Sports

Wanna box?

Now you can.

For the first time in a decade or more, Batavia has a gym with a boxing ring.

Hands Up MMA, like the name says, isn't just about the sweet science, but owner Joseph Bailey (top photo) said with his lifelong love of boxing and Batavia's once rich tradition of boxing, it was important to him to bring boxing back to the city.

Bailey is a fan of boxing, but his passion is for mixed martial arts and he believes that is a sport that will only grow locally and throughout the state.

"Some people view that sport as gruesome and violent -- those who don't have a full understanding of the sport, but it's just as competitive as rugby would be, or hockey or lacrosse," Bailey said.

The gym, which officially opened today in the Harvester Center, provides a well-rounded workout with bags, ropes, tires, climbing walls, for anybody interested in combat sports.

Several young fighters found the gym while Bailey was still building it and started working out with him. At least four of them are planning to compete for the first time in a MMA tournament in Rochester on Sept. 29.

"We offer training in kickboxing, jiu jitsu, wrestling, boxing and we try to incorporate it all together," Bailey said. "We'll also offer self-defense training and a course on knife and gun disarming that will be taught by a Green Beret."

The gym is already drawing a diverse group of people.

William Sutton is a Purple Heart-decorated Army veteran who honed his fighting skills by training to become an Army instructor in hand-to-hand combat.

During a tour of duty in Korea, he found boxing and MMA were big with the troops there. He was 13-0 as a boxer and 2-0 in MMA.

"Growing up in Batavia, it wasn't like it is nowadays," Sutton said. "Growing up in Batavia, a lot of times we would fight before school. We would fight after school. Fighting was a big part of Batavia. It's a tough town to grow up in. I've been fighting my whole life and I just continued that in the Army."

Sutton was wounded in Afghanistan and is now retired from military service. The injury and his commitment to the Veterans Administration prevents him from ever again fighting competitively and he's limited by military obligations in what he can teach, but working out in a gym of fighters appeals to him.

"Everybody who comes to an MMA gym seems to be just more humble," Sutton said. "People that go to a regular gym, you know, walk around trying to impress each other. At an MMA gym, all that BS is just put aside because we can put on the gloves and go in the ring. Put your hands up. Talking and stuff don't go here."

All his experience and success, though, puts Sutton in a position to help young fighters and he said he's always happy to train with them and answer questions and offer pointers to those willing to listen.

Bailey really hopes Hands Up becomes a vehicle for promoting boxing in Batavia. He plans to hold regular tournaments involving gym members that will be open to the public.

"Boxing used to have a big history in the City of Batavia," Bailey said. "The community is unaware of that and what I would like to do is get members of the gym to spare and promote boxing and hopefully get some viewers in to watch tournaments."

As we spoke, an older gentleman walked past the front windows and you could see his eyes light up as he looked inside.

There was little doubt, he was a boxer.

The first thing Robert Janes (top inset photo) did when he walked in was hit the speed bag. Later, he would say it was the first time in 13 years he punched a speed bag.

A native of Palm Springs, Calif., Janes was involved in Golden Gloves in the early 1970s.

Now living in Stafford and working pouring concrete, Janes was clearly thrilled to be in a boxing gym again and he said he can't wait to start working out there.

"I just want to stay healthy," Janes said. "I want to keep my head right. Any time I was ever in the gym, any time I was ever involved in any kind of organized boxing, I was good. Once I walked way from that, I was in big trouble. Now I'm 60 years old. I want to come back to it. I want to bring my granddaughter and my grandson into it."

NOTE: I want to do a story about the boxing in Batavia in the 20th Century. I have a copy of a book by Butch Zito, but I would like to find old pictures and other memorabilia. Few, if any, of the former boxers are still alive, but perhaps sons and daughters have memories about their boxing relatives to share. Write to me at howard@thebatavian.com.

William Sutton

Tim McCullough, from Batavia, and Sutton.

Also pictured in the slide show training is Josh McCarthy of Batavia (wearing yellow).

The Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Classic was held at Terry Hills Golf Course today and as usual, a group of Batavia residents were positioned near the ninth fairway with free brownies for the golfers.

Above, Bills receiver Andre Reed with Kate Martin, Jean Woodcock, Diana Burroughs, Skip Bartz, Margaret Peri, Donna Gillard, Anne Barone and Kathy Leffel.

Prior to the tee-off, Kelly announced that he has cancer in his upper jaw.

Kelly told the Buffalo News that cancer is just another challenge on life's rollercoaster.

“I know I’ll beat it," he said.

The event raises money for the Kelly for Kids Foundation. Kelly for Kids serves disadvantaged and disabled youth in WNY. Past receiptents of funds have been The Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee.

The Batavia High School Softball Team won the Section V Class B-1 championship today, beating Livonia, 3-2 at Monroe Community College.

Photo by Dan Kemp.

Without walking seven batters, maybe Notre Dame beats Lyndonville 3-0, Head Coach Mike Rapone said after the Fighting Irish lost to the Tigers 7-3 in a Section V Class D semifinal game at Dwyer Stadium.

Starter Tyler Stroud, normally in command of his pitches, struggled to get the ball over the plate and squandered an early lead. With only a couple of hits, the Irish saw their 3-0 lead slip to 3-2 and then disappear to a 4-3 deficit.

Two of those runs scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball after walks helped Lyndonville base runners advance to third.

"Walks, passed ball, ground out, and little by little we let them back into the game and we never got the momentum back," Rapone said.

Rapone praised the effort of Lyndonville but repeated, it was the walks that did in his team.

"Their pitcher threw a nice game," Rapone said. "He kept us off balance. We didn't hit the ball that well. I think if we didn't walk seven guys, the three runs might have been enough."

The Batavia Blue Devils beat Livonia today to advance to the Section V Class BB championship game in Geneva at 6 p.m., Friday against Pal-Mac. In the Class C final, Pavilion was eliminated by Bolivar-Richburg.

Top photo: Tommy Prospero scores in the first on a steal of home. The Tigers' catcher dropped the ball.

To purchase prints of photos from this game, click here.

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Notre Dame's golf team won a Section V title in a tournament at the Livingston Country Club in Geneseo.

From left: John Lapple -- 81, Drew Morabito -- 85, Coach Bill Sutherland, Noah Hoy -- 83, Ben Warner -- 87, and Jared Thornton -- 92. This is the second year in a row that they have won the Section 5 Class C Championship with the same five players.

Photo and information submitted by David Warner.

Chelsea Cleveland of Oakfield-Alabama won the Section V Class C triple jump title with this winning jump Saturday.

Photo and info submitted by Chris Covel.

Brennan Briggs, head football coach for the Batavia Blue Devils, is invivitng all sixth- and seventh-graders to a free football camp from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Sunday, at Van Detta Stadium.

The team's coach staff and varsity players will assist in putting the aspiring high school football players through their paces in individual skills and drills on offense and defense.

Briggs will provided information on the modified football program and there will be flag football games following the two-hour camp.

Participants will also receive Blue Devils apparel and a tour of Van Detta Stadium.

All participants must bring cleats, sneakers, outdoor clothes and a water bottle.

Kyle Kendall's favorite sport is baseball, but he seems to have a knack for catching trophy pike.

Last summer, he caught a big one at the sand wash, which his parents had mounted. This weekend, he landed a 35.5-inch, 10-pound pike.

Photo and info submitted by Dave Kendall.

Notre Dame's track team picked up eight titles in yesterday's Section V meet at Wheatland-Chili.

Front Row -- The girls 4x800 championship team: Abby Bleier, Shelby McGinnis, Anna Warner and Emily McCracken and discus champ Meghan Duell.

Back Row -- The boys 4x800 team Brad Misiak, Arron Carlson (also won the 400m hurdles), Jeffrey Antolos (also a 3x individual winner -- 3000m steeplechase, 1600m and 3200m) and shotput champ Rui Han.

For full meet results, click here.

Photo and info submitted by Bare Antolos.

This weekend, once again, baseball teams from throughout the region are in Batavia for the 2013 Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation Tournament.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

Two home-field pitchers, two dominant performances, a pair of very similar results for Batavia and Notre Dame in Section V playoff games at Dwyer Stadium on Friday.

Behind the 15-K, two-hit performance of Zach Hale, the Blue Devils shutdown Newark 1-0.

In the night cap, Alec Covel was just as masterful for the Fighting Irish. In the process of striking out 10, Covel gave up only one hit, and that wasn't until the top of the 6th inning, leading Notre Dame to a 2-0 victory over Alfred-Almond.

Batavia Head Coach Rick Saunders said Hale pitched the game of the year.

"What a performance," Saunders said. "The whole game is Hale. He got the base hit, and then I pinch run for him, and he's the winning run."

Mike Rapone, head coach of Notre Dame, was just as impressed with the performance of Covel, who started only three games this season prior to Friday because of an injury. Both Rapone and Covel said he came into the game, fresh, strong and eager to pitch.

"He threw only 78 pitches," Rapone said. "He was pounding the strike zone. His curve ball was sharp. He's a great player. He really is."

Both Newark and Alfred are lower seed games, but in sectionals top-ranked teams are going find themselves going against the best pitcher of their opponents.

"Their kid pitch great, too," Rapone said. "That's the thing with sectionals. They've got a .500 record, but they probably won every game that he pitched and maybe they lost all the ones he didn't, so you never know what you're going to run into when you get into sectional tournament. I mean, for a nine seed, heck, that kid threw the ball well."

Saunders was equally impressed with Newark's starter.

"i don't know anything about their pitcher, but I'll tell you, he is quality," Saunders said. "He threw a real nice fastball and a sweet curve ball."

Batavia was limited to four hits, but still managed to get a couple of runners to third. It made Saunders a little nervous when his offense couldn't close the deal.

"We had our chances," Saunders said. "Those games bother me more than anything, when we see guys on third base many times, one out, and you don't score, you go 'oh-oh, something bad can happen.' Nothing bad happened because Hale was in control of the game."

Being out on the mound in a big 1-0 game is exactly where he wanted to be, Hale said.

"I usually throw better later, but especially after we got that run," Hale said. "It really gave me a boost. I'm like, hey, better close it out.

"The rush is crazy," he added. "When you're out there every batter means something. It's not like it's a 10-0 game."

Covel said he just likes to be in that commanding situation, taking control of the game.

"All of my pitches working and with the strong defense behind me, it just gives me all the confidence in the world," Covel said.

Slide show from Batavia game. To order prints, click here.

Slide show for Notre Dame game below. Click here to purchase prints.

Photo and information submitted by Anne Stefaniak.

On May 18 and 19, Genesee Storm 14-U Girls Softball Team played its first tournament, the 2013 Orchard Park Softball Tournament. The team was formed in 2012. 

The tournament was played at Brush Mountain Park in Orchard Park. The girls won all three of their games on Saturday, beating Oakville (Canada) 12-3, Evans Storm 10-8, and the Cheektowaga Crabapples 10-2. 

Their winning streak continued through the semifinals game Sunday, beating the West Seneca Dazzlers 14-7.

The championship game was a hard fought defensive battle with the Genesee Storm leading the powerhouse Lancaster Heat after 4 innings 3-1. A few well-placed hits by the Heat ended the game 6-3, handing the Storm its first loss and second place in the tournament.

Team members pictured include; front row -- Ryann Stefaniak (Batavia) and Madison LaGrou (Oakfield). Back row -- Alex Reigle (Elba), Taylor Stefaniak (Batavia), Tabitha Golda (Elba), Carlie Bogue (Elba), Bri Janes (Batavia), Alisha Scroger (Medina), Anna Kabel (Oakfield), Hannah LaGrou (Oakfield) and Alyssa Meyer (Attica), -- not pictured is Hannah Bowen (Batavia). Team coaches are Rich Stefaniak, Eric Klotzbach, Paul Schwartzmeyer, and Mark Janes.

The Storm will be playing next in the 17th Annual Coca-Cola Classic Tournament at Walden Pond Park in Lancaster on June 1 and 2.

Press release:

The Dwyer Stadium Box Office opens for the 2013 season at 9 a.m. Monday, May 20. Tickets for Opening Day and ALL regular season games for the 2013 season will be on sale. The box office will be open until 5 p.m.

Normal box office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Fans interested in season tickets can also stop by the stadium and pick out their seat for the 2013 season.

The Muckdogs open their 2013 home schedule on Tuesday, June 18th vs. the Auburn Doubledays at 7:05 p.m.

The Batavia Muckdogs, Genesee County’s only professional sports franchise, have also released their 2013 slogan of "Muckdogs Magic." Part of this magic is the new and improved promotional schedule featuring fireworks, giveaways, special events, and daily promotions.

The Muckdogs will again offer fans a daily menu of money-saving promotions available throughout the season.

Each week the magic begins with Muckdog Mondays sponsored by The Daily News. Every Monday home game, fans can magically get a free ticket to the game. All they need to do is purchase one General Admission ticket, grab a coupon out of the Saturday edition of The Daily News; and viola! A FREE TICKET!

The magic only gets better when Tuesday’s roll around with Kids’ Tuesday Night Tickets courtesy of New York’s 529 College Savings Program. Every Tuesday home game, the first 50 kids accompanied by an adult will receive a free General Admission ticket.

On Wednesday, the magic expands to the entire family with our Family Four Packs presented by MVP Healthcare. Fans can purchase four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four 12 oz. sodas and a 2013 program for only $30, a savings of $14.

On Thursday nights, Bob Evans Restaurant helps spread the magic when they will sponsor our Kids Eat Free promotion. At every Thursday home game, the first 100 kids 12 & under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, soda and snack item.

Friday nights will once again bring magic to the stadium as fireworks will again light up the sky after every Friday night game at Dwyer Stadium, as well as on the annual Independence Day celebration on July 3rd.

Every Saturday will feature some magical pre-game concerts in the concourse. These “Rock the Ballpark” events are presented by Tim Horton’s of Batavia and New Buffalo Impact with Papa and Mama Root, an oldies rock and roll tribute band, and original music recording artists. All performances begin at 6 p.m. and are weather permitting.

A new addition to the lineup this year is Sudsy Saturday presented by Eastown Beverage and Redemption Center. Every Saturday home game, 12-oz. Genny Light drafts will be just $1 from 6 to 7 p.m.

At Sunday home games, kids can run the bases with Homer after the game, courtesy of Bob Evans Restaurant, helping to create some magical memories. Also on Sundays, the first 100 seniors will magically receive a voucher for a free hot dog, soda/coffee, and a bag of pretzels courtesy of The Williams Law Firm.

Other games of note on the Muckdog Magic schedule include:

Opening Day/Magnet Schedule Giveaway                            Tuesday, June 18th 
Irish Night                                                                               Thursday, June 20th
Muckdogs Car Decal Giveaway                                             Saturday, June 22nd
Personal First Aid Kit Giveaway                                            Friday, June 28th       
Independence Day Celebration Fireworks                            Wednesday, July 3rd  
Prostate Cancer Awareness Day                                           Sunday, July 14th
1960 Cy Young Winner Vern Law Autograph Appearance     Monday, July 15th
1970 Cy Young Winner Jim Perry Autograph Appearance     Tuesday, July 23rd

Bark in the Park                                                                     Sunday, July 28th       
Team Photo Giveaway                                                           Saturday, Aug. 10th   
Post-Game Candy Drop from a Helicopter                              Sunday, Aug. 11th  
'80s & '90s Rack Pack Card Giveaway                                    Saturday, Aug. 17th
Genesee Valley Penny Saver Giveaway                                Wednesday, Aug. 21st                                                                                
Fireworks Nights will be as follows: June 21st, June 28th, July 3rd, July 12th, Aug. 9th, and Aug. 16th.

Location: Dwyer Stadium, 299 Bank St., Batavia

Phone: 585-343-5454 / Fax: 585-343-5620

Web site: www.muckdogs.com <http://www.muckdogs.com

The Batavia Muckdogs are the short-season, Class A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and are the last remaining founding member of the New York-Penn League, dating back to 1939. The Batavia Muckdogs are operated by the neighboring Rochester Red Wings.

The Notre Dame girls softball team closed out the season Friday with a come-from-behind victory over Lyndonville in game played at GCC.

As the defending state champions, the Fighting Irish finish out the season with a 10-8 record, which is good enough to make it to the first round of sectional play, but Head Coach Rick Mancuso said the team still needs to eliminate some mistakes to advance further.

"We're getting better," Mancuso said. "The girls are working really hard. We're not probably where we want to be, but we'll see what happens. We'll throw our hat out there and see how it goes."

Friday's game was a seesaw battle, with Notre Dame and Lyndonville exchange the lead just about every inning.

Going into the bottom of the seventh, down 10-9, the Irish needed to string some hits together and plate two runs to pull out a victory.

The team was loose and confident at the start of the inning and got the job done to notch an 11-10 victory.

"The girls did a great job of rallying back any time we got down," Mancuso said. "They showed a lot of character today."

In the slide show is the sequence of shots from Maddie Mancuso's slide into home in the 4th inning. She was called out. You make the call.

To purchase prints, click here.

The Lyndonville Tigers, a semi-pro football team that plays all of its home games at Pembroke Town Park, will hold a scrimmage at 3 p.m. tomorrow and is inviting local football fans out to the park to see the team.

The event is free.

Players 18 and older are also encouraged to come out and learn more about the team.

The Tigers are entering their third season playing in Pembroke and the team is 10 years old. The NFA has 16 teams.

"We have a great returning roster but are always looking for new players and I think our pre-season scrimmage is a great way for interested parties to come feel out the team," said Taylor McCabe, president of football operations for the Tigers.