don't want to miss your chance to make your next great hire at no cost.

Meet the Muckdogs: Scott Gorgen

By Mollie Radzinski

 Here is the first installment of my new Meet the Muckdogs segment.  Keep the feedback coming of who else you would like to here from! Enjoy!

 

Muckdogs Win Big in Seventh Straight Win

By Mollie Radzinski

The Muckdogs (26-16) offense scored ten two-out runs with fourteen total hits in the game to take down the State College Spikes (9-32) by a score of 12-7.  Arquimedes Nieto got the start, going four and two-thirds innings with six hits, three runs, one walk and three strikeouts.  LaCurtis Mayes (2-0) pitched two-thirds of a scoreless ball to get the win.  State College’s Maurice Bankston (0-5) suffered the loss in his four and two-thirds innings with nine hits, six runs and a walk and a strikeout.

Batavia jumped off to an early lead in the 1st on a Jermaine Curtis single and Shane Peterson double.  They added another in the 3rd when Jose Garcia doubled, stole third and scored on a double-play ball.  The Spikes got on the board in the 4th after Jeremy Farrell reached on an error, advanced on a wild pitch, then came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Andrew Biela.  They took the lead in the next inning when Andy Vasquez singled and scored on Chase D’Arnaud’s double.  The bases were then loaded and D’Arnaud scored when Biela was hit by a pitch.

But the Muckdogs wouldn’t stay down long, as they rallied for five runs in both the 5th and 6th innings.  In the 5th, Charley Cutler singled, Curtis walked and Peterson had a RBI double.  Jon Edwards then hit two in on a single before Domnit Bolivar doubled and Frederick Parejo singled to score the other two runs.  In the next inning, the bases were loaded and a run was scored after Garcia singled, Colt Sedbrook was hit by a pitch and Peterson and Edwards had back-to-back walks.  Bolivar then singled to plate two.  Batavia’s last two runs scored when Parejo reached on a throwing error.

State College tried to rally back in the 8th, scoring four runs with the help of four Muckdog errors, but it was not enough.  Batavia goes for the sweep and their eighth win in a row tonight at 7:05.  Ryan Howard bobble-heads will be given away to the first 500 in attendance.

Muckdogs continue hot streak

By Howard B. Owens

A gallon of gas is $4. A ticket to the Muckdogs is only $5. Conclusion? Why waste a lot of money on gas when you could  stick close to home for some inexpensive fun tonight at  Dwyer and watch the NY-Penn league's hottest team.

Batavia smacked down the Spikes last night 12-7, to move the team's record to 26-16.  The Muckdogs are a game behind Jamestown in the race for the Pinckney Division crown. The team also has the second best record in the entire NY-Penn league.

Tonight's game against lackluster State College is scheduled for 7:05  p.m. Tomorrow's game against Williamsport is at 4:05 p.m.

Big time banker has roots in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Slate profiles Ronald Hermance Jr., CEO of Hudson City Bancorp. Hudson is based in Jersey, but Hermance is originally from Batavia.

Despite the proximity to Manhattan, Hermance and his 140-year-old bank have never been part of the fast-money Wall Street scene. And thanks to its geographic and cultural distance, this bridge-and-tunnel bank has thrived amid the mortgage debacle.

Hudson City in late July reported that second-quarter profits were up 52.3 percent. In the 2008 first half, mortgage originations rose 50 percent from 2007. And yet its balance sheet is pristine. "Only 328 out of 79,929 loans are nonperforming at the end of the second quarter," he said. (But who's counting?) Last Thursday, Hudson City sported a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, twice the size of the Blackstone Group.

...

Hudson City banks the old-fashioned way: It takes deposits and makes mortgages to people who buy homes in which they plan to live. And then it hangs on to them. No subprime, no securitization. Hudson City's bankers are steady daters in a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am era. "We don't have Wall Street bundle up the mortgages and sell them to someone in Norway," Hermance says. "We're going to live with those loans."

...

CNBC's motormouth James Cramer has dubbed Hermance a modern-day George Bailey. And while it has been a wonderful life of late for Hermance (last year he was paid a total of $8.45 million, and his shares in the bank are worth about $114 million, according to Hudson City's 2007 proxy), comparisons between the balding, mustachioed banker and Jimmy Stewart only go so far.

It's a fascinating story even if the world of high finance isn't your thing. Read the whole thing.

jack veach memorial to run today at genesee speedway-full stock car program

By chris johnson


DIRT Pro Stock Tour Group to Race in Jack Veach
Memorial at Genesee Speedway

WHAT: As part of a regional racing series, the best of the Pro Stock racers from Western New York and Southern Ontario will be showing their superior racing abilities on the1/3rd mile oval track at Genesee Speedway in Batavia. The racing program begins at 6pm with 5 others classes competing in addition to the Jack Veach Memorial Pro Stock event. The spectator gates open at 5pm

Jack Veach was a well-known racing official in this area, respected by competitors and his peers alike. Jack passed away two years ago July 11th, from cancer. He left a legacy in his wife, Bonnie, son John and daughter Dawn who have continued on in Jack’s spirit at the Speedway.

Race fans and drivers alike have a well-earned reputation of taking care of their own. Cancer is a disease that touches everyone no matter what their walk in life. This is a way for the racing community to show their unity in raising awareness in the fight against cancer.


WHEN/WHERE:
Saturday, August 2, 2008
• The racing program begins at 6:00 p.m.
Genesee Speedway
5058 East Main Street, Rt. 5 – Batavia at the Genesee County Fairgrounds

WHO:
• Race fans
• Cancer survivors, Caregivers, and their families
• The Community

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
###

The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives,
diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. The American
Cancer Society Eastern Division has 46 community-based offices, involving thousands of volunteers throughout NY
and NJ. For 24-hour cancer information, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org/nynj

 

 

 

 

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