Today's Poll: Do you think Armando Galarraga should be awarded a perfect game?
Do you think Armando Galarraga should be awarded a perfect game?
For those of you who might have missed the play:
Sports
Nominees wanted for inaugural class of college's new Sports Hall of Fame
The Genesee Community College Office of Alumni Affairs along with the Athletics Department are seeking nominations for the first class of inductees to the newly established Sports Hall of Fame.
The first class of honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a reception at the inaugural Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Oct. 2. The deadline for nominations is June 30.
The Selection Committee seeks to identify outstanding alumni athletes, teams or people involved in Genesee athletic service for induction into the new Sports Hall of Fame.
Inclusion in the Hall of Fame is the highest athletic honor that the college bestows on its alumni and supporters, and will recognize the outstanding athletic achievements of individuals and teams of every era who have fostered athletic achievement and sportsmanship at the college.
The criteria for nominating an individual or team to the Sports Hall of Fame are based on:
- Intercollegiate Athlete -- 30 credit hours earned while at GCC; at least five years of time must have lapsed outside GCC; and academic excellence and community service.
- Team -- Distinguished in a significant way either through school, regional or national championship or service.
- Athletic Service -- Any individual who has made a noteworthy contribution to the growth, development and success of GCC athletics. Consideration may include sustained leadership, service and/or support.
Nominations may be submitted by the nominee or by friends, family, past team mates or other colleagues who are familiar with the nominee.
All nominations received by June 30 will be considered by the Selection Committee for the 2010 Sports Hall of Fame.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from Genesee Community College's athletics website (http://www.genesee.edu/_content/depts/athletics/Sports_Hall_of_Fame.pdf) and e-mailed or sent to Genesee Community College.
Please send all nominations to: Sports Information Director- Kristen Schuth, Genesee Community College, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020 or email:<http://KESchuth@genesee.edu>.
Muckdogs announce 2010 promo schedule
The Batavia Muckdogs, Genesee County’s only professional sports franchise, has released its 2010 promotional schedule featuring fireworks, giveaways, special events, theme nights and daily promotions.
The fun will kick off three days prior to Opening Day with the very first pre-season “Pep Dog Rally” starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday June 16. This free event will be fans’ first chance to meet this year’s team.
It will feature games for the kids, local mascots, and prizes and raffles throughout the night. One highlight will be a homerun derby featuring local celebrities, including City Manager Jason Molino and Elba Town Supervisor Lucine Kauffman.
The Muckdogs will again offer fans a daily menu of money-saving promotions available throughout the season.
The Batavia Daily News will continue to sponsor Muckdog Mondays. Every Monday home game, fans can receive $1 discount off a general admission ticket when they redeem a coupon that runs in the Saturday edition of the newspaper.
On Tuesday nights, KRAFT Singles presents KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets. Fans can bring a KRAFT Singles wrapper to the Muckdogs box office for a buy one -- get one free ticket from KRAFT Singles. Visit kraftsingles.com for more details.
The Family Four Pack will take place on every Wednesday and is presented by Drug Free Communities. Fans can purchase four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four 12 oz. sodas and a 2010 program for only $30, a savings of $12. Every Family Four Pack purchased will also receive a free prize pack courtesy of Drug Free Communities.
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 3.
Every Saturday will feature a pre-game concert in the concourse. These “Rock the Ballpark” events are presented by Tim Horton’s of Batavia and will feature New Buffalo Impact with Papa and Mama Root, an oldies rock 'n' roll tribute band, and original music recording artists. All performances begin at 6 p.m., weather permitting.
The Muckdogs will also play host to multiple unique events at Dwyer Stadium this summer.
On Saturday July 10, the Muckdogs will host the first “Festival of Muck," paying tribute to the mucklands in Elba. The night will feature muck wrestling, an onion giveaway, muck slip 'n' slide and a bobbing-for-onions contest. More details will be revealed at a later date.
The Muckdogs will have two Community Sleepovers on Saturday, July 10 and Saturday, July 17. Participants who buy their tickets in advance will be given a discount. Only 400 vouchers for sleeping on site will be given out for each night. For more details, fans can call the office at 343-5454.
Other games of note this season include:
Opening Day/Magnet Schedule Giveaway Saturday, June 19
Star Wars Night Saturday, June 26
Anti-Bullying Night Monday June 28
Museum Night at the Muckdogs – fans will learn about Friday, July 2
history of Genesee County
Free Buzz Cuts Friday July 16
Sun Visor Giveaway (1st 500 fans) Saturday, July 17
Renew Your Vows with Reverend Sick Sunday, July 18
Muckdogs Fans Fan Giveaway (1st 1000 fans) Friday July 30
Frisbee Giveaway (1st 500 fans) Saturday July 31
“Muckdog Gazette” Giveaway Monday, Aug. 2
Team Photo Giveaway I Saturday, Aug. 14
Belly Buster Night Monday, Aug. 30
Fireworks Nights will be: July 2 & 3, July 9, 16 and 30; Aug. 13; Sept. 3.
The Muckdogs open their 2010 home schedule at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 vs. the Auburn Doubledays. For a complete 2010 promotional schedule, go to www.muckdogs.com or call the Muckdogs office at 343-5454.
Photos: Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament
For the past two days, young ball players from all over Western New York converged on the ball fields at MacArthur Park for the annual Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament.
The tournament is named after a Batavia boy who succumbed to a form of leukemia and raises funds for a foundation in his name that assists families of children with cancer.
Ten teams in the 9-10 year old range and 10 teams in the 11-12 year old range competed. There was also a tournament for T-ball-age players.
More pictures after the jump:
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Photos: Horse show at Batavia Downs
There's a horse show going on at Batavia Downs. Riders from all over the northeast are in Batavia to test their skills and display their handsome mounts. If you've missed it, the show continues Sunday at 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.
More photos after the jump:
A Sunny Day, a Fishing Rod, and Hungry Fish!
I have only fished a couple of times this year, so I took the opportunity to go out today and see what I could catch. I went to Godfrey's Pond and rented a rowboat for 2 hours, and then fished from shore for about another hour.
After 10 largemouth bass... I told myself that once I reached an even dozen, that I'd go home. And let me tell you... they were still biting when I left.
You say LEAVE??? When the fish are biting?? Are you nuts?!
Well... I had to work this afternoon. I had just enough time to post some pictures online, take a shower and eat lunch before I had to go to work.
Up until last year, I fished a lot! But in January 2009, I was dealing with a herniated disk in my neck and I could not fish. I had surgery for it that April, but my fishing was limited. This was the first time that I have rowed a boat since 2008. I am paying for it a little tonight. But it was worth it!
These are pictures of my first three catches. ( I stopped taking pictures after three!) The first two were very respectable fish! And well, actually, most of them that I caught today were good!
Here was my first one! Very nice Bass! They look to be healthy!
This is the second one. I took 2 pictures of it. The other picture is of it in the water.
And the third one. It may not be a monster, but I love this picture!
Former Muckdog says amphetamine suspension stems from misunderstanding
In an article about set backs to his career, Alan Ahmady, one of the Batavia Muckdog's most impressive young players last year, says that his current suspension for amphetamine stems from him taking some old prescription pills.
Ahmady was still in Fresno in mid-May because of yet another mistake. This one, though, he says, was a "misunderstanding of the rules." At the end of last season in Batavia, he was drug tested in mid-August and then notified in October that he had taken a performance-enhancing drug and was suspended 50 games.
"They said it was amphetamine," he says. "I was like, 'What's an amphetamine?' "
He says the test result was caused by Adderall, a drug he was once prescribed for attention-deficit disorder. While at Batavia, he'd started taking it again to help him focus on learning a new position: catcher. He contacted Bud Selig's office to appeal the decision, but because the pills were left over from an old prescription, he had no case.
In 67 games for Batavia in 2009, Ahmady hit .297 with a .407 OBP, 3 HR, 46 runs scored, and 32 RBI.
He's expected to join the Quad City RIver Bandits on May 31.
BHS grad earns spot as freshman in SUNY athletic competition
Batavian Max Radley, a 2009 graduate of Batavia High School, earned a spot in the State University of New York Athletic Competition as a freshman on the track and field team at SUNY Fredonia.
The competition took place on May 7 at SUNY Brockport, and it allowed the top finishers in track and field events in the state university system to compete for a berth in the national competition.
Max's specialty is the Hammer Throw. He trained with Lou Paganello, of Batavia, who holds a two-time All-American Hammer record in 1979 and 1980. Paganello is also a four-time SUNYAC and NYST&FA Champion for hammer.
As a Fredonia freshman, Max with the Fredonia Indoor and Outdoor track team participated in meets in Boston, Tampa, Ohio and Pennsylvania under the leadership of Coach Liz Aldrich.
Max was on the Dean's List for the fall, 2009 semester. He is the son of Diana Radley, of Batavia, and Carl Radley, of Florida, and the grandson of Bill and Bea Radley. of Stafford.
On Friday GCC finished 3rd at MCC Invitational, but Saturday's weather curtailed local golf event
Submitted by GCC Golf team coach Tom Tucker:
The GCC Golf team competed in the GCC Invitational Tournament on Saturday, but the 10-team event was curtailed by rain and winds gusting up to 60 mph that would not allow golf balls to remain stationary on the greens as the day wore on.
Several early groups did finish, but no teams had complete scores.
Each team has six players maximum competing, and the low four scores count.
Individual medalist honors were awarded to Brian Whitbeck of Erie CC, who shot a 76 in the Men's division, and to Rae Mahon of Hudson Valley CC in the Women's Division.
Matt Ferdinand of GCC, the only GCC player able to finish, placed 2nd with an 80.
Roberta Terbuska competed in the Women's Individual division and placed 2nd.
On Friday at the MCC Invitational, GCC finished third in a seven-team field with a team score of 330. MCC won (308) followed by Erie CC (326).
Medalist was Ben Finn of MCC with a score of 76. Matt Ferdinand of GCC placed 8th with a score of 79 for his 2nd week in a row as low scorer for GCC.
Roberta Terbuska was Medalist in the Women's Individual division for GCC.
Competing in both events for GCC were: Jeff Marcy, Matt Ferdinand, Ryan Winchip, Mark DeCook, Alex Muench, Mike Estela, Chris McDonald and Roberta Terbuska.
The team departs for regionals at Cornell University's Cornell GC on Sunday, May 16.
GCC Golf team finishes 3rd at Tompkins-Cortland CC Invitational
Genesee Community College Golf Coach Tom Tucker provided this information:
On Sunday (May 2), the GCC Golf team finished 3rd in a field of 12 teams at the Tompkins-Cortland CC Invitational. It took place at the par 70 Elm Tree Golf Course in Cortland, NY.
GCC shot a season low team score of 309 to finish 3rd behind Monroe (287) and Erie (300) on windy but fair day for golf. The GCC team beat their previous low team score by 22 strokes.
Jeff Marcy for GCC shot a personal best 67 to tie Ben Finn of MCC for individual honors in the field of 67 players, but Finn was declared medalist on the fifth tiebreaker hole when the scorecards were compared.
Marcy had 9's of 33 and 34, and hit the ball solid all day with 5 birdies, 2 bogeys and 26 putts. Marcy continued his season long streak of top 10 tournament finishes.
Matt Ferdinand shot a smooth 80, Mark DeCook and Mike Estela each shot 81, and Alex Muench shot 83.
GCC's Roberta Terbuska shot a season low 96 to finish second to Tompkins-Cortland CC's Lauren Tallman's 80 in the individual Women's competition.
Other participating community colleges included Genesee, Niagara, Mohawk Valley, Adirondack, Jamestown, Jefferson, Broome, Cayuga and Corning.
GCC has two tournaments this week, its last two tournaments before regionals.
On Friday, GCC will compete in the MCC Invitational at Webster Golf Club in
Webster. It is located at 440 Salt Road. And on Saturday GCC will host its first Invitational Tournament at the Batavia Country Club, tee times start at 10 a.m.
Spectators that want to see some good NJCAA Division lll golf are invited to attend.
Big soccer weekend at new athletic fields in Batavia
Regional and local soccer players gathered at the recently completed Batavia Sports Park at Batavia Turf Farms on Bank Street Road over Saturday and Sunday for various training sessions.
The camp included sessions for the New York State West Olympic Development Program on both days. This afternoon the Genesee Amateur Soccer Association held a Coaches and Players Clinic.
More pictures after the jump:
New OTB chairman says video terminals keeping Batavia Downs afloat
Harness racing isn't want it used to be and probably never will be again, according to newly elected Chairman of the Western Region Off Track Betting Board of Directors Dick Siebert.
In an interview with WBTA, Siebert characterized harness racing as "the cost of doing business." It's the loss leader that under state law allows Batavia Downs Casino to keep its doors open for the much more profitable video slot machines.
"The people that used to come to our parlors, the 55 and older men, are no longer 55 years of age," Siebert said. "Unfortunately, they're dying off. The newer group of people, it doesn't have the interest to them that it did with the old bettor. ... I honestly can't see where harness racing is going to turn around and ever be back where it was in the '50s, '60s and '70s."
He said in 2009, Batavia Downs lost $1.5 million on harness racing while the video lottery terminals brought in $3 million in profits.
To help reduce harness racing costs, more bets will be placed at electronic terminals rather than at the traditional caged window with a person taking the bet.
Meanwhile, Siebert said the Downs continues to work with state regulators on a plan to address deficiencies in some administrative procedures. He said the board is looking to hire a consultant to help address the state's concerns, rather than bring in a management company to take over the Downs' operations, which is one of the state's other suggestions.
Full interview available here (mp3).
Full Circle Waterfowling....Pt. II
In the fall of 1962 Ron Grazioplena turned 14, making him old enough to hunt when accompanied by an adult. Back then, as it is now, the waterfowl season was split into two parts, the early and late season. Because his birthday occurred after the first split, Ron partook of the late season duck hunt. It wasn't until the following year - during the autumn of '63 - that he experienced his first goose hunt.
Ron's entry into the world of the waterfowler took place in a different era, when hunters stood in line for days at the old permit station on Albion Road, hoping to draw one of the available blinds on the Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area, where duck and goose hunters were limited to 15 shells and all hunting to cease at noon. But Ron and his buddies never had to stand in line. Rather than hunt the game management areas they scouted corn lots, winter wheat fields and the like. Gaining access courtesy of landowners was never a problem.
Ron's high school years at Notre Dame of Batavia limited his hunting to after school and weekends. In 1970 he graduated from St. Bernard College in Alabama with a degree in biology. Rather that apply for a job, he opted to spend the autumn outdoors and proceeded to hunt geese for 70 straight days. It was a regimen he adhered to for nearly two decades, spending every moment possible outdoors. In the process he accessed another form of education, one seldom found in a classroom.
Ron's hunting career began with the youthful anticipation of taking his first duck or goose, to seeking his first bag limit, to striving to take birds on every hunt. Before long he began to invest his time and money into purchasing the best equipment in order to help him attain his goals. Eventually, after years of waterfowling, the time came when he felt that taking his limit of ducks or geese was not nearly as important as the enjoyment of the hunt in all its different aspects. Said Ron, "The frosty chill that comes with first light, sunrise, the whistling of wings over the marsh and the beauty of the birds. Nature began to mean something."
By 1991 Ron had reached a point where he pulled the trigger only on occassion, discovering he no longer wished to hunt the waterfowl he had enjoyed over the years. By now the family owned a 30 acre marsh and it was at this time when Ron decided he would do his part to help waterfowl thrive. Thus began the building and erecting of wood duck nesting boxes.
While wood ducks readily took to the nesting boxes, so too did various predators help themselves to the contents of the boxes. One spring, while assisting Ron in the repair of the nesting boxes, we found several with raccoons sleeping inside. And these were boxes that had been placed in the middle of the marsh, far from shore. Still, it had not deterred the strong-swimming racoons. In addition to racoons, mink inhabit the marsh. While not a skilled climber like the raccoon, the mink is an aquatic predator which readily preys on ducks and their eggs. Thats not too mention weasels, a hazard for shore nesters, then there are were the winged predators: Great Horned Owls,Redtail hawks and the like.
With so many predators having a taste for waterfowl, Ron developed a new type of nesting compartment, one made from plastic drums, both comfortable and roomy for nesting waterfowl. Made of hard plastic, the drums are secured to steel pipe, their width and and slick surface prevents raccoons and such from taking a firm grip and climbing up and in. In the above photo, the drum on the right has a goose sitting on a clutch of eggs.
"This style of nest has a bottom section which enables hen ducks to spend the night with their ducklings safely out of the water, yet out in the middle of the marsh and away from shore predators" said Ron. He refers to them as "duck motels."
"Past experience has shown that mother ducks, particularly wood ducks, will utilize such a structure to protect their brood at night when they need to be out of the water and under their mother's wings for warmth and protection", he added.
Installing and maintaining the nests, as well as policing the marsh takes a lot of work. Here Matt Moscicki prepares to install nests. Additional help on the marsh includes Jeff Moscicki, Mary MacIntyre, Darla Luttrell and Ron's cousin and marsh owner, Kenny Grazioplene.
This is Mary MacIntyre showing the location of active nests.
Mary removing debris from the spillway.
Here Matt prepares to set a pipe into the marsh bottom.
Here's Ron enjoying the fruits of their labor as depicted in the following photos.
A pair of mallards dabbling
As the mallard on left comes up for air, note the water running off his head and down his bill.
The marsh is home to a variety of waterfowl. Sometimes the open water diving ducks show up, like this pair of buffleheads.
Buffleheads taking off. Both bufflehead photos courtesy of Mary MacIntyre.
Check out the pointed bill on this Red-breasted Merganser - he's a diving duck and a fish eater.
A winged predator with an ample wing span flies past...
While nesting waterfowl are protected.... thanks to Ron "Grazo" Grazioplena and his friends.
Pembroke Defeats Kendall 8-6
The Pembroke Lady Dragons JV softball team defeated the visiting Kendall Eagles 8-6 tonight in a fairly close game. Julia Baker went the distance on the mound for the Dragons striking out 9 batters, and allowing 4 hits and 7 walks. Baker also went 2 for 4 at bat. Ashlee Gilchrist went 2 for 3 with a double, and Breanna Johnson went 3 for 4, also getting a double. Kellie Mroz went 2 for 3 with a clutch 2 run single in the 6th inning to help secure the win. Kayla Streit and Randi DellaPenta also had hits. Both teams played a great game!!
More pictures after the jump:
Above: Julia Baker Delivers another great pitch
A Kendall player hits a line drive
A Pembroke player up to bat
Sliding home. She was safe
Sliding into 3rd base. Once again, she was safe
Believe it or not, she was safe!!
Great Job Ladies!!!
Oakfield High grad named Athlete of the Week at Keuka College
Oakfield High School graduate Jason Kirkum was selected as Keuka College Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 24.
The junior baseball player, who is a pitcher/designated hitter, led the Storm to a 4-5 week overall and a 4-4 week in conference action.
On the mound he made two starts, going the distance each time, and collecting 15 strikeouts in just 13 innings pitched. He went 1-1 overall and had a 6.23 ERA while holding hitters to a .263 batting average.
At the plate, he led the Storm’s offense with a .429 batting average (9-for-21) while ripping a double, knocking in four runs, and scoring four of his own. He also walked four times to post a team-high .520 on-base percentage.
Anna Dominick Signs With Roberts
I have really slacked off on putting this article together. Here is a link to the story on the Roberts website and I will be posting my own write up on it next week while I am on break. She received a scholarship as well.
http://www.roberts.edu/athletics/athletics_news_article.asp?news_id=1482
Dennis Meyers Posts 400 Towers' First 300 Wii Bowling Game.
Wii bowling was introduced to the residents of 400 Towers a month ago. It only took a month and one day for Dennis Meyers to post the first 300 game at 12:10am today 4/16).
Dennis, an avid bowler (and pool player) was reluctant to start Wii bowling while he was still competing in league bowling two nights a week. After watching for a few nights, he decided he would try it. He was hooked.
Meyers has become a coach for those just learning. One of his success stories is MaryAnn Harkness, who bowls from a wheel chair. MaryAnn, a left handed bowler, had the distinction of having a bowling technique named after her. The slow moving, and often ineffective attempt, was lovingly named the "MaryAnn ball". That term may fade into history after working with Dennis.. So much so, that on April 15, MaryAnn not only bowled two 200+ games, but beat her mentor's score in one of the games.
There are over 40 residents now playing the Wii Bowling. Plans are underway to have a Friday night handicap summer league.
Residents can check out the system from the towers' Snack Shop to play at a time convenient for them. There are scheduled times for open bowling on Sunday evenings and Thursday mornings. Open bowling is also available most evenings after 9pm.
The system was purchased by the 400 Towers' Resident Council.
Photos: Spring means baseball
When I drove past Batavia High today, I saw the JV baseball team getting ready for a game. Coach Buddy Brasky told me the varsity team was getting ready for a game at Dwyer, so I went over there and snapped a couple of photos, too.
More pictures after the jump:
At The Downs tonight: 10-race showdown of WNY's best harness-racing handicappers
The scoring is complete, the starter has called for the handicappers. Tonight, 125 of the best harness racing handicappers in Western New York will do battle in a 10-race showdown in the Clubhouse at Batavia Downs Casino.
The contest begins at 6:40 with the first post at Buffalo.
Twenty-six of Western Regional Off-Track Betting’s branches hosted qualifiers during March with over 700 racing fans participating in the free contests. They all had one common goal -- a chance to move on to the Meadowlands Racetrack on April 24 to compete in the 2010 National Harness Handicapping Championship (NHHC).
“The interest we had this year’s contests was amazing,” said Hank Nevins, director of public relations for Western OTB. “We received calls for more information from as far away as Toronto. We expect a full house Friday night.”
In The Downs’ finals, each contestant starts with a mythical bankroll of $1,000. They can wager up to 20 percent of it on each contest race, consisting of races 1-8-9-10-11 at Buffalo Raceway and races 1-5 at Meadowlands.
The winner will receive entry into the NHHC, two nights hotel accommodations and $500 in expense money. The remaining top 10 finishers will receive prize money or casino free play. All finalists receive dinner for two, casino free play and a gift.
For more information, visit www.westernotb.com.
