Sports

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs will offer a $2,500 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool when racing resumes this afternoon (Nov. 1) at the oldest lighted harness track in America. The actual carryover is $1,299.

The Pick-5 is a 50-cent base wager that begins in race one and runs through race five. There is no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners the entire pool (minus takeout) will be carried over to the Late Pick-5 that begins in race seven.

Post time for the first race is 5 p.m.

Photo of Who Says That with reinsman Ray Fisher Jr., coustesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Following loosely third for the entire mile, Who Says That found late pace and rallied strong to capture the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday evening (Oct. 25).

Sportsmuffler (Jim Morrill Jr.) left swiftly around Voltina (Kevin Cummings) and proceeded to take the field to the quarter in :27.2. At that point Who Says That (Ray Fisher Jr.) was a gapped-third, about five lengths from the leader. The mares stayed in single file to the half when Hey Kobe (Denny Bucceri) came first up and tried to approach the front-runner. As the pack went by three-quarters in 1:26.1, the outer flow bid failed allowing Voltina to pop the pocket from second and circle Sportsmuffler around the last turn. At the head of the stretch Voltina cleared and looked like she was a winner. But Who Says That had stayed close behind Voltina and had plenty of pace left coming home to win by a length in 1:54.4.

It was the fourth win in the last eight starts and the sixth win of the year for Who Says That ($6.20) who now has earned $43,981 for owners Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Chris Shambo and Jack Rice. The 6-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover is trained by Maria Rice.

In the $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open II Sarah Cola (Billy Davis Jr.) went wire to wire in 1:55.3, outdueling the winningest standardbred in North America this year, Quicksilvercandy A (Larry Stalbaum) down the lane for a neck victory. Sarah Cola ($6) is owned by Giuseppe Micchia and Jim Graham, who also does the training.

Kevin Cummings led all drivers with four wins on the night while Billy Davis Jr. was right behind him with three tallies.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 27) with post time set for 6 o'clock.

Press release:

NJCAA Swimming & Diving Results
Men's Score: Genesee CC 118 Erie CC 72
Women's Score: Genesee CC 77 Erie CC 66

The Genesee Community College men's and women's swimming and diving teams hosted their first event this season Oct. 25 with impressive results. Despite the loss of points with no divers entered in the competition for either the men's or women's teams, the Cougar men won 118-72, while the Cougar women won 77-66.

Of the 11 events the Cougar men competed in, they took first place in nine of 11 events, while the Cougar women took first in seven of 10 events they competed in.

The men won four freestyle races, two relays, one breaststroke, one backstroke and one IM.

The women won three freestyle races, one relay, one backstroke, one butterfly and one IM.

For the men in individual events, two Cougars took a pair of events each to lead GCC. Matthew Langerman won two freestyles (500 and 200 yards), while Ferran Martinez won the 200-yard IM and the 100-yard breaststroke.

Men's team members that won just one event included: Alex Bookmiller (1000-yard freestyle), Joan Ferrer (100-yard freestyle), and Nathan Richardson (100-yard backstroke).

For the women in individual events, three Cougars won two events each to lead GCC. Natalie Amico won the 100-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle. Angel Priest took the 200 IM and the 100-yard backstroke, while Nanako Shiozawa won two freestyle races at 100- and 200-yards.

The two relay events the men's team won were at 400-yards in freestyle and medley, while the women's team took the 400-yard medley.

Press release:

The No. 7 Genesee Community College women's soccer team ran into a hot goaltender in losing their semifinal regional matchup against Jamestown Community College 4-2, Oct. 25.

Genesee out-shot the Jayhawks by a 2-1 margin and despite some golden opportunities couldn't find a way to beat the opposition's keeper.

Miko Yamashita staked the Cougars to a 1-0 lead, but the Jayhawks responded with the next three goals.

Julie Kommer cut the deficit to a single goal at 3-2 with about a dozen minutes to go, but Jamestown sealed the game with a breakaway goal late to restore the Jayhawks' two-goal lead.

Katline Cartwright and Leah Czechowski also picked up assists, but it was Kommer who really put most of the pressure on Jamestown with a team-high five shots as the Cougars went much of the second-half without Yamashita due to injury.

The Cougars out-shot the Jayhawks 16-8 with 15 finding their way to the net. Genesee keeper Jaclyn Guzdek registered four saves on the night with almost all of them being outstanding including one just five minutes into the second half.

The loss dropped the Cougars' season record to 13-4-1.

Press release:

The No. 3 Genesee Community College men's soccer team shutout Tompkins-Cortland Community College 7-0, Oct. 26 and advanced to the District A Region III Championship to be played Oct. 29 against Cayuga Community College.

The region's top-seeded Cougars improved their current win streak to seven games, where they have outscored their opponents 50-1 during that streak with the last six wins via shutout.

Genesee nearly doubled its offensive output since the teams last met Sept. 9 with a 4-0 Cougars win, that also improved their unbeaten streak to 16 games.

Charlie Livesey set a new single-season assist record with a pair against the Pantherss to bring his nation-leading total to 25 and surpassing the old record by Rafael Godoi. Livesey also had a pair of goals for a team-high six-point night.

Sam Hall also scored a pair of goals with single tallies coming from Glenn Holmes, Iyad Lablack and Tate Dean, with the latter also adding an assist. Ross White and Hijiri Sano also added assists to round out the Cougars scoring.

Current and three-time 2017 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association D-III Goalie of the Week David Ormiston played the opening 73:16 of the contest and split the shutout with Gaurav Cheema.

Genesee out-shot the Panthers 35-6, with 15 shots finding the net. The Cougars also held the edge in corner kicks, 7-2.

Photo: Curtis Kreutter/GCC Athletics

A pair of Mikes – right-handers Mike Dillon of Albion and Mike DeVay Jr. of Batavia – found perfection for the first time on the bowling lanes last Thursday at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion and Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, respectively.

Dillon, competing in the Thursday Night Triples League at Oak Orchard Bowl, finished with a 300 for a 715 series on lanes 5-6.

A bowler as a kid, Dillon said he took up the sport about 15 years ago when he retired from the U.S. Army. Since then, he’s been league bowling a couple nights a week at Oak Orchard, averaging better than 200.

On this night, he started with 201 and 214 before finding the groove with his Hammer Phobia bowling ball. He said all of the balls were in the pocket, but it took a bit longer for the 10-pin to fall on the final delivery.

“The 6-pin popped out of the gutter and took out the 10,” said Dillon, adding that he was “chit-chatting” most of the game and didn’t realize he had a perfect game going until the final frame.

Dillon, 53, bowls on a team that includes his brother, Daryl, who rolled his high game (299) in summer league action this year.

DeVay, a member of the North Pole League at Mancuso’s, strung 12 consecutive strikes in the middle game on lanes 19-20, turning an otherwise so-so night into an evening to remember.

A 192 average bowler last season, he finished with a 625 series.

Attempts to reach him by phone on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

The Sneezy’s Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl produced three more honor scores over the past two weeks – Reid Cole’s 300-814 on Oct. 16 and Robbie Hanks’ 277-265-277—819 on Oct. 23.

Cole now has five 300 games and three 800 series, while Hanks registered his third 800 set. Both scores came on lanes 9-10.

Other recent high scores around the Genesee Region:

-- Caycee Landers, 268—753 in the G&W Vending League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

Landers is the girlfriend of Chris Bardol, a top scratch bowler in the area and owner of The North Pole Restaurant in Batavia. She moved to this area from Los Angeles.

-- Rachel Van Duser, 720, and Diane Hurlburt, 704, in the Monday Night League at Perry Bowling Center.

-- Michele Larson, 285, in the Monday Night NFL League at Mancuso’s.

-- Skylar Laesser, 248-214-267—729, in the Turnbull Heating Junior League at Mancuso’s.

LIVERPOOL WELCOMES U.S. OPEN BOWLERS THIS WEEK

The 2017 U.S. Open got under way at Flamingo Bowl in Liverpool on Wednesday night with a pre-tournament qualifier where bowlers who were not invited to compete had their chance to win spots in the 144-bowler field.

The participants in the limited field earned their spots primarily through invitations based on their on-lane performances throughout 2016.

An additional 19 spots were earned through the PTQ – with three of those berths going to Rochester bowlers Dan Vick, Mike Rose Jr. and Bill Hasiotis.

The major tournament features most of the best professional bowlers in the world and offers a $30,000 first prize. The stepladder finals will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 1.

Canada’s Francois Lavoie is the defending champion. The 24-year-old right-hander rolled a 300 game on TV en route to the title at South Point Bowling Plaza in Las Vegas. He became only the second foreign-born player to win the tournament, joining Mika Koivuniemi of Finland (2001).

Other notable PBA and PWBA stars competing include Chris Barnes (who was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame last week), Jason Belmonte, Parker Bohn III, Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, Brad Angelo of Lockport, Norm Duke, Liz Johnson (formerly of Cheektowaga), Sean Rash, E.J. Tackett, Pete Weber and Walter Ray Williams.

The full field will begin qualifying at 8 a.m. Friday. Qualifying will consist of three eight-game blocks over three days.

After 24 games, the field will be cut to the top fourth (36 players) for Monday’s cashers’ round, which will consist of an additional eight games to determine the top 24 players for round-robin match play.

Match play will begin Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern with the first of three eight-game rounds. Match play resumes at 10 a.m. Tuesday with the final two blocks of qualifying, including a position round. The five finalists will be determined by total pinfall, including bonus pins, for 56 games.

Starting Friday, each round of the 2017 U.S. Open leading up to the stepladder finals will be broadcast live on Xtra Frame, the exclusive online bowling channel for the PBA.

Flamingo Bowl is located off Thruway Exit 38, about 105 miles east of Batavia.

USBC MEMBERSHIP REWARDS AVAILABLE AT BOWL.COM

Monday’s mail included an envelope from the United States Bowling Congress and in it was my 2017-18 membership card obtained through my participation in the Geracerealty.com/No Finer Diner doubles league at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

A letter signed by USBC President Frank Wilkinson thanked me for supporting USBC in its role as the National Governing Body and for helping to provide A Future for the Sport (USBC’s slogan the past few years).

The envelope also included two small inserts – one touting BenefitHub, an online site that offers discounts from major businesses as well as local deals and offers on car rentals, hotels, restaurants, etc., and the other promoting a $1,000 shopping spree.

These promotions can be found by going to bowl.com/memberrewards and bowl.com/adultsweepstakes.

When I clicked on the first one, and entered my location, I found discounts from The North Pole, Sunny’s and Center Street Smokehouse in Batavia, Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Wolves Den in Basom as well as Batavia Downs Gaming. And there are plenty more discounts in the Buffalo and Rochester areas.

I then checked out the sweepstakes and, since my granddaughter is a USBC member, I was able to enter by answering five simple questions. So, if you are a USBC member with a child or grandchild in a USBC program, here’s your chance to win a thousand bucks.

AL VLIETSTRA PLACES SECOND AT 60-AND-OVER EVENT

Al Vlietstra of Geneseo, a three-time NYS tournament champion, advanced to the finals of the 60-and-over bowlers’ club event on Oct. 15 at AMF Dewey Gardens in Rochester.

Vlietstra, 69, a regular sponsor of the Pin Points column through his masonry business, was the third-high qualifier with a 707 series, and went on to advance to the top three with games of 206 and 232. In the title match, his 187 game placed second to the 204 posted by Rick Jewell of Rochester.

Joe Trigilio of Attica and Fred Gravanda of Batavia also cashed. The next 60-and-over tournament is set for Nov. 26 at Pleasure Lanes in Hilton.

Vlietstra is one of several Genesee Region bowlers signed up to compete in the first NYS Senior Masters scratch singles tournament scheduled for Nov. 4 at Lakeview Lanes in Fulton.

Other local bowlers entered are Paul Spiotta, Jim Pursel and Scott Shields, all of Batavia; Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls, and Ken Ball of Avon.

The NYS Senior Masters features a $1,200 first prize (based on 80 entries). Squad times are 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with the top 16 advancing to the match play finals. Entry fee is $65.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the NYS USBC website – www.bowlny.com.

OAK ORCHARD TEAM RED-HOT IN GR YOUTH TRAVEL LEAGUE

There’s nothing like home cooking, just ask the Oak Orchard I team in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League.

Bowling on their home lanes in Albion, team members Matt Baker, Ben Lennox and Paige Snook and Bailee Snook defeated Batavia X Factor, 17-2, to move into first place after two weeks – 2.5 points ahead of Rose Garden I (Bergen).

Baker rolled a 627 series, Lennox had 613 and Paige Snook posted a 247 game and 577 series.

Skylar Laesser of Batavia Strike Force took top honors for the week with 246—676 while teammate Corinne Saluste recorded a 573 series. Samantha Hyde of Le Roy Legion rolled a 541 series.

The league resumes on Nov. 5 at Mount Morris Lanes.

‘BEAT THE CHAMP’ RETURNS TO BATAVIA NEXT MONTH

For the second straight year, Mancuso Bowling Center will host the “Beat the Champ” television show – with qualifiers and roll-off on Nov. 10-12, followed by the taping for broadcast on WBBZ-TV (MeTV) on Dec. 2.

Bowlers will have a chance to compete on TV through qualifiers set for 5 and 7 p.m. Nov. 10; noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Nov. 11, and noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Nov. 12.  The top 24 will advance to the roll-off at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12, with the top nine advancing to the TV show.

Four shows from Mancuso’s will air on Dec. 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Last year, Batavians Rich Wagner and Fred Gravanda made it to the TV finals, with each winning a couple matches.

For more information, call Mancuso Bowling Center at 343-1319.  The fee to enter each qualifying round is $30, and bowlers can enter more than once.

To see the local tournament schedule over the coming weeks, scroll down to the Oct. 12 Pin Points column.

Photo of Rock Fame with driver Ron Beback Jr.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

In what may have been the most entertaining race of the year, Rock Fame moved up in class after a lifetime best effort last week and turned a perfect trip into a late rally to win the $10,500 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday evening (Oct. 21).

In Runaway Bay (Kevin Cummings) out-dueled Rock Fame (Ron Beback Jr.) to the quarter in :26.4 before being immediately harassed by Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) who tried to overtake him just past that station. Despite his best effort, Fireyourguns could not clear and was then parked to the three-quarter pole. That was when Show Stopping (Billy Davis Jr.), Teo Enteo A (Larry Stalbaum) and Focus Power (Drew Monti) tipped to attack and fanned four-wide against the still-leading In Runaway Bay. But it was Rock Fame, who sat the perfect two-hole trip behind all the action, that found the passing lane and out-sprinted everyone to the wire to win by a length in 1:53.2.

It was the fifth win in the last seven starts and the eighth win of the year for Rock Fame ($10.20) who now boasts $40,773 on his card for 2017. Rock Fame has been owned by William Emmons since he claimed him for $12,500 at Batavia Downs on August 27 and became the best resident pacer on the grounds for this week under the training of James Clouser Jr.

In the co-featured $9,000 Open II pace, Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) took on a full-field of male opponents and went coast to coast to capture a narrow victory over Chickenwithabanjo (Jim Morrill Jr.) in 1:53.4, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner. Miss Irish Rose A ($2.40) now has three wins in four North American starts for owner/trainer/driver Larry Stalbaum.

Drew Monti led all drivers with four wins on the card followed by Ron Beback Jr. and Larry Stalbaum with three each.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon at 5.

Photo of BZ Glide with reinsman Mike Caprio.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Getting a favorable draw after having post seven last week, BZ Glide looked like his old self as he handily won the $10,500 Open Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Oct. 20).

Leaving from post four, driver Mike Caprio hustled BZ Glide to the front and proceeded from there comfortably in :28.1 and :58.4. At the second station Northern Matador (Jim Morrill Jr.) pulled first up and tried to pressure the leader for the next quarter mile. When that challenge failed, Noble Legend (Ray Fisher Jr.) tipped three-wide around him and tried to get to BZ Glide through the last turn. But with little more than a backward glance to keep an eye on the competition, Caprio sat chilly in rhythm with his horse and BZ Glide trotted away down the lane to an easy two-length victory in 1:58.

It was the second win in the last three starts and fifth of the year for BZ Glide ($7.00) who is owned by the Caprio Stable LLC and trained by Alana Caprio.

In the co-feature $8,000 Open II trot, Osprey Vision (Ray Fisher Jr.) got the parking ticket to the quarter before clearing and eventually opening up a three-length margin of victory in 1:57.1. With his ninth win of the year and $60,954 in earnings, Osprey Vision ($7.20) is having a career year for owner Marissa Russo and trainer David Russo.

Billy Davis Jr. and Ray Fisher Jr. led all drivers with three wins apiece on the night.

Press release:

Genesee Community College is hosting a four-week baseball camp starting Jan. 21. Classes are available for players in grades 1-12 and are limited to seven players per coach.

Genesee Community College Head Coach Skip Sherman will direct the program in conjunction with U.S. Baseball Academy.

Sessions are offered in advanced hitting, pitching, catching, fielding and baserunning. Space is limited. Registration is now underway and will continue until all spots are filled.

For more information, visit www.USBaseballAcademy.com, or call toll-free 866-622-4487.

Photo of Exotic Beach with driver Larry Stalbaum, courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Without even a moment of doubt in the mile, Exotic Beach overpowered her five rivals to jog home with authority in the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 18).

Exotic Beach (Larry Stalbaum) tucked in third off the gate while Squeeze This (Billy Davis Jr.) settled on the lead. But that was just a ruse by Stalbaum as he pulled Exotic Beach halfway up the backstretch and gunned her to the front in :27 flat. After clearing, Stalbaum grabbed some leather just to let the five trailers think they were in the race. But it became obvious that wasn’t the case once they hit the second stanza.

Exotic Beach opened up a gapped three-length lead and that was as close as the rest would get for the rest of the race. She cruised to three-quarters in 1:24, rounded the turn in full stride and paced away down the stretch to win by four in 1:53.3.

The time was a new seasonal mark for Exotic Beach and only three-fifths of a second off the track record for aged pacing mares.

It was the sixth win of the year for Exotic Beach ($4.30) who has now earned $52,266 for owner Larry Stalbaum, who also does the training.

Owner/trainer/driver Stalbaum similarly won the co-featured $8,000 Fillies and Mares Open II pace when he went from last at the half to three-deep at three-quarters to a half-length victor in 1:55, which was a new seasonal mark for the winner. Kaitlyn Rae ($5.80) won her ninth race in 18 starts this year giving her $36,594 in the bank account.

The top three dash drivers of the meet had a very business night on Wednesday. Larry Stalbaum had four winners, Ray fisher Jr. three and Drew Monti two. As a result there has been movement at the top of the leader board. Larry Stalbaum who was behind in double digits only a week ago is now in a first place tie with former leader Drew Monti with 79 wins apiece. Ray Fisher Jr. is a close third with 75. With nine weeks left in the meet, this is going to be a tight three-way competition for the rest of the year.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 20) with post time at 6 p.m.