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Joey the Czar sets new track record at Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Batavia, NY --- It was Hall of Fame night on Saturday night (Sept.4) at Batavia Downs Casino with three Batavia legends being inducted, while on the racetrack one horse, Joey The Czar, did his best to be nominated.

In the fifth race of the evening, a $49,392 New York Sire Stake event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, Joey The Czar established a new Downs record for 3-year-olds, when he paced in 1:52.1, just a fifth of a second off the all-age record currently held by Kenneth J. A truly spectacular performance considering conditions were far less than perfect, temperatures at post time were well below normal.

The question was would anybody take a shot and leave against Joey The Czar, who started from the rail, with the red-hot Jim Morrill, Jr. in the sulky.

It was quickly answered when the Canadian invader, Malicious, with hall of fame inductee Jeff Gregory in the bike, fired out and made the top in a sizzling :26.3.

Coming by the grandstand the first time Morrill, Jr. decided he had enough of the pocket trip and was back out to take command at the half in :55.3. Able to the rate the third quarter in :28:2 Joey The Czar wasn’t home free yet as Malicious moved to the outside as they turned for home.

Down the lane under very mild Morrill urging Joey The Czar paced a :28.1 final stanza to etch his name into the Downs record books. Malicious was a very good second while it was 8-lenghts back to the third place finisher Speculative Edge (Fern Paquet Jr.)

Joey The Czar, (Art Major-Razmataz Hanover) notched his ninth win of the season and raised his 2010 bankroll to over $205,000 for owner Kevin Gee.

“I didn’t think we’d have to go that fast,” Morrill said in the winners circle. “But once we got down there in 26 and a piece I figured we’d go fast. This is a really nice horse; Bruce (trainer Bruce Saunders) has done a great job with him.”

Saturday night's other New York Sire Stakes were won by:

He’s Gorgeous (by Art Major - So Ravishing); owned Kenneth Jacobs; trained by trainer Linda Toscano; driven by Jim Morrill, Jr. to his sixth win of the season in 1:55.4.

Jerry’s Brown Gold (by Art Major - Ideal Dex); owned by Fred Monteleone Stbl LLC; trained by Ed Hart; driven by Jack Flanigen to his seventh win of 2010, in 1:54.2, for which he paid $27.00 to win.

After the 7th race the John Schroeder, Clint Galbraith and Jeff Gregory were inducted into the Downs Hall of Fame with a special winners circle ceremony.

Jim Morrill, Jr. was the hot driver of the evening, guiding home six winners on the 12-race program.

Batavia Downs will hold a special matinee on Labor Day. First race post time is 1:15 p.m. New York Sire Stakes action continues on Wednesday night (Sept.8) when the 2-year-old filly pacers invade Western New York to compete in over $140,000 in purse money.

Muckdogs regular season over; time for playoffs

By Howard B. Owens

They could call the team the Albany ValleyCats, but that's not a popular city in New York these days. Instead, they're the Tri-City ValleyCats, and that's who the Batavia Muckdogs will play in the first round of the NY-Penn League playoffs.

Tuesday's first game is in the ValleyCat's home park, which is on a college campus in Troy.

Games two and three (if a third is necessary) are at Dwyer Stadium. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Tri-City finished the regular season with a record of 38-36 to win the Stedler Division. The Muckdogs took the Pinckney Division crown with a record of 45-29. Brooklyn comes into the playoffs with the most wins in the season with 51. The Jamestown Jammers grab the wild card spot with a record of 43-32.

The Muckdogs will come into the game fresh off a win against Auburn, beating the Doubledays 7-0 in a Sunday afternoon match-up.

Starter Nick McCully (pictured, file photo), pitched six scoreless innings, giving up six hits to move his record to 4-2.

Matt Valaika and Jon Edwards each had two RBIs on two hits. Audry Perez, Joey Bergman and Pat Biserta also had two hit games.

Nick Longmire finished the season in the top 10 in seven offensive categories: Second in runs scored with 53; seventh in hits with 76; sixth in triples with 7; fifth in homers with 9; third in RBIs with 55; fifth in total bases with 128; and eighth in slugging percentage at .483.

Jon Rodriguez finished: third in homers with 12; 10th in RBIs with 40; sixth in total bases with 122; and seventh in slugging percentage at .500.

Audry Perez finished seventh in RBIs with 47.

Victor Sanchez finished sixth in doubles with 19.

Joey Bergman finished eighth in on-base percentage at .400.

In pitching, Zach Russell had the ninth best ERA at 2.93.

Jose Rada, who was called up earlier in the season, had 10 saves while in Batavia, which was the sixth best in the league.

Justin Edwards (77 1/3) and Andrew Moss (75 1/2) were seventh and eighth, respectively, in innings pitched. Also, Edwards was fourth in strike-outs with 66, and Moss was eighth with 61.

Moss's eight wins were tied for second in the league.

Photo: Batavia Area Jaycees 5K run and walk

By Howard B. Owens

About 100 people participated today in the Batavia Area Jaycees 5K Run and Walk, which started and finished at MacArthur Park, taking runners down Bank, to Washington, to Ellicott Avenue and back via State Street.

Notre Dame needs only one TD to open season with win

By Howard B. Owens

It took Norte Dame two quarters to get its running game untracked in its season opener against Attica, but once the Irish were putting positive yardage on the board, a ball control game led to a 7-0 victory.

Mike Pratt punched the ball into the end zone with seconds left in the third quarter.

In all, Norte Dame had its offensive squad on the field for 27 minutes.

Pratt gained 70 yards on 18 carries. Bo Richter had 8 1/2 tackles, including 3 1/4 for a loss.

Pratt also blocked a field goal attempt (pictured above).

More pictures after the jump:

NY COUNTY FAIR FINALS CONTESTED AT BATAVIA

By Howard B. Owens

Press Release:

Batavia, NY --- The start of Labor Day weekend at Batavia Downs Casino featured four NY County Fair finals for 2 and 3 year-old pacers and trotters, worth $8,000 each.

The 3-year-old pacers kicked off the fair finals in race two. This one saw Emmas Lily (Artiscape-Sweet Rosa Belle) with trainer/driver Truman Gale upset favored It’s Only Roni with Jack Flanigen in 2:00. Charlesinazone was right there in third. Emmas Lily, who won for the eighth time this season, is owned by Stephanie and Brian Cassell.

The win machine, Vagra (Dream Vacation-Agra), notched his 13th win of the season when he trotted to a 4-1/2 length score in 2:03. The veteran Doug Ackley trains and drives the talented 3-year-old trotter. EJ’s Dream Kat (Jack Flanigen), who was the early leader, held on for second over Here Comes Doodles (Kevin Cummings).

Heavily favored Lofty Dreams did not disappoint in the 2-year-old trot when he went on to a much the best 8-1/2 length win in 2:05.1. Jack Flanigen put the Dream Vacation-Dusty Girl colt on the lead for owner-trainer Steve Pratt and they never had an anxious moment. The win was Lofty Dream's eighth of his freshman campaign. Iroquoindianspring with Kirk Desmond got second over Love And Peace with Mark Whitcroft.

Last, but not least, former Batavia Downs regular Dave Fisher guided Surf Cast Michelle to a head victory over Totally Determined and Leon Bailey in 2:02.3 in the 2-year-old pace. Fisher brushed the Quality Of Life-Surf Cast Paradise filly to the front at the half and that proved to be the winning move. Surf Cast Michelle is now five for seven lifetime.

Queen Creek got Pick-6 players off on the right foot, when she went gate-to-wire in the $9,000 Preferred Trot. Starting from post position two, Queen Creek assumed command when the gate opened and under strong Ron Beback, Jr. urging was able to hold off the pocket sitting Kash N Credit (Troy Boring) in 1:59.2.

Thanks to six straight winning chalks the Pick-6 was hit. Five winning ticket holders took home $268 each. The Pick-6 pool will be guaranteed at $1,000 on Saturday night.

New York Sire Stakes action continues on Saturday night when the glamour division, the 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, race for almost $150,000 in purses. Post time is 6:40 p.m.

State champs smother Blue Devils in season opener

By Howard B. Owens

Coming off a 1-7 season, the Batavia Blue Devils found themselves in a rather unfortunate situation for their 2010 home opener: Facing off against state champions, Hornell.

The score was as lopsided as you might expect, with the Blue Devils getting swamped 49-7, but for a time in the first half, it looked like Batavia High might actually make a game of it.

"I thought we came out good there early on," said Head Coach Dan Geiger. "We found a way to move the ball. Hornell’s definitely a tough team, but early in the game, we put them on a longer field. Later in the game, they were on a short field. They’re not a team you can keep on a short field. They’re a strong, physical team."

Hornell struck first and even though the Blue Devils tide the score on its next possession with a 66-yard TD pass from Aaron Gugel to Justin Washington, the game quickly slipped away from Batavia.

By the start of the second half, it was clear Batavia was not likely to make a miraculous come back.

Ryan Pyatt had five carries for 28 yards to lead the ground game.

Spencer Stresing led the defense with seven tackles and was a real presence defensively throughout the game.

"Hornell’s a great team, but we hurt ourselves more in that we didn’t play assignment football," Geiger said. "Our kids realize that. At the end of the game they were talking about, ‘our assignments weren’t perfect enough.' Against a great opponent, and Hornell is a great opponent, you’ve got to be perfect."

In other Genesee County football action Friday: Holly beat Oakfield-Alabama 52-0 and Le Roy beat Livonia 16-8.

Note: I took still photos during most of the first half, and then switched to video once the sun went down. Hopefully, I can get the video edited, processed and posted before I need to head out for more coverage.

More pictures after the jump:

Muckdogs beat Auburn, 8-5

By Howard B. Owens

Florida native Joey Bergman has made quite a showing in his first year of pro ball, hitting .302, scoring 35 times, driving in 31 runs and drawing 30 walks. But Friday night he achieved a special milestone -- hitting his first professional home run.

The blast in the fifth inning was part of a Muckdog onslaught against Auburn that lifted the division champs to a 8-5 victory.

Chris Edmundson also homered -- his second of the year. Edmundson's three-run shot was part of a five-run third inning for the Batavia.

Burgman had three hits and Edmundson two.

Starter Zach Russell went five innings and gave up three runs -- all in the first -- to get the win and move his record to 3-3 with a 2.93 ERA.

Batavia is in Auburn on Saturday and closes out the regular season at 1:05, Sunday, against Auburn. The playoffs open on Tuesday, but Batavia's first opponent and the location of the game have not yet been announced.

Photo: File photo.

Alexander 2 Arkport 2, Arkport Advances 5-4 on PKs

By Chad Flint

In the opening game of the season the Alexander girls varsity soccer team ended regulation and overtime tied 2-2 with Arkport (the defending State Class D Champions) and fell 5-4 in the Penalty Kick Shootout after 6 kickers.

Alexander opened the scoring as Junior Forward Julia Pettys finished a rebound off Senior Midfielder Claire Hartl's shot to make the score 1-0 midway through the first half.  Arkport tied the game (against the run of play) on a corner with under 10 minutes remaining in the first half to tie the game at 1.

It took only 3 minutes after halftime for Alexander to go back on top as Pettys again finished a rebound, this time from Senior Forward Megan Schmieder.  Alexander looked to be on their way to victory only to have Arkport pounce on a cross that made its way across the mouth of the goal and was slid in with 57 seconds left in the game.  

Through 20 minutes of overtime neither team could score.  Each team sent 5 kickers out to take a PK, Alexander converted 4 of 5 (Senior Midfielder Autumn Atkinson, Senior Defender Amber Finan, Senior Defender Summer Bliss, and Sophomore Midfielder Abby Shilvock all found the net) but Arkport also converted 4 of 5 with Senior Goalkeeper Hannah Wilson making one save.  Alexander missed their next kick over the net and Arkport scored their last kick (despite Wilson getting a solid hand on it) and Arkport advanced to the final against the hosts.  Alexander will play Portville in the Consolation game.

Wilson made 8 saves in net while Arkports keeper made 18 which really displayed the advantage Alexander had in shots in the game.

Alexander is 0-0-1 on the season and plays Portville Saturday at 5:45pm at Kiwanis Field in Nunda.

Meet the Muckdogs: Seth Blair

By Gretel Kauffman

 

Sorry about the poor audio quality in the last two questions. The rest of the interview had to be cut out because of it. 

Muckdogs drop home game to Jammers

By Howard B. Owens

The Jamestown Jammers managed to get to starting pitcher Justin Edwards (4-5, 3.38 ERA) for five runs in the fourth and fifth innings, giving them all the runs they needed to defeat the Batavia Muckdogs.

The Jammers (40-32) are still in a wild card playoff hunt with Williamsport (41-32), while the Muckdogs are cruising into the playoffs as Pinckney Division champions.

The Muckdogs scored early, taking a 2-0 lead following a Victor Sanchez double, and hits from Jon Rodriguez and Joey Bergman.

The Muckdogs would score again in the fourth and fifth innings, but still come up short, 5-4.

Muckdogs coach Oliver Marmol was ejected in the fifth inning along with Manager Dann Bilardello. Marmol and Bilardello argued a foul ball call, which may have cost the Muckdogs a run. Shortstop Yunier Castillo hit the called foul, and later grounded out, and he apparently mouthed off himself and got tossed.

Rodriguez had three hits, knocked in two and scored twice.

Batavia is at home tonight against Auburn, in Auburn tomorrow and finish out the regular season Sunday at 1:05 p.m. against Auburn.

The playoffs start Tuesday at a location to be determined.

More pictures after the jump:

 

NY-Penn League commissioner questions Batavia's viability for professional baseball

By Howard B. Owens

The Muckdogs need to make money and draw more fans, according to NY-Penn League Commissioner Ben Hayes, but even that might not be enough to keep the team in the city of the NYPL's birth.

Hayes said Dwyer Stadium is one of three or four ballparks in the league that is not up to professional baseball standards.

"It's not that I want them to relocate," Hayes said while visiting Dwyer for Thursday's game. "It's not something I want to happen. But it is something that, if the market is not supporting the ball club, or you have a stadium that’s not in condition for professional baseball, either one of those can end a franchise, and that’s where we are."

The infield is a particular concern, Hayes said. He said he's heard, but doesn't know about firsthand, that one team that visited Dwyer this year refused to take infield practice  because the manager was concerned about the condition of the playing surface.

Minutes earlier Hayes spoke with the groundskeeper. Hayes said the groundskeeper told him the field needed to be bulldozed.

"The infield needs to be laser leveled," Hayes said. "Those things are very costly."

The local ownership group is nonprofit, Hayes noted, and doesn't have the resources to take on those kinds of improvements.

The commissioner pointed to Aberdeen, State College, Staten Island and Brooklyn as franchises with professional quality facilities. He singled out Vermont as a club that, while profitable, will need to relocate if it can't solve its ballpark problems.

Hayes agreed that it would be a shame if one of the last original franchises had to relocate.

"We considered that three years ago," Hayes said. "That was one of the top things on our minds. It's one of the last original, founding clubs in the New York-Penn League.

Unfortunately," he added, "it’s a situation where I’m not sure this club can make money. It’s losing money every year and if that’s the case, then, you know, like the other original members, those clubs will have to depart and go somewhere else."

UPDATE, Friday, 9:22 p.m.: Groundskeeper Donald Rock called to clarify -- he's concerned that some might read his comments as meaning that the whole stadium needs to be leveled. That's not what he said. He said Hayes came to him before the game and asked, "If you could do one thing, what would it be?" and he replied bulldoze the field (both infield and outfield) and level it. Rock said years of football play on the field has left it uneven. He said Hayes told him he does a great job with the field and it's in the best condition it can be under the circumstances. He said Hayes said, "The things that need to be repaired, you can't do yourself."

Sign up to play golf to help boy battle Stage 2 bone cancer

By Billie Owens

The sign-up deadline for a golf tournament to benefit a little boy with Stage 2 bone cancer has been extended until Sept. 21.

Creamy Creations of Batavia is sponsoring the golf tournament on Sunday, Sept. 26 at Le Roy Country Club, located at 7759 E. Main Road in Le Roy. Shotgun is 1 p.m.

Proceeds benefit Christopher, the son of a colleague of the company's.

Cost is $75 per person and includes 18 holes of golf, use of a golf cart, lunch at noon -- a hot dog or hamburger and a drink, then a buffet dinner afterward.

To make a reservation and/or a donation, contact Selina McJury at 345-4290.

Labor Day Weekend is jam-packed with fun at the Downs

By Billie Owens

Labor Day weekend may signify the unofficial end of summer, but hardly the end of the summer fun at Batavia Downs Casino.

America’s oldest lighted harness track will host four County Fair finals Friday night, Sept. 3, with purses of $8,000 each.

Saturday is Hall of Fame Night as The Downs inducts three of Western New York’s all-time top drivers - John Schroeder, Jeff Gregory and Clint Galbraith - in ceremonies at the winner’s circle. Gregory and Galbraith will be in the Casino lobby for a Meet ‘n' Greet and autograph session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Also, race fans have a chance to win a set of Galbraith’s colors via a random drawing. Sign up begins at 5 at the Player’s Club.

Monday features the annual Labor Day matinee with a 1:15 post time and the traditional Driver’s Bike Race following the seventh race. Fans will win the eight bicycles used in the Driver’s Bike Race by voting for their favorite driver. Sign up begins at noon in the Casino lobby. The eight bike winners will be drawn at random from the winning driver’s box.

But wait, there’s more! Following the ninth race on Labor Day, three fans will be selected by random drawing to enter the Cash Cube and win up to $1,000 in cash and casino free play. Sign up begins at noon. The names will be drawn and announced after the fifth race.

Upstairs on the casino gaming floor, patrons can win $50 in free play with Hot Seat drawings every half hour from noon to 5 p.m.

Labor Day food and drink specials include a $7.95 buffet from noon to 4 p.m. in the Clubhouse along with $1 Sahlen Hot Dogs, $1 soda and $2 draft beer all day on track and at the refreshment stand inside The Paddock Room.

Nora Lee a closing winner in Batavia feature

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Batavia, NY --- The weekly $9,000 pacing feature for the distaffers went to Joe Cicatello’s, Nora Lee, in 1:55.2, Wednesday night at Batavia Downs Casino.

Leaving from post-position four, Nora Lee with Jamie Dunlap at the lines followed second over cover, tipped three deep at the top of the stretch and outfinished the pocket sitting Pembroke Primo (Kevin Cummings) to win by 1-3/4 lengths. The Grey Filly (Ron Beback Jr.) closed from last to be third.

Nora Lee, a Modern Art 4-year-old mare, notched her 7th win of 2010 and raised her seasonal earnings to over $36,000. Mike Delano is the conditioner.

Batavia Downs Casino will host four New York Sire Stakes County Fair finals when racing resumes on Friday Night. Post time is 6:40 pm.

Saturday is Hall of Fame Night as The Downs inducts three of Western New York’s all-time top drivers - John Schroeder, Jeff Gregory and Clint Galbraith - in ceremonies at the winner’s circle. Gregory and Galbraith will be in the Casino lobby for a Meet ‘n Greet and autograph session beginning at 5:30. Also, race fans have a chance to win a set of Clint Galbraith’s colors via a random drawing. Sign up begins at 5:00 at Player’s Club.

Muckdogs clinch Pinckney Division title with win in Jamestown

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs are playoff bound, and not as just some wild card hopeful, but as certified champs.

Tonight in Jamestown, the Muckdogs recorded their sixth-straight win to capture the Pinckney Division crown.

The team in the smallest city in the league now has a shot at its second league championship in three years.

Andrew Moss turned in another strong outing and Jon Rodriguez homered twice, giving him 11 on the season, as the Muckdogs beat the Jammers, 10-5.

Moss went six-and-a-third innings giving up four runs, but only one was earned. Anthony Ferrara came on to record his second save.

The Muckdogs now lead Williamsport by four games and Jamestown by 4.5 in the Pinckney Division.

Rodriquez went  2-5 with two solo home runs. Nick Longmire had two hits and three RBIs. Chris Edmundson continued his hot hitting at the top of the order, with two hits and three runs scored. Yuner Castillo also had two hits.

The division champs return home Thursday night to face the Jammers again, and then play Friday at Dwyer (fireworks!) against Auburn. 

The Muckdogs have three more regular season home games, and one more on the road.

Meet the Muckdogs: Chris Edmonson

By Gretel Kauffman

 

The reason it's so short is that the second half of the interview had to be left out because of poor sound quality. 

Wild ending to wild game gives Batavia fifth straight win

By Howard B. Owens

In a wild one last night, the Batavia Muckdogs won the team's fifth-straight game and extended its three-game lead over second place Williamsport by beating State College 12-11.

Batavia and the Spikes took a 9-9 tie into the 11th inning. In the top of the frame, State College scored two runs to pull ahead, but the Muckdogs put three runners across the plate in the bottom half to pull out the victory.

Wild throws doomed the Spikes in the 11th.

After the Muckdogs tied the score on a double by Geoffrey Klein, a triple by Chris Edmondson and a single by Victor Sanchez, Sanchez was able to reach second on a wild pitch.

Then things got really strange.

Audry Perez struck out swinging -- at a wild pitch. When Perez ran to first -- as a hitter can do when he strikes out but the catcher misses the ball -- catcher Miguel Mendez made the throw to first to record the out, but Sanchez, sprinting from second, didn't stop running. He scored the winning run when first baseman Gerlis Rodriguez threw the ball away.

Reliever Andy North was credited with the win.

Starter Nick McCully lasted only three-and-a-third innings, giving up 10 hits and nine runs (seven earned).

Edmundson and Sanchez each scored three runs in the game on two hits apiece.

Perez hit a grand-slam homer in the third.

The Muckdogs are in Jamestown tonight and return to Dwyer tomorrow to face the Jammers again. Jamestown is in third place in the Pinckney Division, three-and-a-half games behind Batavia.

UPDATE: Added video highlights from photographer Mike Janes.

HARNESS EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY AT BATAVIA DOWNS

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

It’s a tribute to the men and women who flirted with harness racing immortality. And the Harness Racing Hall of Fame exhibit will be on display this weekend at Batavia Downs Casino.

It’s called the Drive to Win exhibit and it features drivers and trainers who through circumstance or fate, did not rise to stardom. Their stories are poignant and down to earth and highlight that through adversity, the one shining element that connects them all is their love of and commitment to the great sport of harness racing.

Huge portraits, many provided by The United States Trotting Association and the sport’s weekly magazine Horseman And Fair World, introduce the subjects of the exhibit who were all nominated by racing fans. Each includes the complete story of the individual and what made them noteworthy in the sport.

There are 27 drivers and trainers featured in the exhibit including former Western New York regulars Jim Rankin, Robbie Rankin, George Forshey, and Angus Allen. You will also be able to see the stories of Richard Baker, Hugh Bell, Edwin Bither, Harry Burright, Vernon Crank, Harold R. Dancer, Norman Dauplaise, Alfred “Bucky” Day, Bea Farber, Hilda Heydt, Maxie Lee, Joe Lighthill, Howard Parker, Ervin Samples, Forrest Short, Phyllis Smith Page, Harold Snodgrass, Colby Turner, Sacher Werner, John “Tic” Wilcutts, Lew Williams, and Mildred Williams. Their stories provide an illuminating glimpse into this Great American Pastime.

The exhibit was stationary at the Hall of Fame of the Trotter in Goshen, NY until 2009 when it became a traveling ambassador of the sport. Its presentation here this week was made possible through support from Hanover Shoe Farms and is co-sponsored by Batavia Downs Casino and the Upstate NY Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. It will be on display in The Paddock Room from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Labor Day Monday. Evening post times are 6:40 with a 1:15 matinee post on Labor Day.

We will also have many hand outs from the museum including the colorful and informative Hall of Fame Journal from this past July 4th inductions at Goshen, NY.

Many thanks to Tim Bojarski, President-Upstate New York Chapter of USHWA for making this exhibit possible.

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