Sports

The YMCA is sponsoring a Kickball Tournament on Aug. 11 at the Batavia High School athletic fields to benefit the Healthy Children and Families Coalition.

Rain date is Sunday, Aug. 12.

Funds raised will assist the coalition in providing local families with the Y's Get Fit Program at no cost. 

There will be Family Teams of all ages playing, as well as Adult Teams for ages 16 and older.

Entry fee is $100 per team of eight to 10 players.

Deadline to register is Aug. 1.

Register by stopping by the YMCA at 209 E. Main St. in Batavia or by calling 344-1664.

On the day of the tournament, registration sign-in begins at 9 a.m. and kickoff is at 10. Batavia HS is located at 260 State St. in the City of Batavia.

Chicken BBQ will be available for $10, tickets presale or day of tournament. Buy presale tickets at the Batavia Youth Bureau, 12 MacArthur Drive, Batavia (Phone is 345-6470.).

The Muckdogs' woes continue as they dropped the sixth of their last seven games by losing 5-2 to Vermont in the first game of a three-game series against the Lake Monsters. Batavia’s bullpen surrendered a run in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Marlins 2014 second overall selection also made his Muckdogs’ debut from the bullpen in Friday’s game.

Vermont got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when two runs came across the plate. The first was on a solo home run from Marcos Brito sent a shot over the right field wall to get the Lake Monsters on the board.

Batavia answered back in the top of the fourth inning. Jerar Encarnacion ripped his second double of the day, and he would come around to score on a Michael Donadio home run to left field, his fourth of the year. That home run knotted the game at 2-2, but would be the only runs Batavia scored in the contest.

The fifth, sixth and seventh innings saw runs cross the plate for the Lake Monsters. The Muckdogs fell victim to two unearned runs in those innings. The deciding run came against the Marlins’ second overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft, Tyler Kolek. He would get charged with the loss in the game despite the unearned run that scored on a wild pitch.

Batavia was hobbled by three errors in the game, and helped Vermont’s winning run to cross the plate. Batavia’s bullpen surrendered costly runs again late in the ballgame that put their chances of winning out of reach.

Game two of the series is on Saturday, a 6:05 p.m. first pitch at Centennial Field in Burlington.

Batavia Downs started a trend in harness racing in New York in 1989 by creating a passing lane, which seemed like the right move at the time to give horses behind the leader a better chance to move into position.

But times change. Over the years, the passing lane came to give favorites an advantage so after Yonkers removed its passing lane and races suddenly became more competitive, Batavia Downs, for the 2018 season, decided the passing lane was, indeed, passé.

"Taking out the passing lane affects the race because there’s more movement in the race," said Todd Haight, GM of live racing for Batavia Downs. "Instead of horses staying at the rail and closing up the inside and never moving, the passing lane being gone, they have to move to the outside at some point, so you’re seeing more flow."

That makes for more exciting racing, Height said.

"You heard the track announcer few times tonight say three in, four out," Haight said. "Those are things he never said because very few horses ever left the rail because they were just lined up along the inside. Now they can’t do that."

Yonkers was the first track in New York to remove the passing lane and it's reduced the times the favorite wins the race by 9 percent.

That reduction increases the odds for race fans to place money-winning wagers.

A lot has changed at Batavia Downs, Haight said, since he first came to the track in the 1970s. Back then, Batavia Downs was just harness racing. There are now multiple restaurants, the sports bar Rush 34, video terminal gaming, and a hotel.

"This is a destination now," Haight said. "We are now a designation and you can see by the size of our crowd tonight on a Wednesday, I can guarantee you there were more people in our clubhouse tonight than in any track in the country. I can guarantee that. People are responding and that’s why we’re doing so well right now."

More changes are planned, including opening up 34 Rush to the track side of the main building.

The 11th race Wednesday night also had a touch of nostalgia. By the time the 11th race rolled around, the regular starters truck had developed a mechanical issue, so the track put into service the sedan it used in the 1980s. It was the same sedan that paced the legendary harness racing horse Niatross, with trainer and driver ‎Clint Galbraith.

"Many people think to this day, Niatross is the greatest harness horse of all time," Haight said. "Niatross set world record after world record."

Top photo: Step Beyond, winner of the 11th race on Wednesday. All photos are from the 11th race.

Video of Niatross racing at Batavia Downs, Sept. 6, 1980.

The Muckdogs were just an out away from a second consecutive 5-4 win over the Staten Island Yankees on Thursday afternoon and they let the game slip away.

Batavia lost 6-5.

Evan Estes gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth to record the loss and drop his record to 0-2. It was his first blown save of the season.

The Muckdogs supplied hometown fans with plenty of offense, collecting a total of 10 hits. Brayan Hernandez, Demetrius Sims, Sean Reynolds, Denis Karas all had two hits. For times, one of those hits was a round-tripper and Hernandez scored three runs. Both Sims and Reynolds had two RBIs.

The Muckdogs now go on the road for six games, returning home Aug. 2 to take on Mahoning Valley.

The Batavia Muckdogs snapped a four-game skid Wednesday night against the Staten Island Yankees with a 5-4 win.

Michael Donadio had three hits for the home team, scored a run and drove in a run. Denis Karas had two hits and scored to runs. The winning pitcher was the second one into the game, Peyton Culbertson, who entered the game with a 3-2 lead and scattered five hits over three innings without giving up a run. He's now 1-1 with a 1.73 ERA. C.J. Carter, who alternates a 3/4 release with a sidearm delivery, picked up his first save, pitching an inning and a third, striking out three without allowing a base runner.

Top photo: Umpire Matt Whipple jumps to avoid an errant throw by catcher Pablo Garcia, who scrambled to recover a wild pitch by Elkin Alcala, seen jumping to avoid a sliding score by Yankees Jesus Bastidas in the top of the eighth inning. Next to photos, Sean Reynolds with a stolen base in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Elkin Alcala.

Pablo Garcia attempts a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh. The ball rolled foul, well down the third-base line. He would later single to left in the at-bat.

C.J. Carter with his sidearm delivery.

The Muckdogs could manage only three hits and one run Tuesday night to open a three-game series against the Staten Island Yankees.

The home team lost 7-1 with Alberto Guerrero (2-2, 2.72 era), who gave up four runs, two earned, in the first four frames, taking the loss.

Batavia will try again against the Yankees farm team at 7:05 tonight and they'll wrap up the series tomorrow at 11:05 a.m.

The 17th annual Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner will be held at Terry Hills Restaurant and Banquet Facility on Saturday, Oct. 20.

This event is sponsored by the Batavia Coaches Association. Tickets are $30 per dinner and are available at the Athletic Directors Office at Batavia High School after Sept. 1.

Social Hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 then the induction ceremony.

Here are this year's inductees:

• Coleen Tooley Oleski -- Class of 1965
• Steve Frieday -- Class of 1968
• Rich Anderson -- Class of 1976
• Michele Smith Jones -- Class of 1982
• Gerry Carmichael -- 1983-2018
• Jon Sanfratello -- Class of 1992
• Ice Devils Hockey Team -- 1994-1995

For more information, please call 343-2480, ext. 2003.

Batavia High School's football Head Coach Brennan Briggs ran a football camp last week and 40 young players turned out to learn more about the game. Current Blue Devils staff, along with former and current players, assisted with the camp.

Submitted photo.

Saturday was tractor pull day at the Genesee County Fair.

More than 90 children from age 4 to age 8 turned out at the Batavia Sports Park on Friday for Ricky Palermo's annual soccer clinic.

This was the 15th year Palermo hosted the clinic.

"It grows a little bit every year and that's exciting," Palermo said.

The clinic helps raise awareness about spinal injury, Palermo said, and shows the kids that even a person with a spinal injury can still do things.

Five runs that crossed the plate in the last two innings for Mahoning Valley would prove to be too much for the Muckdogs to overcome in a 7-3 loss to the division-leading Scrappers.

Mahoning Valley got an early jump on Humberto Mejia on Saturday. They picked up two runs in the first inning. Two of the first three batters came around to score. Tyler Freeman continued his tear of NYPL pitching with a triple after one out. He was scored by a Mitch Reeves' double, one of Reeves four hits in the game. Hosea Nelson, who had a home run in game one of the series drove in the second run to give the Scrappers a 2-0 cushion before Batavia even got to bat.

Batavia answered with their first runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Albert Guaimaro hit a triple with one out, his first of two in the game. Then a two-out single from Denis Karas scored him to cut the Scrappers’ lead in half after the second.

Both pitchers locked in a pitchers’ duel until the tie was broken in the eighth inning with bullpen pitchers on the mound. Batavia and Mahoning Valley scored two runs each in their half of the inning to bat. The Scrappers rally started with two outs in the top half of the frame. Reeves notched his fourth hit of the game and Nelson got on by reaching on a throwing error. Angel Lopez hit the clutch two-run single to make it a 4-1 game after the top of the inning.

The bottom of the eighth saw the Muckdogs answer with their two runs from an RBI single from Sean Reynolds. His base knock brought in one run, and the second came on a throwing error to the plate that cut the deficit to just one run.

The 4-3 lead in the ninth for the visitors swelled by three more runs, all coming with two outs. Jose Fermin singled home Michael Tinsley, and after a botched foul pop-up on a miscommunication, two more scored on a Freeman single and a wild pitch.

Batavia then went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, giving Mahoning Valley the game and the series W. The final game of the series before the league off day is today at 1:05.

Press release:

The Genesee County STOP-DWI and Youth Bureau are having their Annual Night at the Ballpark on Wednesday, July 25^th at Dwyer Stadium.

The first 250 youth under 16 can get in free if they contact the Youth Bureau at 344-3960 to reserve tickets for the event.

Youth can come to the Youth Bureau to pick the tickets up or we will take their information and they can pick them up at the box office.

There will also be free Muckbucks to the first 60 youth, and more than 500 prizes and giveaways on hand. There will also be two bikes from Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle given away, one for a boy and one for a girl.

There will be educational booths on hand, including one with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office with child ID kits. A juggler will be on hand as well for the kids’ entertainment.

Genesee County’s #1 crime fighting K-9 will be there to assist with the first pitch!

All of this is made possible from our wonderful sponsors and contributors: GCASA, Genesee County Sheriff’s Association, Kiwanis Club of Batavia, United States Gypsum Co., Batavia Lions Club, City of Batavia Police Benevolent Association, The Original Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Western New York Association of Chiefs of Police, Gerace Realty, Polish Falcons, Tops Friendly Markets, Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, and Alex’s Place.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the game starts at 7:05.

Photo of Batavia Downs state-of-the-art control room courtesy of Batavia Downs.

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

As the doors swing open for the start of the 72^nd season of live harness racing at Batavia Downs on Monday (July 23), patrons, horsemen and horsewomen will see a multitude of changes made by the track to improve the racing product and enhance the wagering value.

The 2018 racing session features 70 dates, including seven matinees that all start at 1:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday evening post times are 5 p.m. with Friday and Saturday night races beginning at 6 o'clock. There are four twilight Saturday programs during the season on Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov.17 and Dec 15 with a 4:45 p.m. post.

Those racing at the Downs this year will be greeted by $600,000 worth of paddock improvements including a new barn that will house two additional races. It was constructed adjacent to the existing four-race paddock and across from the 16-stall wash barn and finished off with fresh blacktop. The new layout of the complex will allow for six races to be in the paddock at one time and provide uncluttered ease of bathing for horses that are done racing.

Fans viewing the races on the monitors in the stands or via simulcast will enjoy an enhanced video product thanks to a brand new audio/visual studio that will broadcast everything in full digital video. The state-of-the-art control room will make the Batavia Downs signal and programming the best the track has ever offered and make the races easier and more enjoyable to watch.

Another change that will be noticeable from both sides of the fence is the passing lane has been removed from the home stretch of the track. Batavia Downs has had a passing lane since 1989 and during that time the track has seen the bias toward inside posts go up dramatically. So in an attempt to create more early movement making outside posts more bettable and decrease the amount of winning favorites, this change was implemented.

“This year we’ve made some changes that we feel will help the horsemen and bettors alike,” said Todd Haight, director/general manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. “The new paddock will make the transition from race to race much easier for our participants and removing the passing lane should add some value for our gamblers. We look forward to getting underway and expect and exciting season of racing."

The schedule looks to provide some of the best competition the track has seen and the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) will be the centerpiece of it. Eight divisions of state-breds will visit the Downs and there will be $800,000 (est.) up for grabs for the participating horses.

Then on Friday Sept. 21, all eight NYSS final consolation races will be held at the Downs with an additional $320,000 to be doled out.

That same night the Downs two signature races will be held. The $15,000 Brian Schroeder Memorial trot and $15,000 Duke Dranichek Memorial pace will feature some of the best Open talent around, including the richest pacer of all time.

Trainer Ron Burke has marked his calendar and said the $7.5 million-dollar man/100-win wonder, Foiled Again is scheduled to compete in the Dranichek pace. Foiled Again has won three $50,000 Kane Memorials in Batavia along with two Saturday night Opens. He likes the track and he’s coming back for a farewell appearance before his mandatory retirement at the end of the year.

"September 9th is the 30^th anniversary of Batavia Downs hosting the Breeders Crown and the card we have on tap for September 21 this year rivals that historic night for purses and competition," Haight said, "and to have Foiled Again here on top of it makes it a real draw for Western New York.” 

The very next night (Saturday Sept.22) the very popular racing under saddle or "RUS" will return for the third year with horses and riders from New York RUS. They will attempt to break the track record that was set in 2016 when they made their first appearance at the track.

The driving colony will be filled with familiar faces but with last year’s dash title winner Larry Stalbaum not returning, a new champion will be crowned in December.

Drew Monti, who is Western New York’s leading dash driver this year, will be in the mix along with Shawn Gray, Kevin Cummings, Ray Fisher Jr., Jim Morrill Jr., Billy Davis Jr. and John Cummings Jr. to name a few.

On the conditioning side, last year’s leading trainer Kim Asher will be back but with a reduced stable. That will open the door for the red hot James Clouser Jr. and three-time best Batavia conditioner JD Perrin to vie for top honors.

Also competing at the Downs this meet will be 18-year-old Riley Asher-Stalbaum who began her training career earlier this year. She has made an instant impact among area trainers with a sparkling Universal Training Rating (UTR) of .428.

Once again the fans will enjoy a plethora of promotions this year and as always, there will be something for everyone on tap.

As has been the norm for many years, racing programs will be free on opening night and the first Saturday of the meet to welcome back our racing fans and each program contains a valuable free play coupon redeemable on the gaming floor.

Sunday July 29 and every Sunday in August is Dollar Days at the Downs. Fans can enjoy dollar drafts, sodas and hot dogs on the apron.

On Saturday Aug. 4, 10 lucky fans will win a stay at the beautiful new Batavia Downs Hotel which is connected to the race track and gaming floor.

One lucky fan will win a $3,000 diamond pendant on Saturday Aug. 11 during a jewelry night giveaway sponsored by TAG Jewelers.

On Saturday Aug.25, 10 lucky patrons will win $100 gift certificates to the Spa at Artemis in Downtown Batavia.

Family Fun Days and the Wiener Dog Races will return on Sunday Aug. 26. The day includes free activities of all kinds for the kids. Then after the live racing is finished, the wiener dogs will hit the track for the main event. Genesee Feeds of Batavia is the official sponsor of this event.

The traditional Driver’s Bike Race will return for the 40^th year on Labor Day (Sept. 3). Eight of the Down’s favorite drivers will be pedaling bicycles from the top of the turn to the wire. Eight fans who select the winning driver will win the bikes used in the race. Labor Day also features the annual chicken barbecue.

For information on racing or promotions log onto www.bataviadownsgaming.com .

Bottom photo, courtesy of Batavia Downs: New paddocks are part of the improvements made at Batavia Downs this year.

Photo: Top golfers in the Arc of Genesee Orleans 42^nd Annual Lullo Memorial Tournament include, from left, Mark State, Tina Lambert, Bruce Briggs, Karen Percarsi and Bill Kusmierski. Not pictured is winner Paul Barton, who scored 81.

Submitted photos and press release:

Golfers, tennis players and bocce players were urged to stay hydrated as Arc of Genesee Orleans 42^nd Annual Lullo Memorial Tournament kicked off Monday at Stafford Country Club.

“It was one of our hottest days ever – just sweltering,” said Arc’s Sandy Konfederath, who has helped coordinate the tournament since 1993. “The biggest challenge was keeping our beverages iced at four key areas at the course. Our volunteers are amazing!”

The 2018 charity event included 102 golfers, with 39 people playing bocce and 12 in the tennis division.

GOLF

In golf play, Paul Barton’s 81 earned him top honors in the low gross category followed by Mark State with 82 and Jan Witkowski, 83. Tina Lambert, a longtime tournament supporter, shot a 93 winning low gross for women.

In low net, Bruce Briggs placed first with a 62. Also placing were Paul Mayer, 65; Greg Strauss, 66 and Terry Sprow, 67. Low net for women went to Karen Percarsi, 72 and Bill Kusmierski won with 71 in the blind bogey classification.

This year’s hole-in-one prize on 8 was a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Limited, courtesy of Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Unfortunately, no one shot an ace to drive away with the vehicle.

In other on the course contests, Jesse Luxon won longest drive on 7 and Bob Gorenflo, closest to the line on 15. In the closest to the pin contests, Nathan Schreib won a golf bag, courtesy of C.H. Wright on 8 (7’4”); Sam Serpe earned first prize on 12 (3’ 3 ½”) with Zach Fuller second (5’ 11”) and Ed Shultz third (11’8”). Greg Strauss won a Schwinn bicycle, donated by Adam Miller Toy & Bike in the top prize on 14 (13’1”).

BOCCE

In bocce, Tracy Sutherland, Lucine Kauffman and Fran Porpiglia, the only three-person team beat nine other four-person teams to come out on top.

TENNIS

On the tennis courts, first place team honors went to Steve Clemm and Jerry Reinhart. Second place team went to Steve Rumery and Marjorie Fulmer. Jerry Reinhart also earned top score in the tennis division.

SPONSORS

Gold sponsors were Turnbull Heating & Air-Conditioning, Graham Corporation, MTE Turf Equipment Solutions/Tom & Lynn Houseknecht, Relph Benefit Advisors and Tompkins Bank of Castile /Insurance Agencies/ Financial Advisors. Silver sponsors were: The Batavia Daily News, Yasses Trucking & Construction. The Bonadio Group, Alan & Cathy Barcomb, Hoffman, Hanafin & Associates, In Memory of Ralph Houseknecht Sr., Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Parkview Health Services, Genesee Valley PennySaver and The Insurance Center.

Also supporting the event were nine golf sponsors, three tennis sponsors, six bocce sponsors, five cart sponsors and nine friend of Arc sponsors.

Door prizes, silent auction and basket raffle items were donated by dozens of area businesses and community members. The winner of the $1,000 cash drawing was Ken Degnan with ticket number 11853.

Funds raised benefit programs and services for people with disabilities served by Arc of Genesee Orleans. The tournament is named in memory of Danny Lullo, a local businessman who came up with the idea to hold a tournament to benefit Arc programs and services for people with disabilities in our community. The tournament is the longest-running charity event at the local private country club.

CHAIRS

Ed Carney is the event chairman. Deb Fischer chairs bocce and Peggy Lamb chairs tennis.

Below photo below: The only three-person bocce team won in the Arc of Genesee Orleans 42^nd Annual Lullo Memorial Tournament. From left, Tracy Sutherland, Lucine Kauffman and Fran Porpiglia beat out nine other four-person teams to win the bocce tournament.