Sports

You wouldn’t know it by their record, but the Batavia Muckdogs (7-16) have been playing much better baseball as of late.

Throughout the season, the Muckdogs have failed to show any sort of consistency. Weather it be poor fielding, pitching or the inability to score runs, the lack of consistency has been the Muckdogs' downfall.

Thursday afternoon, Batavia looked to turn the page and begin a streak of consistent, solid baseball.

Things looked rocky to start the game as Jordan Holloway started where he left off his last start by walking two of the first four batters he faced.

Holloway got out of the jam by getting Jose Pujols to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The 19-year-old again walked the first two batters he saw in the second inning. Unlike in his last start where he allowed those runners to score, Holloway was again able to get out of trouble by getting the next three batters to fly-out to center.

Holloway’s day was over after just the two innings of work. He didn’t allow a hit but walked four and threw 40 pitches.

Ryan Hafner came in relief of Holloway and allowed two runs on three hits. Both batters that scored were either walked or hit by a pitch.

The Muckdogs would cut the Crosscutter lead in half in the fifth inning when Alexander Fernandez belted a towering fly ball over the left-center fence for his first home run of the year.

Batavia tied the game in the seventh when Fernandez would reach on a fielder’s choice. He would steal second and then advance to third on a passed ball. Giovanny Alfonzo walked, which prompted a pitching change for the Crosscutters.

Anfernee Seymour then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Fernandez and tying the game at 2-2.

Coming into the season much was expected from young catcher Blake Anderson. With a modest batting average of .259, nine RBIs and only one home run, Anderson came into Thursday’s game in a funk.

In the eighth inning all seemed to be forgotten.

Eric Fisher singled to set up Anderson. With two outs and a 0-2 count, Anderson took a healthy swing at the next pitch and drove the Juan Figueroa pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run home run.

“Just do what I needed to do to get the win and get us ahead,” Anderson said about his approach to the crucial eighth inning at-bat.

Steve Farnworth would come into the game in the eighth and pitch two innings of shutout ball, only allowing two hits while collecting the win on the mound.

“Yeah, we started off slow but who says we can’t come back and win 10 or 15 of the next 20,” Anderson said.

Although many might look at their record and think they are a horrible team, over the last couple weeks the Muckdogs have been competitive in almost every game.

The first two games of this series against Williamsport back that up. The Muckdogs are one bad inning away from having taken both games of the series so far.

“We get this thing turned around and play to win every day,” Anderson said.

Batavia travels to Williamsport for a doubleheader tomorrow and then will be in State College for a three-game series before returning to Dwyer Stadium on Tuesday July 21. 

When you play with fire, you will get burned and that is exactly what the Muckdogs (7-15) did Wednesday night against the league-leading Williamsport Crosscutters (17-6).

Brad Haynal got the Muckdogs on the board in the second when he doubled, moved to third on a bloop single by Eric Fisher and then scored on a Roy Morales RBI single.

The Crosscutters, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, responded in the third with two runs of their own.

Austin Bossart, who came into the game hitting .310, punched a single off Batavia starter Justin Jacome. Grenny Cumana then doubled down the left-field line, setting up second and third for lead-off man Zach Coppola.

Coppola would double, scoring both Bossart and Cumana, making it 2-1.

Batavia added two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Anfernee Seymour singled and then moved to third on a beautifully called and executed hit-and-run with Travis Brewster.

Seymour would score on a Stone Garrett groundout and Brewster would later score on a Haynal double.

The lead was short lived for the Muckdogs when in the fourth, Josh Tobias connected on an infield single; Jesus Posso walked followed by a Bossart two-out single scoring Tobias, and tying the game at 3-3.

Jacome walked the next batter to load the bases, ending his night. Nestor Bautsita came in and got Coppola to groundout into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

The sixth inning is where it all fell apart for the Muckdogs.

William Cuicas tripled to lead off the inning and then scored on a Cumana pop-up just past first base that should have been caught. Cumana was able to move to second on the throw from the outfield to home trying to get Cuicas. 

Coppola then executed a perfect bunt that had the pitcher, second baseman and first baseman for the Muckdogs all converging on it. The ball went under Alfonzo’s glove and Cumana was able to score making it 5-3.

“It’s part of this level and it hurts you,” Manager Angel Espada said. “You can’t hurt yourself defensively, not at anytime and not against the best team in the league right now.”

Although Batavia shot themselves in the foot in the sixth inning, they were still able to tie the game up in seventh, giving themselves a chance to win the game.

A Blake Anderson singled that just got over the outstretched hands of Crosscutter second baseman, Cuicas started off the inning.

Ryan Cranmer then doubled, putting runners in scoring position with no outs. Seymour then got hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Galvi Moscat, who replaced Brewster in sixth, hit a ground ball to third. The third baseman easily got Anderson out at home but in an attempt to double off Moscat at first, the catcher hit Moscat in the leg, allowing Cranmer to score.

Garrett then doubled home Seymour and the game was tied at 5-5.

“The way we have been playing is pretty well, we had that one bad inning there and it cost us the game,” Espada said. “You give a team like this opportunities and they are going to hurt you.”

The Crosscutters would get the deciding run in the top of the ninth inning by way of a solo home run by Jan Hernandez off of Batavia reliever Jordan Hillyer. Hernandez, who had previously struck out in all three of his previous at-bats, launched the 2-1 pitch over the left field fence.

“He threw a slider that caught too much of the plate and you have to give it to Hernandez who put up a good swing with two strikes,” Espada said.

The Muckdogs were set down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

Haynal finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI. Seymour went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Garrett also contributed with two RBIs.

“It’s a little bit hard when you have your best guys going out there and probably one of the best chances to win ball games and you don’t come out on top,” Espada said.

The Muckdogs will have a chance to regroup quickly as they have a unique starting time of 11:05 a.m. on Thursday.

“I think they are young enough that they will bounce back,” Espada said. “Even if you win or lose you have to forget about it, there is nothing you can do about past games.”

Batavia remains in last place with a record of 7-16 while the Crosscutters continue their league dominance with an overall 18-6 record.

The Muckdogs (6-12) came into Friday’s game riding a bit of a resurgence, with four wins in five games, and were looking to continue their hot stretch against the Auburn Doubledays (7-11).

Coming off his first win of the season, 19-year-old Jordan Holloway got the start for Batavia and struggled to find the strike zone all night.

The California native would walk four of the first six batters he faced and before he knew it, he was down 2-0.

“It’s a typical 19-year-old pitcher,” Manager Angel Espada said. “He’s trying to work his way through things and figure out the game of baseball.”

Just like in first inning, walks were Holloway’s downfall in the second.

Edwin Lora walked to lead off the inning. He would then steal second and after the throw sailed into centerfield, Lora would end up at third. An Andrew Stevenson groundout to shortstop scored Lora from third making it 3-0.

Holloway’s night would be over after the fourth inning. While he did strike out six and only allowed two hits, he walked six batters and hit another.

“He’s young and his trying to learn how to pitch and these are learning experiences for him,” Espada said.

Nick White came in relief of Holloway in the fifth and allowed seven hits, two walks and three runs over his three innings of work.

Ryan Hafner and Ayron Adames would pitch the final two innings of the game for the Muckdogs. Both pitchers would combine for five hits, three runs and two walks.

When the dust had settled, Batavia pitchers had combined to walk 10 Auburn batters and hit two.

“It’s just one bad game. We have been playing good baseball for the past nine or 10 games and this is just one game,” Espada said.

The only offense of the day for the Muckdogs came in the sixth inning when Giovanny Alfonzo singled with two outs and then moved to second on a passed ball.

Alfonzo then scored Batavia’s lone run on a high hit ball to center by Stone Garrett that was lost in the lights by the Doubledays' centerfielder.

Auburn was able to score three more runs in the top of the ninth in route to a 13-1 victory.

Batavia dropped to 6-13 while Auburn improved to 8-11.

“You just put it behind you and start from zero tomorrow,” Espada said. 

Photos by Howard Owens.

(Photo above from left, back row (adults): Elba Troop 42222 leader Darcy Sewar, Oakfield Troop 42141 leader Jeanine Corbett, Laurie Shepland  -- VP of Human Resources, Ian Wetherbee -- volunteer coordinator, and Norm Hubbard, Golf Tournament Committee chair. Girl Scouts, front row, from left: Ariana Wolff, Laci Sewar, Rylee Wissinger, Abby Gardner and Ava Flores.)

Chapin International, Inc., is hosting its upcoming 8th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Terry Hills Golf Course, 5122 Clinton Street Road, in Batavia. Each year employees raise funds to support local organizations.

“In past years we have chosen the Domestic Violence group of the YMCA, Crossroads and last year the Boy Scouts,” said Norm Hubbard, Golf Tournament Committee chair.

This year’s selected charitable organization is Girl Scouts of Western New York.

The charity fundraiser started out raising $2,000 and last year we raised over $6,000 for the Boy Scouts. Each year it has steadily increased. There are 27 hole sponsors, along with many other local contributors. The more sponsors we get will equally be divided up and recognized throughout the tournament.

Below, Girl Scouts from Elba and Oakfield troops stuff 200 golf appreciation bags provided by Chapin.

With more than 750 mailings locally, we have three local car dealerships sponsoring a hole-in-one and chance to WIN a car as one of the special events: Castilone Chrysler Dodge and Jeep, Ken Barrett Chevrolet Cadillac, and Toyota of Batavia.

“There is no large prize for winning because we want to keep the charity in mind,” Norm said. "We recognize teams that are mixed, men, and women including Chapin’s employees. Other special events include closest-to-the-pin, longest drive, closest-to-the-line and a chance to win a set of golf clubs on the day of the event only."

The registration starts at 11 a.m. with a putting contest for a chance to sink a put and win a recliner from Max Pies Furniture as a Grand Prize. Multiple puts that sink go into a draw pool to decide the winner. There supplemental prizes, too, and lunch for everyone at noon so nobody is left out and everyone will walk away with a prize.

The golf shotgun starts at 1 p.m. and wraps up at 6, with dinner and awards following.   

To register, sponsor or donate visit the tournament Web site at:  http://www.chapincharitygolf.com/

After a rough start to the season, the Muckdogs pitching staff is starting to find their groove as they pitched the Muckdogs to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night.

The Muckdogs were home to face off against the Auburn Doubledays after taking 2-of-3 from the West Virginia Black Bears over the weekend.

Justin Jacome started for Batavia and threw three quality innings. He struck out four, walked one and only allowed one hit.

Nestor Bautista would come in relief of Jacome in the fourth. Bautista only allowed four hits over four and two-thirds innings pitched. He struck out three.

“Solid job, they pitched to contact and kept them of balance,” Manager Angel Espada said. “They used their stuff really well."

The Muckdogs would plate one run in each of the first three innings in route to their sixth win of the year. 

Giovanny Alfonzo sparked the offense when he singled in the first and was able to get to second base after an overthrow to first base. Hot hitting Brad Haynal would single, scoring Alfonzo from second, making it 1-0.

Batavia would score again in the second when Eric Fisher would triple to lead off the inning.

Left-fielder Brandon Rawe would then single, scoring Fisher from third.

Haynal was once again involved in the action in third inning.

Stone Garrett worked a two-out walk and then stole second. Haynal would then single to score Garrett, making it 3-0 Muckdogs. Batavia would threaten with runners on first and third but Doubleday pitcher, Taylor Hearn was able to get Fisher to fly out to second.

“It’s starting to come around better as a whole team,” Haynal said. “It’s not just one guy doing it, we got everyone through the lineup moving guys.”

The Muckdogs were able to plate another run in the eighth to make the game 4-0.

Garrett would reach base on an error by the third baseman and be moved to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run with Dunbar.

Fisher then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Garrett.

“Our pitching got better, like we knew it was going to get better, and we are getting some timely hitting,” Espada said. “You put those things together and you should be coming on top."

Auburn was able to break up the shutout in the ninth inning when David Kerian crushed a Steve Farnworth pitch for a one-out single. He would then move to second on a wild pick-off attempt.

Matthew Page then doubled to score Kerian. Farnworth dug deep and ended the threat by striking out Jakson Reetz and Randy Encarnacion to end the game.

Unlike in the beginning of the season, the Muckdogs can count on hitters one through nine instead of just the guys at the top of the lineup.

“It’s hard when only a couple guys are pulling weight,” Haynal said. “Now I think everyone through the lineup is able to do some damage…a lot of people around baseball know hitting is contagious.”

Haynal finished the game 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Fisher was also 2-for-3 with a triple, a RBI and a scored run.

Bautista improved his record to 2-1 while Farnworth picked up his third save.

The Muckdogs travel to Auburn today but will be back home on Friday to take on the Doubledays in the series finale.

There will be fireworks following the conclusion of the game.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.   

Area youngsters who enjoy basketball are encouraged to sign up for the Batavia Junior Blue Devils Basketball camp, which starts Aug. 10.

The five-afternoon camp at Batavia Middle School is open to boys and girls grades 3-8.

The cost is $60 per player, which includes a camp T-shirt.

Participants are asked to bring their own basketball every day.

Coach Jim Fazio, Junior Blue Devil's youth director, will lead the camp and coaches will include current and former Blue Devils players.

The camp focuses on offensive fundamentals such as shooting, passing and dribbling, as well as sportsmanship, fair play and safety. There will be daily contests and full court games.

For more information and to sign up, download the registration form (pdf).

Press release:

The Batavia Bulldawgs Youth Football & Cheer program will hold its 5th Annual Extreme Youth Football and Cheer Camp. This year’s camp cosponsored by Extreme Streetwear will be held at GCC Fields this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 9-11.

Walk-up registration still available. Cost for the camp is only $30.

Campers will receive quality instruction from USA Football certified coaches, a camp T-shirt, and lunch at the end of camp on Saturday July 12th.

Camp on Thursday and Friday will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with check-in at 3:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon with check-in at 8:30.

The camp is open to ALL athletes no matter what league affiliation between the ages of 5 to 13 years old by Dec. 1st. Birth certificate is required.

Camp training is stationed-based -- campers are divided by age and experience level so each athlete receives the right level of instruction and support. The Bulldawgs staff and volunteers will teach techniques, skills, and appreciation for all football positions and cheerleading in a fun positive way!

For more information, please contact League Commissioner Barry Warner-585-217-1213; Cheer Director Kinu Fortes 585-813-3219; or by e-mail at bataviabulldawgsfootball@gmail.com

Nick Guarino won this morning's Kiwanis Club 5K with a time of 16:20. The first-place woman runner was Kimberly Mills with a time of 19:56.

The Muckdogs were able to win their first series of the year behind 19-year-old Jordan Holloway’s strong start.

The 6-foot-4-inch righty kept the Mahoning Valley Scrappers off balance all night in route to a 7-4 Muckdog victory.

Most of the young players on the Muckdogs are not used to the grind of playing every day. With the unexpected day off on Wednesday because of rain, the Muckdogs look to have gotten some much needed time away because they are playing much better baseball as of late.

“When you aren’t playing as well as we were playing, time off of the field always helps,” Manager Angel Espada said. “Hopefully it helped us, but for some reason they are playing much better."

In the first inning, Holloway was able to work around a one-out walk to Scrappers left-fielder Ka’ai Tom by striking out DH Emmanuel Tapia and getting Nathan Winfrey to fly-out to left.

Holloway was able to work a perfect second inning while only throwing five pitches. The only trouble of the game for Holloway came in the third inning.

Connor Marabell led off the inning with a single and was moved to second by a Silento Sayles groundout to second.

Willi Castro doubled to right, scoring Marabell. Tom doubled, setting up runners at second and third with one out.

Holloway struck out Winfrey, but he was able to advance to first when catcher Blake Anderson couldn’t corral the loose ball in the dirt. Castro scored from third.

Holloway got out of the inning by getting Li-Jen Chu to fly-out to leftfield.

“We are talking about a 19-year-old kid who is learning how to pitch," Espada said. "It’s only his second year in pro ball and he is handling it pretty well. It’s just one day at a time, one start at a time with a young guy like him.”

Just like most of the season so far, the top of the Muckdogs lineup has carried them.

Anfernee Seymour and Stone Garrett combined to go 7-for-8 with four runs scored and three RBIs to lead the way for Batavia.

The scoring for the Muckdogs started in the first inning when Seymour knocked a single. Garrett beat out an infield single to short to set up first and second with one out.

A Korey Dunbar groundout to shortstop moved both runners up 90 feet. Seymour scampered home after a ball got by Chu, making it 1-0.

Batavia plated three more runs in the second all with two outs.

Ninth place hitter Joe Chavez and Seymour worked two-out walks. Giovanny Alfonzo doubled, scoring both Chavez and Seymour.

Garrett laced a ball in the gap for a triple, scoring Alfonzo making the game 4-0.

The Scrappers changed pitchers, bringing in 6-foot-6-inch James Stokes, who struck out Dunbar to end the threat.

Seymour would again be involved in Batavia’s scoring efforts in the fourth.

The speedy shortstop singled and stole second, even though the Scrappers called for a pitchout. He stole third and dashed home after the throw got away from the Scrappers' third baseman.

Seymour alone made the game 5-2. But the Muckdogs were not done.

In the sixth inning, Galvi Moscat singled up the middle, followed by Seymour and Alfonzo both getting hit by a pitch.

The hot hitting Garrett stepped into the plate and squeezed a ball down the first base line scoring two.

“They have been swinging well the whole season,” Espada said about Seymour and Garrett.

LJ Brewster and Steve Farnworth finished the game up for Holloway without allowing a run and only allowing three hits over three innings of combined work.

Garrett finished the day going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two doubles. Seymour was 3-for-3 with four runs scored.

Holloway pitched six innings while striking out five and walking two in his first win of the season.

The Muckdogs improve to 3-11 on the season and look to continue their moment going into this weekend's games in West Virginia.

Batavia returns to Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday, July 8, against the Auburn Doubledays. 

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

After being rained out on Wednesday night, the Batavia Muckdogs and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers met in two, seven-inning games on Thursday.

Cody Poteet, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA, started for the Muckdogs in game one.

Poteet opened strong by retiring the side in the first inning on just nine pitches. While Poteet looked confident, his defense let him down in the second.

Nathan Winfrey led off the inning with a single and would quickly move to second on a failed pickoff attempt to first.

Winfrey scooted to third on a ground out to second by Scrappers' third baseman Austin Fisher.

With two outs, Winfrey scored after the Muckdogs' third baseman threw a David Armendariz ground ball into the dirt trying to throw him out at first.

Poteet regrouped and fanned the next batter to end the inning.

The Muckdogs were able to score three runs in the fourth after some great situational baseball.

Eric Fisher started off the inning by smashing the first pitch he saw right back up the middle. Ryan Cranmer drew a walk, setting up first and second with no outs.

Brandon Rawe executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Fisher to third and Cranmer to second.

Ninth-place hitter and left field Cameron Newell connected on a fly ball deep enough to center to score Fisher from third making it 1-1.

Leadoff hitter Anfernee Seymour ripped a ball just inside first base to score Cranmer.

The lighting-quick shortstop scored from second when Giovanny Alfonzo singled, making it 3-1.

Nestor Bautista replaced Poteet in the fourth and scattered three hits through the final four innings of the game.

Batavia added another run in the fifth when Brad Haynal doubled and then moved to third on a passed ball. He then scored on another passed ball by the Scrappers.

With solid pitching and timely hitting, the Muckdogs avoided the worst start in club history since 1953 by winning the first game of the doubleheader with a final score of 4-1.

The teams headed to the clubhouse to get ready for the next game and all the Muckdogs offense must have stayed in the locker room.

Three Scrappers pitchers were able to hold the Muckdogs to only two hits the whole game.

Jose Zapata got the start for the Scrappers in the second game and allowed only one hit while striking out three over his three innings of work.

Dominic DeMasi took over in relief in the fourth and allowed a mere one hit over three innings of work.

Billy Strode notched the save in the seventh for the Scrappers, working around a two-out error to keep the shutout intact.

Mahoning Valley scored all they needed in the sixth inning.

Silento Saylas started the inning with an infield single and then stole second. He advanced to third on a Willi Castro sacrifice bunt.

Saylas scored on a Fisher double just three pitches later. Winfrey drew a walk and Li-Jen Chu singled home Fisher making it 2-0.

The Scrappers added another insurance run in the seventh making it 3-0.

The Muckdogs got a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to string any hits together.

The loss dropped the Muckdogs to 2-11 while the Scrappers improve to 5-8.   

Batavia currently sits in last place in the Pinckney Division and 10 games back of the first-place Williamsport Crosscutters.

The Muckdogs will finish up their short three-game home stand on Friday. The game is the annual Independence Day celebration and like all Friday night games, it will have fireworks following the conclusion of the game.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Muckdogs’ game tonight against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers was postponed due to rain.

The teams will play two, seven-inning games tomorrow, Thursday July 2. First pitch for game one will be at 5:05 p.m. with the second game to directly follow the conclusion of game one.

All tickets for tonight’s game (7/1) can be redeemed for any future home game. 

Silver Shoe Farm, on Pratt Road, Batavia, hosted today its 8th annual carriage driving competition, drawing drivers from throughout the region.