A fourth-quarter run by Byron-Bergen on Monday wasn't enough for the Bees to overcome Attica's game-long lead.
The Blue Devils won the Boys Basketball contest 49-45.
Braedyn Chambry scored 22 points for the Bees.
Also in Boys basketball on Monday, Pembroke beat Kendall 68-44. Jayden Bridge scored 19 points, Tyson Totte, 18, and Avery Ferreira, 11.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
Mancuso Bowling Center, Le Roy Legion Lanes and Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen are hosting tournaments in February.
Two tourneys are scheduled for this weekend – the Help ‘R Heroes handicap team event at Legion Lanes and the Genesee Region USBC Youth Team event at Rose Garden Bowl.
While the Help ‘R Heroes tournament runs from Friday through Sunday, the only openings are on the Friday 7 p.m. squad. First prize, based on 32 teams, is $1,000.
To enter the four-person team tourney, call Scott O’Neill at 409-0459.
The GRUSBC Youth Team tournament lists squads at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday (following the GR Youth Travel League).
Travel League bowlers are eligible to participate in the tournament, using their league scores.
Each team is comprised of three bowlers. Entry fee is $60 per team. Scholarships for the first place team and trophies for the top three teams will be awarded.
To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.
Other February tournaments:
-- Feb. 9-10: 28th annual Betty Ellison Memorial Crossroads House Tournament, Mancuso Bowling Center. Squads are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, with the Friday squad and the 6 p.m. Saturday squad featuring glow bowling with a DJ. Each team consists of four bowlers. To enter, go to www.crossroadshouse.com.
-- Feb. 11: “Super Bowl” Handicap Singles, Mancuso Bowling Center. The four-game qualifying squad is set for noon. One in four bowlers will advance to the head-to-head match play round. Entry fee is $45. First prize (based on 32 teams) is $450. To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.
-- Feb. 17-18: GRUSBC No-Tap Doubles, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Qualifying squads are scheduled for 1, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. each day. Entry fee is $60 per team. The maximum team averages is 420. First prize, based on 48 teams, is $600. To enter, email mikep@bowlgr.com. Note: Only one opening at 1 p.m. Feb. 17 and no openings at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Openings exist on the other four squads.
-- Feb. 23-25: 22nd annual Ron Riggi Memorial 4-Person Handicap, Le Roy Legion Lanes. An $800 top prize is offered, based on 24 teams. Squad times are 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, noon Feb. 24 and 1 p.m. Entry fee is $100 per team. To enter, contact Brown at 716-474-7960.
For the fourth time in only six days of live racing in 2024, Batavia Downs set a new one-day, all-source record handle while under the ownership of Western Regional Off-Track Betting on Monday (Jan. 29). Bettors pushed $515,078 through the windows to top the short-lived old record of $509,180 which was set only one week ago.
The handle reflects that Batavia’s loyal wagering patrons turned out in force again to bet the second round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series that had evenly matched fields and yielded outcomes many didn’t anticipate, with price horses giving chalk bettors agita while sending speculators home with a jovial disposition.
The top class, $9,000 Trackmaster 79 division produced two large payouts after come-from-behind efforts were put in by both.
First, Dogfight (Kevin Cummings) got away sixth at 25-1 and remained there to the half that was cut by Remember The Beach (Jim Morrill Jr.). At that station, Cummings pulled Dogfight third-over with cover and then swung three-deep into the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Lana’s Desire (Dave McNeight III) took the lead from Remember The Beach, but Dogfight quickly supplanted Lana’s Desire in deep stretch to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:57.1.
It was the first win of the year for Dogfight ($52.00) who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.
Then later, I’ll Take The Bet (Drew Monti) also got away sixth as Sleeping Single (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Carrythetorchman (Dave McNeight III) traded blows and leads from the half to the top of the stretch. It was there that Monti steered I’ll Take The Bet into the passing lane, found clear road and bolted to the line to win by a neck in 1:57.4.
Similarly, it was the first win of the year as well for I’ll Take The Bet ($38.80) and owner Justina Ohol. Mike Ohol conditions the winner.
Other upsets on the card included Rockn’ With T (1:59.1, $49.90), Always A Fiji (2:00.1, $31.40), Odds On Cheddar (1:58.1, $25.00) and Jimmy CR (1:59.1, $18.40).
Nine of the night’s participating horsemen scored doubles during the proceedings. Drivers Brett Beckwith, Drew Monti, Jim Morrill Jr., Kevin Cummings, and Kyle Cummings joined trainers Sam Smith, Jim Rothfuss, Shawn McDonough and Chris Petrelli in claiming two wins each on Monday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 1) at 3 p.m. and will feature the second round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for trotters along with a $15,000 Open I for both gaits.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Five Genesee Region USBC members, including two Batavia residents, cashed at the 60-and-Over Tour tournament on Sunday at Medina Lanes.
Batavians Scott Shields and Bill Neubert along with Medina residents Jim Foss, Roger Allis and Bob Hodgson advanced to the 16-bowler eliminator finals as a result of their three-game qualifying scores.
Foss, who led the qualifier with a 730 series, went on to place third, winning $225.
Jim Galletta of Oswego placed first, posting a 266 game in the final round, to take home the $420 top prize. Buffalo’s Dave Rudnick was second ($300) and Jim Pitts of Elmira finished in fourth place ($170).
Shields, who rolled 693 in the qualifying round, and Allis made it to the semifinals and won $125 each. Neubert and Hodgson lost in the first round and won $100 apiece.
In Genesee Region USBC league action last week:
-- Robbie Hanks hit the 800 mark for the eighth time at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, posting 278-279-257—814 in the Sneezy’s Monday Night League.
-- Brian Cline raised his average to 238 with a 259-278-237—774 effort in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
-- Andrew Rose rolled 727 in the Tuesday Coed League and James Townsend registered 726 in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League, both at Mancuso’s.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Batavia and Notre Dame faced off against each other in both Girls and Boys Basketball in support of a good cause at Genesee Community College.
The Hoops for Hope Tournament benefited the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
The Notre Dame girls won the first game 29-24. For the Irish, Sofia Falleti scored eight points and had five rebounds. Emma Sisson scored seven points and had 17 rebounds. For the Blue Devils, Isabella Walsh scored 15 points.
In the nightcap, Batavia beat Notre Dame 53-49. Carter Mullen led the Blue Devils with 17 points. Casey Mazur scored 12 points and Gavin White and Justin Smith each scored eight. For the Irish, Jaden Sherwood scored 20 points.
Photos by Pete Welker.
Merritt Holly became Le Roy's all-time leading scorer in a home game against Avon on Friday night.
Holly scored 21 points on the night, moving him to 1,575 career points. The record was previously held by Brendan Fulmer, at 1,559 points, set in 2003.
"It's a great accomplishment," Holly said. "I'm really happy we got it. I got it, and we got it. It's not just a personal goal. It's really a team goal. I would like to thank all my prior teammates, too. It's great for Le Roy. This hasn't been broken in like 20 years, so it's right to finally break it."
The record-breaking goal did come, however, in a 61-46 loss to #1 ranked Avon.
Besides the 21 points, Holly had 10 rebounds. Adam Woodworth, seven points, Jake Higgins, seven points, and Jean Agosto, four points and six rebounds.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Elba trailed Oakfield-Alabama through more than three-quarters of Girls Basketball on Friday, and one point falling behind by 13 points, only to come roaring back in the fourth quarter with 21 points to secure a 44 to 39 win.
Sydney Reilly scored 19 points for the Lancers, and Lydia Ross scored 14. Mariah Ognibene scored seven.
For the Hornets, Alea Groff scored 15 points.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
The Genesee Community College Cougars beat Clinton CC in overtime on Friday, 99-96.
The Cougars are ranked #11 in the nation and is riding a five-game winning streak. The team is 17-4 on the season.
Friday's stats:
Photos by Pete Welker.
Oakfield-Alabama beat Elba on Thursday evening 64-45.
Avery Watterson scored 27 points for the Hornets. Gavein ARmbrewster scored 8, and Kyler Harkness scored eight, as did Nate Schildwaster.
Ashley Bezon scored 15 points for the Lancers and Mike Long scored 11.
Also, in Boys Basketball on Thursday, Pembroke beat Notre Dame 60-54. Tyson Totten scored 24 points for the Dragons.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
Byron-Bergen beat Lyndonville on Thursday night 69-15.
Braedyn Chambry scored 24 points, and Colin Martin scored 10.
It was the Bees' 11th win of the season.
Brett Beckwith, who ended the 2023 season as the seventh winningest driver in North America, is rolling again in 2024 and strutted his stuff at Batavia Downs on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 25) by winning five races on the card. “Brett The Jet” won with Why Tomorrow Ray (1:56.1, $2.80), Rosey Time (1:56.3, $4.40), One Night Fury (2:02.1, $9.40), Rock A Honey (1:58, $25.80) and Silver Buckeye (2:04, $6.40). Beckwith also scored three seconds and two-thirds during the card, giving him a .524 UDR for the session.
Thursday’s card had a triple feature on the track as a $15,000 Open Handicap for fillies and mares, trotters, and male pacers were all held over a sloppy track amid heavy fog as a January thaw was in full effect.
The distaff pace was won by Way Too Sweet (Jim Morrill Jr.) who sat second behind A Black Diamond (Kevin Cummings) until the top of the final turn. There, Morrill tipped the mare three-deep around Mcnatural L (Dave Mcneight III) and thundered down the center of lane to win by a length in 1:58.4.
Way Too Sweet ($3.50), who was a six-time winner last year, got her first victory of 2024 for owners George Tackley and Wendy Storrier. The mare is trained by Andy Gardner.
The top trot went to Special Prosecutor (Kevin Cummings) who led the field to the quarter in :28.4 before watching Esa (Jim Morrill Jr.) brush from third to take control in turn two. Special Prosecutor then sat chilly in the garden spot through the second circuit until the top of the stretch, where he tipped and ran down the leader to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1.
It was the first win in three 2024 tries for Special Prosecutor ($10.80) who is owned by Philip Hale and David Dewhurst, who also trains the gelding.
Then in the Open pace, Sounds Good (Billy Dobson) was sent off at 40-1 and got away seventh, as Better Take It (Kevin Cummings) and Rock N Roll Runa A (Larry Stalbaum) traded leads to the half. At that station, Twin B Tuffenuff (Brett Beckwith) pulled first-over to engage the leader, and Sounds Good followed right behind with his cover. Rock N Roll Runa A held a clear lead heading into the final bend, but the field bunched at the top of the lane with Sounds Good widest of all. Dobson rocked and knocked Sounds Good all the way to the wire and was the best by a neck in a four-horse photo, stopping the clock in 1:56.1.
Sounds Good ($82.00) is owned by Michael Sergi and Sam Sergi and was the second training win for Andy Gardner.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 29) at 3 p.m. and will feature the second round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for pacers.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
After 25 years of dedication to the sport of wrestling, head coach Rick Stewart of Attica-Batavia has said Tuesday's meet was his last home match.
Despite a 36-31 loss on Tuesday to Webster Thomas in wrestling, there was still a celebratory aura on senior night at Batavia High School.
The seniors were recognized, but it was also a night to recognize the accomplishments of Coach Rick Stewart, who is retiring after 25 years of coaching.
Senior night was his last home match.
His son, Casper Stewart, along with five other seniors, were recognized prior to the start of the match.
There are a lot of memorable moments and people from his long career, Stewart said, but Tuesday evening was itself something special.
"The big thing is, like today, you get all your former wrestlers texting you and calling you saying what an impact I was on them and how they love wrestling," Stewart said. "Lifelong relationships were built."
Highlights of Coach Stewart's coaching career:
Career Coaching Record 253-164 as of Jan. 11
Stewart said there is no one thing that has kept him going and driven him toward success, but "just to name one thing ... it's your alma mater. You want to see it be successful. You want to see it grow. You want to see championships, and you want to see kids that come after you continue to be able to do what you did."
A military veteran, Stewart said it's not unusual for wrestlers to be attracted to military service.
"You have to be disciplined and focused in wrestling," Stewart said. "It's a very demanding sport. In the military, it's the same thing. It's demanding, and you have to be disciplined. I think they go hand in hand. And that's why you see a lot of ex-wrestlers, former wrestlers, go into the military service when they're done."
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Byron-Bergen fell to Notre Dame in Boys Basketball on Monday, 62-58.
For Notre Dame, Jaden Sherwood scored 20 points, Ryan Fitzpatrick, 16, and Makyell Walker, 10.
Braedyn Chambry scored 21 for the Bees, and Brody Baubie scored 10.
In other Boys Basketball action, Batavia beat HFL 61-57. Carter Mullen scored 19 for the Blue Devils. Casey Mazur and Aiden Bellavia each scored 12.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
The track was fast for the Monday afternoon (Jan. 22) card at Batavia Downs, and so was the pace at which money flowed through the windows from all outlets as the track handled $509,180, setting a new all-time one-day betting record on live racing at the track and marked the first time ever that the Downs handled in excess of one-half million dollars while under the ownership of Western Regional Off Track Betting.
This is the third time this meet – that has only raced four days so far – that the track has set a new standard for handle. The high water mark on Monday came in the fifth race where $69,298 was bet on that single event.
Don Hoover, Director of Live Racing at Batavia Downs, said “This is definitely historic for the track, something that has never been done before. And it speaks volumes for the competitive racing our horses and their connections put on the track every race day. Our customers recognize that and want to bet on it and we are grateful to be in this situation. It’s a total team effort to make these races a success and everyone associated with the track shares in this achievement.”
Monday also marked the beginning of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for pacers, an event that was responsible for setting betting marks during the 2023 winter meet. These races were once again very exciting on Monday but saw two drivers win nine of the 15 carded events.
Jim Morrill Jr. won five races during the afternoon, four of which were from his regular connections, trainer Sam Smith and owner Mike Torcello. Morrill scored with Road Map (1:57, $2.50), Mister J R (1:57.3, $2.60), Stonebridge Hypnos (1:59, $2.40) and Authentic Hanover (1:59.1, $9.00). His fifth win was behind Mississippi Rabbit (1:58, $3.20) who is owned by William Mac Millan and trained by Joe Skowyra.
Brett Beckwith was right behind Morrill in the win column as he registered a grand slam of his own. He won with Surfers Paradise (1:58.2, $8.60), Weekend Atnannies (1:58.1, $3.90) and Thatmomentinlife (1:57.3, $7.80) who were all trained by Mark McDonough, and also with Long Train Runnin (1:57, $2.70) who was trained by Jim Clouser Jr.
When Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Jan. 25) at 3 p.m. there will be a $532 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 in the 15th race. Thursday will also host the first round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for trotters.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
One Genesee Region USBC bowler notched his first certified 300 game while two others came within a strike of perfection in league play this week.
Michael Godfrey Sr. of Albion registered 12 consecutive strikes in the Thursday Triples League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion for a perfect game, his first. The left-hander finished with a 621 series.
Competing in the County Line Stone Friday Trios League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, right-hander Scott Shields strung 11 strikes before leaving a 4-pin in the second game for 299. He finished with a 747 series, edging out Ed Doody, who had 278--731 and Gregg Wolff, who posted 288 and 277 after a slow start for 723.
In the Tuesday StrikeForce Doubles League at StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield, left-hander Aaron Chamberlain rolled 11 strikes in a row before leaving the 3-5-6-9 (bucket) for 296. The Oakfield resident finished with a 653 series.
In other action:
-- Lefty Nick Johnson of Bergen stayed hot with games of 268-256-247 for 771 in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League at Mancuso's.
-- Southpaw Tim Talbot of Barker led the way in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes with a 269 game and 766 series.
For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
The Batavia Ski Team competed in a double race (two runs of giant slalom and one run of slalom) on Saturday on Wheels Run at Swain.
It was a bitterly cold day with sweeping winds and snow later in the afternoon. Recent snowmaking on the headwall left the top of the course with 'golf ball'-like snowballs in parts of the race hill. This can make the terrain choppy.
The morning giant slalom landed Lily Wagner in 14th place and Abby Bestine in 20th. Freshman Nolan Radley was the top boys finisher at 20th, Ethan Bradley at 25th, and Gunnar Pietrzykowski at 35th. Ben Stone crashed in his first run but had a second run good enough for 16th.
The afternoon Slalom netted senior Ben Stone a monster 7th-place run. Ethan Bradley was 21st, Nolan Radley was 29th, and Gunnar Pietrzykowski was 35th. For the girls, Lily Wagner was 15th, and Abby Bestine was 18th.
The ski team will next be in action on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Swain.
Information provided by Coach Matthew Holman, Batavia Ski Team
To view the race results, click here.
Byron-Bergen's Braedyn Chambry has been tough to stop all season, but Wheatland-Chili found a way to hold him to only eight points on Friday as the Wildcats cruised to a 61-45 win.
The loss was only the second one on the year for the Bees, now 11-2.
Colin Martin scored 13 points for Byron-Bergen, and Brody Baubie scored eight.
Also in Boys Basketball, Cheektowaga beat Pembroke, 72-63. Tyson Totten scored 29 points and Avery Ferreira, 14.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.
Elba improved to 11-2 in Girls Basketball on Friday with a 59-36 win over Attica.
Sydney Reilly scored 16 points. Lydia Ross scored 15, and Brea Smith scored nine.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
The past few seasons, it's been a struggle for Batavia-Notre Dame United against Victor, pernnially one of the toughest teams to beat in New York.
"They're one of the best-coached teams that we played against all season," said United's head coach, Marc Staley. "So it's a very emotional game, always with them. And I think for our kids, especially tonight, we probably were more emotional than we should have been. Just because it is Victor. It's sort of a mental block, you know, that we had to get over that hump. They've beaten us now five times in a row, combined score of 25 to four. So, for us to be able to turn it around tonight with a 4-2 win, it's sort of like exorcising the demon a little bit."
The Victor Blue Devils opened the scoring at the David M. McCarthy Memorial Arena with a goal in the first period, but United -- starting with a Sam Pies to Jameson Motyka to Brady Johnson goal a minute later -- went on an unanswered three-goal run to put them up 3-1 entering the final period.
"We went down by one, so we had to get one back," Johnson said. "We had to get pucks on the net. We knew that shots win games. So, every shot is a goal-scoring opportunity. So that's just what we're looking to do."
In the second period, the game got intense with shots on goal from both sides. United overcame back-to-back penalties but then went on the powerplay with two minutes left. Brady Johnson scored his second goal of the game in the high slot from a pass by Joe DiRisio to take a 2-1 lead after two periods of play.
In the third period, United was deep in Victor’s zone, taking a faceoff. Sam Pies took a quick wrist shot off the faceoff draw and got shot past goalie Nate McBride.
Victor pulled back within a point in the third on a power play that Staley characterized as an undisciplined penalty, an example of letting emotions ride a little high.
"We know there is a very fine line between being a state top-ranked team and being just a good team," Staley said. "You have to stay out of the box. You have to be disciplined. You have to control your emotions. And you have to play through, weather the storm. You got to play through those tough moments, and we didn't do that as well tonight. I think we let them hang around. It ended up being a lot closer than I think it should have."
United added a bit of padding to their near the end of the game to seal the victory with a goal by Jameson Motyka.
"I think we felt like we were in control of the game," Staley said. "Most of the game, we outshot them. I thought we had time of possession on them. I think they're one of the best teams that we've played so far this year."
Pies said he thought United's defensive play was key.
"We needed to be on the defensive side of the puck at all times and couldn't take no chances with the defense," Pies said. "Pinching had to be 100 percent. They couldn't have any odd-man rushes. We had to get pucks out when we needed to, and good thing we did that, and we got the win."
Steve Ognibene contributed to the reporting of this story. To view or purchase photos, click here.
Janessa Amesbury's 25 points lifted Byron-Bergen over Wheatland-Chili in Girls Basketball on Thursday, 34-30.
In boys basketball on Thursday,
Batavia beat Honeoye Falls-Lima 55-50. Carter Mullen scored 24 points and Justin Smith scored 14.
Le Roy beat York 78-73. Merritt Holly, for the fourth time this season, topped 40 points in a game, scoring 41. He had 14 rebounds. Jean Agosto scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds. Jake Higgins scored nine points and had nine rebounds. The game went into two overtimes. The Knights are 11-2 and on a seven-game win streak.
Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro
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