Sports

Press release:

A high-scoring 15^th annual Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia came to a close on Sunday with the JAMM team of Batavia taking over the top spot in the Open Team division and Ricky Daniels of Albion jumping into the lead in the Open Singles division.

In unofficial standings released today, the squad of Jason Quilliam, AJ Allenbrandt, Mike Lambert and Mike Johnson posted a 3,061 score – 2,886 scratch – to move past Balduf’s, which had been leading the tournament at 2,920.

Allenbrandt led the way with 757, his best series ever, while Lambert shot 729, Johnson 702 and Quilliam 698.

First place in the Open Team event is $1,000.

O’Dell’s is in third place at 2,902, with Trigger Tribute II in fourth at 2,852.

In Open Singles, Daniels found the line for 233-245-279—757 scratch. Adding his 81 pins handicap based on a 195 average, he finished with 838 to go ahead of previous leader Matt Bourg, who had 780 – 537 scratch plus 243 pins handicap based on his 135 average.

Batavian Mike Pettinella rolled 232-288-250--770 to place third and claim the scratch singles title.

In Open Doubles, last week’s 1,504 (1,456 scratch) by Geoff Harloff and Ed Doody was challenged but remains in the top spot.

Lambert and Quilliam combined for 1,497 on Saturday – with Quilliam posting a 279 game and 791 series – to move into second, with Harloff and Rick Underhill in third with 1,482 and Johnson and Allenbrandt next at 1,472. Underhill had a 289 game in the doubles event.

Brian Cline leads in Open All-Events with 2,295 – all scratch – with Allenbrandt in second at 2,264 and Shayne Herold in third at 2,249. Daniels finished at 2,204 and Brian Green tallied 2,201, including a 300 game in singles competition on Saturday.

Green also had an 802 series in the team event, second in the tournament behind Harloff’s 814.

In the Women’s Team event, PBC Women held on with 2,339 edging Wendy’s Girls by 22 pins.

Members of the Perry team are Montana Bzduch, Joann Van Duser, Rachel Huntz and Katy Bzduch.

In Women’s Doubles, Christine Bovee and Karen Henry, bowling out of Mount Morris Lanes, is in first with 1,276, with Batavians Donna Wolff and Wendy Morse next at 1,259.

Wolff’s 690 (488 scratch) leads in Women’s Singles, with Morse next at 648 (522 scratch), and Wolff also leads in Women’s All-Events with 1,997, with Bonnie Wass of Warsaw in second with 1,837.

The tournament drew 43 teams (four more than last year) and 62 doubles sets (13 more than last year).  There were two 800 series, 41 700 series and 13 games of 279 or better.

At least one in five will cash. The Genesee Region USBC has 30 days to pay the prize list.

BATAVIANS CASH IN ROCHESTER

Three Batavia bowlers cashed at the Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour stop at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes in Rochester on March 20.

Mike Pettinella and Fred Gravanda made it to the Round of 8, earning $100 apiece, while Bill Neubert earned $75 for making it to the Round of 16. Neubert was the high qualifier with a 696 three-game series. Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls also qualified in the top 16, taking home $75.

Mike Fiola of Rochester captured his second title of the season, winning $320 with a 248 game in the finals.

The next tour event is at 11 a.m. April 3 at Pleasure Lanes in Hilton.

Curtis Foss of Medina added to his long list of honor scores this week by rolling an 814 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The 34-year-old right-hander had games of 278, 257 and 279 for the big series -- his second 800 in 10 days at Oak Orchard Bowl.

On March 18, he rolled 300-279-231--810 in the Rick & Morty Doubles League.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC, Chris Bailey of Batavia posted 258-265-258--781 in the Turnbull Heating Triples League and Fred Gravanda of Batavia finished with 276 in a 765 series in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League, both at Mancuso Bowling Center.

For a list of the high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Elba Central School hosted  “Heroes and Hoops” Friday night in the high school gymnasium.  The game was a fundraiser for the senior scholarship fund.  The senior basketball athletes played against local service members.

Photos by Debra Reily. For more, click here.

Press release:

Elba Central School is excited to host “Heroes and Hoops” tonight at 6:30 pm.  This showcase game benefits the senior scholarship fund.  The senior basketball athletes will complete for bragging rights against local service members.  The guest coach for the Elba athletes is our very own Tyler Winter, who is also a championship Aggie football coach, while the coach for the Heroes team is renowned girls’ basketball coach, Kenzie Bezon.  Leah Bezon, former Lancer basketball all-star, will join Coach Kenzie Bezon.

There will be a three-point contest at halftime, along with a basket raffle and concessions.  Tickets are $5 each and are on sale in the Elba Central District office.  Seating is limited, so get your tickets now!  American flags will be given to the first 50 entrants to the game; doors open at 6:00.  

Press release:

On March 2nd, 2022, the Le Roy Wrestling Club took home the Greater Rochester Youth Wrestling League Championship!

Team Le Roy entered the Western Division with a 6-0 record, once again allowing the Le Roy team to display their athletic skills amongst the best of the Greater Rochester Youth Wrestling League (GRYWL).   

In dominant fashion, Le Roy exhibited their extensive skills versus Hilton, Brockport, and Greece in three separate battles, allowing the team to advance.  Their opponent in the championship semi-finals was Webster Thomas.   

Le Roy won 40-17 over Webster Thomas to advance to the final championship bracket vs. HFL.

HFL was a tough team, but fell short as Le Roy won 47-18 for its first of many anticipated future GRYWL championships!

Le Roy’s success is attributed to a unified village collaborating for the greater good of developing youth wrestling.   A huge thank you to Sean Valdez and D&R Depot for their amazing facility and support.    Jonathan Lauricella (coach), Troy Ireland (coach), Zach Condidorio (coach), Matthew Wojtaszczyk (coach), Cory Beardsley (coach), Rob Stiles (coach) and several parents have assisted as well in every capacity from coaching, managing concessions, and caring for one another throughout the season.   Congratulations to the Le Roy Wrestling Club!

Photos by Mary Winseman

The opening weekend of the 15^th annual Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center produced honor scores by Batavians Geoff Harloff and Brian Green and a remarkable All-Events score by Middleport resident Brian Cline.

Harloff rolled an 814 series in Doubles competition – ending with a pair of 279 games – while teammate Ed Doody of Pavilion added 642 to move into first place with a handicap score of 1,504.

Harloff (691) and Doody (676) also sit in the top spot in the Team event as members of the Team Spatula squad that posted 2,902 with handicap. Steve O’Dell of Oakfield led the way with 723 while Matt Templeton of Dansville chipped in with 655.

Green recorded an 802 series to lead the Trigger Tribute II team to a 2,852 score, good for second place heading into the final weekend. His games were 287-256-259.

Cline found the line early and never lost it – posting 770 in the Team event, 789 in Doubles and 736 in Singles for an All-Events total of 2,295, a 255 average.

In Open Singles, Shawn Hurlburt of Freedom moved past Cline into the top spot by rolling 749 scratch – 757 with handicap.

On the women’s side, the Nuttie Buddies team of Batavians Mary Ann Stone, Kathie Pacino, Arlene Underhill and Cindy Linderman are in first with 2,305, while Bonnie Wass of Warsaw and Grace Bogle of Perry lead in Doubles with 1,242, Carol Sonnleitner of Hunt leads in Singles with 621 and Wass is first in All-Events with 1,837.

The tournament concludes with squads this Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. The paid entry deadline is tonight. To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com or call 585-861-0404.

Genesee Region Hall of Famer Fred Gravanda added to his long list of honor scores on Friday night by rolling a pair of 300 games en route to an 836 series in the County Line Stone Trio's League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

The 71-year-old right-hander opened with a perfect game, posted eight strikes in a 236 and then rolled another 300 game for the big series, which is his 14th USBC-certified 800 (matching his career high). He said he didn't know how many 300 games he has, thinking more than 30.

Jason Quilliam came close to the 800 mark with games of 255-264-268 for 787 and Geoff Harloff posted a high game of 267 in a 761 effort.

In the Mancuso Real Estate Doubles League on Monday night, Brian Green stayed red hot, rolling 255-269-290--814. This come on the heels of a 300 game the previous week for the left-hander, who owns Striking Effects Pro Shop in Batavia.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Dennis Meyer just missed the 800 mark, spinning 279-259-258--796 in the Thursday Owls League.

For a list of high scores last week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Dan Eckerson scored the winning goal in overtime this morning at David M. McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena to give the Newstead Homes Kings the Batavia Men's League Champsionship for 2022.

The Kings beat the Kioti Tractor Coyotes 4-3.

The King's roster:

• Evan Eckerson, 23
• Paul Greane, 10
• Dan Eckerson, 22
• Colton Cole, 3
• Jake Bower, 5
• Dan Langendorfer, 2
• Mike Scinta, 1
• Eric Bison, 7
• Mark Brooks, 8
• Joe Miano, 11
• Ally Bison, 4
• Jeff Crane, 9
• Doug Warren, 6

For more photos or to purchase prints, click here.

Press release:

Twenty-one teams and 17 doubles sets will be competing this weekend in the 15th annual Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament, that gets underway with a 7 o'clock squad tonight at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Squads are set for Friday night, Saturday and Sunday (11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days), with competition in Team, Doubles and Singles.

Plenty of spots remain on most shifts for next weekend.

The deadline for paid entries to be received in the Genesee Region USBC office is Tuesday, March 22.

First prize in the Open Team event is $1,000 guaranteed. Prizes in all categories in both the Open and Women’s Divisions will be paid on a 1:5 ratio.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, March 18, 7 p.m. (Team event only);
Saturday, March 19, 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 20, 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Friday, March 25, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 27, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The entry fee is $30 per person per event. The All-Events fee (Team, Doubles and Singles scores combined) is $10.

For an entry form, go to www.bowlny.com.

To reserve a spot, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

Story by Mike Wertman/OrleansHub
Photos by Debra Reilly/The Batavian

Completing the sweep, the Genesee Region League boys likewise outlasted the Niagara-Orleans League 86-82 in overtime in the Exceptional Senior game this evening at Albion.

The N-O sent the contest into overtime on late baskets by Jarin Rhim (Medina) and Jahmeek Riley (Albion), the latter coming with just four seconds to go knotting the score at 72-72.

The G-R though claimed the win by outscoring the N-O 14-10 in the extra period as Zach Marscelli (Elba) had a two and a three, Gaige Armbrewster (Oakfield-Alabama) a pair of baskets, Kam Cusmano (Oakfield-Alabama) a bucket, and CJ Gottler (Elba) his fifth three of the evening.

Aiden Petrie (Roy-Hart) and Connor Gunby (Newfane) both had a pair of baskets for the N-O in the overtime.

The N-O held a slender 21-19 lead at the end of the first period but the G-R rallied into leads of 40-33 at the half and 57-51 at the three-quarter mark.

Gottler scored 11, including three threes, in the first half and Marsceill had a pair of threes in the third period for the G-R.

Vinny Buscarino (Roy-Hart) hit two threes in the opening period for the N-O as Tyler Gibson (Albion) and Brady Harrington Newfane had two baskets each. Harrington also scored 6 in the third and Riley 6 in the fourth.

Gottler finished with a game-high 17, Marsceill 14, Armbrewster 11, Kam Cusmano and Aaron Lund (Wheatland-Chili) 9 each, and Colin McCulley (Notre Dame) and Cody Henry (Notre Dame) 7 each to set the pace for the G-R.

Buscarino finished with 14, Harrington 12, Gunby 11, Petrie 10, Riley 10, Paul Smith (Wilson) 8, Gibson 7, and Rhim 7 to lead the N-O.

The N-O now holds a 12-9 lead in the series.

In a hard-fought girls basketball game in which neither team ever managed more than a four-point lead until the closing seconds, Notre Dame fell to Sherman in the Far West Regional Championship for Class D. 

The final score: 35-29.

Judah Macdonald scored nine points, Avelin Tomidy, eight, and Emma Sisson, five. Maylee Green scored three points and had eight rebounds.

For Sherman, sophomore Paige Grotto led the way, scoring 24 points and being a strong defensive presence.

For more photos, click here.

Notre Dame hosted a 5K race along with a run and walk for families this morning with proceeds raised going to the school's athletic programs and GLOW Arc.

Press release:

The deadlines for paid entries for the 15^th annual Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center this month have been extended.

GRUSBC directors agreed to move the deadlines as follows:

-- Tuesday, March 15, for competition on the weekend of March 18-20;

-- Tuesday, March 22, for competition on the weekend of March 25-27.

All of the handicap tournament’s events – Four-Person Team, Doubles, Singles and All-Events – will take place at Mancuso’s, the 24-lane center on East Main Street.

Reservations will be taken by contacting Mike Pettinella, GRUSBC association manager, at 585-861-0404 or sending an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

Entries must be paid in full and received by the GRUSBC office at 55 Edgewood Drive, Batavia, NY, 14020, by the dates above.

First prize in the Open Team event is $1,000 guaranteed. Prizes in all categories in both the Open and Women’s Divisions will be paid on a 1:5 ratio.

Openings exist on all squads but some are close to being full.

The entry fee is $30 per person per event. The All-Events fee (Team, Doubles and Singles scores combined) is $10.

To download an entry form, go to www.bowlgr.com.

BARDOL, LANDERS TRIUMPH

Chris Bardol and Caycee Landers captured their second King & Queen bowling tournament title last weekend, defeating Brad Weber and Kelsey Ayers in the finals at Mancuso Bowling Center. The victory was worth $500.

The duo also won the event in 2019.

Fifty-seven couples competed this year, with Rochester’s Roger Thaine and Chey Landers earning the top qualifying spot with 1,420. Bardol and Landers qualified in seventh with 1,351.

The top 16 teams advanced to the finals.

Genesee County cashers were Jim Pursel/Kathy Allen, Mike and Heather Johnson, Rich Mortellaro/Cherie Bender, Scott Culp/Kim Starken, and Nate Cordes/Mary Meyer.

SCRATCH TOURNAMENT TODAY

Mancuso’s is hosting the T.F. Brown’s Scratch Eliminator today, with squads at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The finals will follow.

Bowlers will roll four games with one in five per squad advancing to the eliminator finals.

First prize is $1,200.

As a baseball player for the Batavia High Blue Devils, Batavia Muckdogs and Erie Community College Kats, Vincent Grazioplene anticipates that he’ll be spending a lot of time behind home plate over the next several months.

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound 12^th-grader has signed a letter of intent to attend Erie Community College in the fall and play baseball for the Division III Kats, a perennial National Junior College Athletic Association Region 3 powerhouse under longtime Coach Joe Bauth.

Erie CC plays in the competitive Western New York Athletic Conference that also includes Genesee Community College.

Grazioplene, who has played baseball – from T-ball to varsity -- for 12 of his 17 years, also has been recruited by the Batavia Muckdogs to play in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League this summer before the hometown fans at Dwyer Stadium.

After that, it’s on to Erie CC for a short fall league and then a 50-game collegiate schedule in the spring of 2023.

Making it to this point is quite an accomplishment as just 7 percent of high school athletes go on to play sports in college.

“We are very excited for Vincent. This is something that he’s wanted for a very long time and has worked very hard for,” said his mom, Erica, who took part in the photo session this afternoon at Batavia High.

Vincent’s father, Phil, was unable to attend due to work commitments.

Grazioplene, an honor student, says he plans to major in Business Administration at the two-year junior college.

Batavia High Coach James Patric said Grazioplene was the team’s defensive MVP last season.

“Vincent came off a tough football season – was banged up a bit and it took a little time to get back in the swing of things,” Patric said. “But once he was fully healthy, he was the rock behind the plate.”

Patric said Grazioplene had to catch an inexperienced pitching staff, with two pitchers moving up from Modified A ball to varsity and standout Alex Hale being unable to pitch.

“So, he had to create a chemistry with all the pitchers that were new – who spent a lot of time in the dirt. Graz saved us probably two to three runs a game; he really kept us in a lot of games that could have gotten away from us.”

As a hitter, Grazioplene batted .261 in 46 at-bats with seven runs scored and seven runs batted in. He drove in the team’s only run in a 2-1 sectional tournament loss to Hornell.

For his part, Grazioplene said his goal is to work hard and improve each and every time out.

“I hope to do great … get better and try my best,” he said, noting he has been taking part in “open gym” workouts. “I can’t wait to play.”

Batavia’s first official practice is on Monday and its first scheduled game is April 1 at Pittsford Mendon.

Photo: Batavia High Coach James Patric, Vincent Grazioplene and Erica Grazioplene at today's announcement that Vincent will attend Erie CC in the fall and play baseball for the Buffalo junior college. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

After a good run in 2021-22 that saw them secure another Section V title, the Oakfield-Alabama Hornets came up short in their attempt to make it to the state championships with a loss to Avon on Wednesday, 56-43.

No stats are available from the game.

Photos by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

For the boys basketball team at Notre Dame, the season is over.

The Fighting Irish on Wednesday night dropped a Class D consolidation game to Prattsburgh-Avoca, 75-51.

Notre Dame's Jordan Welker led the game in scoring with 23 points.  Colin McCulley scored nine and Ryan Fitzpatrick scored seven.

For Prattsburgh, Pacey Hopkins scored 16 and Caleb Johnson scored 14.

But Notre Dame isn't done with basketball just yet this season. The girls team plays Sherman at 1 p.m., Saturday, at Rush-Henrietta for a Far West Regional Championship.

Photos by Pete Welker.

East Rochester's pesky defense managed to slow down what had been a hot Pavilion offense to start the game and the Bombers were able to pull away from the Golden Gophers for a 56-42 win in the Class C consolidation game tonight at Bloomfield High School.

The bombers converted multiple forced turnovers into points over the course of the game.

Pavilion's Lauren Kingsley led all scorers with 18 points while Samantha Lewis and Zarriah Eldridge both had 15 points for East Rochester.

For more photos from the game, click here.

The Batavia Muckdogs’ selection as the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce “Entrepreneurial Business of the Year” is the icing on the cake, says team owner Robbie Nichols, who was the catalyst and driving force behind the rejuvenation of summer baseball at Dwyer Stadium in 2021.

Speaking on behalf of co-owner and wife, Nellie; son-in-law/general manager Marc Witt, and his staff, Nichols said he is “really thrilled that the county recognized our hard work and hard effort that we put into this season.”

“And we are just thrilled with the season -- the way the sponsors, the season ticket holders, and all the fans took to us – and we’re so extremely pleased with the way the year turned out. Getting an honor like this is just the cherry on top.”

It was January 2021 when Nichols, a longtime professional hockey player in the American Hockey League and hockey/baseball owner in Elmira, approached the Batavia City Council with the idea of fielding a team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Negotiations between the two entities were fruitful, and baseball was back in Batavia after a one-year hiatus.

Attendance increased significantly from 2019 – Nichols said the per-game average exceeded 1,700 with more than 500 season tickets sold. Fans enjoyed the numerous promotions, which included the KMS dance crew, kids running the bases, and in-game host “Kin Dog" (Batavian John Kindig).

Outside of baseball, Nichols attracted dance competitions and clinics, PRIDE Festival, Challenger Baseball, GLOW Academy Youth Baseball and Battle of Badges, high school baseball, Alzheimer’s Walk, Muckdogs Monster Mash, among other events, to the stadium at the intersection of Bank and Denio streets.

Furthermore, the Muckdogs’ players always were available for community appearances and marched in the City’s Memorial Day Parade.

Nichols said he appreciates the way the fans responded to the team.

“It was just a fun season,” he said, “and it’s even crazier as we approach this season. Games already are close to being sold out for next year (2022). We’ll do even better this year. That’s what we're so excited about.”

When it was mentioned that the word “entrepreneurial” was in the title of the Chamber award, Nichols acknowledged that it fits him to a T.

“I think people have always said that (about me). If you look at my background, I guess that would be a pretty accurate word,” he said. “I was signed by the Detroit Red Wings and I was playing in the American Hockey League and I had a hockey card business on the side. And I made more money (with that) than I did for my NHL contract.”

He recalled that he made and sold T-shirts when his team was going to the championship game.

“People are leaving the doors and I'm out on the ice, selling T-shirts as people are walking out. We won the championship. So, I’ve always had that entrepreneur … trying to make it make a buck with a side hustle,” he said.

Nichols also mentioned “a rumor” that a show called The Flint Tropics was based on his seven years managing the Flint (Mich.) Generals.

“They said that they copied all of the crazy things that I did as far as promotions; a lot of stuff they did in that movie was stuff that I did on the ice,” he said. We will do any promotion – and we’ve got some crazy ones coming up this year.”

Although his permanent address is in Elmira, the 57-year-old Nichols said that Batavia has come his second home – literally.

“My wife and I have bought a home in Batavia now – right around the corner from the ballpark,” he said. “We’re really honored the way the City of Batavia has treated us. We can’t ask for better folks; they’re just like family.”

In his nomination of the Batavia Muckdogs for the award, lifelong Batavian Tom Turnbull said the city and county have been enriched because of Robbie and Nellie Nichols’ hard work and community spirit.

“While the Batavia Muckdogs may not seem like a new business due to the continuation of the name (from the former New York-Penn League), the new Batavia Muckdogs … are not only an incredible local business success story but have enhanced the quality of life for the residents of Genesee County,” Turnbull wrote.

Top photo: Robbie and Nellie Nichols on opening day 2021. Photo by Jim Burns.

Game photos below by Philip Casper

This is the first of four articles highlighting the 50th Annual Chamber of Commerce Awards. The annual dinner is Saturday at Batavia Downs, with hor d’oeuvres at 5 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. For more information about the dinner, call the Genesee County Chamber at (585) 343-7440.

The Lady Irish of Notre Dame faced Andover-Whitesville at Dansville High School on Monday night to see which Class D team will represent Section V the Far West Regional championship game this weekend and Notre Dame prevailed 38-34.

Andover led 10-9 by Vanissa Hall who scored 7 out of the 10 points in the opening quarter.

The Lady Irish went to work to take over the lead by one point at the half 17-16.  Emma Sisson, Maylee Green and Avelin Tomidy added points in the second quarter.

Hall was held scoreless in the next two quarters as the Irish played tough defense and offense against the junior star who averages 30 plus points per game.

Both teams were evenly matched but Notre Dame went ahead early in the fourth quarter on an 8 point run 32-24. 

Andover crawled back into it to come at times within three points but Emma Sisson created many free throw attempts and scored 6 for 8 late in the game to give the Irish the win.

Notre Dame plays in the Far West Regional this Saturday at Rush-Henrietta High school at 1pm.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene