Sports

Photos by Philip Casper.

The collegiate-player version of the Batavia Muckdogs finished out its inaugural season in a way that was rare when professional ballplayers passed through town -- with a stadium full of fans excited to see a team they embraced in 2021 because the team embraced this city.

"It’s been great," said Tom Turnbull, a regular Dwyer Stadium visitor, and local community leader. "You can see the spirit, the vibe, the college kind of rah-rah that the players have and it’s carried over into the stands. People are just happy to have the Muckdogs back. It’s just been a wonderful year. They’ve been a part of the community and when you go to a concession stand and the owner is working the cash register, you know they’re invested in the city. It’s been fantastic."

For a Thursday evening, the stands were packed and there was a palatable excitement in the air.

"We’re thrilled, my wife and I pleasantly surprised," said owner Robbie Nichols during a conversation at a table where fans were bidding on player jerseys. "You can sea from the crowd tonight the support we’ve recieved. We had a short season to put it together. You’ll see next season, this place will be packed every night."

The reason for the success, Nichols noted, is the team -- not just Nichols and management staff, but coaches and players -- have gotten involved in the community over the past couple of months, in a way the pro players of the previous era never did.

Community is what is also about Nichols said.

"We always say, my wife and I are the holders of the keys but this is a community team," Nichols said. "You see people over there in line, talking, having a beer, people bringing their grandkids to the game, and that’s what it’s all about.  It’s America’s game. It’s about bringing your family to the ballpark and Batavia answered the bell and this crowd is amazing."

Community is a big reason Nichols announced before last night's game that he's offering Coach Joey Martinez and two-year extension on his contract.

"It’s community first," Nichols said. "Wins and losses are important but it’s how we are out in the community, attending events and doing things. I think our team did a great job this year and we want to continue that. That’s what I want to continue. I like working out in the community helping everybody we can especially special olympics, challenger division baseball, the parades we did, reading to people, the veterans, all the stuff we did, that’s what I’m most excited about."

The players enjoyed the year, too.  Players who have more college eligibility after this season have said they want to come back to Batavia next year.  That will go a long way building a stronger baseball organization.  Martinez only had a short time after the Muckdogs joined the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League to recruit players and few potential players knew anything about Batavia. After this season, Nichols noted, that will change. He said this year's players will go back to their schools and tell the best players on their teams, "you want to go to Batavia."

“I think the team is really going to improve next year," Nichols said.

This year, the Muckdogs finished just out of the running for a playoff spot with a final record of 22-19, one game behind Geneva for the coveted second playoff spot of the Western Division. If not for a rainout and some rescheduling confusion with Geneva, maybe the Muckdogs would have had a better shot at the playoffs, but last night's loss to Niagara wouldn't have helped matters.

Starter Julian Pichardo, who has been the ace of the staff this season, got hurt by three first inning errors and gave up a couple of solid base hits allowing Niagara to score three first-inning runs.  Pichardo battled through 3 1/3 innings giving up four hits, three runs (only one earned), and striking out two.  He finishes with a 4-2 record and a 2.46 ERA.

Abner Benitez had a big night at the plate going 3-5 and driving in five runs.  He finishes the year with a .282 BA and 27 RBIs.

"Next year going to have win early and win often (to make the playoffs)," Nichols said.

Photos by Philip Casper. Top photo: Dewey wishing there was more Muckdogs’ baseball in Batavia this year.

Young fans at Dwyer catching some up close pregame action while the players warm up.

Charlie Szykowny & Julian Pichardo

Coach Jose ’Skip’ Martinez after being offered a 2-year contract extension by Robbie Nichols

Charlie Szykowny 

Dancing on the dugout with Dewey

Blair Frederick charging towards first after a successful bunt

Blair Frederick crossing home plate 

Daniel Burroway

Julian Pichardo thanks the fans as he walks off the field for the last time in 2021

The Batavia Twins became the 10U baseball champions yesterday beating the Batavia Mets 7-2.

The Twins were 3-2 going into the sixth inning and then added on four more runs to seal the deal. 

"Congratulations to both teams on a great season!" said Twins Assistant Coach John Caleb.

Photo and info submitted by John Caleb.

Nathan Hinkley, a senior at Keystone College, spun a gem and the Batavia offense scored runs in bunches leading an early exit from Dwyer Stadium for the first-place Jamestown Tarp Skunks.

The Skunks got skunked 12-0.

Hinkley (2-5) pitched all seven innings of the truncated game while giving up only three hits and issuing only two walks.  

Cameron Conley, playing second base, raised his season average to .270 with three hits.He also knocked in four runs and scored twice while also drawing a walk.

Jerry Reinhart was 2-2 with an RBI and run scored. 

Shortstop Charlie Szykowny has been on a tear recently. He was 2-4 with an RBI and scored two runs. He's now hitting .331.

The Muckdogs are now 21-18 on the season and are in second place, a half-game ahead of the Geneva Red Wings in the battle for a playoff spot. The team has two games left. They play Jamestown (27-14) again on Wednesday in Jamestown and Niagara at home at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday to close out the regular season.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs has announced that with the approval of the New York State Gaming Commission, the special twilight card of live harness racing that was originally scheduled for Monday (July 26) has been canceled due to a lack of entries.

Racing will resume at the Downs on Wednesday (July 28) at 5 p.m. as was originally scheduled. That night will feature the New York Sire Stakes 3-year-old colt and filly pacers.

Batavia hitters unloaded on Newark pitchers Thursday evening in an offensive onslaught that included a grand slam home run by shortstop Charlie Szykowny (top and bottom photos).

Szykowny went 2-2 raising his season average to .311. The big blast was Szykowny's first HR of the season. 

Batavia native Jerry Reinhart was 2-3, scoring twice.

The Muckdogs won 11-1 lifting the team's recored to 19-17. Batavia is in third place, a half-game behind the Geneva Red Wings with six games to go in the regular season. 

Blair Frederick was the winning pitcher, going five and a third innings, giving up only two hits, walking one and whiffing eight.

The Muckdogs' final home games of the regular season are tonight at 7 against Jamestown, Sunday at 4:05 p.m. also against Jamestown, and Thursday, 7:05 p.m., against Niagara Power. Jamestown is in first place in the Western Division with a record of 26-12.

Photos by Philip Casper.

David Chua throwing out the first pitch.

Blair Frederick

Daniel Burroway 

Jerry Reinhart with a head-first slide into second base after a line drive into right field.

Reinhart scores.

Press release:

Batavia Downs welcomed a large crowd of live fans back to the track on Wednesday (July 21) as they opened their 2021 live racing season and the New York Sire Stakes were in town to put on the show.

Thirteen 2-year-old filly trotters went postward in two divisions for a total of $101,700 in purses and the two best of this group remained perfect lifetime. 

In the first $51,300 seven-horse division, the undefeated Bomb Hugger (Chapter Seven-Stylemaker) ran her streak to three consecutive wins after tripping-out the entire mile. 

Iluvmymiumiu’s (Andrew McCarthy) took control off the pylons while Bomb Hugger (Anthony Macdonald) left from mid-pack and tucked second at the pegs. After cutting fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:28.3, Pioneer AS (Jim Morrill Jr.) made her way to second on the outside and then drew even with the leader.

However, coming off the last turn Pioneer AS broke, giving Bomb Hugger a clear lane to the outside. Macdonald pulled the filly and she responded willingly. Bomb Hugger trotted quickly by Iluvmymiumiu’s and drew clear by 1-½ lengths at the line in 1:58.2. 

Bomb Hugger ($5.40) is now two-for-two in NYSS action. The filly is owned by Thestable Bomb Hugger Group and is trained by Ryan Swift. 

A group of six lined up for $50,400 in the second round and Gertrude (Devious Man-Ophelia) became the second filly of the night to remain unbeaten.

Following the pattern of the first division, the rail sitter Seven On The Rocks (John Stark Jr.) left hard while the heavily favored Gertrude (Andy Miller) darted from post five and dropped in the garden spot. While the race proceeded in single file fashion through somewhat pedestrian quarters of :30.2, 1:01.1 and 1:31.1, Seven On The Rocks looked strong heading into the last turn.

But Gertrude had other ideas when Miller tipped her off the pylons. Gertrude got almost even with Seven On The Rocks at the top of the stretch but couldn’t quite get by the stubborn leader. The two battled heartily to the beam where Gertrude finally got a slight advantage and won by a ¼ length in 1:59.3, with a swift :28.2 final panel. 

Now two-for-two lifetime, Gertrude ($3.10) is owned by the Andy Miller Stable and is trained by Julie Miller.

It was Miller Time at Batavia Downs on Wednesday as Andy Miller led all drivers with three wins on the card while wife Julie Miller led all trainers by sending two from her stable to the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle.

There were also three $15,000 Excel A divisions also contested and they were won by Adjure Hanover (Chapter Seven-Anonyme Hanover 1:59.4, $2.70), New Year’s Eve (Credit Winner-Sweetest Zete 2:03.2, $10.60) and Soundsofsilence AS (Conway Hall-Shutupandholdon AS 2:00.3, $16.20).

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (July 24) with post time at 6 p.m. Free full card past performance forms can be downloaded for all live race dates at bataviadownsgaming.com or on the Batavia Downs Facebook page.

The first time he saw it, the first time he went to the motocross track in Pavilion, there was something about the speed, the dust, the bikes flying over hills, the racing, that made then 8-year-old Joey Spadaro tell his dad, "I want to do that."

Seven years later, Joseph Spadaro says of his son, "He's a beast on the bike. A hard worker. Super competitive. He absolutely hates to lose. He will go above and beyond most boys, most men, because he doesn't like to be behind anybody."

That competitive spirit has won Spadaro his second trip to the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., starting on Aug. 2.

"That’s the most fun event," said Joey, who is now 15 and in the 10th grade at Le Roy High School. "Everyone there is fast. Everyone there knows what they’re doing. A bunch of people. The atmosphere is cool."

Joey didn't win his first race -- at Area 51 -- when he was 8 but he figures he's won more than 400 races in the local area since. He made it to the national event by finishing in the top six at the regional meet in Unadilla, NY. At that event, Joey ran three races coming in fourth, first, and ninth, for a fourth-place overall finish.

His father figures that makes Joey one of the 40 best in his class in the nation as he heads off to nationals.

"He's been a gear-head since he was tiny," Spadaro said. "He never rode a bike. He went from walking to riding a dirt bike. He never rode a bicycle until he was already riding a dirt bike. From his first race it was like, 'Woah, you already know how to do this.' "

Before this season, Joey raced in Class C and won more titles than he can count both at home and away. He's moved up a class and will be able to race in that class for two seasons.

Before going to Pavilion, Joey said, he had training wheels on his 50cc dirt bike. Those quickly came off after Pavilion and he took off to the races.

"I just thought it was really cool," Joey said. "I never thought I would be as good as the people I watched and it turned out I became better than the people I was watching."

He now runs a KTM 125 and a KTM 250.

During the off-season this year, Joey will travel to Chesterfield, S.C., where he will train at a motocross club. That off-season training is what helps elevate Joey to a pro-level rider, Spadaro said.

"If he can train in the off-season like the pros do, I think he can be a pro at a higher level," Spadaro said.

Yes, Joey does want to race dirt bikes for a living. It's what he loves to do and he loves to win.

"I enjoy it because I'm good at it," Joey said. "It's just fun to be good at something you love to do."

A Batavia City School District trustee who held up approval of a merger between the Batavia and Notre Dame hockey teams at the district's school board meeting on Thursday afternoon met with the schools' athletic directors and coaches and said he had his questions answered and looks forward to the agreement being on the board's next agenda.

The Batavian has attempted to clarify with John Marucci that his statement means he intends to vote in favor of the merger but he has not responded to two emails.

Three Four other members of the board have responded to emails and said they intend to support the measure. One hasn't responded.

Previously, The Batavian emailed five questions to Marucci about his apparent objections to the merger, trying to clarify his position and didn't get a response until yesterday. He didn't provide answers to the question but did make this statement:

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Just so you know that today at 3:15, I was able to meet with BCSD BOE President Alice Ann Benedict, BCSD AD Mike Bromley and hockey coaches Marc Staley and John Kirkwood. We had a very lengthy and thorough discussion about the proposed merger between Notre Dame and Batavia as it pertains to hockey. I feel very satisfied that I had my questions and concerns answered and look forward to having this item on our agenda for our August 5th BCSD BOE Meeting. 

At last week's meeting, Marucci expressed concern about other schools in the county being eased out of a combined hockey program with Batavia and that once current players from those districts have graduated, students at those schools would have to attend Notre Dame if they wanted to play hockey. He suggested Notre Dame recruits athletic students and that he was concerned the merger wouldn't be fair to Batavia students.

Our questions to Marucci included trying to find out how the merger wouldn't be fair to Batavia students. He didn't answer that question.

At the meeting, he said, "I just want clarification," and, "I'm not trying to be that guy but I guess I'm being that guy."

With two seats vacant on the board due to resignations and one person absent, Marucci's unwillingness to vote to approve the agreement meant there wasn't a quorum, so the board had to table the matter until its Aug. 5 meeting.

The merger would mean Notre Dame, which has won two sectional championships in recent years under Head Coach Marc Staley, and Batavia players would form a single unit.

Last week the schools announced the new team would be known as Batavia United.

Advocates of the merger argue that the merger would allow both schools to have a JV program, which will help produce a more successful program and end the dangerous practice of including JV-aged and -sized kids on varsity rosters.

And yes, students at schools such as Le Roy, Alexander, Oakfield-Alabama, and Pembroke, who want to play hockey in the future, will need to attend a private school such as Notre Dame. Which is how it was for those schools before Batavia, in a bid to increase its hockey numbers seven years ago, accepted those schools into its hockey program.

Since that realignment, Batavia has won 13 games with only two of those wins coming against Section V opponents and no wins against teams with winning records.

The merger is going to get the support of at least three trustees.

Statement from Alice Benedict:

I wholeheartedly support the Batavia Notre Dame Hockey merger. It will help both schools be able to offer hockey opportunities for grades 7 through 12.

Statement from John Reigle:

Thank you for reaching out to me regarding the hockey merger. 

As you are aware we tabled the agenda item at our last school board meeting for some final clarification and questions. It is a big decision for our district and I’m glad our board of education is putting in so much collaborative thought and consideration into the topic. Unfortunately, our athletic director and/or the coaches were unable to attend the last meeting to have more discussion on the topic. However, it is my understanding they were able to meet with our board president and Vice President yesterday to discuss. 

After speaking with some hockey families from both schools, along with learning more of Coach Staley’s & Coach Kirkwood’s goals and intentions for the United program, I am in favor of the merger. I look forward to bringing back a competitive hockey program to our city that the student-athletes, our schools, and our community are proud of. 

Statement from Barbara Bowman:

I am in complete support of the hockey merger because it will be advantageous to BHS and ND students and the community in general.

Newly elected Trustee Jennifer Lendvay did not respond.

UPDATE: Lendvay's statement: 

I am in favor of the merger of the BHS/ND hockey teams and look forward to seeing them play.

UPDATE 11:58 a.m.: Griffin Dellapenna, the Muckdogs' broadcaster, says the Muckdogs won 10-10.

Yesterday's Batavia Muckdogs game against Elmira ended in confusion and we still don't really know what happened.

Fans left the game thinking the Pioneers forfeited but the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League lists the game as suspended and is not listing the game as a win for the Muckdogs in the Western Division standings.

By all appearance in the bottom of the ninth, the Muckdogs won on a walk-off check swing. Yeah, that sounds crazy, but that’s what happened. To quote the Dwyer Stadium announcer “I think we just won 10-10 folks."

The tone was set for the crazy ending in the bottom of the first inning where Batavia scored two runs off a wild pitch, one that appeared to hit the batter in the foot. Elmira Pioneers felt this should have been a dead ball and the batter should have taken first base; the umpire ruled it a wild pitch and the two runs scored. From this point forward the relationship between the Pioneers and the umpires was, well, contentious. An inning later, the Elmira coach was ejected during a vigorous discussion with an umpire.

After five innings Batavia led 8-0 and Elmira started to climb back into the game. The game was delayed 30 minutes for a lightning strike in the area and for kids to pick up candy dropped on the field by a helicopter. (The helicopter was one of the less crazy events of the game.) At the end of nine innings, the score was knotted at 10 apiece.

In the top of the 10th, the Pioneer pitcher took umbrage with an umpire's ruling that the batter had a checked swing, denying the pitcher a strike call. This happened again on the next pitch and the pitcher, rather colorfully, expressed his disgust with the call as he approached the umpire and was held back by his catcher. The pitcher was ejected from the game. 

Elmira called in a new pitcher from their bullpen and he started to warm up, after a couple of warm-up pitches, the home plate umpire signaled the pitcher he had three more warm-up pitches left before play needed to resume. Yet again, there was another upset Elmira pitcher. He protested in a somewhat impolite way and the umpire responded by signaling he now had only two warm-up pitches remaining.

At this point, the Elmira pitcher used some of the same colorful language to express his dissatisfaction that the previously ejected pitcher did, simultaneously half of the Elmira dugout came onto the field to express their feelings about allowing the pitcher to warm up as did most of the infield. It was at this point the umpire ejected the entire Elmira Pioneers team.  

One would think that would make the final score 10-10, a Batavia win.

Apparently, the league doesn't see it that way and as of this writing, we don't know why.

Once that impromptu craziness was over, it was time for the scheduled craziness to begin, the Battle of the Badges, an exhibition game between Batavia PD and the City of Batavia Fire Department. 

The BPD did try their best including sending a few young children over to the CBFD to tell them “A cat is stuck in a tree, can you come and help?” to distract the firemen. But this tactic did not seem to work. 

After three innings, heavy rain forced the players from the field while the CBFD held a commanding lead over the BPD, 7-0. Three innings is below the five-inning minimum for an official game but we're giving the win to CBFD. But maybe we'll get overruled. That seems to be the way of the night.

There was no official word on the cat in the tree. 

On STOP-DWI night at Dwyer Stadium on Thursday, Batavia fans were treated to an entertaining game that ended on a walk-off single by Charlie Szykowny.

Szykowny, primarily a shortstop with a strong arm who is hitting .292 on the season, was also the winning pitcher after giving up four runs in his single frame of work.

The University of Wisconsin-Stout senior had three hits and drove in two runs to lead the Muckdogs' offense to a 7-6 win over Jamestown.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Muckdogs are over .500 for the first time this season, sitting at 17-16 in third place in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League's Western Division.  

Batavia native Jerry Reinhart, a senior at University of Akron, had one hit and scored twice. 

Abner Benitez tripled as a pinch hitter, driving in two runs and raising his season average to .292.

Starter Julian Pichardo, who came into the game with a 4-1 record, didn't figure in the decision after six innings of work in which he gave up two runs, four hits, and fanned six.

The next home game is Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. Newark.

Photos by Philip Casper.

Dr. Ross Fanara fires in a strike for the first pitch, on his birthday.

Julian Pichardo

Jerry Reinhart

Jerry Reinhart

Jerry Reinhart scores game's first run.

Deputy Andrew Mullen and K-9 "Frankie."

Charlie Szykowny

On Thursday, Batavia Downs hosted the Genesee County Fair harness races.

Every year, the state gives money to the counties with harness racing to host a purse-only (no wagering) card of races. Since the fairgrounds are not suitable for harness racing, Batavia Downs hosts the races.

"It’s a good opportunity for our local horsemen and people from outside this area to come here, make some money," said General Manager of Live Racing Todd Haight. "They’re all New York-bred horses so it’s good for the New York-bred program, it’s good for or local horsemen. It’s good for everybody."

The 2021 racing season starts this coming Wednesday. The first post time is 6 p.m.

Video: For one race, I was able to ride in the cab of the starter truck. The horses in the race were 2-year-old colts so you'll see some of them hang back from the starter's gate, unlike a race with more experienced horses.

Starter Terry Mays, who was kind enough to let me share the very cramped space of the gate truck.

Top photo: Four members of the Sutherland Family at the 24th annual ND Foundation Golf, Tennis and Bocce Tournament June 13.

Submitted photos and press release:

This year's 24th annual Notre Dame Foundation Golf, Tennis and Bocce Tournament was held on Sunday, June 13. The golf portion of this year’s tournament was held at the beautiful 27-hole Terry Hills Golf Course and Banquet Facility in Batavia. The tennis competition took place on the newly refurbished tennis courts at Batavia Senior High School and the bocce competition was held at the adjoining MacArthur Park.

A great time was reportedly had by all in attendance on this sun-filled, rain-free Western New York afternoon! 

A total of 144 golfers [a record 36 foursomes!], 17 tennis players and four Bocce teams participated in this year's successful annual event, the proceeds of which will be used to help prospective ND families with the tuition costs of a quality, private Catholic high school education.

A big word of thanks goes out to all alumni and friends of Notre Dame who either:

• Participated in one of our events or made donations to support our annual fundraiser;
• Served as a major event sponsors

                -- Blue and Gold level [$3,500] -- Skyworks -- Jerry Reinhart Jr.

                -- Shamrock level [$2,500] -- Lynn and Tom Houseknecht/Crickler/MTE

                -- Donald L. Bausch ('60) Corporate level [$1,000] -- Russ Marchese, ('73) DDS

                -- Jerry and Carm Pellegrino Reinhart ('69)

                -- Reinhart, Clark, Patterson, Lee Architects and Engineers

                -- DelPlato ('64) Casey ('10) Law Firm

                 -- Sunny Hill and Thunderhart/Kevin Smith ('87) 

                -- T.F. Brown's Restaurant/ Mancuso Real Estate/Rick Mancuso ('76)

                -- Friends of Our Lady [$500] -- Freed Maxick CPA

• Sponsored our annual event as one of this year’s 53 T-sign sponsors!
• Sanzo Beverage and C.H. Wright Beverage Distributors

***A special word of thanks goes out to Tournament Chairperson Jim Sutherland (’86), ND Advancement Office coordinator Kate Edwards, and ND Special Events coordinator Kathy Antinore for the key roles they played in helping to coordinate this year's overall event.***

Special recognition also goes out to:

• Batavia CSD Athletic Director Mike Bromley and the Batavia City School District for the continued use of their newly refurbished tennis courts;
• The City of Batavia Parks Department for the use of MacArthur Park for our bocce tournament;
• Terry Hills Director of Golf Casey Brown, and General Manager Danielle Rotondo, and owner Nick Rotondo for their expertise and assistance on the day of the event at the golf course.

2021 Tournament Dedication -- Bill Sutherland ('67)

On behalf of this year's tournament Committee, Chairperson Jim Sutherland presented his brother Bill's wife, Melanie, and her ND grad children Billy Sutherland ('96) and Jennifer Sutherland ('00) Forsyth with a commemorative plaque in appreciation for Coach Sutherland's longtime support of ND and our annual Golf, Tennis and Bocce Tournament.

The plaque read:

"To the family of Coach Bill Sutherland . . . With genuine love and gratitude from the thousands of students, athletes and co-workers that he touched during his long and storied tenure at Notre Dame. The 2021 ND Golf, Tennis and Bocce tournament is held in his honor. June 13, 2021."

2021Award Winners

Winning teams/individuals for this year’s golf and tennis competition were as follows:

Golf

First Place Overall Non-ND Foursome [18 under par 54] -- West Herr: Lionel Rhim, Brian Cline, Tom Hungerford and Donnell Holloway.

Second Place Overall Non-ND Foursome [13 under par 69] – Joe Flynn ('68), Dennis Buckley, Matt Buckley and Tim Sprague.

First Place ND Alumni Cup Foursome – Sanzo Beverage [17 under par 55] -- 2nd year in a row!: Zach Goodsell (‘05), Bobby Martin (’04), Cam McDonald (‘10) and Arron “Red” McDonald (’13).

First Place Womens' Foursome [-2 under par 70] -- Karen Green, Seana Logsdon, Sharon Fisher and Sue Penepent            

Putting Contest sponsored by C.H. Wright: Chad LaCivita

Closest to the Pin -- Males – Jack Chmielowiec; Females – Sally Barie

Longest Drives – Males – Mikey Rapone ('02); Females – Katelyn Ferris

Tennis

First Place Singles: Diane Bonarigo

Second Place Doubles: Karen Tomm ('81) Hughes and Pavlo Huda

Second Place Doubles: Gary May and Mike Teresi ('08)

Bocce

First Place Team: Pat and Maria Robusto

Second Place Team: Annie Lawrence and Diane Fiorentino

2021Tournament Committee Membership

This year’s Committee did an amazing job organizing this year’s tournament under the trying COVID-19 conditions, which we were all forced to experience. Zoom meetings were held on a regular biweekly basis in order to coordinate what turned out to be a very successful outing! 

Chairpersons for this year's 24th Annual ND Foundation fundraiser included:

• Overall Tournament and Golf Chair: Jim Sutherland (’86)
• Tennis Chairperson: ND Board of Trustee Member Carm Pellegrino Reinhart ('69)
• Bocce Chairperson: Charlie Messina ('62) with assistance from Mike Del Plato ('64)
• Additional 2021Tournament Committee members included: ND Advancement coordinator Kate Edwards, ND Special Events coordinator Kathy Antinore, ND Principal Wade Bianco, and ND grads Jim Fanara (‘94), Jeremy Warner (’00), Connor Logsdon ('16) and Joe Scanlan, Ed.D. (’65).

Our 2021Tournament Committee would also like to recognize this year’s non-Committee volunteers: Brandi Fanara, Krista Fisher, Maria Fitzpatrick, Melanie Sutherland and Sarah Welker and ND employees Shannon Plath and Lorie Fix for a job well done, as well as extending a thank you to longtime ND faculty member Father Dick Csizmar [1969 -1994] for attending and saying Grace prior to our meal.

We hope to see everyone back for our 25th Annual ND Foundation Golf, Tennis and Bocce Tournament in 2022! Stay tuned to our ND webpage -- www.ndhsbatavia.com -- and Facebook pages, as well as upcoming ND online newsletters and e-blasts for more information about next year’s event date and location!

Thanks again for your participation in our annual tournament and support of Notre Dame High School’s tuition assistance program for families in need.

Go Irish!

From BPD:

The Batavia Muckdogs are proud to host the inaugural "Battle of the Badges" game between our local Police and Fire departments in Batavia.

The game will take place this Sunday, July 18th, on Give716 Day at the ballpark -- Western New York's community-wide day of giving.

Batavia will host the Elmira Pioneers for a 4:05 p.m. start, with the "Battle of the Badges" game following the completion of the Muckdogs vs. Pioneers game.

Tickets will be required for the police vs. fire matchup, and admission will be counted toward both games that occur on Sunday. Tickets range from $9-11, and a dollar is added if purchased the day of. For tickets, call (585) 524-2260.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia Downs is proud to host the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) County Fair Series on Thursday (July 15) starting at 12:30 p.m. The program that is facilitated by the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund features stops at tracks in 21 different counties throughout the state and culminates with finals for the top point-getters at Historic Track in Goshen on Sunday (Sept. 5).

"County Fair racing is where our young horses and many young horsemen and women get their start and can learn in a fun environment," said Kelly Young, executive director of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

"We are so excited to add Genesee County racing at Batavia Downs to the schedule this year and provide another outstanding venue for New York-bred horses to compete on the County Fair circuit."

"County Fair is about more than ribbons and awards. Its about the experience and the people you share those experiences with. County fair is embracing the life skills and memories created while being part of the fair. Most importantly its about being a role model, giving back, and making the best better," added Amanda Gallo, president of the Genesee Agricultural Society. 

“It’s been a pleasure working with the Genesee County Fair Society and the New York Sire Stakes to make this happen,” said Todd Haight, director and general manager of live racing at Batavia Downs. “These races are not only beneficial for our local racing community, but also horseman and women throughout New York State.”

There will be 13 races on Thursday -- eight trots and five paces -- and all are non-betting events. Admission and parking are free at the track and race gates will open at noon with the track apron available for fans. Also, free full past performance programs are available for download a www.bataviadownsgaming.com. Everyone is encouraged to come out to the Downs and root on all the aspiring 2- and 3-year-olds. 

The Claude Huckabone III stable, who has 10 horses entered, leads the way for number of starters on the card. Local trainers competing include Doug Ackley, Ryan Swift, John Mungillo, Judy Blaun, Jim Graham, Tammy Cummings, Gerry Sarama, Robert Wittcop, Kirk Desmond and one of the perennial NYSS leading conditioners, Steve Pratt.

Many of the horses racing on this card have already started in other levels of the state sponsored series this year including the NYSS, Excel A and Excel B levels, so the racing promises to be very competitive. 

Three of the four County Fair 2-year-old champions from 2020 will be in action on Thursday as 3-year-olds and include trotting filly Flexible Credit (Credit Winner-Back On Track), trotting colt Ready For Workout (Whataworkout-Oven Ready) and pacing gelding Brave Element (Bolt The Duer-Necessary Element). 

The 72 entrants will compete for total purses of $30,250 and points, as they each try to make their way to the finals this fall.

Dozens of pulling tractors and modified diesel trucks with the Empire State Pullers and Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League put on a show Saturday to a completely packed house at the Annual Alexander Fire Department Tractor Pulls. Red Creek brought the party and played to a crowd of hundreds in the beer tent to finish off the night.  

Class winners from the pulls are as follows:

• SF: Frank Payne, Pure Luck
• LSS: Roy Metz, Git-R-Done
• MOD: Tom Durfee, Thumber 2
• LPSDT: Jennifer Pushlar, Hellfire
• HSS: Henry Everman, Final Decision

Photos and information by Philip Casper.