When I told Hilly today that I was going to drive around Alexander, he told me I had to checkout Field of Dreams.
What a great public sports complex. I'm sure you all know about, but I couldn't resist doing a quick video.
So, what are your memories of past glories at Field of Dreams?
While at Genesee Community College today, I was watching the lacrosse team practice for a little bit.
There are a bunch of good athletes - especially local athletes - playing sports at GCC right now. Here at The Batavian, we would like to give these squads some coverage.
I am working on getting high school coaches involved with posting information on their teams and I would like to do the same for GCC.
I've left a few messages with different people at the college and have not gotten a response yet, so hopefully the new SID will get back to me soon.
In the meantime, any coaches or athletes that are interested in getting coverage on The Batavian are encouraged to contact myself of Philip so that we can give the college and the local athletes the coverage they deserve.
I don't know if it is because wide receivers like media attention or I just like interviewing them, but I've always been tight with the receivers on the Buffalo Bills.
Eric Moulds and I used to always chat at training camp because of a shared interest in the Wu Tang Clan. I always chat with Josh Reed, even if he didn't do much in a game.
And I always find myself talking about situations with Lee Evans.
Evans has had the lingering question about a contract extension hanging out there for quite some time now, which is something he really hasn't talked about much.
But Ralph Wilson and the Bills' organization did the right thing today in locking up the talented WR.
There are very few details about the extension that have been made public at this point, but it is clear that one of the biggest pieces on that team will be sticking around as the wins keep coming.
“I’m thrilled,” Evans told buffalobills.com. “It all just kind of happens at one time. I’m thrilled about it. It’s a great day. Working with these guys over a long period of time has been tough, but the communication has been there and we finally got it done. So I couldn’t be happier.”
Evans is the perfect fit for our local National Football League team.
A loudmouth like Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens would not last long in Buffalo because the minute he pulled the garbage T.O. did last weekend, he'd be ridiculed by the fans so bad that he couldn't show his face in public.
The most controversial comments Evans has ever made is when he backed J.P. Losman as the starting quarterback. He didn't rip anybody. He just felt like he had a good relationship and could perform better with him in there.
I remember a conversation I had with Evans and Reed at the Jim Kelly Tournament at Terry Hills a couple of years ago when the two were in the pro shop buying gloves.
I made a comment about the big dollars in the NFL and I remember Evans telling me that he would never turn down money, but if that is the reason you play the game, you are not going to be the best type of player you can be. He basically said that if you go out there and play the game well, you will not have to worry about the business end.
Evans is polite and a good guy that does charity work in the community.
On the field he produces on a high level year in and year out. He has never had a Marvin Harrison-type of season, but he's been a very good No. 1 receiver for a while now.
It is nice to see the Bills reward a player like Evans, and that is a reason why the team is on an upswing and will be contenders for years to come.
The Alexander girls soccer team had some key players out with injury and had to fight through the rain and the cold wind that Genesee Community College's fields produce, but gained the experience of playing in those conditions to beat host Notre Dame 5-0.
The Trojans lead Division I of the Genesee Region League with an 8-4-2 record.
While the temperatures were cold at the start of the game, it didn't take long before the wind picked up and the rain started coming down.
The conditions led to some sloppy play over the first 10 minutes or so, and both squads had opportunities to score off corner kicks but were not able to convert.
But Alexander settled in and took over after a few minutes.
Sophomore midfielder Tessa Bigelow took a pass from freshman forward Julia Pettys and scored 11:53 in.
Pettys then scored 14 minutes later to give the Trojans a firm 2-0 advantage.
Morgan Mattice scored 29:21 in off a pass by Savannah VanSon.
Exchange student Anni Lehtola pitched in a second half goal and Pettys assisted another Mattice goal in the closing moments.
Hannah Wilson only needed to stop one shot to earn the shutout for Alexander.
Notre Dame keeper Nicole Guilds stopped 10 shots in the contest as the Fighting Irish fall to 1-10.
Updated with video. Sorry for the poor sound quality. The wind was out of control.
For all you Batavians who are still sore your team is called the Muckdogs, remember, it could be worse. Your team could be the TinCaps.
Batavia (2-2) at Penn Yan (1-3)
7 p.m. Friday
Two game win streaks are something new to the Blue Devils, and coach Dan Geiger is hoping his squad can make it a third.
After losing to Le Roy and Palmyra-Macedon to start the season, Batavia has been playing some real solid football. The Blue Devils beat Waterloo 48-21 in Week 3 and then pounced on Midlakes 41-7 last week.
And the phrase "pounced on" is an accurate way to describe what happened last week.
Vinny Pedro returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Rob Williams picked up a fumble and took it 99 yards for a score before Batavia even had one offensive play.
Of course, Batavia's first two offensive plays went for touchdowns as Williams had TD runs of 55 and 85 yards to start the team's first two drives.
A win here would be a big help as Batavia currently is in the No. 8 position in the standings for the Class B playoffs. Teams 9-12 in the classification will not make the playoffs.
Williams has been one of the top players in Section 5 this season and has not been getting the respect many in the area feel he deserves. It seems like he makes big plays on defense and special teams in every game and has rushed for 611 yards and eight touchdowns so far.
Anthony D'Aurizio is also having a big year running the football with 483 yards and four scores.
He leads the defense with 36 tackles, with Troy Ireland following with 34. Devonte Rolle has a pair of interceptions.
The biggest thing Batavia has to worry about is Penn Yan's offensive line. Geiger has been impressed with 295-pound Silvano Roman during film studies this week.
Penn Yan is coming off a 30-0 loss against East Rochester/Gananda and will be hungry to defend its home field.
Adam Trombley is the top PY running back.
Notre Dame (2-2) at Holley (0-4)
7 p.m. Friday
The Fighting Irish lost against Pembroke in the opening week of the season and bounced back to beat Attica.
They lost to Oakfield-Alabama last week and will now be looking to get back to winning against a Holley squad that has yet to win a game.
ND played a solid defensive half and held the Hornets to just seven points, then had a chance to tie the game early in the third quarter when a halfback option call backfired and led to an interception near the end zone.
O-A rolled after that and Notre Dame had what was probably its weakest offensive game of the season.
A weak offense shouldn't be a problem this week against Holley, which is playing under rented lights. Hopefully the school rented a scoreboard as well because watching a game there is painful without a game clock.
Nick Bochicchio has put up more attempts than any other quarterback in the Genesee Region League this season and has compiled 463 yards through the air. He attempted 34 passes in the opening week of the season.
His favorite target is Kevin Francis, who has 242 receiving yards and has the ability to get into the end zone any time he touches the ball on on offense or special teams.
The Fighting Irish rushing attack features two solid runners.
Mike Pratt has 243 yards and five TDs and will bounce off would-be tacklers all day while Kevin Schildwaster is a speedster that has compiled 238 yards and two touchdowns.
Craig Houseknecht, Rick Lair and Greg Barr are the three leading ND tacklers.
The Hawks came close to getting that elusive first win last week against Alexander. Holley was leading 8-6 before the Trojans kicked a field goal with eight minutes left to get the victory.
Guy Hills is the biggest playmaker on the Holley roster, but Mike Pernicano has the ability to bust a run if his line can open a hole.
Le Roy (4-0) at Avon (3-1)
7 p.m. Friday
The question facing the Avon football team is simple; can they stop Mike Humphrey?
Nobody else has.
Travis Fenstermaker has continued to find his favorite target and it seems like no defensive back in Section 5 could stop the Le Roy WR at this point.
Humphrey caught six passes for 97 yards last week in a 36-0 win over Canisteo-Greenwood, including a pair of touchdowns. That gives him 17 receptions for 364 yards and six touchdowns.
He has also made an impact returning kickoffs and intercepting passes, including the two that he had last week.
Fenstermaker has completed 26-of-50 pass attempts for 485 yards and eight touchdowns.
One of the biggest surprises through four weeks is that neither of these players have won Player of the Week in Class C.
Le Roy's running attack hasn't had many problems either as Andrew Alexander has pounded the ball 72 times for 573 yards and six touchdowns.
Humphrey will probably be covering the top receiver that he has seen thus far as Avon's Garrett Kesel has caught 16 passes for 233 yards and two scores.
His quarterback is a good one.
Max Barrett has went 26-of-68 passing for 467 yards and seven touchdowns. He also runs the ball, picking up 189 rushing yards with three scores.
Rich Welch leads the Braves in rushing with 364 yards and five touchdowns on 28 attempts.
Eric Hendrick has 187 yards and four TDs.
The Oatkan Knights are ranked fifth in the state in Class C.
Oakfield-Alabama (4-0) at Attica (3-1)
7 p.m. Friday
It doesn't get much bigger than this one as Attica must win to have a shot at a tie for the Genesee Region League title and the Hornets need a win to make next week's game against Pembroke basically give the winner a shot at being an individual champion.
The battle on the line is going to determine the winner as both teams have had big years running the football, with O-A's line being led by Craig Campbell and Chris Williams.
The game is Attica's homecoming so the Blue Devils will have some extra motivation.
Andy Ruddock is going to get the ball a bunch of times for Attica - and why not - he's been one of the top performers in the league thus far.
The senior has gained 608 yards with eight touchdowns on 62 carries and works as a featured back in coach Jeff Cusmano's offense.
The Blue Devils will pound the ball with Ruddock, hoping he can pop off a couple of big runs.
If O-A's defense can manage to hold him in check, Brandon Rollins is going to put the ball in the air.
He's gone 22-of-37 for 385 yards and six touchdowns this season.
The top target in the passing offense is Shawn Dupuis, who has hauled in 12 balls for 214 yards and four scores.
Williams and Brad Riner lead the defense with 20 tackles and their unit will be trying to force Rollins to beat them. Both Derek Hicks and Evan Kotarski have 19 tackles apiece with Noah Seward pitching in 18 tackles with four sacks.
Oakfield-Alabama's offense is going to continue to pound the football and Attica knows what is coming - like every other team - but will have to work to stop it.
Smith won Class C Offensive Player of the Week this week after a huge performance and now has 489 rushing yards with seven touchdowns.
He got the bulk of the carries last week, but coach John Dowd will give the ball to Riner (301), Jason Stanley (199) and Joe Natalizia (221) as well.
Attica's defense will be led by Luke Pariso and his 28 tackles. Dave Jennings has 22.
O=A moved up to 11th in the state.
Alexander (1-3) at Elba/Byron-Bergen (1-3)
7 p.m. Saturday
Alexander is young and Elba/Byron-Bergen is learning the game.
These two teams have had some early season struggles and are looking to make a late season charge to build on for next year.
The Trojans have a squad filled with juniors and started the season with games against the "big three". The team picked up its first win of the season last week with a 9-8 victory over Holley.
The star of that game wound up being kicker Lucas Czechowski, who booted a 30-yard field goal to win the game.
Czechowski is having a big year as the team's punter as well.
The Trojans have have actually made some difficult starting points for opposing offenses because Czechowski is averaging 47 yards per punt.
Alexander's defense has been led by Ryan Piechowski, who has 36 solo tackles with six assists.
Ryan Wilson has 21 tackles and two sacks with Jordan Leitten leading the secondary with two interceptions. Mike Woodrow has picked off one pass.
Jay Schaefer gained 127 yards rushing last week and now has 327 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries this season. Piechowski has 79 rushing yards and two scores.
Elba/Byron-Bergen has been playing its starters throughout the game to help the B-B players get experience, and they have been very competitive against the second teams of Oakfield-Alabama and Pembroke.
The Lancers got two touchdowns from Zach Green in the fourth quarter last week and both he and Brandon Spurling are solid runners.
Pembroke (4-0) at Barker (1-3)
1:30 p.m. Saturday
This is one of those games that the Pembroke football team has to worry about.
With the Genesee Region League title possibly on the line next week against Oakfield-Alabama, the Dragons have to make the longest trip to play in the GR and are facing a Barker squad that has the potential to play with any team in the league.
The victories have come easy so far for Chip Foster's squad and his players are putting up some crazy numbers. But the Raiders are physical and a team on the rise, always looking for the upset at home.
Pembroke's offensive line deserves a lot of the credit for the numbers the team has been putting up. The telling stat is what quarterback David Kleckler has done this season.
Kleckler has completed 16-of-28 attempts for 415 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. But he has only been sacked ONCE all season long.
That is unbelievable.
Andrew Wright and Ken Babcock have both had receiving numbers that are pretty close.
Wright has caught seven passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns while Babcock has hauled in nine balls for 198 yards and three scores.
And the running game has been just as good.
Wright has gained 426 yards on just 31 carries (13.74 yards per attempt) with six touchdowns, Mike Dibble has 332 yards with six scores, Josh Phillips has 216 yards and four TDs and Kleckler has gained 185 yards with two touchdowns.
Barker is a physical team that traditionally likes to run the ball, but has done some passing this year.
Anthony Porter (9-of-17 for 63 yards) and Ethan Dewart (9-of-16 for 122 yards) are putting up about the same amount of passes per game.
But the Raiders will run.
Greg Brown has 348 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries and Ray Paul has 175 yards and two TDs on 39 attempts.
This was a pretty easy call for the folks that pick the Players of the Week in Section 5.
Oakfield-Alabama's Tim Smith put up sick numbers against a solid opponent and because of that was named Class C Offensive Player of the Week.
He is the second local player in a row to earn the honor as Andy Ruddock won in Class B last week.
Smith's Hornets had a slim 7-0 lead at Notre Dame on Saturday and he blew up in the second half en route to a 28-6 win.
Smith gained 185 yards on the ground, picking up 25 carries. The number of carries alone is an amazing number in O-A's offensive system.
He had 79 punt return yards and intercepted two passes and returned them for 54 yards.
His 6-yard TD run in the second quarter put the Hornets on top before he added a 21-yard touchdown run and broke a 31-yarder on a fourth-and-1 that set up his 8-yard score.
Smith has 489 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
For the 2nd time this year Alexander slipped by Attica 1-0, this time at Attica. The 1st half saw neither team put a shot on goal and the score was 0-0. In the 2nd half an Alexander player was fouled on the left sideline about 30 yards from goal. Senior Midfielder Rachel Pettys sent the direct kick into the center of the box and an Attica defender attempted to head it clear, however her clearance went into the top left corner of the net giving Alexander the 1-0 lead. Alexander had two players directly behind the defender so she had no choice but to try to clear it, it was just a bad bounce.
Alexander had a chance to go on top 2-0 when Freshman forward Julia Pettys got through the defense on a breakway with around 10 minutes left but the Attica keeper came up with the save. Alexander had another chance to go up 2-0 with around 5 minutes left when Sophmore Savannah VanSon sent a corner kick in and Sophmore Morgan Mattice ripped a header that went about a foot wide of the left post.
Attica had a chance tie the game with under 2 minutes left when Chrissy Rennard had header from 8 yards but put it right at the Hannah Wilson who made the save. Wilson also came charging out of the goal midway through the 2nd half and broke up a potential breakway 20 yards from goal by clearing an errant pass from a defender.
Alexander improves to 7-4-2 overall and 7-2-1 in the league. Alexander was lead in the back by Sophmore central defender Savannah VanSon who did a solid job keeping Attica away from goal and Sophmore keeper Hannah Wilson who only need to make 5 saves in goal picking up her 7th win and 4th shutout of the season.
Holley knocked off Byron-Bergen 2-1 last night as well meaning that Alexander, Pembroke, Byron-Bergen, and Holley all have 2 losses and 1 tie in the league making all 4 teams virtually tied atop the Division 1 standings with 2 and a half weeks left in the GR season.
There is further proof that being a solid role player for the Batavia High basketball team is a great place to start if you want to get into college coaching.
Last week we reported that Joe Zinni had recently accepted an assistant coaching position with Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball, and now Russ Phillips is moving up the ladder at his college alma-matter, SUNY Cortland. He will be serving as the top assistant to coach Tom Spanbauer this winter.
Phillips led Batavia's team on the floor as a point guard and that knowledge along with the work ethic it takes to play BHS coach Buddy Brasky's high-octane pressure defense has translated well into his coaching career.
Phillips went right from his playing days to coaching when he started working as an assistant coach for the Batavia jayvee program in 2004.
He picked up valuable experience as an assistant with both the jayvee and varsity squads at BHS for two years. During that time he also was the head coach for four different Rochester Area Players AAU teams. He also worked as a member of the Board of Directors for RAP where he was involved in planning AAU tournaments.
Phillips has also been Brasky's assistant coach for the Western Scholastic boys basketball teams at the Empire State Games for the past two summers.
At Cortland, he got his start in college coaching as a team manager during the 2006-2007 season, where he handled film work along with game and practice preparation.
He was promoted to student-assistant coach last year.
His work in assisting Spanbauer, scouting, coordinating practice and game day video along with breaking down statistics earned him the top assistant position.
Phillips appears to be on the fast-track to achieving his career goal of being a head basketball coach for a college team.
The Batavia girls volleyball team is finding its way and is almost back to .500 after picking up a solid win over Churchville-Chili Monday night.
The Blue Devils improved to 3-4 with the 25-16, 25-14, 25-14 thumping.
Junior outside hitter Sarah Reynolds came up huge with 12 kills and five digs in the match, with senior outside hitter Jaycee Shirk pitching in eight kills and six digs.
Batavia will host Greece Olympia on Wednesday.
Genesee Region League
Standings
Team Record PF PA
Pembroke 4-0 187 55
Oakfield-Alabama 4-0 181 47
Attica 3-1 157 61
Notre Dame 2-2 91 94
Alexander 1-3 42 174
Elba/Byron-Bergen 1-3 78 153
Barker 1-3 58 143
Holley 0-4 39 99
Former Elba student Casey Hoover is in his freshman year at Keuka College, where he is playing on the baseball team.
The Storm are currently playing fall scrimmages and there are a couple of videos on YouTube of him getting his first hit and scoring his first run playing college ball.
The Notre Dame Boys Cross Country Team turned in impressive performances at this past weekends’ 44th annual McQuaid Invitational at Genesee Valley Park in Rochester . The team raced in the prestigious seeded race going against the State Champions from Pennsylvania and state ranked teams from New York , Ohio and Canada and placed 11th out of the 20 teams. Quin O’Connor (16:17) clocked the fastest time for any freshman in all races posting a 21st place finish with Kevin Pawlak (16:49) following in 43rd. Matt Jackson (17:16) finished 66th, Eric Shormann (17:33) 81st, Taylor Alexander(18:23) 105th, Marshall Argenta (18:57) 118th, and Andrew Fischer (19:00) 120th for the Irish. In the Varisty B race, Matt Sausner (20:25) placed 112th and Vince Stadler (20:26) 114th. Conlan Edwards made the two mark in 17:45.
The Girls Cross Country Team also turned in some fast performances this past weekend at the McQuaid Inviational. Ashley Calarco (19:48) came across the line in 7th place to lead the Irish to a 16th place finish. Jill Marshall (21:58) was 59th, Meghan Zickl (23:16) 102nd, Rachel Berggren (24:18) 138th, and Teresa Jackson (26:19) 187th. Tia Arnold (19:33) raced to the two mile mark along with Kate Spadaccia (22:25).
Updated GR Girls Soccer Standings. Things are starting to play out. I organized them this week by the loss and tie column, fewer losses and ties get you a higher spot because that is what will matter in the end. Games this week are in parenthesis
Division I:
1 - Pembroke 5-1-1 (Elba, @ Ken, @ WC, @ OA)
2 - Bergen 4-1-1 (OA, @ Holley, Elba, @ WC)
3 - Alexander - 6-2-1 (@ Attica, @ ND)
4 - Holley - 5-2-1 (BB, OA, Elba)
5 - Attica 1-5-2 (Alex, Lyn)
6 - Kendall - 0-6 (Pem, @ Lyn, @ ND)
Big games this week: Both Pembroke and BB play @ Wheatland which are huge games in the division 1 race. Alexander and Holley both lost to Wheatland and if either Pembroke or Holley can beat Wheatland they will have the upper hand going into the final 2 weeks. Pembroke and Bergen both have Elba at home this week and that will be a tough out for both teams as well. BB travels to Holley early in the week, Holley beat BB at Bergen earlier in the year. Pembroke also has to travel to Kendall which is improved from earlier in the season and it is always tough to play in Kendall. It will be interesting to see the standings one week from today, we could have 4 teams all tied again (Pem, Alex, Holley will all have 11 games played and Bergen will have 10 at the end of this week). Or someone could have pulled ahead with a good week.
Division II:
1 - Wheatland - 7-1 (@ OA, Pem, BB)
2 - Elba - 4-2-1 (@ Pem, Lyn, @ BB, @ Holley)
3 - Lyndonville 3-4 (@ Elba, Ken, @ Attica)
4 - Oakfield - 1-4-1 (@BB, WC, @ Holley, Pem)
5 - Notre Dame - 0-8 (Alex, Ken)
Big Games: this week only has one big divisional game which is Lyndonville traveling to Elba, Lyndonville knocked off Elba earlier in the year and Elba has been in a bit of a funk ever since. The other big games are both Wheatland and Elba playing Pembroke and Bergen, if either one manages to win both they will have a huge lead going into the final 2 weeks. Elba has to travel to Holley which could be a great game as well.
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