Sports

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs stayed half-game ahead of State College with a 3-2 win over the Auburn Doubledays Thursday night.

After a double-steal by Harrison Dinicola and Albert Guaimaro in the top of the sixth, Jack Strunc’s RBI ground out to first broke a 2-2 tie and was the run Batavia (12-7) needed for the win.

Batavia manager Tom Lawless is facing seven games on the road in six days, and he used five pitchers to get the win.

Julio Frias picked up his first win of the season, throwing five innings and striking out six. He has now struck out 26 in 19 innings. The Miami Marlins are seeing immediate returns on 2019 draft picks. Tyler Kolek (two strikeouts in an inning), Josh Simpson (two strikeouts, one inning) and Joey Steele (one strikeout) were all credited with a hold and combined to shut out Auburn.

Evan Brabrand came on in the ninth, gave up a hit and struck out the side for the save, his third of the season.

The first two Batavia runs came in the third. Michael Hernandez led off with a solo home run to left, his first with the team, then Dalvy Rosario tripled in Milton Smith II who had singled.

Auburn falls to 9-9 while Batavia stays half-game ahead of State College (12-8) and one-and-a-half games ahead of Mahoning Valley (11-9). Batavia and Auburn play again Friday and two on Saturday, while State College and Mahoning Valley face off again Friday.

The team will play five more games in six days at Auburn and State College before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game homestand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3.

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

Submitted photo: Batavia Manager Tom Lawless gives a fist bump to Albert Guaimaro.

More than 200 participants walked or ran in the Batavia Kiwanis Club's annual 5K race on Independence Day, a 10-percent increase over last year, said race director David Chua.

It started at the top of Centennial Park on Richmond Avenue and went north by Dwyer Stadium to East Avenue. The runners end just off Washington Avenue at the bottom of the park on Ellicott Avenue. 

Chua said this year’s proceeds were broken into thirds: the organization for autism research; Batavia City Schools District Foundation; and the last third is distributed by the Kiwanis Club to local children’s organizations.

First Place and top male finisher was William Buckenmeyer from Batavia, time 18:25. Top female finisher was Kimberly Mills from Oakfield time 20:50; she finished 11^th overall.

From Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Blue Devils Baseball Team remains undefeated (7-0) with a dramatic 5-4 win Friday night over the Gators of North Bufallo.

Casey Radka drove in Joey Burdick with a two-out, two-strike single in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win.

With Batavia down 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, Josh Baptiste drew a walk. He went to second on a wild pitch, and Josh Bradley hit a single. Baptiste attempted to score on the play but was gunned down at home plate. 

Bradley, however, moved to third base on the play. Burdick then drove in Bradley for the tying run. Tristan Aldinger moved Burdick to second base with a single. Radka then delivered the hit which scored Burdick.

Radka went the distance on the mound, giving up five hits and three earned runs.

Batavia banged out nine hits with nine of the Batavia players getting exactly one hit each in the balanced attack.

Batavia scored three runs in the first inning essentially on walks and errors. Jerry Reinhardt, Casey Radka and Zeke Lynn all scored in that first inning.

Batavia’s next game is at home against the Clarence Red Raiders on Wednesday, July 10, at 6 p.m. at Genesee Community College.

Story by Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Blue Devils Baseball Team beat the Lake Erie Blue Wahoos 8-0 Tuesday at Genesee Community College.

Zeke Lynn went the distance on the mound, giving up two hits while only throwing 81 pitches. Lynn was aided by a triple play and a double play.

The triple play occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded and Batavia leading at that point, 1-0. The ball was hit to Casey Radka at short and he threw home for the force out. The runner at second rounded third base and Ryan Mullen, the catcher, threw to third base and in a run-down that runner was tagged out for the second out. That runner interfered with Mullen, and the third out was called.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Batavia turned the double play when Lynn fielded a hard-hit grounder and threw to Radka at short who fired to AJ Marcello at first base for the double play.  

Batavia scored their first run in the first inning when Dion Rosalina singled and went to second on a passed ball and came home on a pop up to the infield which was misplayed by the Wahoo infield to score Rosalina.

Batavia scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 2-0 when Radka doubled and came home on an error by the left fielder who dropped a fly ball.

Batavia broke it open with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 5-0. Josh Baptiste walked, as did Josh Bradley, and Baptiste came home on an RBI double by Jerry Reinhardt. Bradley came home on a sacrifice fly by Rosalina.

Batavia added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mullen walked, Luke McComb singled and AJ Marcello singled home Ryan Mullen.  Tristan Aldinger then delivered a two-run triple to drive in McComb and Marcello to get Batavia’s seventh and eighth runs of the game.

Radka led the 12-hit attack, going three for three with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Aldinger went two for four with two RBIs. Marcello went two for three with a run scored and an RBI.

Batavia’s next game is at home at GCC is Friday night against the 3-1 Gators.

Batavia is now 6-0 on the season.

Story by Dan McComb:

Casey Radka delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Batavia 24U Blue Devils to a dramatic 6-5 win over Lockport Sunday night.

With two outs, Jerry Reinhardt singled, stole second and third base and came home on the Radka winner.

In the top of the seventh, with the score tied at 5-5, Burnie Jonis gunned down the potential game wining runner at home plate with a great throw from left field.

Ryan Mullen received the throw from Jonis from his catcher’s position to tag out the runner.

Trevor Sherwood went the distance on the mound, giving up 5 runs, however all of them were unearned.

The Blue Devils who entered the game committing only three errors all season, unfortunately, committed six errors but overcame the shaky defense with a win.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning, Josh Bradley singled and went to third on a Dion Rosalina double. Bradley would later score on a wild pitch.

Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Radka led off with a walk and went to third on a Zeke Lynn double.

Both runners would score on ground outs by Mullen and AJ Marcello to tie the score at 3 after four innings.

Batavia moved ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning, 5-4. Jonis doubled and came around to score on a Rosalina double.

Lockport tied the game in the top of the seventh inning at 5, setting up the dramatic two-out single by Radka to give Batavia the 6-5 win.

Trevor Sherwood won his second game for the Blue Devils, going the distance and striking out 10.

Batavia’s next game is against the 3-1 Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night (June 25) at home at Genesee Community College.

Sean Reynolds, whom we profiled last year as one of the most intriguing players in the New York-Penn League, and whose photo graces the Muckdog's printed season schedule, and who became a fan favorite last season, is rejoining the Batavia Muckdogs.

The Marlin's organization decided today to swap first basemen between Batavia and the Clinton Lumberjacks, sending Evan Edwards to Clinton, Iowa, and returning Reynolds to the New York Penn-League, where he led the league last year in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, walks, and strikeouts.

In fact, Reynolds set a new league record for strikeouts at 133. He hit 17 home runs and had 52 RBIs while walking 42 times.

In 68 games with Clinton, Reynolds was hitting.173 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs, 33 walks, and 145 strikeouts.

He rejoins Batavia just a week into the NYPL's short season.

Reynolds was a fourth-round pick for the Marlins in 2016 and Edwards was a fourth-round pick for the Marlins this year.

The Batavia Muckdogs finished a rain-delayed game against the Auburn Doubledays and then the two teams played a seven-inning game.

Batavia won the first game with timely hitting from Igor Baez, a two-out homer in the ninth, Dalvy Rosario and a game-winning single by Albert Guaimaro.

They lost the nightcap 5-0, moving the Batavia record to 3-3 on the season and giving Auburn its first win of the season.

After the game, we spoke with Milton Smith Jr., who grew up in Laurel, Miss., a small city of 18,000. He said being in Batavia feels like home. A 22nd-round draft choice in 2018 out of Merdian Community College, Smith hit .362 in his first professional season and is off to a .467 start with Batavia.

From Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Baseball Team beat North Buffalo in a rematch Tuesday 11-1 to remain unbeaten at 4-0.

Batavia trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the third, but erupted for 10 runs.

With the bases loaded and one out, Casey Radka laid down a bunt which was mishandled by the pitcher who threw wildly, scoring three runs.

With the bases loaded and four runs in already, AJ Marcello drilled a two-run single to make it 6-0.

Josh Baptiste followed with a single to make it 7-0, and Josh Bradley and Tristan Aldinger also delivered RBI hits.

Every batter for Batavia scored a run in that decisive third inning.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Zeke Lynn drew a walk and Luke McComb singled. Baptiste followed with an RBI single to place the 11^thrun.

The game was stopped after four and a half innings due to the 10-run rule.

Zeke Lynn started on the mound and went three innings, allowing one run.

Radka relieved in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and escaped without allowing a run.

Jerry Reinhardt took over in the fifth inning and had a 1-2-3 inning.

Batavia’s next game is at home against Lockport at 6 p.m. this Sunday, June 23, at Genesee Community College.

Lockport had the best regular season record last year.

Press release:

Join the Genesee County Parks along with the Oakfield-Alabama Lions Club and try out fishing at DeWitt Recreation Area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 29th.

Kids up to age 16 can join the fun and get the chance to win a prize with the Kendra Haacke Memorial Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Oakfield-Alabama Lions Club. Prize includes fishing gear donated by Cabela’s of Cheektowaga.

No fishing license required, this is part of the NYSDEC’s Free Fishing Weekend. Perfect for beginners!

Program meets at Pavilion 3. Friendly guides will be on hand to assist you.

Fishing gear provided or bring your own. Bait provided through a generous donation by Walmart of Batavia.

Call 585-344-1122 register or walk-ins also welcome.

For more information visit the parks' website here, or contact Shannon Lyaski at Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us or (585) 344-1122.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Pembroke Dragons 10U Baseball Team took to the tournament held in Nunda June 13-18 with one goal set in their mind and that goal was to win.

In order to achieve the goal they set for the GLOW All Stars tournament, it would take blood, sweat, tears and applying the hard work that they started in the gym many months ago.

To lead off the tournament Pembroke relied on the pitching of Brayden Lang, who struck out 23 batters in the first two rounds of play while going 9 for 10 at the plate with six singles, two doubles and a triple.

Along with the smart at bats and huge catches in the field by Gavin Liss, Ryan Zika, Austin Post and Trevor Rheinheimer the Dragons made their way to the semifinal game.

The game of the semifinals set for a tough task ahead facing a talented Nunda team and defeating them in extra innings.

The semifinals round was led by explosive hitting and base running by Owen Schultz. Owen sparked the Dragons when they needed it most with a massive double, clearing the bases and setting up the Dragons for the comeback that they needed.

In the bottom of the seventh inning Owen got on base and used his speed and heart to steal home, sealing the win for the Dragons to advance to the Championship round against a loaded Perry team led by the great coaching of Steve Deaton.

During the championship game the Dragons started Zachary Hartz on the mound who kept the scoring and the hitting to an astounding low against a team that had put up 62 runs thus far throughout the tournament.

Madden Perry made a huge double play at first by catching a ball and touching the bag before the runner had time to tag up to inch the Dragons even closer to achieving their goal.

To close the game on the mound Pembroke then turned to Aydaen Windnagle, who struck out batters and played with great composure and confidence right to the end.

With Pembroke holding onto a 7-to-4 lead in the sixth inning of the game with bases loaded you could almost hear the hearts pounding.

The winning play that ended the game sent the Dragons into celebration mode was made by none other than Mason Wetherbee.

A player from Perry took a deep shot to left field and the feeling of time almost stopped as Mason took off toward the ball and made an amazing glove catch before going to the ground.

As Mason came up with the game winning catch the celebration began and the emotional Dragons ran about the field in all their glory. Overall the Dragons played with heart, determination and most importantly as a team lifting each other up a when needed and grinding to the very end brining home the first ever Glow Championship to Pembroke.

The coaching staff of Manager Dan Lang and assistant coaches Lee Hartz, Dan Zika, Arron Post, Luke Windnagle, Ian Wetherbee and Norm Liss would like to congratulate the boys on this hard-fought journey and rising to the challenges they faced to become the Champions that they are.

As we say, you need to over-believe to overachieve and that’s exactly what happened to get the win.

Nic Ready, who recently graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where President Donald Trump singled him out and called him up to the stage -- made his professional baseball debut with the Muckdogs on Friday night.

Ready, from Poway, Calif. (San Diego County) is the son of Randy Ready, a former major league player whose career included a stint with the San Diego Padres.

Click here for a game report and video.

The 2019 season for the Batavia Muckdogs got off to the right start with 1,700 fans in attendance and a 2-0 win over the Auburn Doubledays.

Ben Hayes, the president of the New York-Penn League, the current owners of the franchise, said he's pleased with the improvements made by General Manager Brendan Kelly, Groundskeeper Cooper Thomson, and the rest of the staff during the offseason.  

Over the offseason, the league signed a three-year lease agreement for Dwyer Stadium and Hayes isn't talking like a league leader who wants to leave Batavia.

"We've been here since 1939," Hayes said. "Batavia means a lot to the New York-Penn League and there's been a lot of rumors and all that kind of stuff generated by people who are scared that the club's going to leave. But it's still here."

To keep the team here, though, the team needs community support. 

"The facility is a good facility at this point in time to play professional baseball," Hayes said. "We do need people to come and we need businesses to support the operations so that we can pay our bills, pay the bus company to transport us around, hotels -- all the different things that come along with a professional baseball team."

The team itself looks good. Several college-age players, some top prospects, lots of talent.

In centerfield this year is one of the Miami Marlins' Top 50 prospects, Milton Smith Jr., who hit .361 last year in rookie ball. He went 1-3 on opening night.

Dalvy Rosario, another top prospect, his first two hits in the league. He also stole a base and was caught stealing.

Peyton Burdick, a third-round draft pick from Batavia -- Batavia, Ohio -- started in right field and got his first two professional hits.

Nic Ready, from Poway, Calif. (San Diego County), an Air Force Academy grad (see separate video), and son of former major leaguer Randy Ready (San Diego Padres, among other teams, and for the previous three seasons, he managed in the Marlins system), started at third base. His first professional hit was a double and he scored a run.

Starting pitcher Remey Reed, a 2016 sixth-round pick from Plano, Texas, who spent part of the 2016 and 2017 seasons in Batavia, gave up only one hit over five frames to pick up the win. Cason Sherrod notched the save.

Air Force Academy grad Nic Ready is expected to make his professional baseball debut tonight with the Batavia Muckdogs, reports the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Ready, a slugging third baseman, was drafted last week in the 23rd round by the Miami Marlins. He drove in 224 runs in 216 games for Air Force.

The Muckdogs open their season at 7:05 p.m. against the Auburn Doubledays.

The Batavia Muckdogs open their 2019 campaign at home at 7 p.m., Friday, which is the start of a two-game home stand against cross-Thruway rivals Auburn.

In the video, we talk with Tom Lawless, the new Muckdogs manager, and Dalvy Rosario, a top Marlin's prospect who is 19 and is expected to be the Muckdog's starting shortstop this season.

Last year in the Dominican Summer League, Rosario hit .257 with four home runs, 42 RBIs, 42 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases in 46 games.

This will be the 12th season Lawless has worked as a minor league manager since 1994. He's also been a hitting and infield instructor at the minor and major league level and he managed the Houston Astros in 2014 (70-92).

The former big-league ballplayer is best known for his bat flip after hitting a home run in Game 4 of the 1987 World Series (video below).

Press release:

Representatives from Batavia Downs and Ground Force Fights today announced they will be holding a spot in Saturday’s MMA card at Batavia Downs for the Canadian pop star and American movie star to settle their differences in the cage.

On June 9^th, Justin Bieber Tweeted; “I wanna challenge Tom Cruise to fight in the octagon. Tom if you dont take this fight you're scared and you will never live it down. Who is willing to put on the fight?”

Richard Mitchell, owner of Ground Force Fights, responds by saying: “We would welcome both Justin and Tom to compete at Throwdown at the Downs 2.0. Fights begin at 6 p.m. and we’d be happy to fit them onto the card whenever it’s convenient for them, given their busy schedules.”

It is unknown at this time why the 25-year-old Bieber decided to challenge the 56-year-old Cruise to the bout.

“Mr. Bieber hails from London, Ontario, while Mr. Cruise was born in Syracuse, New York,” said Ryan Hasenauer, director of Marketing for Batavia Downs. “Batavia is a perfect place for them to meet in the middle to settle whatever this beef is about.

"Batavia has an airport where both celebrities and any entourages can fly in. If they call ahead we can even send our Batavia Downs Shuttle Bus to pick them up.”

Regardless of whether Bieber and Cruise make an appearance, tickets are on sale now for Throwdown at the Downs 2.0 atbataviaconcerts.com.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; event starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $55 for VIP seats closer to the cage.

Lawn chairs (which are normally permitted for other Batavia Downs events) are NOT permitted for this event. There will be limited chairs and bleacher seating available.

Each concert ticket is also redeemable once at Player’s Club in the three days following the event for $15 Free Play to be used on one of Batavia Downs Gaming’s 800+ gaming machines.

About Batavia Downs/WROTB

Owned and operated by 15 Western New York counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo, Western Region Off-Track Betting Corporation is a public benefit corporation with headquarters in Batavia. WROTB owns and operates 17 branches, as well as Batavia Downs Gaming, a standard bred racetrack and gaming facility.

Since its inception, Western Region OTB has generated more than $215 million in operating and surcharge revenues to the taxpayers of those participating municipalities.

About Ground Force Fights

Ground Force Fights is an amateur mixed martial arts organization based in Western New York. We aim to give the public some of the most exciting talent and amateur mixed martial arts shows. They strive to be the best for not only fighters, but fans as well.