Sports

Photo of Mydelight Bluechip with driver Ben Mc Neil.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The lake effect snows blew into Genesee County making Batavia Downs look like the North Pole and Mydelight Bluechip made like Rudolph and led all the way to win the $10,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace on the last Wednesday night (Dec. 6) of racing for the meet.

Mydelight Bluechip (Ben Mc Neil) was on a “take no prisoners” mission as she left and parked Little Joke (Billy Davis Jr.) and Voltina (Kevin Cummings) to the half in :56.3. As the race went on to the second circuit, Little Joke continued to apply the pressure but Voltina faded away, allowing Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) room to advance to the outside from sixth and move into a closer third position.

Moving through the last turn Mydelight Bluechip put away both of those challengers and led by two lengths. At that point it looked like she’d wrapped things up until Squeeze This (Drew Monti) and Hey Kobe (Shawn McDonough) came flying late, gobbling up ground in the stretch. But Mydelight Bluechip dug in and pulled out the win by a narrowing margin in 1:57.2.

Privately purchased on November 11 by Ellen Mc Neil, Mydelight Bluechip ($20.80) scored her first victory for her new owner and third of the year overall. The 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight is trained by John Mc Neil III, rounding out the Mc Neil trifecta in the race.

In the co-featured $8,000 distaff Open II, Sportsmuffler (Drew Monti) took the lead before the half and from there, left the rest of the field in her rear-view mirror as she pulled away to a seven-length win in 1:56.2. Owned by Lav Racing Stable and trained by Mike Carrubba, Sportsmuffler ($3.70) registered her 10^th win of the year and pushed her earnings to $54,149 as a result.

Drew Monti was red hot on a cold night, winning four races on the card. Besides scoring with Sportsmuffler, Monti also won with Tymal Luckynpink (1:57.1, $5.50), Juxlivin My Dream (1:59.2, $10.20) and Hold On Tightly (2:02.3, $21.20). Monti actually won a fifth race with P L Hellcat in the tenth race but was disqualified and placed second for a Eurorail violation.

Open Water (Jim McNeight Jr.) who finished second in that tenth race was placed first and gave trainer Jim McNeight his 1,000th career training victory. McNeight’s training win total has earned $3,495,864 in purse money for his connections. McNeight also has 3,587 driving wins with an additional purse amount of $13,133,205 to go along.

In the Downs eleventh race, the heavily favored Heavenly Way (Ray Fisher Jr.) was soundly backed in the show pool and finished fourth in a five-horse wire photo. With Heavenly Way being off the board, it prompted eye-popping show payouts of $77.50, $108 and $264.

The driver's race just got a little more interesting after Wednesday night. Larry Stalbaum still leads with 122 wins and Ray Fisher Jr. is second with 119. But on the heels of his big performance, Drew Monti draws into a closer third with 116 wins, only six behind the leader with only four days of racing left in the 2017 meet.  

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Dec. 8) with post time set at 6 o'clock.

Le Roy's boys basketball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 69-30 win over Keshequa (0-3).

Canyon Roster 18 points, Luke Stella 12 points 5 rebounds 3 assists, Reece Tresco and T.Y. Williams 10 points each; Keshequa Nathan Ellinsworth, and Brysin Mellin – 8 points each

Press release:

The Genesee Community College women's basketball team may have dropped its contest to Jamestown, but if the team can start its next contest the way it finished against the Jayhawks they would be a hard team to beat.

The Cougars finished the game with an 11-2 run in a 26-point fourth quarter and although the last quarter was exceptional it was the first quarter that decided the game and allowed Jamestown to win 82-64. Aside from the first quarter, the rest of the game was a two-possession one with Genesee playing the Jayhawks even in the second half at 38 points each.

Rosalyn Sealey led the offensive fourth-quarter surge with 11 of her team-high 18 points. The team's lone sophomore finished the contest shooting 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line and added a team-high four assists.

Two other Cougars had double-digit point performances with Titilopemi Olusola adding 12 points and Reika Murota with 11. The latter converted three threes to account for most of her point production, while the former had a team-high four blocks.

Estella Anderson recorded eight rebounds and Chevaneese Millington registered five steals.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College men's basketball team started its game against Jamestown Community College with an 11-1 run and never looked back in a 99-92 win at Jamestown.

The Cougars coasted the rest of the way after its hot start having never trailed and maintained almost a 10-point lead throughout the contest even into the final minute of play.

Brian Fobbs and Jaheem Page accounted for nearly half of the team's points with the former netting a team-high 26 and the latter 22.

The pair recorded double-double performances with Fobbs adding a team-high 15 boards and Page 10. The Cougar starting five was just one-point shy of having all of its five starters with double-digit points.

Rahmel Thompson finished third in scoring with 18 and Brandon Peters added a team-high five assists.

Just like the North wind that has brought about some wintery weather in our area, the BBA North team cooled off the BBA South to post yet another victory in the annual Karl Marth Cup competition.

The team of Medina and Albion area bowlers stormed back from an early deficit by dominating the Singles event and went on to defeat the team of Batavia-area bowlers, 64 ½-58 ½, on Saturday at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield.

The win avenges a 10-point loss to the South at Medina Lanes last year and makes it six victories in the past seven years for the North, which now leads the series, 14-10.

The competition is dedicated to the memory of the late Karl Marth, a standout tournament bowler in the old Batavia Bowling Association.

Led by Jim Foss’ 514 score for two games, the North shook off a 17-7 deficit in Doubles and an even 12-12 split in Baker Doubles to take 32 ½ out of a possible 48 points in the Singles event.

As a result, the North took a seven-point lead into the final event – Baker Team -- which was won by the South by a 14-13 score.

Foss earned the Scott Wright Memorial Outstanding Bowler Award for averaging 242 for his four individual games.

Also posting Singles’ wins for the North team were Mike Allis (417 for two games), Roger Allis (484), Rob Sease (413), Scott Gibson (434), Rich Culver (467), Jason Mahnke (418) and Hayden Allis (406).

Four South bowlers won their Singles matches – Paul Spiotta (416), Todd Mortellaro (416), Geoff Harloff (451) and Mickey Hyde (432).

Other members of the winning team were Scott Allis, Aaron Verheyn, Mike Lavender, Scott Shields and captain Tom Allis.

Scott Allis and Mahnke combined for a 968 score for two games in Doubles.

For the South, Dean Cadieux Jr. led the way with a 236 average, followed by Hyde’s 227. Other members were Brett Van Duser, captain Ed Doody, Jim Pursel, Steve O’Dell, Mike Pettinella, Gregg Wolff and Rick Saunders.

Photo at top -- BBA North team, winner of this year's Karl Marth Cup. Front from left, Jim Foss, Jason Mahnke, Mike Allis, Rob Sease, Scott Allis, Roger Allis; back, Rich Culver, Scott Gibson, Tom Allis, Hayden Allis, Aaron Verheyn, Mike Lavender.

FIRST MANCUSO SHOW OF ‘BEAT THE CHAMP’ IS SATURDAY

The first of four Beat the Champ bowling shows from Mancuso Bowling Center will be televised this weekend on WBBZ-TV (MeTV). Telecasts are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday and repeated at 11 p.m. Sunday.

This weekend’s show features champion John Danielewicz of Sanborn and challengers Josh Vogt of West Seneca, Dana Voytovich of Cheektowaga and Jeremy Zimmerman of Ransomville.

The second show (Dec. 16-17) will feature the champion from this weekend’s show against Dan Richbart of Clarence, Chuck Jagodzinski of Lancaster and Joseph Pohlman of East Amherst.

Batavians Rich Wagner and Rob Stefani, along with Brockport’s Chris Bardol, will be competing on the Dec. 23-24 telecast, and that will be followed by a youth doubles event featuring members of the Turnbull Heating Junior League on Dec. 30-31.

ESPN TO TELEVISE USA VS. WORLD EVENT ON SUNDAY

Sunday afternoon professional bowling returns to ESPN this Sunday (1 p.m.) with the USA vs. The World team competition -- an event that took place during last month’s PBA World Series of Bowling IX in Reno, Nev.

Representing the USA are Kyle Troup, Bill O’Neill, Ryan Ciminelli (of Cheektowaga), Tom Smallwood and Matt McNeil. PBA Hall of Famer Marshall Holman is the captain.

The World team, captained by England’s Stuart Williams, is comprised of Jason Belmonte of Australia, Jesper Svennson of Sweden, Dom Barrett of England, Thomas Larsen of Denmark and Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia.

Subsequent telecasts are the Chameleon and Shark Championships on Sunday, Dec. 17 beginning at 1 p.m.; the Cheetah and Scorpion Championships on Dec. 24 at 1 p.m.; PBA World Championship on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. and the World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m.

ROSE GARDEN TEAM LEADS GR YOUTH TRAVEL LEAGUE

The Rose Garden Bowl I team of Devon Zinter, Madelynn Pimm, Brooke Jarkiewicz and Michael Sardou holds a 2 ½ point lead over Batavia Strike Force after four sessions of the GR Youth Travel League.

The 13-team league resumes competition at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Rose Garden I defeated Mount Morris, 15-4, in recent action at its home center, while Batavia Strike Force took 16 of 19 points against Rose Garden II.

Individually, Skylar Laesser of Batavia Strike Force led the boys with a 244 game and 685 series while Matt Hurlburt of Perry posted 267—683 and Josiah Yantz of Scopano’s Lanes had 279—624.

Paige Snook of Oak Orchard Bowl I led the girls with a 506 series, followed by Samantha Hyde of Le Roy Legion Lanes with 500 and Haylee Thornley of Batavia X Factor with 496.

VICK CLAIMS ROCHESTER MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Left-hander Dan Vick, arguably the top bowler in Rochester, captured his second career Rochester NY USBC Masters title on Sunday with a 279-191 win over Sam Capizzi Jr. at AMF Empire Lanes.

Vick defeated four bowlers in the step-ladder finals, including USBC Open Championships titlist Mike Rose Jr.

In a 60-and-Over Tour event on Nov. 26 at Pleasure Lanes in Hilton, four Genesee Region USBC bowlers cashed – Paul Spiotta and Fred Gravanda of Batavia, Al Vlietstra of Geneseo and Bob Hodgson of Medina.

Rick Jewell of Rochester won his second straight 60-and-Over Tour event.

The Genesee Region USBC has announced that the 64^th GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament will take place on Jan. 6-7 at Letchworth Pines in Portageville.

Qualifying squads are set for noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 6 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 4. Semifinals and finals will follow the 10 a.m. squad. The entry fee is $55 and first place, based on 80 entries, is $1,000.

To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com or call 585-861-0404.

For a list of other local tournaments in December and January, scroll down to the Nov. 24 Pin Points column.

In girls basketball Tuesday, Notre Dame beat Albion 38-27. 

• Morgan Rhodes 11 points 5 steals
• Stevie Wilcox 10 points 5 rebounds
• Callie McCulley 9 points 8 blocks
• Margret Sutherland 6 points 8 rebounds

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

As a result of no winning ticket once again on Saturday (Dec. 2), Batavia Downs will offer a $2,500 guaranteed early Pick-5 pool when racing resumes on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 6) at the oldest lighted harness track in America.

The Pick-5 is a 50-cent base wager that begins in race one and runs through race five. There is no consolation payoff, meaning if no one selects all five winners the entire pool (minus takeout) will be carried over to the next Pick-5 pool. 

Wednesday’s guaranteed pool is part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program and as such, free program pages courtesy of Trackmaster are available on the USTA’s website.

This link will take you directly to those program pages.

Post time for the first race Wednesday is 5 p.m.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College women's basketball team trailed host Villa Maria by just a couple scores at the half, but the Vikings out-scored the Cougars by eight in the second half to take the contest 76-62 Dec. 2.

The Cougars continue to run into hot teams after losing their last start to Monroe, who left Batavia with an eight-game winning streak. The Vikings had won four of its last five before hosting Genesee.

The game started well for Genesee as the Cougars built a seven-point lead and had the edge for most of the first quarter. The Vikings responded and took a six-point lead into the break. The game's shooting percentages were similar except at the charity strip where the Cougars missed out on a dozen points.

TaLia Burgess led the team in scoring with 15, but Jasmine Holmes had the double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. Titilopemi Olusola was the third Cougar to reach double-digit points with 12.

Estella Anderson was solid under the boards with a team-high 14 rebounds, while Burgess added eight and Olusola five. Burgess also had a pair of blocks and Rosalyn Sealey recorded a team-high four assists.

Photo of Chumlee A with driver Larry Stalbaum.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

In a performance that could only be described as overwhelming, Chumlee A made a bold backside move after being parked out from the start to win by as many as he wanted in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Dec. 2).

Major Trick (Kevin Cummings), Lucky McTrucky (Drew Monti) and Chumlee A (Larry Stalbaum) all left the gate and wanted to cut the mile, but only one could do it. So Major Trick grabbed the pylons and parked out Lucky McTrucky while Chumlee A settled in second-over in the outer flow. The top two horses fought tooth, fang and claw through swift early fractions of :27.1 and :55.4 and neither one would relent.

With the same leading order headed around turn three, Stalbaum tired of following and tipped Chumlee A three-deep past the five-eighths pole as the group motored up the backside and by the three-quarters cleared, and the route was on. Chumlee A was in overdrive and opened up distance between himself and the rest of the field with every stride. Stalbaum sat chilly from the top of the lane home as Chumlee A continued to pour it on of his own volition, eventually ending the six-length route in 1:54.

It was the third straight win both in North America and at Batavia Downs for Chumlee A ($3.20) and it established a new lifetime mark for the Somebeachsomewhere progeny. Chumlee A is owned by Mark Jakubik and Kim Asher, who also does the training.

The $9,000 co-featured Open II Pace went to Heaven Rocks (Ron Beback Jr.) who toured the facility on the front end unfettered from start to finish, winning by a gapped five lengths in 1:53.3. Heaven Rocks ($5.70) sixth win of the season was also a new lifetime mark for the 5-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven that is owned by William Emmons and trained by James Clouser Jr.  

Larry Stalbaum, Ray Fisher Jr. and Ron Beback Jr. all has two wins on the night.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Dec. 6) at 5 p.m. when the early Pick-5 wager will carry a guaranteed pool of $2,500. Please note that it will be the last Wednesday of the year as racing will only be held on Friday (Dec. 15) and Saturday (Dec. 16) the final week of the meet.