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Dann Bilardello returns for second season as Muckdogs' manager

By Billie Owens

Here's a news release from Travis Sick, general manager of the Batavia Muckdogs.

Dann Bilardello will return in 2011 for his second season as manager of the Batavia Muckdogs. The 51-year-old Bilardello had a record of 45-29 and led the Muckdogs to the Pinckney Division title in his first season as the Muckdogs' skipper.

Prior to managing the Muckdogs, Bilardello was the St. Louis Cardinals' Minor League catching coordinator for three seasons. The former Major League catcher also has four years of Minor League managing experience in the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations.

Bilardello managed the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Carolina League during the 2005 season. Before that, he spent three years managing for the Dodgers in Great Falls of the Pioneer League starting in 2002 and then the following two years with Columbus in the South Atlantic League. He led Great Falls to a Pioneer League Championship in 2002 with a record of 47-28 and 4-1 in the playoffs.
 
The Vero Beach, Fla., resident played all or part of eight Major League seasons as a catcher with Cincinnati (1983-85), Montreal (1986), Pittsburgh (1989-90) and San Diego (1991-92). He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being chosen in the first round of the secondary phase of the 1978 amateur draft. In 382 Major League games, he batted .204 with 18 home runs and 91 RBI.

Joining Bilardello in the dugout will be Pitching Coach Arthur “Ace” Adams and Hitting Coach Roger LaFrancois.

Ace Adams, 58, will return for his second season as the Muckdogs' pitching coach and his fourth year in the Cardinals organization. His previous two seasons were spent serving as the pitching coach of Quad Cities.

Adams entered the professional coaching ranks in 1997 with the Montreal Expos organization after 13 years as a college coach at Dartmouth (1984), Harvard (1985), Brandeis (1986-89) and the University of Michigan (1989-96). The Wellesley, Mass., native was a traveling batting-practice pitcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1984-85.
 
Roger LaFrancois, 54, will begin his second season as the Muckdogs' hitting coach and has more than 20 years of coaching experience. He has coached or managed at all levels of the Minor Leagues with several different Major League organizations.

A catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, LaFrancois spent eight years with the Sox, and saw action in the Major Leagues during the 1982 season. The Old Saybrook, Conn., resident has been a partner and director of the World Baseball Coaches Convention since 2003.

Mike Petrarca will serve as the trainer for the 2010 season, his first with the Muckdogs. Petrarca will be entering his fourth season in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

 

Fred Haslip to receive lifetime achievement award at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

This information comes from a news release written by Tim Bojarski, for the Western New York Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers' Association.

The Upstate New York Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers’ Association has announced that longtime trainer-driver Fred Haslip will receive its 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

It will be presented to him in the Winner’s Circle during the Upstate Harness Writers' Association's “Night of Distinction,” which will be held at Batavia Downs Casino on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Haslip was one of the most sought after catch-drivers in Western New York during the 1970s and '80s, and was responsible for teaming some of the best horses to race on that circuit during that time.

The lifelong resident of Basom started driving at fairs in 1959 and scored his first pari-mutuel win in 1960.

During his 51-year career he posted 2,585 lifetime driving wins and banked $6 million dollars in purse money -- doing it the hard way, mostly in overnight events in an era where purses were not what they are today.

The list of horses that Haslip has teamed over the years is long and includes names such as: Diamond Sparkler, p, 9, Q1:56.3 ($328,737); Happy Sparkler, p, 9, 1:58.2h ($156,756); Handsome Boy, 5, 2:00.2h ($142,048); Keystone Astro, p, 7, 2:01.1h ($136,204); and Kay El, Jack the Baron, Coaltown Smoke, Flawless Sparkler, Little Commish, Princess Dee Dee, Tarvon, Red Almond, BBQ, Paige Man and Cheryl Grattan.

But Haslip is probably most noted for developing the former double-gaited record holder, Excalibur.

Excalibur, who was purchased as a 4-year-old for the paltry sum of $3,500, in 1972, would go on to bank just under $200,000 in his career. In 1977, Excalibur set the North American record for a double-gaited gelding when he trotted a mile in 2:03.3. That time equaled his pacing record, set in 1974, and those times combined were 4:07.1, which broke a record set in 1939.

Excalibur raced until he was 14, retiring in 1982. In 169 lifetime starts, on both gaits combined, he posted 50 wins -- 12 on the trot and 38 on the pace. The horse was such a versatile athlete that from 1975 to 1977 Haslip raced him on both gaits, switching him back and forth during the year.

The 68-year-old Haslip cut back on his drives substantially in the mid 1990s and for the last 10 years has started less than 50 times a year. He still trains a four-horse stable of his own on his farm, but elects to appoint catch-drivers to do the teaming.

Churchville defeats Ice Devils in season opener

By Timothy Walton

Batavia opened their 2010-2011 season by facing off against the Churchville Saints at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for the Section V Hockey Showcase. After two defensive lapses and two breakaway goals, Batavia found themselves down 3-0 early in the game, but wouldn't back off. Tim Finnell scored the Devils first goal of the season, as he deflected a shot by Josh Marr to put Batavia within two. Marr then rallied to close the lead to 3-2 as he snuck a puck under the pads of Churchville goaltender Dylan Niewiemski.

After the 2nd period intermission, the Devils came out down just one goal, but collapsed as Churchville added four more goals. Josh Marr scored his second goal in the third to end the score at 7-3.

Shawn Easton scored three goals for Churchville, while Tyler MacMillian added a pair and an assist. Anthony Bertolani also added a goal and assist for the Saints.

 Adam Kurek made the start for Batavia and recorded 15 saves. Niewiemski had 20 saves for Churchville (1-0). Batavia falls to 0-1 and will travel to face Aquinas on Wednesday.

Holliday Barn takes five at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

News release from Batavia Downs:

The dynamic duo of  driver Ken and trainer Sherri Holliday had a huge Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino when they made five winner circle appearances, including winning the featured $9,000 Open with the rages to riches pacer Sand Forever.
 
Just a $2500 claimer at Running Aces Park earlier this season, Sand Forever  made the transition to the Open ranks a winning one when he flew down the stretch to nail the front running Most Happy Rider (Kevin Cummings) by a head in 1:57.3 in the weekly pacing feature. Zackor (Ron Beback, Jr.) checked in third.
 
The win was Sand Forever’s 15th of the 2010 campaign and 25th of his career in 80 lifetime starts. He’s a 5-year-old Stand Forever gelding. He returned $5.80 win, being sent off as the lukewarm favorite.
 
The Holliday’s other winners were Scudder ($10.00), Bruener ($5.50 - - now three for three in Western New York), Masteroftheclass ($2.60) and Nifty Prescott ($18.60).   
 
Last year’s Downs leading conditioner Sherri Holliday began the evening in a tie with Ron Beback, Jr. in the race for top trainer honors. With only two more nights left in the 2010 season her five win lead would now seem insurmountable.
 
Dave McNeight III, a 20-year-old provisional reinsman, had a night he soon won’t forget when he scored the first hat trick of his career. In 24 lifetime drives he’s won six of them and definitely looks like a young man with a bright future.  
 
Another provisional reinsman, Denny Bucceri, had a big weekend going two for two. He’s now won five times in 29 starts this year.
 
Kevin Cummings heads into closing weekend with a five win cushion over Jack Flanigen in his bid to defend his dash driving title. Both were winless on the Saturday program.
 
Racing fans are reminded there will be no live racing next Wednesday; the final two nights of the 2010 season will be Friday and Saturday.  Post time is 6:40 pm.

 

Old-timer Fifty Two Finn trots to another win

By Billie Owens

News release from Batavia Downs:

Owner-trainer Ronald Stebbins Fifty Two Finn solidified his stock for being named Batavia Downs Casino trotter of the year when he went wire-to wire to notch his 6th win of the summer-fall meet, in the featured $8,880 Open trot, on Friday night (Nov.26).
 
John Cummings, Jr., who had four wins on the program, guided the classy 10-year-old Movie Mogul gelding to his 46th lifetime win, holding off a closing Justine Colleen (Jack Flanigen) by a head in 2:00.4, over a racetrack covered in snow.
 
Fifty Two Finn, who made his most recent start at Vernon Downs, was claimed for $15,000 back on September 10 at Tioga Downs. He’s over $60,000 in seasonal earnings and his lifetime bankroll is more than $440,000. He returned $4.90 to win going off as the public choice.
 
Artistry in Rhythm wins Mare Open
Betty Taubers Artistry in Rhythm ($6.40) held off The Grey Filly (Ron Beback, Jr.) in deep stretch to win the co-featured $8,500 Filly and Mares Open pace by a neck in 1:59.2.
 
The 8-year-old Real Desire mare won for the 11th time this season and raised her 2010 earnings to more than $82,000. Ken Holliday was in the bike for his wife Sherri.
 
Trainer Title to Close to Call
After 69 racing programs the battle for the 2010 Downs training title couldn’t be any closer. Sherri Holliday, last years Downs leading conditioner, doubled up on the Friday evening program to tie Ron Beback, Jr. with 57 wins each. In fact there win percentages are identical at 23%.
 
With only three more racing night left in the 2010 campaign, Kevin Cummings maintains a five win lead over Jack Flanigen in the race for dash driving honors. Cummings last years Downs top driver and Flanigen, recently named Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association Western New York Driver of the Year, each drove a pair of winners on Friday program.

 

Dennis Meyers Wins 400 Towers' Annual Ray Ladd Pool Tournament.

By Bea McManis

Nine players vied for six prizes at the 400 Towers' Ray Ladd Pool Tournament, Thursday, Nov. 18.
Dennis Meyers,came out as the winner of this year's double elimination event.
Bob Clark placed second with Dan Grentzinger, third.
Also participating were Joe Battaglia, Sam Rooney, Bill Benedict, Patty Larson, Jason Phelan, and Hank Larson.

Dan Grentzinger       Dennis Meyers      Bob Clark

photo by B.McManis

ND Harriers Perform Well at States

By Eric Geitner

Two members of the Notre Dame Cross Country team represented Section V in the New York State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Park in Pawling, NY on November 13.  Eighth Grader Anna Warner (1516) was Section V's 5th runner, placing 32nd overall in the Class D race in 21:41.  Sophomore Jeffrey Antolos (553) was also Section V's 5th runner in the Class C race, placing 53rd overall with a time of 18:07.  Both runners finished up their rookie seasons in fine fashion.

First loss of year for Le Roy girls comes in regional championship game

By Howard B. Owens

A perfect season came to a disappointing end for the Le Roy Girls Volleyball Team Saturday as they suffered their first lost of 2010 in a regional championship game at Genesee Community College.

Le Roy (21-1) lost to Section VI Champions Falconer High School (from near Jamestown) three games to one by scores of 25-21, 24-26, 25-23 and 25-19.

Katlyn Tyler had 21 kills and 20 digs for Le Roy. Megan Condidorio had 22 assists and 18 digs.

Six more photos after the jump -- and we have more than 30 photos available for purchase by clicking here.

Photos: Le Roy girls volleyball regional playoff victory

By Howard B. Owens

I finally finished editing and processing the pictures from Wednesday night's victory for the Le Roy girls volleyball game in their regional playoff match (story).

More pictures after the jump.

Photos can be purchased -- at our revised, lower pricing sheet with more options -- by clicking here.

Le Roy girls volleyball clinch first-ever berth in regional finals game

By Howard B. Owens

In Victor on Wednesday night, the Le Roy Girls Volleyball Team kept its undefeated season alive with a 3 games to 2 win over Skaneateles.

With the Oatkan Knights' first-ever regional playoff win, the girls will now meet an opponent to be determined Saturday at Genesee Community College. The match starts at noon.

Two days ago, the Lady Knights clinched the team's third Section V title.

"The season has been unbelievable," said eight-year Head Coach Kelly Tyler. "I never would have put the expectation on the kids for what they have achieved."

Le Roy (21-0) put away Skaneateles (17-2) 25-11, 19-25, 20-25, 25-18 and 25-12.

Tyler said she isn't really sure what happened in the second and third games when the girls seemed to lose focus, but they pulled back together in the final two games. By the fifth and final game, Skaneateles appeared completely over-matched and unsure how to respond. At one point in the final game, Le Roy had an 11-1 lead.

"It came down to teamwork and a real desire to win," Tyler said. "They don’t like to lose."

Sophomore Katlyn Tyler had 42 kills and 17 digs and Megan Condidorio had 38 assists, 31 digs and 4 aces for Le Roy. Chelsie Hixenbaugh had 32 digs.

The winner Saturday will move on to the state championships.

(NOTE: Hopefully, we'll be able to get several more pictures posted on Thursday.)

Council continues discusson on whether to sell Falleti Ice Arena

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia City Council continued to haggle over whether to sell Falleti Ice Arena at its Monday meeting.

At least four members are clearly in the "sell" camp -- Rose Mary Christian, Bill Cox, Bob Bialkowski and Sam Barone.

The others are more leary of surrendering an asset to a private entity that could do absolutely anything with it.

I don’t think anybody here is saying they want the ice arena to go away," Cox said. "Just because it's privatized doesn’t mean it we won’t have it anymore."

To which Frank Ferrando pointed out that once it's sold, the city won't have any say what a private owner might do with it.

Cox's position was that a private company already runs it without city control, and Ferrando countered that as long as the city owns it, a management company can always be replaced if it isn't getting the job done the way the city wants it done.

And so it goes -- the pros and cons of selling Falleti Ice Arena.

In the end, the council decided to continue the discussion at a future conference meeting.

At issue on Monday was whether to spend up to $5,000 on an appraisal, which City Manager Jason Molino said would be the first step toward finding a buyer.

Barone wondered why the price was so high and asked whether the city's own appraiser or a local real estate agent could provide an appraisal.

Molino explained that only a licensed appraiser with experience in commercial property could provide an appraisal that could legally be used in establishing fair-market value.

Ferrando and Councilman Tim Buckley objected to spending money on an appraisal.

"I’d like to know what it’s worth, but I’m not sure I want to spend $5,000 right now," said Ferrando. "We keep dipping into the reserve fund and pretty soon we’re not going to have a reserve."

Buckley said he isn't even sure it's legal for the city to sell Falleti since a federal grant, secured by the late Rep. Barber Conable, paid for its construction. 

Buckley wanted to table the matter, but Bialkowski objected to any further delays since the current management contract is coming up for renewal.

One city resident spoke during public comments about the proposed sale.

"I would ask those council members who feel that (the city shouldn't be in the ice arena business) -- should we be in the parks business, or the water spray park business, or the baseball stadium business? " asked Dave Meyer (pictured).

"Frankly, I personally believe that Dwyer Stadium is a much better example of public money wasted, but no one ever talks about reducing support for that facility or selling it. Why?

"Because whether I agree with public support for that or not, I know that there are many people who enjoy going to a game on a summer night and I also know that Dwyer Stadium, and the ice arena and Austin Park and Lions Park and all of the other parks are part of the recreational fabric of our city and they add to the quality of life here."

Alexander Wins Sectional Title

By Chad Flint

 With a 1-0 win over Bloomfield the Alexander Girl's Varsity Soccer team won the 2010 Class CC Section V title Friday night.  The only goal of the game was scored in the 4th minute by Sophomore Midfielder Abby Shilvock unassisted.  Alexander had several other opportunities to make the score bigger in the first half but was unable to do so.

In the 2nd half Alexander's defense of Seniors Savannah VanSon and Amber Finan along with Sophomore Gabby Kwiatek held strong in front of Senior Goal Keeper Hannah Wilson and held the 1-0 lead.  The midfield of Seniors Claire Hartl, Tessa Bigelow, Morgan Mattice, and Autumn Atkinson along with Shilvock contributed to the team defensive effort in the 2nd half.

Wilson came up with 2 huge saves in the final 10 minutes to keep Bloomfield off the scoreboard.

Alexander had won their previous 3 sectional contests 6-0 over Avon in the 1st round, 1-0 over Bishop Kearney in the quarterfinals and 4-0 over Naples in the Semi-Final.

Alexander moves on to play Marion in the Class C State Qualifier game Tuesday the 9th at McAvoy Park in Rochester at 6pm.  The winner of that game will advance to play Holland from Section VI in the state quarterfinals which are Saturday at 2pm at GCC.

Notre Dame girls claim Section V cross country title

By Howard B. Owens

Submitted by Eric Geitner:

The Notre Dame girls cross country team claimed the Class D title on Saturday at the Section V Cross Country Championships at GCC. The girls team last won in 2006 and it is the sixth title for the girls program (1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006). Eighth grader Anna Warner led the Irish with a second place finish covering the course in 20:44. Her performance also qualified her to represent Section V at the New York State Cross Country Champioships in Pawling next weekend.

The top ten in each class receive sectional patches and ND had five finishers in that top ten. Freshman Bailee Welker placed 5th in 21:23, Junior Meghan Zickl 7th in 21:36, Eighth Grader Rosemary Flumerfeldt 8th in 21:51, and Senior Kristen Antolos was 9th in 22:14. Also racing for ND was Sophomore Madison Gluck finishing 18th in 24:03 and Eighth Grader Janelle Fancher placing 34th in 25:54.

The boys team was moved up to Class C this year due to winning too many titles in Class D and finished fifth in Class C. Sophomore Jeffrey Antolos paced the Irish placing 5th in 17:18. His performance qualified him for the New York State Cross Country Championships next weekend. Junior Andrew Fischer finished 18th in 18:11, followed by Sophomore Arron Carlson 24th in 18:24. Senior Nick Flumerfeldt finished 30th in 18:46 and Junior Luke Calla 39th in 19:01 to round out the scoring for ND. Junior Matt Sausner placed 51st in 19:30 and Senior Tyler Pingrey 58th in 19:50 were the other racers for the Irish.

Photos submitted by Bare Antolos.

Top photo: 8th grader Anna Warner, 8th grader Janelle Fancher, 10th grader Madison Gluck, 8th grader Rosemary Flumerfeldt, 9th grader Bailee Welker, 12th grader Kristen Antolos, 11th grader Meghan Zickl

Inset: Notre Dame 8th grade XC runner Anna Warner finishes her Section V Class D 2nd place finish to earn a spot in the state championships next weekend in Pawling, NY

In his first season running Cross-Country, Notre Dame sophomore Jeffrey Antolos completes his state qualifying run in a personal best 17:17:46 to earn a trip to the state cross-country championships to be held next Saturday in Pawling, NY.

 

GCC's women's soccer and volleyball teams having a great season

By Billie Owens

For several weeks now, the Genesee Community College Women's Soccer Team has been No. 1 in the nation!

It's been an exciting season for both soccer and volleyball at the college, and this week continues the thrill as both teams head off to national and district competitions, respectively.

The Soccer Team left Wednesday for a second consecutive NJCAA National Tournament appearance, held this year at Prince George's Community College in Maryland.

Ranked as the top NJCAA Women's Soccer team in the nation for several weeks, they have great expectations for ttoday's game against Ocean Community College.

Last Saturday at Tompkins County Community College, GCC's Women's Soccer Team (17-1-2) defeated Mohawk Valley Community College (12-4-3) 3-2 in an exciting overtime win to earn the NJCAA Region IIIA Title.

As 2010 Region III Award Winners, GCC also captured other major honors with Head Coach Kelly Gillow named NJCAA Region III Coach of the Year, and sophomore captain Jessie Jaszko (Batavia)  named NJCAA Region III Player of the Year.

The All-Tournament soccer team players from Genesee included: Jessie Jaszko (Batavia), Adele Zeh (Nunda), and Ali Cashmore (Akron). The Tournament MVP was Catherine Mucha (Dalton).

"It has been an amazing year with the team consistently coming together both on the offense and defense," Gillow said. "We are looking forward to Thursday's event and continuing the synergy in another heated game."

Inside the gym, another team of incredible athletes from Genesee have also been making a name for themselves.

Genesee's Women's Volleyball team hosted Mercyhurst NE in the Region III, Division II Championship finals last week and won the title beating Mercyhurst in three with scores of 25-13, 25-14, and 25-10.

Genesee (34-8) got off to a good start with Mikela Caseria's (Mililani, HI) crisp serving and 12 assists. Genesee also got good production from Sarah Ward (Rochester) producing 14 kills and five digs. While Maria Antsupova (Ozersk, Russia) and Kristie Barger (Lima) took control of the first two games with eight kills/two aces and 14 digs, respectfully.

Mercyhurst got off to a great start in the third game rallying to a 7-2 lead, whereupon Kristie Barger entered the game with great serving to put GCC back into the game. Mercyhurst again took the lead and with GCC down 7-8 Shelly Fuller (Trumansburg) entered the game and served 12 consecutive points to place GCC comfortably in the lead.

Fuller also contributed 12 assists and four aces in the match. Maria Anstupova finished the match by serving two aces. Region III, Division II All-Tournament team honors went to Paige Tilert, Mikela Caseria, Maria Anstupova and Sarah Ward.

In addition, Sarah Ward was named the Tournament MVP.

The Women's Soccer Team will be playing in the district-wide tournament this weekend with their sights on heading off to the Nationals in Wisconsin later this month.

GCC Women's Soccer Team roster:

Dzindzi Asamoah-Wade, CM,  Rochester; Ali Cashmore, F, Akron; Jasmine Coley, D, Rochester; Mollie Culmone, GK, Brockport; Kelsey Fenton, F, Batavia; Cady Hume, M/F, Batavia; Jessie Jaszko, F, Batavia; Jessica Klug, F, Alden; Shelby Koenig, D, Brockport; Jessica Laudico, D, Holley; Brittany Luckey, M, Le Roy; Sarah McGrath, D, Churchville; Anna Mucha, D, Dalton; Catherine Mucha, D, Dalton; Kristen Paris, D, Holley; Marissa Pecora, F, Rochester; Carly Shaw, D, Kendall; Katie Smith, M, Akron; Emily Troup, M/D, Holley; Jessica Veltre, D, Churchville; Shelby Walsh, M, Rochester; Adele Zeh, GK, Nunda.

GCC Women's Volleyball Team roster:

Maria Antsupova, S, Ozersk, Russia; Kristie Barger, OH, Lima; Austin Bishop, OH, Toronto, Canada; Mikela Caseria, S, Mililani, Hawaii; Megan Curry, OH, Byron; Dawn Dodd, M, Daleville, Ind.; Michelle Fuller, DS, Trumansburg; Danielle Kelsey, RS, Corfu; Deliane Lessard, OH, Rochester; Hannah Scott-McGrail, MH, Batavia; Paige Tilert, LIB, Derby; Sarah Ward, OH, Rochester; Alex Wysocki, MH, Hamburg; Marie Zimmerman, S, Medina.

For further information please contact Peggy Sisson, athletic director of Genesee Community College team at 585-343-0055 x 6239 or email:

<http:// MSisson@genesee.edu>

Football picture sale

By Howard B. Owens

We've reduced the prices on the pictures from our 2010 high school football coverage.

For the month of November, football prints can be purchased for as much as 75 percent off the suggested retail price.

Click Here to view the galleries.

Elba/BB drops Section V playoff game to Holley

By Howard B. Owens

The Lancers' offense never quite got untracked and the defense was a bit too porous at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester on Saturday as Elba/Byron-Bergen dropped a Section V semi-final playoff game to first seed Holley, 0-29.

Holley out gained Elba/BB 259 to 141 yards, including 169 on the ground compared to 80 rushing yards for the Lancers.

Elba/BB coach Michael Cintorino said Holley simply got the job done.

"There were probably a couple of missed opportunities, but Holley has a great team," said Cintorino. "They’re very disciplined and strong and they’re very well coached. Today they did their job. I’m not saying we didn’t do ours, but they just did a better job."

Even so, Cintorino said, he told his players they could be proud of their season.

They had a great season," he said. "There were a lot of people who doubted they could get this far. They had a great year. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but they have nothing to be ashamed of."

Zack DuBois (pictured above) led the Elba/BB offense with 52 yards on 14 attempts, while Dylan Bordanaro was held to 22 yards on 11 carries.

QB Eric Kowalik was 7 for 18 with two interceptions, tossing the ball for a total of 68 yards.

The Lancers never advanced the ball into the red zone.

To purchase pictures from this game, click here.

More pictures after the jump:


RCB will continue to operate Muckdogs in 2011 while seeking buyer

By Billie Owens

Here's a news release from Travis Sick, general manager of the Batavia Muckdogs.

Rochester Community Baseball announced today that it would continue operating the Batavia Muckdogs in the 2011 baseball season.

Naomi Silver, president and CEO of RCB, Inc., stated that "The Red Wings are very pleased to be able to continue to help Batavia in maintaining the operation of the Muckdogs. The Muckdogs are an extremely important asset; not only of great financial value as a Minor League Baseball franchise, but an important entertainment venue in the Batavia community.

"We would not want to walk away from the operation, leaving the team at risk of not being able to support itself financially while awaiting a sale. Our staying will permit the GCBC board the opportunity to seek out a sale of the Muckdogs on terms which will be most beneficial to the Batavia community."

The team has been for sale since late summer. To date, several inquiries have been made and conversations with potential suitors are ongoing.

Brian Paris, president of the Genesee County Baseball Club, the not-for-profit which owns the Muckdogs, said "We are appreciative and grateful that the Red Wings see fit to continue running the operation here in Batavia while we pursue a buyer.

"Our hope is that a local sale will occur, or that an individual or company will step forward with an interest in spending substantial sponsorship dollars, allowing the financial picture to improve. A company interested in naming rights, for example, would make a big difference here in Batavia, the way it has in most communities around the country."

Given the success of the Muckdogs' 2010 season on the field, it is anticipated that 2011 will be a good year for the operation.

Travis Sick, in his third year as general manager of the Muckdogs, is looking forward to solid sales both in advertising and at the ticket office.

Sick said: "We had a great year on the field this past season, and the Red Wings' dedication and support of this franchise bodes well for this community.

"I think our fans and advertisers were concerned that baseball might disappear from the Batavia landscape, but now we can move forward with our planning and sales for 2011. With the recent extension of the working relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals, I think we can expect another great year on the field."

Selling Falleti Ice Arena won't come without a cost

By Howard B. Owens

If the city were to sell the Falliti Ice Arena, it would have to get at least $450,000 for the 30-year-old facility according to City Manager Jason Molino.

That base price would cover current debt on recent improvements to the facility, the Zamboni ice resurfacer as well as the cost of separating the HVAC and sewer line, which is shared with the Batavia Fire Department headquarters.

Councilwoman Patti Pacino, for one, doesn't think any investor will pay as much as $450,000 for a facility that old and attached to a municipal building. What's more, she's worried that once the building has new owners, they will be under no obligation to provide community services, such as hosting local hockey leagues and high school programs.

What if some day they wanted to turn it into a discotheque, or something else, she mused.

"That (loss of community use of the facility) frightens me," Pacino said.

Councilman Bill Cox  (pictured) said he's pleased with how well things are going with the current management company, but doesn't think the city should own an ice arena.

"The ice arena is (a) great service and it’s enjoyed by people from throughout the county, but it’s not a vital service to the city," Cox said. "I believe we have to get out of areas that really aren't vital city services and involve private business."

Councilman Bob Bialkowski is all for selling the facility. He said he already received calls from local business people supporting the idea of selling it, wondering what the city was doing running an ice rink to begin with.

Technically, the city doesn't run it. For the past four seasons, a management company, Firland, has run the rink, and by all accounts, has done a good job. Firland has made all of its obligated payments to the city, totaling more than $160,000.

If the agreement were renewed -- which Firland wants to do -- the city could expect $400,000 from Firland over the next 11 years, enough to cover debt service, including the $75,000 still owed on the Zamboni machine.

If the city were to sell the facility, Molino said in a report, the sale price might only be four or five times current revenue, or between $300,000 and $400,000.

That's just a guess at this point. If the city were to get serious about selling the arena, a request for proposal would need to be written and an appraisal done -- a process that would cost the city thousands of dollars.

That cost scared off some council members from supporting the RFP process and by consensus, the council went along with a suggestion by Molino that the city generate a request for interest statement and float it around to potential buyers -- just to see if there is a market for the facility.

"It’s not every day that an ice rink goes on the market that’s 30 years old in a rural market like this," Molino said.

City Attorney George Van Nest also cautioned council members that finding a buyer could be difficult.

"There are going to be several strings attached, which is going to make it less attractive to a purchaser," Van Nest said.

Councilman Frank Ferrando said the currant arrangement with Firland seems to be working out well and from what he hears, hockey and ice skating are "booming" at Falleti.

"We need more booming kind of things happening in Batavia," Ferrando said. "I would hate to see us lose that just because we want to get rid of (the building)."

Elba/Byron-Bergen Lancers advance to sectional finals

By Howard B. Owens

Elba/Byron-Bergen beat South Seneca on Saturday, 23-7, in a Section V semi-final playoff game.

Next week, the Lancers will play the Holley Hawks in a semi-final playoff game. Game time is 2 p.m. in Rochester. The Hawks beat Le Roy 35-21.

Dylan Bordonaro carried the ball 26 times for 261 yards while Eric Kowalik completed nine passes on 17 attempts for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Bordonaro had one rushing TD.

Elba/BB posted 463 yards total offense.

UPDATED: Notre Dame comes close to victory in semi-final game

By Howard B. Owens

With just over two minutes left on the clock, Notre Dame took a five-point lead over number one seed Dundee, but couldn't hold on as the Scotsmen engineered a nearly 80-yard drive to secure a 21-23 victory.

Notre Dame got the ball back with 36 seconds to play, but Tom Whelehan, who completed eight passes on the day for 159 yards and three TDs, was unable to connect on four attempts before time expired.

Dundee's final drive, Scotsmen head coach Sheldon Gibson said, was something the team had two weeks to work on following a forfeit by their first-around playoff opponent. Dundee made good use of the time, Gibson said, including designing and practicing the final touchdown play that won them the game.

Rick Mancuso said that winning play was really well executed.

"We’ve got some inexperienced kids and they were really jacked up," Mancuso said. "The took advantage of our aggressiveness."

A year ago in sectionals, Dundee literally ran away with the game, posting a lopsided 76-13 victory. It as a different story Saturday.

Notre Dame was never more than two scores down and grabbed a four-point lead with two minutes to go.

"Notre Dame came out ready to play, very tough, very well coached, without a doubt," said Gibson. "They were well prepared. They had our number, I’ll tell you that."

Mancuso said he was proud of his team.

"I thought the kids executed both offensively and defensively," said Mancuso. "We had a couple of turnovers, a couple of mistakes at inopportune times, and you can’t do that in this type of a ball game, but I was really proud of our kids for battling back."

Mike Pratt and Beau Richter lead the running game, with Pratt gaining 135 yards on 28 carries and Richter adding another 51 on nine carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

"Pratt and Richter were coming through very small holes at full speed," Gibson said. "That’s very tough to stop."

Doanne McCuley caught three passes for 78 yards, including a long of 41 yards, while Nate Woods caught three passes for 58 yards, including two TD receptions -- both on tipped balls. Tom Dehr made the go-ahead TD reception in the 4th quarter on a seven-yard pass from Whelehan.

Notre Dame had 362 total offensive yards compared to 284 for Dundee.  The Irish also posted 21 first downs, compared to 14 for the Scotsmen. Time of possession also tilted in Notre Dame's favor, 36:08 to 23:52.

On defense, Whelehan had eight tackles with Pratt and McCulley having six each.

In other football action from yesterday: No. 1 seed Hornell beat No. 8 Batavia, 64-42; Wayland-Cohocton over Pembroke, 40-13.

Top photo: Nate Woods keeps his eye on a tipped ball before hauling it on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Whelehan. The TD at 7:30 in the fourth quarter put the Irish within four points of Dundee, 14-17. Below, R.J. Marchese, who has been out with an injury for four games, reacts to Dundee's final touchdown. Bottom photo, Woods celebrates a second quarter TD after catching a six-yard pass, also a tipped ball, from Whelehan. That first TD tied the score at 7-7.

More photos after the jump:

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