Sports

It was a cool misty night at Van Detta Stadium where the Batavia Blue Devils hosted the visiting Wilson Wildcats for their homecoming game. First half was a bit quiet where both teams' offense could not put points on the board until there was only 1:51 left in the second quarter. J’Zon Richardson (pictured above) picked up a fumble and 75-yard-run touchdown to give Batavia the lead 6-0 after two quarters of play; two-wopoint conversion was no good.

Late in the third quarter Ray Leach recovered a fumble with one minute left on the clock and ran 70 yards for a touchdown to increase Batavia’s lead to 12-0. No extra points were scored afterward.

In the fourth quarter Cody Dioguardi ran in a 15-yard dash from Jerry Reinhart to increase the lead and secure the win for Batavia, leading 18-0. Extra point was no good.

Wilson put some points back on the board with 51 seconds left in the game. Quarterback James Totten did a lateral pass to Ricky Gamble, who threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jervon Johnson. Two-point conversion was good, but time ran out for the Wildcats and Batavia picked up their fifth-straight win.

Ray Leach carried the ball 18 times for 110 yards. Anthony Ray had 11 tackles, four for a loss of yards and one sack on the night.

The Spirit Stick was won by the Senior Class and Quentin Branciforte was named King and Alyssa Juliano was named Queen.

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This week, the Batavia High School Girls Tennis Team capped a nine-match winning streak with a Division IV championship, the team's third, and now enter sectional play as the #2 seed in Class B. They next play Wednesday, vs. Aquinas, #7 seed, at home.

Mark your calendars for the Dig Pink Game on Oct. 6 when Oakfield-Alabama and Elba high school volleyball players compete again Wheatland-Chili to benefit The Side-Out Foundation.

The JV matchup starts at 5 p.m. and the varsity game begins at 6:30. They will take place inside the Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School Gymnasium, located at 7001 Lewiston Road in Oakfield.

There will be 50/50 raffles, refreshments, raffles items and a serving contest.

This is the sixth year of the Dig Pink Game and to date more than $7,000 has been raised locally for the nonprofit foundation, whose mission is to enhance breast cancer research and awareness.

Submitted photo: Several Alexander JV and varsity volleyball players and parents attended the recent Great Strides Walk at Letchworth State Park in Wyoming County to show their support of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and promote the Alexander Volleyball Booster Club’s upcoming fundraiser.

Press release:

The Alexander Volleyball Booster Club will be hosting its 5th annual fundraiser volleyball game Oct. 6 in a match against the Pembroke Dragons. This year’s event at Alexander Central School, located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander, benefits the local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

According to event co-chairs Laura Marzolf and Colette Yax, choosing to support CFF hits close to home.

“One of the varsity volleyball players and her family recently lost a loved one to this disorder,” Yax said.

“There is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis – yet,” Marzolf said. “We hope our fundraiser helps make a difference and creates a greater awareness surrounding Cystic Fibrosis and the lifelong struggles that people with CF and their families endure."

The fundraiser includes a basket auction, 50/50 drawing, bake sale and a serving contest with a chance to win prizes from local merchants. The fun begins at 5 p.m. with the JV game, followed by the varsity game at 6:30.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and frequent lung infections.CF affects about one out of every 3,000 newborns.

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure Cystic Fibrosis and to provide all people with the disease the opportunity to lead full, productive lives by funding research and drug development, promoting individualized treatment and ensuring access to high-quality, specialized care.

Community members wishing to donate to the Alexander Volleyball Booster Club event may contact Laura Marzolf at 585-322-3748 or Colette Yax at 716-400-3628.

C.G. Finney/Northstar 36 Notre Dame of Batavia 7

Pembroke edged out Holley 34-26. (Photos by Rick Franclemont -- more here)

Alexander moved to 4-0 with a 46-0 win over Oakfield-Alabama/Elba. QB P.J. Brennan was 5-10 passing for 116 yards and three TDs. He had two carries for 20 yards and two TDs. Jacob Bykowski, 12 carries for 51 yards and one TD. Chris McClinic, six carries for 47 yards and one TD reception. Dustin Schmeider, two catches, 26 yards and one TD, and three carries for 53 yards and a TD. Derrick Busch, two receptions for 85 yards and a TD. Dan Heberlein, nine carries for 52 yards. On defense, Heberlein had one interception an three tackles. Job Smith, six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Notre Dame lost to C.G. Finney, 36-7.

It was supposed to be Le Roy's night -- new stadium facility at Hartwood Park, crowning a homecoming queen, a new half-time show from the marching band -- but there were some long faces after Hornell's Jack Henby stole the show.

The Red Raiders' back carried the ball 16 times for 229 yards and four touchdowns as the visitors quashed any high spirits with a 42-0 win.

Henby, fast and strong, hit holes quick and carried tacklers five and 10 yards at a time.

The first quarter looked like it might be a tighter game than some might have predicted, but with the score only 7-0 near the end of the quarter, the Oatkan Knights squandered a scoring opportunity with a couple of penalties. It was all Red Raiders the rest of the way.

Le Roy's OB Josh Laurie was 9-22 on the night for 98 yards. Ryan Boyce caught three passes for 36 yards and Reece Tresco, Canyon Roster and Gaven Cassidy each had two receptions. 

As a team, the offense managed only one yard on 20 rushing attempts.

Gaven Cassidy had six tackles, and with five each were Justin DiFalco, Luke Hogle, Josh Laurie and David Privatera.

In other local football news from Friday Night:

• Ray Leach rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries as Batavia notched another win, 32-7 over Attica. It's the fourth win for the Blue Devils. Jerry Reinhart was 10-17 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown. Antwan Odom caught six of those passes for 91 yards and a TD. Anthony Ray came up big on defense with eight tackles and a sack.
• Bath over Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen, 42-0​
• Perry/Mount Morris over York/Pavilion, 38-14.

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Photo and story by Alex Feig, with our news partner, WBTA.

Operation Injured Soldiers was hosting military veterans for the beginning of geese-hunting season at the Wounded Warrior House in Orleans County from Wednesday through Sunday this week.

OIS as it’s called by volunteers, began its presence in the Batavia area around six years ago when veteran Edward Spence got together with several other vets in the area, one of which was Floyd “Skip” Hulburt.

“Ed Spence and I and a fellow veteran, we had talked about establishing OIS in New York, and once it was established Ed Spence just took off with it.”

Skip had just gotten back from another successful hunt but his focus was on a fellow soldier, “My main focus was Jack who is a Vietnam veteran. This is his first time waterfowl hunting so I wanted to get him into it and see how he likes it, and that's a lot of why I do this. I'm not as bad (off) as some of these guys. I'm pretty mobile still.”

Jack Olson, a Vietnam vet, lives just down the road from the Warrior House and was very grateful for the opportunity.

Olson said “I had a good time, I enjoyed it.  Great people, great guides, great veterans I was with.  All good, all good, nothing bad I can say.”

Olson. like many veterans. is not just receiving help but is providing for others like himself.

“I think more people should get involved in veterans organizations and volunteering at the Batavia VA," Olson said. "I am myself a volunteer at the VA and it's a very rewarding experience and there's always stuff to do. Somebody will find something for you to do at the VA.”

For more information on Operation Injured Soldiers, you can visit www.injuredsoldiers.org or message Edward Spence on Facebook.

The inductees into the 15th annual Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame were announced this afternoon.

They are:

• David Dedman (1989)
• Karen Thomas Dupuis (1982)
• Christopher Kane (1986)
• John McGowan Jr. (1995)
• Frank Pontillo (1991)
• Susan Salvador Tresco (1986)

Biographical information about the honorees has not yet been released.

They will be honored at Terry Hills Restaurant and Banquet Facility in Batavia on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Cost is $30 per person. Social hour begins at 5; dinner is at 6.

Tickets are available at the Athletic Directors Office at Batavia High School.

For more information, call 343-2480, ext. 2003.

This event is sponsored by the Batavia Coaches Association.

Batavia varsity Lady Devils Volleyball Team played last night in their annual matchup at home versus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and won 3 sets to 1. Batavia’s first set came out on top, winning 25 to 16, led by freshman Courtnee Yasses serving one ace and servicing numerous times. Senior Courtney Burns added five kills.

In the second set, Batavia continued to start strong going on a 10-2 run, Notre Dame called time-out. They changed their game up a little and then slowly chipped away Batavia’s lead, which eventually tied the game at 18. Batavia called time-out to regroup but Notre Dame won the set 25-21. Thea Bochicchio and Julia Streeter added combined four kills. Natalie Thorton had seven digs.

Third set, Notre Dame continued the momentum to lead by a few points 10-7, then Batavia’s Courtney Burns served an ace and Batavia called time-out. Notre Dame increased their lead to eight points until Batavia regained the serve and Courtnee Yasses started to serve. The freshman continued to win points for Batavia to tie the set 19-19, Notre Dame called time-out.

Both teams exchanged the lead until the end where Batavia won by two points 25-23 to lead two games to one after three. Batavia Junior Taylor Stefaniak had six digs and Senior Maria Canzoneri had three aces and four digs.

Fourth quarter, Batavia jumped on a lead of 16-3 then Notre Dame called time-out. The Irish made some errors that let the set slip away; Batavia won 25-10, to win the match three to one. Batavia’s Stefaniak sisters each had three kills and senior Maria Canzoneri added three aces.

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Special teams play put Le Roy on the road to victory with two quick scores in the first quarter in a game that was unique in a couple of ways.

First, it was a home game played on the road. Second, it was played on a Sunday.

Regardless of the strange circumstances, the Le Roy team displayed vintage Oatkan Knights' dominance as it cruised to a 52-7 victory over Wellsville.

The game was played in Perry because Le Roy's home field won't be ready for players and fans after a major upgrade until this coming Friday's homecoming game, and the game was delayed until Sunday because of a massive thunderstorm that passed through Wyoming County right at game time Saturday night.

The game started early, about 10 minutes before the scheduled 3 p.m. time, and Le Roy scored before the official kickoff time when Jason Doemling scampered 39 yards on a punt return.

Later in the first quarter, Le Roy scored its second touchdown, to take a 14-0 lead, when Josh Laurie blocked a field goal attempt and returned it 75 yards.

Wellsville never again mounted a serious offensive challenge, until the team scored late in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach.

Laurie had quite the game. Besides the blocked field goal, he had two interceptions. He rushed for 96 yards on seven carries and scored two TDs in the process. He also was 7-13 passing for 148 yards and a TD.

Nate Flint also had an impact, going 85 yards on 11 carries with a TD. Dom Filio carried the ball nine times for 54 yards and two TDs. Luke Stella added 61 yards on six rushes.

Pass catchers included Reece Tresco, two for 87 yards, Filio, three for 34 yards and a TD, and Ryan Boyce, two for 27 yards.

Luke Hogle had five tackles and a sack, Canyon Roster, five tackles and Cole Biggins, five tackles.

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