Sports

One of the main reasons for the recent success the Oakfield-Alabama football program has had is the work ethic coach John Dowd instilled in his players.

The weight room was a high priority.

Don't expect that to change as Dowd's replacement is an O-A grad that was known for his drive to be the best and time spent in the weight room during high school.

"I'm going to try my best to get the full potential out of these kids," said new coach Brian Palone, who graduated from Oakfield-Alabama in 1998. "I will work them hard and earn their respect, constantly telling them it's not about how big they are, but the amount of heart they put into it to get the job done."

Palone - who played football, basketball and baseball in high school - has some big shoes to fill and is ready for the challenge. Dowd led the Hornets to their first undefeated season since 1986 this past fall and the squad made the sectional finals, only to lose a great game against a powerhouse Le Roy squad.

He had a 50-12 record over the last six seasons and won a pair of sectional titles, all while stressing hard work and making the program one of the most respected in Section 5.

"There is a great tradition at Oakfield that I saw after graduating from there and seeing what (Dowd) did last year. He did a great job," Palone said. "I'm going to go in and try my best and see what happens. I told the guys that they need to give me 100 percent and I'll give them 100 percent and we'll do the best we can."

Palone will be returning to his alma matter as a first-time head coach.

He has been a teacher at Naples for the last six years and has been the varsity baseball coach for the last three seasons. But the school does not have a football program.

After playing all over the field in high school and as an outside linebacker for four seasons at Brockport, he was an assistant linebacker and wide receiver coach at Caledonia-Mumford for two seasons. He was on head coach Mike Monacelli's 2003 state title winning squad.

Palone then spent four years as a special teams coordinator and LB/RB coach at Wayland-Cohocton. While teaching at Naples, he gained more experience as a linebacker coach and assistant defensive coordinator with Marcus Whitman.

 "I've been wanting to get an opportunity to get back to Oakfield if a position ever opened," said Palone, who will also teach elementary physical education. "This is a dream come true to give back to the school that gave so much to me."

Dowd ran the Double Wing on offense and the Hornets simply wore teams down with size on the line, allowing multiple backs to go off at will. Palone expects to change things some, but will run a very similar offense.

"We are going to keep some of the same and blend in some other concepts this year," said Palone, who recently purchased a house in Farmington with his wife of seven months, Samantha. "I don't expect to change everything. I have lots of ideas, but some coaches make the mistake of going in and changing everything."

Local baseball fans may get to see a familiar face at Dwyer Stadium on Aug. 2 and 3 when Williamsport visits the Muckdogs.

Former BHS standout Ryan Gugel, signed as a free agent by the Phillies a month ago out of Albany, has been moved from the team's affiliate in Lakewood to the Crosscutters.

He will be the Crosscutters' third catcher, so he may not get any playing time during his visit to his hometown. 

Those are Williamsport's final two games at Dwyer this season. The Muckdogs face the Crosscutters tomorrow and Thursday in Williamsport.

Gugel was hitless in four plate appearances for Lakewood, drawing one walk.

It was a close game through nine innings, but the Muckdogs (15-16) couldn’t hold the Tigers (17-11) in the bottom of the 10th as Oneonta went on to win 3-2.

The game was scoreless until the 5th inning.  Niko Vasquez had a lead off double to get things going for Batavia.  Ivan Castro got on base right after on a fielding error by the Tiger’s shortstop.  Both advanced a base during the next at-bat when Beau Riportella grounded out.  Ryan Jackson then came up with a RBI base hit to score Vasquez and Castro came home later on a wild pitch.

Oneonta answered right back, scoring two of their own in the bottom of the inning.  The game remained tied until the Tigers were able to plate the winning run in the bottom of the tenth on base hits.

LaCurtis Mayes (0-2, 1.54) suffered the loss, pitching through the last two outs letting in the winning run on three hits with one strikeout.  Deryk Hooker was the starter.  He went five innings with two runs, four hits, one walk and six strikeouts.  Joe Kelly and Santo Maertz threw two innings each, both giving up one hit while striking out two.

D’Marcus Ingram continued to stay hot on the road in July.  He was the only Muckdog with a multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a walk. 

Former Attica standout Derek Wolfley received a Division I basketball scholarship to Iona College last season, and played in 25 games during his freshman season.

But now he's coming home.

The 6-foot-7 forward has decided to take his college basketball career to the University at Buffalo, where he expects to see more playing time next season.

Attica's all-time leading scorer with 1,474 points and 932 rebounds averaged 7.5 minutes per game for the Gaels, while scoring 1 point and 0.9 rebounds per contest.

He will be playing as a walk-on next year but will have an opportunity for a basketball scholarship because six seniors will graduate from next year's UB squad.

The Lancers took first place at the 2009 Gates Tournament July 18-19.

Game one saw the Lancers defeat Oakville (Canada) U19's by the score of 2-0. Emily Starowitz and Kaylie Ewers both scored, off assists by Kasey Welch. Game #2 was a 4-0 win over Niagara Pioneer. Ewers got the team going off an assist from Julia Medwid. Jessie Jaszko then took a Medwid assist and went in on a breakaway and scored. Welch would then score on a PK just minutes later. Julia Medwid finished her great game with a well deserved tally off a Lin Wellspeak assist.

Sunday brought a 1-0 win over Gates Metros-I. Kasey Welch scored on a free kick from 25 yards out in extra time to win the game.

The final saw the ladies defeat the Gates Metros-II by the score of 1-0 as Brooke Mallaber's first half goal, off a Jenna Ferrando assst, was all the ladies needed. Leslie George made 6 saves in the final to post her 4th shutout of the weekend. The Lancers defense of Jenna Ferrando, Audrey Rath, Jenn Lonnen, Jamie Braswell, Mallaber, and Alesha Amend was fantastic all weekend.

Congrats to the team for a great weekend! 

Members: Jessie Jaszko, Kaylie Ewers, Brooke Mallaber, Lin Wellspeak, Brittany Hein, Ali Malinowski, Emily Starowitz, Emilie Rath, Audrey Rath, Alesha Amend, jamie Braswell, Julia Medwid, Kasey Welch, Brittany Luckey,  Jenna Ferrando, Leslie George, and Jenn Lonnen.

The team is coached by Chris Chilano and sponsored by TF Brown's, SJ Starowitz, and Lewis & Lewis, P.C.

Starter Eric Fornataro held opposing batters nearly hitless in seven innings of work today, setting the pace as the Muckdogs (15-15) completed the three-game sweep of Tri-City (9-18) with a 1-0 victory.

The lone run came in the bottom of the 8th.  Ryan Jackson started things off with a base hit and moved to second on a error and then to third on a sacrifice bunt by D’Marcus Ingram.  Jackson came in to score when Devin Goodwin hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

Fornataro finished with just one hit and one strikeout.  He had just 14 balls through seven innings and threw a first pitch strike to 15 of the 22 batters he faced.  Scott Schneider (1-0, .92) picked up the win throwing the last two innings with three hits and three strikeouts.

Jackson was the only Muckdog with a multi-hit night, going 2-for-3.

Batavia (14-15) kept things going in their second game of the night, beating Tri City (9-17) this time by a score of 7-2.

The Valley Cats looked to take the second game of the series by going up 2-0 by one run in both the 2nd and 3rd innings.  But, the Batavia offense turned it on beginning in the 4th.

Alan Ahmady got on base after being hit by a pitch and Xavier Scruggs followed him with a two-run blast to keep his momentum from game one. Ryde Rodriguez then doubled and came around to score on a base hit by Jairo Martinez.

They plated two more in the next inning to cushion their lead.  Ahmady began the rally again by getting on base after a base hit.  Scruggs then doubled and both came in to score on an error during Rodriguez’s at-bat.

Two more insurance runs came in the 6th starting with a single by Guillermo Toribio.  He moved to third on a single by Beau Riportella and was able to come home when Niko Vasquez hit into a double play. Rodriguez picked up another RBI later by hitting a single to plate Ahmady who walked earlier in the inning.

Michael Blazek (3-3, 3.46) settled in in the start to get himself the win.  He went five innings with eight hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and four strikeouts.  Santo Maertz followed him in relief and worked out of a bases-loaded jam, throwing one and two-thirds innings with no runs, no hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

Scruggs stayed sharp in the second game of the night, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a homerun and two RBI.  Ahmady went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored and Rodriguez went 2-for-4 also with a double.

A fresh day gave the Muckdogs (13-15) a fresh start, which was just what they needed to erase a 3-0 deficit in the continuation of Friday night’s game to go on and beat the Valley Cats (9-16) 5-4.

On Friday, J.D. Martinez powered the Tri-City offense with a two-run homerun in the 1st.  And then came the rain.

When play resumed Saturday night, Martinez added another on the board with a solo shot.  The Valley Cats made it 4-0 in the 4th, but that would be all as Batavia battled back to get the win.

 The offense started just four pitches into the bottom of the 4th as Xavier Scruggs put his fourth homerun ball over the left field wall.  They added one more in the 5th when D’Marcus Ingram reached on a force out, stole second, and eventually came in to score on a base hit by Scruggs.

Batavia’s big inning came in the 6th as they scored three runs to go up 6-5 and put the game away for the win. It all started when Niko Vasquez reached on an error. Beau Riportella and Ryan Jackson had back-to-back singles to load the bases.  Ingram then got a RBI on another force out as Vasquez came in to score.  Devin Goodwin got the other two runners in on a double.

Justin Edwards (2-1, 3.44) started on Saturday to earn himself the win.  He went four and two-thirds innings with two runs, four hits, one walk and five strikeouts.  Joe Kelly followed him for the hold and LaCurtis Mayes finished it in the 9th for his third save on the season.

Scruggs went 2-for-3 in the game with a homerun and two RBI.  Ryan Jackson also had two hits in the game, going 2-for-4.

BATAVIA -- GeneseExcel Sports is pleased to announce several additions to its roster of coaches for their Premier Soccer Camp with Liz Masterson. According to Ted Hawley, Camp Coordinator, “We’re lucky to have such a high level of coaching staff come in for this camp.” Along with Liz Masterson, captain of the Rhino’s W-League and Elmira College Women’s Soccer Coach, “we have coaches from the Buffalo Flash, from the Olympic Development Program, as well as collegiate stars,” Hawley added. Because of the staff additions, the sign-up deadline has been extended to July 22. “We’re confident that local athletes from the surrounding region will benefit from this unique opportunity to interact with coaches of this caliber.” The camp is scheduled from July 30 through August 1 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m at the Community Fields Complex, Bank St. Rd., Batavia (at the Saile Dr. intersection). Ages 9 – 22 are welcome. Cost for the 3-day event is $130.00. Pre-registration is necessary; walk-ins will not be accepted. For more information, call 585.343.3329 or email info@geneseexcelsports.com. Staff includes:

Jon Poulakis:
Jon Poulakis is a thirty-year coaching veteran and holds a USSF National license.  He has coached at every level of soccer including Pro-AM, high school, and at the collegiate including the University of Tennessee, Rochester Institute of Technology and William Smith College. He was the Olympic Development Program coach for the State of Tennessee and the Girls’ U-17 coach New York State.  He has coached both travel and premier teams and was one of the founders of the Rochester Spirit, the first Girls’ Premier Club in Rochester. Furthermore, Jon is on the teaching staff at the University of North Carolina for the summer camps with Anson Dorrance He is currently the Director of Coaches for the Irondequoit Soccer Club and the Director of Youth
Development for the Western New York Futbol Club.

Jacquie Lacek:
Jacquie Lacek played 4 years at Central Michigan University from 2003-2006 before joining several W-League teams including the Rochester Ravens, Rochester Rhinos, and West Michigan Firewomen. She is currently rostered on the Buffalo Flash and is the assistant coach for the U-17 Empire Buffalo girls. Jacquie has been a camp facilitator at numerous camps throughout the Western NY region including: Pittsford Mendon, St. John Fisher College, Rochester Ravens, Midland Soccer Club, ODP tryouts in Region III (Michigan), and Assistant coach for the Rochester Jr. Rhinos U-13 Girl’s soccer team in 2004.

Brittany Kinmond:
Brittany began playing for the Rochester Jr. Rhinos before moving up to the Rochester Rhinos at the age of 15. Currently playing for the Rochester Ravens, Brittany will be a senior at Spencerport High School this fall, where she hopes to break the100 goal mark!  Named to the All-Greater Rochester team for the past two years, she was also selected as All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year in 2008.  Brittany will attend Syracuse University this January.

Adam Palumbo:
Adam has served on the coaching staff for several local clubs including Irondequoit Soccer Academy, Western New York Futbol Club, and North West Elite Soccer Camp (Seattle, WA). He was the assistant coach for Rochester Women's Rhinos in 2008. A National D and E license holder, Palumbo played soccer at Nazareth College and was a two-time Empire State member. 

Rachel Kruze:
Rachel graduated from West Virginia University and played in the WUSA for the Philadelphia Charge. She also played professionally in Iceland. As a member of the Rochester Rhinos, she captained that team for two seasons. Rachel coaches Hornell High School’s JV squad and assists with the varsity squad.

Gretchen Hawley:
As a member of the Batavia High School Varsity Soccer team, Gretchen earned 2nd team All-County and was twice recognized for All-Greater Rochester Honorable Mention. She was also singled out as a 1st team All County player. Gretchen captained the squad in her senior year before heading to Elmira College to play for the Soaring Eagles. This year, the 3-year veteran on the varsity squad will be returning for her 4th and final season.  She has received the Unsung Hero award and has started every match but one for the last two seasons. She will graduate in spring 2010 with a degree in Biology.  

Ellie Hamilton:
Ellie graduated from Victor High School this spring where she received All Greater Rochester recognitions as well as Team Offensive MVP (2008). A member of the Doug Miller Soccer Club, she will be attending Elmira College in the fall to join the women’s varsity soccer team.

 I've finally gotten my videos to upload, so here's the first of player interviews. Many more to come in the upcoming weeks...let me know who you want to hear from...Enjoy!

For the 8th time this month, the Muckdogs (12-14) couldn’t muster enough and lost by just one run, this time by a score of 5-4 to Hudson Valley (14-11).

Batavia was down 2-0 after the Renegades scored a run in both the 1st and 4th innings.  The Muckdogs looked to come back with three runs of their own after 6th and 7th innings.

The lone run in the 6th came on a high fly ball to left field that resulted in Ryde Rodriguez’s second homerun of the season.  In the next inning, bases were loaded after a Ryan Jackson single, D’Marcus Ingram reached on an error and Luis De La Cruz laid down a bunt single.  Rodriguez then came up with the big bat again as he doubled to score two.

But history seems to repeat itself, as the Muckdogs couldn’t hold on to their late lead.  Hudson Valley battled back to score three runs of their own in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead back again, 5-3.

Batavia came close to a comeback.  In the 9th, De La Cruz reached on a force out.  Alan Ahmady followed with a single that allowed De La Cruz to move to third while Ahmady himself moved to second on the throw.  In the next at-bat, Xavier Scruggs hit a base hit to plate De La Cruz and Ahmady was thrown out at home trying to be the tying run.  And that would be the ball game as Rodriguez struck out swinging during the next at-bat to record the final out.

Tyler Lavigne and Josh Squatrito both pitched two innings with one run and three hits each.  Lavigne struck out three while Squatrito walked one and struck out one.  Deryk Hooker (1-2, 3.48) picked up the loss in his three and two-thirds innings, letting up three runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout.  Santo Maertz faced the last two batters, giving up two hits but getting out of the jam when Rodriguez threw out a runner at home to end the inning.

Rodriguez and Ahmady both finished 3-for-5, Rodriguez with two doubles, a homerun and three RBI.  D’Marcus Ingram had his second mutli-hit day in a row, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.

Batavia resident Mark Blanch is competing this week in Seattle at the 2009 National Veterans Wheelchair Games, according the D&C.

Blanch, 52, will compete in swimming, table tennis, track and field and pool.

“We’re not people that sit around the house and do nothing,” Blanch said. “We like doing things. We like competing and every one of us feel that we’re not disabled.”

Blanch was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1992.

Batavia (12-12) scored as many runs as they had all series, but it was not enough as they lost 9-6 to Mahoning Valley (16-8).

The Muckdogs got on board first in the 1st when Devin Goodwin doubled and came in to score on a base hit by Alan Ahmady.  After the Scrappers tied it up in the next inning, Batavia answered right back with two of their own.  Ryde Rodriguez led off the inning with a single and Niko Vasquez followed with a triple down the right field line.  Jario Martinez then had a sacrifice fly to get himself an RBI.

However, the 3-1 lead was short-lived, as Mahoning Valley scored three runs in both the 3rd and 4th innings and two more in the 7th.

Batavia also plated two in the 7th.  Luis De La Cruz got himself a base hit before Beau Riportella smashed his second home run of the season.  They looked to rally back in the 9th.  LaCurtis Mayes pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout and two groundouts to start the momentum.  In the bottom of the inning, De La Cruz reached and moved to second on errors.  He then advanced again on a passed ball and came home on a Riportella single.  But with two outs already in the inning, that was all they could muster.

Michael Blazek (2-3, 3.86) had a rough start to get himself the loss.  He went three and a third innings letting in seven runs, although only five were earned, on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.  Daniel Calhoun threw three innings of his own with two runs, four hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Vasquez and Riportella both went 2-for-4 on the night.  Vasquez had a triple, a run and a RBI.  Riportella had a homerun, one run and three RBI.

Tomorrow the league has a day off before Batavia travels to Hudson Valley for a three game set.

The S.C. Genesee Lancers United u19G took first place at the 2009 Greece Cobras FC Tournament July 10-12 in Rochester, NY.

The ladies went 4-0 on the weekend, starting off with a 3-1 win over the Pittsford Mustangs as Jessie Jaszko, Brittany Luckey, and Kaylie Ewers all scored. Game #2 say the ladies defeat the Genesee Lancers Rough Riders 2-1 behind goals from Lindsay wellspeak and Ali Malinowski. Sunday morning the ladies defeated rival Greece Cobras 3-1 as Ewers tallied one and Kasey Welch had two goals.

The Tournament final pitted the Lancers United against Salt City-Syracuse Sensation. Welch's goal with 9 minutes remaining gave the Lancers a 1-0 win and the title. Leslie George made 6 saves for the shutout in goal.

The ladies have now won 9 consecutive u19 tournaments, indoor and outdoor, dating back to last winter, and look to run the streak to ten in the Gates Soccer Tournament July 18-19 in Gates-Chili.

Roster: Lindsay Wellspeak, Emily Starowitz, Emilie Rath, Audrey Rath, Kasey Welch, Jessie Jaszko, Ali Malinowski, Kaylie Ewers, Brooke Mallaber, Jenna Ferrando, Leslie George, Brittany Luckey, Jamie Braswell, Alesha Amend, Julia Medwid, and Jenn Lonnen.

The team is coached by Chris Chilano and sponsored by SJ Starowitz, T.F. Browns, and Lewis and Lewis, PC.

The Muckdogs (12-11) got an early 5-1 lead and were able to hold on against a tough Mahoning Valley (15-8) team for the win.

Batavia’s big inning came in the 3rd when D’Marcus Ingram, Devin Goodwin and Alan Ahmady all singled to load the bases.  Xavier Scruggs followed with a double to plate two.  Ryde Rodriguez kept things going with another two-RBI double in the next at-bat.  Rodriguez later came home himself on a single by Beau Riportella.

The Scrappers added two of their own in the 5th and another in the 7th but that was all they could muster.

Kevin Siegrist went four innings in the start with five hits, one run and two strikeouts.  Josh Squatrito (1-1, 1.74) picked up the win in his one and 2/3 innings of relief work.  He let up two hits while striking out two.  Newcomer Joeseph Kelly got his first save, pitching a scoreless 9th.

Goodwin and Ahmady both finished 2-for-4, each with a run scored.

The rubber match between the two teams is tomorrow night. Game time is 5:05.

Friday night, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Batavia Muckdogs infielder Alan Ahmady smashed a home run over The Batavian's right field promotional sign.  The opposite field shot from the right-handed slugger made the game an especially memorable one for Jacoby Miller of Albion.  Miller was the lucky fan that night to have his name drawn in The Batavian's Fifth Inning Home Run Contest.  He won $250, which he picked up at The Batavian's office this afternoon.  We also presented him with an autographed baseball from Ahmady.

Ahmady, from Fresno Calif. (my parents and a brother live just a couple of hours south in the same San Joaquin Valley in Bakersfield), is one of the Cardinals top prospects.  Maybe some day that autographed ball will be worth more than $250.

The home run was Ahmady's first as a professional player (just to be clear, the autographed ball is not the one he hit over the sign -- I don't know what happened to that ball -- hopefully it was retrieved and given to Ahmady for his own collection).

Miller's father, Kevin, said Friday night, "This is something he will never forget."  Today, Kevin Miller told me he and both his sons are huge baseball fans and they attend many Muckdogs games.

Batavia's (11-8) pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts on the night while Auburn had two costly errors to get the Muckdogs back on the winning track after a three game slide.

Batavia's big inning came in the 4th as they scored three runs to go up 3-2.  Devin Goodwin singled and advanced to second on a throwing error and was moved to third when Alan Ahmady reached on a base hit.  Two batters later, Ryde rodriguez reached safely on a force attempt while another error allowed Goodwin to come home and Ahmady to advance to second. Another single by Niko Vazquez loaded the bases before Ivan Castro hit a two RBI base hit to center field.

Justin Edwards started the game out right on the mound going three innings with two runs, four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Kevin Siegrist followed him to get the win in three innings with two runs, four hits, one walk and three strikeouts. After that, Josh Squatrito picked up his first hold and LaCurtis Mayes picked up his first save on the season.

Goodwin, Vazquez, Castro and Scruggs all went 2-for-4 on the night with Scruggs sending one over the fence for his third homerun on the season.

The Pinckney Division remains the same with all the top teams getting wins tonight.  Batavia sits tied in 2nd place with Williamsport one game behind Mahoning Valley.  They head to State College Tuesday to take on the Spikes who are close behind in 3rd place, just two games behind the leader.