Oakfield-Alabama easily dispatched of Clyde-Savannah in their Class C2 sectional playoff game on Friday, 84-28.
Scoring for the Hornets:
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
Cayden Pfalzer became Pembroke’s all-time leading scorer in Boys Basketball and Tyson Totten scored his 1,000th point on Friday as the Dragons went on to beat Alexander 81-55 in their sectional playoff game.
Pfalzer needed 24 points to reach 1,128 and pass J.P. Coles and Pfalzer finished with exactly 24 points on the night.
Totten entered the game with 999 career points so hit the milestone with his first bucket of the night.
Pfalzer, who has played varsity since his freshman year, has averaged 21.6 points per game this season.
Totten averaged 10.8 points per game his freshman season and was the leading scorer in the league his sophomore year, averaging 20.8 points, and came back his junior year to again lead the league in scoring with 20.3 points per game.
“We knew from a young age that Tyson had a chance to be a great player,” coach Matt Shay said. “He and Cayden are some of the hardest workers I have ever been around. He has committed to time in the gym, time in the weight room, and camps in the summer and it is paying off. I'm also really proud of him because he has improved his all-around game. I've challenged him to be a better passer and defender, and he's made considerable strides in both areas."
On Friday, Avery Ferreira scored 12 points for Pembroke. Chase Guzdek scored 10 and had 10 rebounds and Jon Sure had five assists.
Alexander’s Dylan Pohl scored 22 points and Kingston Woods scored nine.
“I wasn't really pleased with how we played defensively, giving up 31 in the first half,” Shay said. “Credit to coach Hanley and his squad on how they executed their game plan, we're really having a tough time with it. We played much better in the second half.”
Photos by Alison Lang.
Tyson Totten with his parents, Jamie Totten and Jamie Totten.
Cayden Pfalzer (Submitted photo).
Members of Batavia's Indoor Track and Field teams were able to advance on Thursday in the State Qualifier Meet at Nazareth College.
Cole Grazioplene won the 600m with a time of 1:23.96. This time broke his own school record and was in one of the best races of the day.
Nate Canale qualified for the State Championship meet in the 1000m by finishing 3rd in 2:38.78.
Sheldon Siverling and Parker Kleinbach are going to represent Bataivia in the Shot Put and the Weight Throw respectively. Sheldon threw 50'-3" in the Shot Put for his first career throw over 50' and Parker threw 58'-9.75 to finish 2nd in the Weight Throw. Batavia has had an athlete qualify for States in the Throws in every season since 2008, a 15-plus year run of success.
The boys 4x400 Relay qualified for States by winning in a blistering fast time of 3:30.23. The team members who ran the relay are Fabian Vazquez, Parris Price, Ryan Dillon, and Cole Grazioplene.
The boys 4x800 relay finished 3rd with a time of 8:20.63, which is the second fastest time in team history. Relay members included Cody Harloff, Donavin Solis, Noah Pickard, and Nate Canale.
Ava Wierda finished 5th in the Weight Throw with a distance of 39'-10.25".
Mallory Boyce earned a 7th-place finish in the 1500m with a time of 5:18.34.
"Batavia has had an athlete compete at the New York State Indoor Track Championships every year for over 30 years," Coach Nicholas Burk said. "This is an incredible streak of success and a testament to the quality of athletes we've been blessed to coach as part of our program during that span. We will have nine boys attending the state meet next week and look to have multiple athletes return with state medals."
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Parker Kleinbach taking 2nd place in weight throw
Cole Grazioplene winning the boys 600m
Press release:
Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has announced the lineup for events taking place onsite alongside the 3 Triple Crown Races Dates this spring.
The Derby Gala returns on the first Saturday in May on the 6th. Cost is $129 per person and includes Buffet Dinner, Open Bar, a $10 Wager on the Derby, Derby Glass, Derby T-shirt, $60 in Free Play and bourbon sampling from Woodford Reserve, the official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby.
A limited number of hotel specials are available on that day – The special is $399 and includes 2 entries to the party and a hotel room that evening.
On that same day, the Park Place Room will be host to the Superfecta Special – which includes a $25 Free Play, $5 Wager on the Derby, Derby Program and a ¼ Chicken Meal from the Center Street Smokehouse. Cost is $30 per person and attendees can pay at the door.
On Preakness Stakes Day - Saturday, May 20th, the 2nd Annual Tacos and Tequila event, presented by Teremana Tequila, takes place inside the Park Place Room. Cost is $40 and includes Tequila Sampling from multiple vendors, Taco Bar, $20 in Free Play, a $5 wager on the Preakness Stakes and a Taco Chip and Salsa Bowl to take home.
The hotel special for this event is $229 and includes 2 entries to the event and a hotel room that evening.
The final jewel of the Triple Crown is the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 10th. That same day inside Park Place is the Bourbon and Whiskey Fest, sponsored by Jack Daniels and Old Forester. Cost is $40 and includes Bourbon and Whiskey Sampling, Grazing Stations, $20 in Free Play and a $5 wager on the Belmont Stakes.
The hotel special for this event is $229 and includes 2 entries to the event and a hotel room that evening.
Tickets to Derby Gala, Tacos & Tequila and Bourbon and Whiskey Fest can all be purchased beginning on Friday at 10am at BataviaConcerts.com.
Those wishing to book the hotel specials can find direct links to do so on the hotel deals page on the Batavia Downs website at https://www.bataviadownsgaming.com/hotel-deals/ beginning on Friday morning.
“The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing is such a fun time of year,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO for Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. “By putting on these events in conjunction with these major races, we bring a lot of tremendous joy to our guests.”
Tickets are also on sale on BataviaConcerts.com for already announced events: KISS This!, Music of the Stars, Beach Boys Tribute Show and the entire Pepsi Rockin’ The Downs Summer Concert Series. Tickets for the upcoming Fur Ball Gala event may be purchased by calling Sara at Batavia Downs at (585) 344-6155.
In their opening round Section V playoff game, Elba had no trouble with Hinsdale on Thursday, winning 79-24.
Sydney Reilly scored 24 points, along with seven rebounds and seven steals. Lydia Ross scored 13 and had six steals. Halie Scouten scored eight points.
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here
Press release:
The Batavia Ramparts played a strong weekend of hockey earning two championships and a 2nd place finish in the Gateway to the Adirondacks Tournament. Mite Team Sprague was the first team to get in on the winning, taking 2nd place to a strong West Hartford Wolves team in what was many players’ first-ever hockey tournament. Carley Grice picked up a shutout award and Duke Defreeze added a Hat Trick award puck on their way to the 2nd finish.
Pee Wee III earned their way into the championship game with a tough come-from-behind win against league foe, West Seneca, in an early Sunday morning matchup. Later that afternoon, with all of their Ramparts family cheering them on, they faced off against Lysander who beat them 7-1 earlier in the tournament. Lysander got out to a quick lead but the Ramparts never gave up and battled back to a 6-4 victory and a tournament championship. This was a total team effort led by Aaron Kujawski in goal, with big games coming from Joey Pellegrino, Gunner Hale, and Arlo Hoisington.
Up next was the Squirt III team with their chance to add another championship. They played to a tie in an early morning game to secure a spot in the finals against Navy Elite, who they also lost to early in the tournament 3-1. In this revenge match-up, Batavia started out with a quick 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Dylan Reidmiller and Cole Woodward and never looked back. They took that lead into the third period until Hunter Sprague added a third goal. Jack McCarthy put it away with an empty netter making it a 4-0 final score. Sammy Calletto was awarded two shutout pucks for the tournament and Hunter Sprague picked up a playmaker puck with three assists in the championship game.
Amelia McCulley scored 22 points as Notre Dame won its opening-round sectional playoff game in Class C2, 59-16.
Avelin Tomidy scored 16 points and Sofia Falleti scored 10.
Also, on Wednesday:
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
The Alexander Trojans won a first-round Class C2 playoff in Boys Basketball over Kendall at home on Tuesday, 68-55.
Dylan Pohl scored 25 points for Alexander, and Trent Woods scored 17.
The Trojans seeded #8 at 7-14, face #1 seed Pembroke (19-1) in Pembroke on Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m.
Photos by Debra Reilly.
Four finals of the Western New York Pop-Up Series headlined the card at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 20) with a total of $63,000 distributed between those events.
In the $12,000 Trackmaster 70 pace, Ellieonthemove (Kevin Cummings) struck an early lead and maintained that position for the duration of the mile. After setting quarters of :29 :59.3 and 1:29.1, Ellieonthemove paced home on top by 1-¼ lengths in 1:59 flat.
Ellieonthemove ($4.50) scored her first win of the year for owner Sidney Easton and trainer Tony Cummings.
Next up was the $15,000 Trackmaster 74 pace and Bettor Country (Kevin Cummings) tripped-out to victory.
Kissinbythebeaches (Keith Kash Jr.) got the lead heading into turn two but led unchallenged for only a short time. Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) pulled first up at three-eighths and Bettor Country was right on his back. Blazing Light had the lead passing the 1:27.3 three-quarters with Bettor Country still in pursuit. Down the lane, Bettor Country had more pace and won by a length in 1:57.3.
It was the second straight win for Bettor Country ($11.20) who is owned by Rocco Stebbins and trained by Joe Skowyra.
The $18,000 Trackmaster 78 pace produced an upset when Reggiano (Dave McNeight III) turned an early move into a 15-1 payoff.
Candy's Desire (Kyle Cummings) was parked out to the quarter in 28 flat before claiming the front in the first turn. Almost immediately, Reggiano was tipped from third and rushed to the lead, cutting the half in :56.4. Reggiano continued to dictate the pace under duress but held off the pack to the top of the lane. There, Reggiano paced away clear by 1-¾ lengths in 1:55.2.
It was the second win of 2023 for Reggiano ($30.00) and owner/trainer Marc Shuttleworth.
Finally, in the lone trot of the series for $18,000 Trackmaster 77 entrants, Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) strung his third consecutive victory in convincing style.
Fisher put Good Boy right on the point while Schickel Fritz (Keith Kash Jr.) got parked out the whole mile. Good Boy trotted smart to the half in :59.4 and three-quarters in 1:29.4 as the field backed-up three-wide behind him. Good Boy rounded the final bend in complete control and pulled away to a 1-½ length win in 1:59.3.
It was the fourth win of the year for Good Boy ($3.60) and owner Mary Warriner. Ryan Swift trains the winner.
All four series final winners took new seasonal marks.
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 was hit in the last race on Monday. The combination of 4-5-8-3-6 returned $3,985.40 for a 20-cent wager.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 23) at 3 p.m. Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live 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 at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo by McKenna Dziemian.
Press release:
Notre Dame/Alexander competed at their sectional meet on Sunday at Nazareth. Jadyn Mullen placed first in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.20 and 1st in the 600 with a time of 1:39.71. Shannon Schmieder placed second in the 55-meter dash with a new personal best of 7.54 and third in the long jump of 16' 2.25". Laurel Kania placed first in the high jump with a season-best of 5 '2 ". Our boys 4x800 team of Cooper Parker, Josh Bartz, Matt Compton and Justice Yourkowski placed 5th with a season-best time of 10:11.09. Matt Compton placed 5th while earning the school record in the pole vault, vaulting 10'.
Press release:
The Byron-Bergen Senior High School proudly announces that every winter varsity Byron-Bergen sport team achieved the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Scholar-Athlete Team award. The winter sports teams are boys basketball, girls basketball, cheerleading, boys swimming, girls swimming, winter track, and wrestling.
“The District is very proud of these athletes for not only shining on the field or court, but working hard in the classroom,” said Byron-Bergen Athletic Director Rich Hannan. “It is phenomenal to have every sports team achieve a Scholar-Athlete Team award. Keep up the great work, Bees!”
The Scholar-Athlete program recognizes athletes for their academic success. NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Team awards go to teams whose average GPA of 75% of the athletic team equals 90 or above.
Scholar-Athlete Team award recipients:
Boys Basketball:
Girls Basketball:
Cheerleading:
Boys Swimming:
Girls Swimming:
Winter Track:
Wrestling:
For the 17th time, the Batavia Girls Indoor Track Team won a sectional title on Saturday.
The boys picked up their 11th sectional trophy.
The boys won with 148 points, beating out Uprep's 84 points. The girls found Brockport a touch opponent and closed out the victory on the final event, posting a winning score of 111.5 points to Brockport's 109 points.
"The girls from Brockport were very tough and are well coached and never quit throughout the entire competition," Coach Nicholas Burk said.
"We had Contributions from across the board - Throws, Hurdles, Jumps, Sprints, Distance," Burk said. "We were able to get over 70 athletes qualified for this meet which helped us to have the depth to finish strong in the relays. The girls team was up by .5 points going into the relays and needed to outscore a very tough Brockport team in the relays to secure the championship. Girls who were on their third events came through big time by winning the 4x8 and 4x4 and placing 4th in the 4x2 to score 24 points to close out the meet. The boys team had a phenomenal day and found ways to score in every event except one (55m). They also finished off the strong meet, scoring in all three relays too. Our success was a direct reflection of the commitment of our athletes and the work our coaches put in to prepare for this meet. The Blue Devil athletes displayed extreme toughness in this meet and collectively left it all on the track."
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Senior Fabian Vazquez placed 2nd in boys triple jump
Senior Sydney Konieczny 55 meter hurdles
Senior boys Noah Pickard and Gavin Fowler 3200 run
Sophmore Ava Anderon Long Jump
Sophmore Sheldon Silverling Class A2 Shot Put Champion
Senior Abby Moore on the last lap of the girls 4x200 meter relay help the girls clinch their 17th track title
Head Coach Nick Burk embraces Fabian Vazquez after the boys won their 11th indoor track title
In a tightly fought battle, Batavia Notre Dame United picked up a quarterfinals Section V win on Thursday over Brighton/HFL, 4-2.
Jameson Motyka led the way with a hat trick, scoring two goals in the second period (both with assists from Ivan Milovidov, and one on a power play), and then the icing on the cake at the 10:39 mark in the third period with an assist from Cooper Hamilton.
Brady Johnson also scored an unassisted goal in the second period.
United had 30 shots on goal.
Goalie Rhys Tanner blocked 16 shots.
United is the #3 seed in the tournament and plays #2 seed Victor in the semifinal on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Rochester Ice Arena.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Pembroke improved to 19-1 on Wednesday with a 71-56 win over Oakfield-Alabama.
The Hornets dropped to 17-3.
For Pembroke, Cayden Pfalzer had 28 points, Tyson Totten, 17, and Chase Guzdek, 10 points and 10 rebounds.
For O-A, Colton Yasses, 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists, Kyle Porter, 14 points, three steals, and Brayden Smith, 11 points, six rebounds
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
Elba beat Lyndonville 61-45 on Wednesday night in Boys Basketball.
Angel Penna scored 26 points.
Other Boys Basketball scores:
Photos by Debra Reilly.
Le Roy families got word this week that either solidified their hopes of remaining the Oatkan Knights football team or dashed visions of becoming a merged super team of three school districts.
Le Roy Superintendent Merritt Holly sent a letter home Wednesday to student athletes and families revealing the final decision about pursuing a football program merger with Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen.
After outlining the actions taken thus far, including a meeting with all concerned and taking feedback and questions from students and family members, Holly provided the answer that apparently most wanted to hear.
“After reviewing enrollment data, projected roster numbers, the rationale for combined teams, and student-athlete/parent feedback, the Le Roy Central School District Board of Education has decided to not merge for the upcoming 2023 Fall Football Season with Caledonia-Mumford and Byron-Bergen Central Schools,” he said. “There will not be a vote to merge at the board meeting on February 28, 2023.”
He thanked the district community — board members, coaches, students, parents — for being open and willing to listen to reasons for considering a merger.
“On rare occasions, we see schools merge to help grow existing programs,” he said. “A merger to grow existing programs becomes a hard sell to student-athletes and parents because the outcome is unpredictable. Change is not easy and giving up traditions can be even harder.”
There are many questions that arise with such a proposition, he said, and students weren’t short on them. They asked about playing time, why a merger when they already had three levels, what happens to senior night and homecoming, who will be coaching, to name a few.
The mission of the Le Roy Central School District is to provide an exceptional, high quality educational environment where all learners are empowered to succeed, Holly said.
Reasons for a potential merger included filling the roster and avoiding injuries by overplaying and over practicing student athletes. The rationale now for not merging after taking all feedback and research into consideration is:
“The Le Roy Central School District would like to thank Caledonia-Mumford and Byron- Bergen Central Schools for their willingness to engage in a meaningful discussion on a potential football merger,” he said.
File Photo of Le Roy Knights during a winning game.
Traveling to Lyndonville on Tuesday, the Elba Lancers came away with a win, 68-55, in Girls Basketball.
Sydney Reilly scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Halie Scouten scored 15 points and 15 rebounds. Lydia Ross scored 10 points. Kennedy Augello scored six and had six assists.
The Lancers evened the team's season record at 10 and 10.
Girls Basketball on Tuesday:
Boys Basketball:
Photos by Kristin Smith
Driver Jim Morrill Jr. achieved another major milestone in his stellar career at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb.13) when he drove Sportskeeper ($4.70) to an easy gate to wire, 1:56.1 victory in the seventh race to achieve his 8,000th lifetime win in the sulky. Morrill would also win with Gorgeous View (1:58.3, $7.00) and Silver Buckeye (2:00.2, $8.40) for the hat trick to put an exclamation mark on his landmark day.
At the end of business Monday, Morrill had 42,173 starts with 8,002 wins, 6,594 seconds and 5,413 thirds and $112,388,888 in earnings for his tenure in the sport. That purse total puts him 21st on the all-time earnings list among all drivers in North America. So far in 2023 Morrill has a UDR of .496 and sits in second among all drivers in North America with less than 300 starts so far this year. And at the current Batavia Downs meet, Morrill is the leading UDR driver (.496) and sits second for wins (22) and earnings ($135,240).
Morrill reached 7,500 wins just two years and three months ago in 2020 at Batavia and it only took him 1,850 starts to get those next 500 wins.
A native of Methuen, Massachusetts, Morrill had aspirations of playing in the National Hockey League after being a junior hockey star prior to his career in harness racing, and those who know him would attest he was good enough to achieve that goal. But Morrill chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and made his first driving start at Foxboro Park in 1984. The family’s operation eventually moved to Rosecroft Raceway, where Morrill began getting many catch drives and soon found himself in high demand. In 1990 Morrill went to New York and started driving for Ray Schnittker and George Anthony at Yonkers Raceway and with all the success he had there, decided that move would be long-term.
During his time competing on the Metropolitan circuit, Morrill recalled his most memorable race as being the 2004 Meadowlands Pace where Holborn Hanover was a 58-1 upset winner in 1:49 to equal the stake mark. Among his other notable wins are three Breeders Crown finals with See You At Peelers, Won The West and Yellow Diamond and the 2012 Yonkers Trot with Archangel.
After 15 years of driving at the highest level of competition, Morrill left the big city in 2005 and relocated his family and business to western New York. And since arriving on scene there has not only been at the very top of the local driver colony, but also became a dominant force in the New York Sire Stakes.
In 2006 at Batavia Downs, Morrill set the all-time driving standard with 177 wins and a UDR of .537 for one meet. He also co-holds the track mark for most driving wins on one card (seven) and just last year, became the first driver to ever surpass $1 million in purse earnings in a single season at Batavia Downs.
The fourth and final preliminary leg of the Western New York Pop-Up Series was also held on Monday with several horses staking their claim to be favored in the finals that will be held next Monday (Feb. 20).
In the $9,000 Trackmaster 78 pace, Faithful Desire (Kevin Cummings) won for the third straight time, and her sixth out of the last seven at Batavia going back to last year. It was a hard-fought victory that saw this lone mare in the field by a nose and pay $5.50. Eva Saintcross owns the Shawn McDonough-trained winner.
Then in the $7,500 Trackmaster 74 pace, Blazing Light (Kyle Cummings) won for the third straight time and again in convincing fashion. This week it was a six length, 1:57.3 romp for the driver-owned gelding trained by Tammy Cumming. Blazing Light returned $2.70.
And in the $9,000 Trackmaster 77 trot, Good Boy (Ray Fisher Jr.) went gate to wire to claim his second straight win to go along with a pair of second place finishes in the series. Mary Warriner owns the $4.30 winner that is trained by Ryan Swift.
The Monday (Feb. 20) finals will offer purses ranging from $12,000 to $18,000 while the consolation races will go for $7,000 to $10,000 each. Spots in both will be secured by the top money earners in each Trackmaster category.
When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 16) at 3 p.m. there will be a $1,686 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta which will be available in race 11.
Free full card past performance forms for the entire card of live 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 at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo by McKenna Dziemian.
Longtime league bowler Marshall Merle of Batavia has been a consistent 195-205 average bowler for 35 years at Mancuso Bowling Center.
But, until this past week, perfection on the lanes had eluded the 63-year-old right-hander.
That all changed on Thursday night when he recorded his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man League.
After starting with 178, Merle, using a Roto Grip Halo ball, put together 12 consecutive strikes for the perfect game on lanes 17-18. He finished with 193 for a 671 series -- raising his average to 197.
"I got a real break on the 11th ball," said Merle, a mechanic for LandPro. "I missed my mark three boards inside and it just sat there and the 5-7 was up. But right before the rack came down, the 5 fell and rolled into and took out the 7."
Merle said he made a great shot on the 12th ball and all 10 pins went into the pit.
"I've come close many times over the last five years, shooting several 290 games," he said.
In other Genesee Region USBC league play last week:
- William Yates of Churchville started with 290 en route to a 770 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen. The xx-year-old righty's big series raised his average to 216.
- Matt Baker of Elba registered 290 in a 729 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
- Mike Pettinella of Batavia made it four straight 700 series with 279--762 in the Turnbull Heating Triple League while Mike Szatkowski of Batavia rolled his second straight 700 with 276--732 in the County Line Stone Trios League, both at Mancuso's.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
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