Sports broadcasters need to be versatile and flexible, which are exactly the criteria for getting recognition by the Jim Nantz Awards, and former Batavia High School Student Griffin Della Penna demonstrated he has those skills to the judges this year.
The Sportscasters Talent Agency of America, which hands out the Nantz awards annually to call attention to the nation's best collegiate sportscasters, recognized Della Penna with an honorable mention.
“I knew that I should be up there,” Della Penna stated. “To get that recognition, I thought was really cool. It’s something that I want to go and just prove that I’m better than [honorable mention.]”
Competitors must send in a highlight reel, around 20 minutes, that showcases different skill sets, such as the ability to call different games in different sports. Competitors must also showcase their ability to interview and be comfortable on camera.
Della Penna began his collegiate career in his junior year while attending Canisius College. Della Penna called roughly 106 ESPN+ broadcasts his senior year and roughly 142 games total across 20 different sports. He recalls that some of his favorite memories were calling games in which his friends were playing.
“I get to cover my friends,” Della Penna shared. “These are people I’ve gotten to know since I stepped foot on campus. Getting to cover my best friends on the baseball team … I don’t think that there’s many kids in the country who get to have that dynamic and have those memories.”
Looking ahead, Della Penna’s goal is to call great games at his graduate school, Syracuse. He hopes to eventually call some of the biggest games in the country.
“I feel like [Syracuse] will speed along the process of my career. I would love to stay in baseball, and eventually, I want to get to the national level.”
The Genesee County Spartans greeted about 600 fans for their home opener Saturday at GCC. Photos by Jim Burns.
The fledgling Genesee County Spartans defeated the New York Falcons, 13-0, in non-league semipro football action Saturday afternoon at Genesee Community College.
Head Coach Harry Rascoe’s squad shook off a sluggish first half as quarterback Alex Rood and halfback Jed Reese ran for touchdowns after intermission to turn back the Buffalo-based Falcons, who compete in the Gridiron Developmental Football League.
It was the first official game of the season for the Spartans, a member of the Northeastern Football Alliance.
“We had a couple of opportunities in the first half but kept on pounding the ball on the ground to finally take control,” Rascoe said, noting that the quartet of Rood, Reese, Rob Williams Jr. and Brandon Bethel combined for 200 yards rushing.
Rood scored on a 10-yard run in the third quarter and Reese capped a long drive with a five-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Marc Montana kicked the point after touchdown after Rood’s score but missed the second attempt under windy conditions.
In the first half, the Spartans threatened early in the second quarter, using runs by Reese, Rood, Williams and Bethel to get to the Falcons’ 20 before an interception thwarted that drive. With about five minutes left, the home team advanced to the Falcons’ 2 but failed to capitalize.
“We were in the red zone four or five times and came up short; that’s something we definitely need to work on,” Rascoe said. “But our defense, behind (defensive ends) Gunner Rapone and T.J. Henderson dominated.”
Rapone was a force throughout, recording numerous tackles and combining with Henderson for four sacks. Defensive backs Brooks Boyle and Tre Woods each had an interception.
An enthusiastic crowd of about 600 turned out for the “Iron Reps Gym Game” at GCC’s new field, which is located behind the Richard C. Call Arena.
“On behalf of the players, a special thanks to all the fans who attended,” Rascoe said. “It really means a lot to see all the community support.”
The Spartans return to action at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Lockport.The next home game (all home games are at GCC) is at 7 p.m. June 17 against Ithaca.
Defensive ends T.J. Henderson, left, and Gunner Rapone set the tone for the Spartans in the 13-0 victory.
QB Alex Rood looks to escape the Falcons' rush.
RB/WR Jed Reese breaks into the clear. Reese scored tallied a second-half TD.
Perhaps the largest crowd in Dwyer Stadium history -- 3,711 fans -- watched a winning home opener of the 2023 season Saturday for the Batavia Muckdogs.
The Muckdogs defined the Elmira Pioneers 5-4.
Starter Julian Pichardo fanned eight and gave away no free passes over six innings
Michael Pedraza was credited with the win after giving up two runs in the eighth inning, putting the Muckdogs behind 4-3, only to have Batavia battle back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring two runs, to regain the lead at 5-4.
Trey Bacon came on to record the save in the top of the ninth, retiring all three batters he faced, notching two Ks.
Offensively, Josh Leadem smashed a solo home run in the fourth inning to put the Muckdogs on the board, though they still trailed 2-1 at that point. Leadem was 1-3 on the night with a walk and two runs scored.
Anthony Calabro was 1-2 with two walks and two RBIs, driving in the final two runs of the game to secure put Muckdogs in the lead.
The Muckdogs are 1-1 on the new season. Today, Sunday, at 4 p.m., the Muckdogs return to Dwyer Stadium to take on Niagara Power. They're home again on Tuesday, 6:35 p.m., again against Niagara.
Note Dame, Far West Regional Champions in baseball. Photo by Pete Welker.
Submitted game story:
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish stole the lead late and defeated Gowanda Panthers 6-5 on Saturday at Frontier High School.
The game was tied at five with Notre Dame batting in the top of the seventh when Hayden Groff's sac fly scored one run for the Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame built a four-run lead in the fifth inning and then held off Gowanda's charge. The Panthers managed four runs in the failed comeback. Tyler Smith, Blake Herman, and John Ondus powered the rally with RBIs.
The Irish got on the board in the second inning when a Gowanda error scored two runs
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Gowanda tied things up at five when Ondus singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.
After Notre Dame scored two runs in the top of the fifth, Gowanda answered with two of their own. Notre Dame scored when Hayden Groff singled on a 2-0 count, scoring two runs. Gowanda then answered when Smith singled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs.
Ryan Fitzpatrick was the winning pitcher for Notre Dame. The righthander lasted two innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out two and walking zero.
Ondus took the loss for Gowanda Panthers Varsity.
Bryceton Berry started the game for Notre Dame. The ace went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out six.
Cole Herman started the game for Gowanda. Herman surrendered three runs on three hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two
Groff led the Irish with two hits in three at-bats.
Ondus went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Gowanda Panthers Varsity in hits.
The Fighting Irish will next play Chatham of Section 2 on Friday at Maine-Endwell High School in the state semi-final. Chatham is the defending Class C state champion and is currently ranked #1 in Class C by MaxPreps.
The Batavia Muckdogs will be looking for a win tonight in their home opener at Dwyer Stadium at 6:35 p.m. after dropping their season opener in Elmira, 11-9.
In that game:
Josh Leadem went 2-4, scoring two runs, with three RBIs, and collecting three stolen bases.
Rashad Robinson went 2-3, scoring two runs, with a walk, and three stolen bases.
Henry Daniels went 2-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a Walk.
Starting pitcher Preston Prince took the loss, going 2.2 innings, allowing six hits and seven runs, while striking out four.
CORRECTION: A Reader informs me I've gotten Jadyn's accomplishment all wrong. She was competing in the Pentathlon, which is five events, with competitors scoring points in each event and the winner being the athlete with the most points. Mullen was far and away the winner of the event.
In addition to the three first-place finishes noted earlier in our post (below), she finished second in the Girls High Jump and second in Shot Put, for a total of 3,334 points. Anna Varland of Batavia came in second with 2,389 points.
We apologize to Mullen for the error.
It was a big day for Alexander's Jadyn Mullen at the state qualifiers in track and field held at Van Detta Stadium on Friday.
Mullen's wins:
Girls 800 Meter Run, 2:19.57
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles, 15.25
Girls Long Jump, 5.52m
Girls Outdoor Pentathlon, 3334
Other individual winners on the day:
Nathan Canale, Batavia, Boys 1600 Meter Run 4:26.73
Campbell Riley, Batavia, Girls 2000 Meter Steeplechase, 7:30.33
Batavia, Girls 4x100 Meter Relay, 49.77
Batavia, Girls 4x800 Meter Relay, 9:50.96
Laurel Kania, Alexander, Girls High Jump, 5-03.00
Connor Domoy, Oakfield-Alabama, Boys 3000 Meter Steeplechase, 9:47.45
Join us Sunday, June 11 for the 26th Annual Notre Dame Foundation Golf, Tennis, and Bocce Tournament. The event is hosted by Terry Hills Golf Course for Golf and Bocce and Batavia High School for tennis.
The event features:
Four-Person Golf Scramble
Bocce and Tennis Competition
Beverages served throughout the day
Cash Bar and Dinner following completion of the tournament
Registration for Golf begins at 11:30 a.m. Registration for Tennis and Bocce begins at Noon. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m. (included with your registration).
This year the event is being held in honor of Bradley F. Rogers. Mr. Rogers was a devoted Notre Dame supporter, Notre Dame JV and Varsity Basketball coach as well as a Batavia High School track and golf coach.
He will be remembered as a respected educator with a passion for sports and an overwhelming love for his family. We at Notre Dame take great pleasure in honoring him this year for the legacy he leaves behind.
Join us in supporting Notre Dame High School for a fun day of golf, tennis, bocce, prizes, food, and drinks. We hope to see you there!
Blowouts are rare in title games, but that's what the Notre Dame Fighting Irish did on Tuesday in a game between two Class C champions to see who will represent Section V in the Far West Regional Championship.
The Irish, who won the Class C1 crown, beat the C2 champs 17-4.
The game was played in Canandaigua.
Notre Dame scored eight runs in the first inning.
Jaden Sherwood notched the win, allowing just three hits and four runs over five innings while fanning nine. Ryan Fitzpatrick came on in relief for the final two innings and recorded all six outs by Ks.
The offense banged out 13 hits, with Sherwood, Jordan Welker, Bryceton Berry, and Chase Antinore all getting multiple hits. Sherwood went 3-5. Jay Antinore had three stolen bases.
And he's not afraid to say it. He thinks the 2023 Batavia Muckdogs look like a better team than the one that won a division title in 2022.
"This team is special just because we have another crop with just great young men," Martinez said. "We've got a bunch of grinders. That's kind of the style we like. We like the grinders. They're recruited that way on purpose, you know. We try to get guys that are going to come into this community, as well, and be a part of it, that they represent the Batavia Muckdogs name well everywhere and every day. This team is gonna be special with a lot of talent as well as compared to last year. That was a special team, right, as you know, that team was special. We got about 10 returners from that team. We hope that that transition helps with the new guys and tells them what we're about here. I think this roster potentially could be better."
Martinez said the key to fielding a winning team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is pitching, and he thinks this year's roster is stacked with arms.
He also said the team has several players with great bat skills, including two players who hit 14 home runs each at the collegiate level this season.
There are also returning local favorites such as Alex Hale. The Batavia High School grad was "phenomenal" for the Muckdogs in 2022, Martinez said.
"We also have a couple of other local GCC kids who are going to be a big part of what we do," Martinez said, including Ty Woods, from Alexander.
"I think you got to look out for guys like Anthony Calabro, Henry Daniels, Adam Agresti," Martinez said. "There are so many names to throw at you. I mean, we just have a lot of talent."
Owner Robbie Nichols is excited about a lot of things in the 2023 season, from the fan experience to the players who will take the field.
"I think it's going to be exciting on Saturday," Nichols said. "We've got a great team again. You're going to see a great fireworks show. We're going to have a lot of fun promotions going, and people who come to the games are going to have a lot of fun."
He said there is some sort of promotion for every home game in 2023, including the return of Dollar Hot Dog Night and $2 Beer Night, along with a helicopter dropping 250 pounds of candy.
He said he's really impressed with the roster Martinez and his coaches have put together.
"Skip has done a great job," Nichols said. "You look out here; we got a pitcher that's 6'3", 315 pounds and throws in the 90s. We just got a kid on the mound that's 6' 10". They're all hand-picked from around the country. We've got players from California, Florida, Georgia, you name it. We've got two kids that hit 14 home runs, led their conference. I'm kind of excited about this year's team."
That should translate into another winning season, right?
"I will go on record and predict a repeat as the West Division champion," Nichols said. "From there, we'll have to see. That Amsterdam team, the other division, always has somebody that is tough. We're ready. I think we're a little bit loaded this year."
The Muckdogs open the home season on Saturday at Dwyer Stadium at 6:35 p.m. The Muckdogs take on the Elmira Pioneers. There will be a fireworks display following the game. Tickets can be purchased at canusamuckdogs.com or by calling 585-524-2260.
Photos of Tuesday's Red vs. Black Muckdogs scrimmage at Dwyer Stadium. Photos by Howard Owens. To view more photos from the scrimmage or to purchase prints, click here.
Batavia Muckdogs Owner Robbie Nichols helping clean up the stands during the scrimmage.
Muckdogs season ticket holders were invited to Eli Fish on Tuesday evening to meet the members of the team for 2023. Photo by Howard Owens.
The entire roster of the 2023 Batavia Muckdogs was represented in an event at Eli Fish Brewing Co. on Tuesday, where season ticket holders could also pick up their tickets for the new season, which opens Friday in Elmira.
The Muckdogs play their first home game on Saturday and fireworks will follow the game.
Perhaps the most bizarre ending to a game in organized baseball history occurred on Saturday at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia, and the video made ESPN and has gone viral online.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Hornell was up 5-4 and with Brady Prebalick at the plate and two runners on base, Hornell gets a called third strike, but the ball is in the dirt. The catcher appears to miss the tag attempt on the hitter as he starts to run to first but thinks he got the out. The umpire signals safe. The catcher sticks the ball in his back pocket, and the Hornell team starts celebrating an apparent championship win.
The Pal-Mac runners on first and second race around the bases. The only Hornell player, at first, who realizes the game isn't over is the second baseman, who rushes toward the plate, yelling and looking for the ball.
Both runners score. Pal-Mac wins 6-5 to take the Class B1 crown.
Hornell's coach Joe Flint told the Wellsville Sun, "I blame myself a little; maybe I could have gone out and argued it was a dead ball and kept the runner on third and said, ‘Hey, it’s tied now, put the runner on third and make them beat us.’ But we can’t blame the umpires; everyone is running on the field, and I’m not sure they knew how to handle it either. I’m not sure what else happened because I haven’t watched the video. Maybe I should have called for a conference and protested. I blame myself on that piece of it, maybe I could have done a better job.”
UPDATE: H/T Steve Ognibene for finding this explainer video.
On Friday evening, in a less than 24-hour change of locations for the Class B1 outdoor track sectional competition, the Batavia Girls finished first place by a large margin, with 172 points.
Batavia Boys were edged by U-Prep by 2.5 points in the last race to take second place.
The event was moved at the last minute to Van Detta Stadium because of a fire at the Newark High School facility, the originally scheduled host of the event. There was an electrical fire late Thursday afternoon in Newark.
Girls head coach Rich Boyce said, "I am extremely proud of this accomplishment tonight. The girls worked really hard all season. We knew we would have to have the best meet of our lives to beat HFL, and they came here today, and every single girl on this team got a PR in every event they did."
"We knew it would come down to us and HFL," Boyce said. "172 points today was just amazing by our team, which to my recollection, is the most points Batavia girls outdoor track team have scored in a sectional meet.We will celebrate this one tonight and be back to work for state qualifiers next week."
Assistant Coach Bill Buckenmeyer said, "It was an outstanding effort to a change in scenery in one day and come out on their home track and put out the performance that they did. I thought it was amazing. The boys had a great meet, too. It just shows the true meaning of being a Blue Devil to go out there, up against tough competition and perform at the highest level."
Winners for Batavia include Nate Canale in the 1600m (4:29.44) and in the 800m (1:59.41).Cody Harloff won the 3000 Steeple (10:21.67), and the boy's 4x800 Relay squad won (9:06.29).
Relay runners for the winning 4x8 were Noah Pickard, Gavin Fowler, Donavin Solis, and Ryan Dillon.
Sheldon Siverling continued his impressive spring with a victory in the Shot Put (54-3) and a 2nd place finish in Discus (136-3).Lucas Crater won the individual sectional championship in the Pentathlon (2578 points) as well.
The team finished with 142.5 points, while Uprep scored 145.
"This meet was a very gutsy performance from many of our athletes, and the Blue Devils competed hard all meet long," said Boys Coach Nick Burk. "The meet was hosted by Batavia, so all of our seniors got to have one more chance to run on the home track against the top competition.We also had a very balanced meet, getting contributions in many events throughout the course of the day.Despite the bittersweet ending to sectionals, our athletes left it all on the track and competed until the end."
Full results can be found at: https://live.yentiming.com/meets/781/events
Batavia will host the State Qualifier meet this Friday at Vandetta Stadium at 4:45 p.m.
Saturday was quite the sports day for Notre Dame High School with both the baseball and softball teams winning championships.
When the teams returned to Batavia, they were met in the Eastown parking lot by Batavia PD patrols and a City Fire truck and given a championship escort through Downtown.
The Notre Dame GIrls Softball team captured the Section V Class D1 title in Fillmore on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over Lyndonville. Photo by Keira Stehlar Keira Stehlar
Submitted game story:
Notre Dame used a balanced offensive attack, flawless defense and, as always, solid pitching to pull out the 5-2 win in the Class D1 Sectional finals over Lyndonville on Saturday afternoon in Fillmore.
Notre Dame scored runs in the second, third, five, sixth and seventh innings and stopped a late rally by Lyndonville in which the Lady Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Starter Loretta Sorochty fanned the last two Tigers to preserve the win. She was named MVP of the tournament.
Sorochty pitched a complete game for the Lady Irish, going seven innings, giving up five hits, two runs and had 11 strikeouts.
Lyndonville pitcher Shaffer gave up 11 hits, five runs and had six strikeouts.
Leading the way offensively for ND were Sorochty, Mia Treleaven, Sonji Warner and Anna Panepento, who each had two hits. Sorochty had a double, single, a run scored and an RBI. Treleaven had two singles and an RBI. Warner had two singles, and Panepento had two singles and an RBI. Katie Landers added a base hit, scored a run and was hit by a pitch twice. Cayleigh Havens had a base hit, and Kaydence Stehlar had a hit and a run scored.
Notre Dame now moves on to face the D2 champion Tuesday night in Fillmore.
"I couldn't be more proud of these ladies," said Coach Otis Thomas. "Between the fall league at MCC, the winter workouts and all the practices we had this spring, it is nice to see their hard work pay off. This a special group that plays for each other and I hope we can keep this momentum going a little longer and see how far we can go."
Bryceton Berry threw a gem on Saturday for the Notre Dame allowing no runs helping the Fighting Irish beat the Bolivar-Richburg Wolverines 3-0
Berry struck out 15, walked four, and scattered five hits over seven innings.
The Notre Dame defense behind Berry did not commit a single error.
Landon Barkley took the loss for the Bolivar Richburg Wolverines. The hurler allowed five hits and three runs over three and a third innings, striking out three.
In a scoreless game in the bottom of the third, Jimmy Fanara, the leadoff hitter for the inning, was hit by a pitch. He advanced to second on a Jay Antinore single and then to third when Berry grounded into a fielder's choice. Ryan Fitzpatrick grounded out to third, scoring Fanara for the game's first run. Jaden Sherwood would follow with an RBI double.
The Irish scored again in the fourth. Jordan Welker reached on a fielder's choice, and proceed to steal second and third. On his steal of third, the catcher's throw went wide of the base allowing Welker to score the game's third and final run.
Notre Dame Batavia will now face C1 champion Sodus on Tuesday, May 30, at Canandaigua Academy High School at 5 p.m. for the right to represent Section V in the far west regional against Gownada next Saturday.
Batavia already had a 4-2 lead when Giana Mruczek scored the second run on a two runs that scored on a Sophia Minuto base hit in the fifth inning. Photo by Howard Owens.
For the first time in a decade and the second time in program history, Batavia's softball players lifted a Section V trophy over their heads after beating Waterloo for the Class B1 crown, 7-2.
Giana Mruczek tossed a complete game three-hitter, fanning seven and going 1-3 at the plate and driving in a run. She was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Libby Grazioplene went 4-4. Julia Clark had two stolen bases and scored two runs.
This was the third year straight that Batavia and Waterloo have clashed in sectional finals and the first time in those three contests that Batavia came out on top.
"To beat Waterloo is a big accomplishment," said Coach James Fazio. "I had a feeling that if we made it this far, it was going to be Waterloo again. And it was, thankfully, we're able to get the job done today."
A key difference this year, Fazio said, is Batavia took an early lead.
"They're such a strong hitting team from top to bottom that no lead to safe against them," Fazio said. "For once, we were able to get the lead on them, and that's been our struggle the last couple of years -- we always play from behind. But this time, we put them on their heels, and we were just able to hold on. They're a tough team, and we were fortunate enough to beat him."
Mruczek said the win felt really special because she and her teammates have worked hard and grown close.
"I think it's very heartfelt," Mruczek said. "This team has worked so hard for these past two years, and this team (Waterloo), they've always come for us. This was the third year playing them, and I think that we really wanted it so bad. This one is just what everyone deserved. I think it's great."
Clark said there was something special about beating Waterloo, given the history between the two teams.
"This means everything," Clark said. "We've fallen so many times to this team, and we don't see him in the regular season. So it's really this game or nothing. So we always have to put our all in."
The win was also special, Clark said, because of the decade between championship trophies for the softball team.
"We haven't won it all in a very long time," Clark said. "We're always division champs and stuff like that. But to finally win a sectional title for our school means a lot."
Other performance highlights:
Sophia Minuto, 1-3, two RBIs
Drew Stevens, 1-3, one RBI
Arianna Almekinder, 1-3, one RBI
Lyndsey Grazioplene, 1-3
Next up for Batavia: The Class B consolidation game against either Wellsville or Haverling on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Honeoye Falls-Lima HS.
Photos by Howard Owens. To view more photos, click here.
Arianna Almekinder popped up a bunt in the 7th inning that landed fair just out of reach of ....
... Waterloo catcher Logan Amidon.
Giana Mruczek tossed a complete game three-hitter, fanning seven.
Giana Mruczek
Sofia Branche scores.
Third baseman Hannah Carney charges toward the plate on a chop swing by Waterloo's Emily Plate.
Giana Mruczek takes a pitch.
Sophia Minuto fouls one off.
Hannah Carney throwing to first.
Kennedy Beniamino is out at first. Batavia's first baseman is Sophia Minuto
View looking north on South Pearl Street of the Oakfield Hotel and Bowling Lanes. Photo by Howard Owens.
The Oakfield Hotel and Bowling Lanes has new owners.
Batavians Tom Fluker, a Pepsi account executive, and Patrick Wester, owner of A to Z General Contracting, have teamed up
Tom Fluker
to purchase the bar/restaurant and 12-lane bowling center.
The facility had been owned since 2019 by Cory Paris, also a Batavia resident.
Prior to that, the Scopano family owned the business – known as the Oakfield Hotel and Scopano’s Paradise Lanes -- for more than 50 years.
Speaking by telephone to The Batavian this morning, Fluker indicated the duo has an ambitious plan to increase the entertainment options at the South Pearl Street location.
“We’ve got a lot of ideas. There’s really five aspects to the place,” Fluker said, rattling off the following areas that need to be addressed – rooms for rent, outdoor pavilion, bowling lanes, interior renovation and the bar/restaurant.
He said there are eight one-bedroom apartments, plus a loft and a two-bedroom unit upstairs.
“Over the course of time, we want to keep the loft and the two bedroom and then we want to take the eight apartments and make two or three one-bedroom apartments and have some for office space,” he said. “We’d like to rent out some office space for meetings, or maybe a lawyer or somebody wants to come in.”
Fluker said he and Wester eventually want to utilize the huge outdoor pavilion for summer activities such as horseshoes, volleyball and cornhole.
“The biggest issue is there is such a big walk from outside to go inside to get beer and food or whatever. So, we're going to put some coolers and some grills outside for the players to have quick access to their drinks and for something to eat,” he said.
Bowling has always been a large part of the operation, but there haven’t been any certified leagues there recently. Fluker said that he and Wester aim to rectify that situation.
“We’re going to go through the lanes – pinsetters, scoring and the oil machine – to make sure that things are running the way they need to be to have league bowling,” he noted. “We’re looking at this in three phases, over the next three to four years, with the goal of making it a high-end bowling center.”
He said they are looking at upgrading the scoring, adding flat screens, purchasing glow house balls and installing black lights and specialty lighting for cosmic bowling on the weekends or for birthday parties. Fluker, who served as president of the Genesee Region USBC for several years, said he also wants to restore the youth bowling program in Oakfield.
Once up and running, the lanes will be called Strike Force Lanes, he said.
As far as the bar and restaurant are concerned, Fluker said they are looking at a train theme, tipping their cap to the history of the railroad that ran near to the building.
“If I’m looking at the picture correctly, the railroad ran about 40 to 50 feet away from the building, and I think across the road, kind of diagonally, was the West Shore (Railroad) depot,” he offered. “I’ve been getting some West Shore memorabilia and will also incorporate some old pictures from the Oakfield Hotel from back in the day. And, for sure, we’ll be adding some lighting and getting rid of the taxidermy that has been there forever.:”
Fluker said the kitchen will be remodeled to increase efficiency and TVs will be added in the restaurant area, which eventually will take on a sports theme. The partners also are looking to add about 20 arcade games, separate from the bar area, and will keep the big room off of the bar for extra seating and for larger gatherings.
“We’re going to get in there in July and take a look at the situation,” he said. “Get into the walls and ceiling to see what’s going on. Obviously, we’re going to take a look at the roof over the bowling lanes. If you don’t have a (solid) roof, you don’t have bowling. Plus, we're going to make it handicapped accessible."
The business is currently closed.
A May 19 entry on the Paris Oakfield Hotel Facebook page read as follows:
As many of you have heard we have sold the hotel. We as a family have decided this was in our best interest. We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts who have supported us these last five years. We will miss all of our regulars and all the relationships that were built. We appreciated the opportunity of being a part of this community. We wish the new owners nothing but the best!
Our last day open will be tomorrow 5/20, come on down for one last drink at the Paris Oakfield Hotel!
The Oakfield-Alabama Boys Tennis team was invincible until it wasn't.
The Hornets finish the season at 15-1 after droppingthe Class B3 Section V final to Cal-Mum 3-2.
Thursday's Games:
Preston Tobolski over Lorenzo Martelle 6-2, 6-1
Mason Cadieux lost to Nate Doll 3-6, 4-6
Randy McIntire lost to Oliver Johnson 5-7 (7-3) 6-0, 6-0
Carson Warner/Trevor Enes lost to Garrett Thompson/Jeremiah Anderson 6-2, 6-3
Tyler Jirovec/Colton Yasses over Michael Gere/Max Poray 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
This was a great final," said Coach David Carpino. "I'm extremely proud of our team. They are a great bunch of kids, and they had a great season. I will miss them!"
