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!"
Notre Dame, the #4 seed in Class D, jumped on top-seeded Keshequa early, scoring two runs in the first and two runs in the third inning and then held on for the 7-4 victory in the Girls Softball Section V semifinals.
Keshequa threatened with three runs in the 6th inning, aided by two Irish errors, but back-to-back strong plays by shortstop Katie Landers (6-3 each time) ended the Keshequa rally.
Loretta Sorochty pitched the complete game for the Lady Irish, going seven innings, giving up six hits, four runs (1 earned) and striking out six batters. Sorochty helped her own cause with 4 fielding putouts during the game.
Keshequa pitcher Aurora Sabins pitched a complete game, 7 innings, giving up 10 hits, 7 runs (4 earned) and struck out 11 batters.
Offensively for Notre Dame, four different batter had two hits each: Sorochty, Landers, Mia Treleaven and Emma Sisson.
Sorochty helped her pitching effort with a sixth-inning solo shot over the left field fence, along with a single, two runs scored, and one RBI. Landers had a double, single, one run scored and one RBI, Treleaven had a double, single and two runs scored, while Sisson had two singles. Kaydence Stehlar had a single, one run scored, and one RBI and Sonji Warner had a double and RBI
"The ladies are really playing as a team right now, and it is great to watch," said Coath Otis Thomas. "I told them the job wasn't finished tonight, we have one more game to get. We will enjoy this tonight but be back to work tomorrow to prepare for the finals on Saturday."
The Irish will play for the Class C Section V block at Filmore High School on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Lyndonville.
Dennis Maid of Byron, a longtime league bowler and officer, was elected as a director of the Genesee Region USBC at the association's annual banquet at Batavia Downs Gaming.
Dennis Maid
Maid, 63, has served as president of the Tuesday Coed League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia for the past four years and previously was the president of the Wednesday Firefighters League at Mancuso’s for 10 years.
A bowler for 50 years, he also competes in a league at Midway Lanes in Vestal, not far from his full-time work as the pulmonary manager for UHS Binghamton General Hospital and UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City. Maid, a consistent 175 average bowler, commutes from the Binghamton area on a regular basis, making sure to be back in Batavia to bowl on Tuesdays.
Maid fills a vacant director with a term expiring in 2025.
Association Vice President Jerry Davis of Pavilion was re-elected for another three-year term, as were directors Gary Gilman of Albion and Alishia Foss of Brockport. Currently, the association has one more vacant director post.
More than 50 people attended the banquet, which was highlighted by comments from guest speaker Patric Donaghue of Rochester, a former Batavian who will be inducted into the New York State Bowling Hall of Fame next month.
Donaghue has excelled in both the Senior Professional Bowlers Association -- cashing in multiple tournament -- and at the USBC Championships, where he has a 202 average in 25 years of competition on the challenging oil patterns.
A product of youth leagues at the former Moose Lanes and at Mancuso’s in Batavia, Donaghue competed in the Classic League for a couple years – recording a then Batavia Bowling Association-record 778 series -- before moving to Rochester after college in 1981.
“I have to credit Batavians Dave and Tony Martino for helping me get rid of the hop at the end of my approach – they worked with me for several hours – and also (former Batavian) Ray DiSanto for giving me lessons,” he said.
Donaghue rolled the first of his 14 300 games in 1986, but he said he took some time off.
“When I came back in 1995, the game changed dramatically,” he said.
Still, he became a student of the game and teacher, guiding his son and daughter, who are accomplished bowlers. Donaghue went on to obtain his PBA card and made his mark on the regional circuit by cashing in five of six PBA50 events in 2010 and four of five in 2011.
Inducted into the Rochester NY USBC Hall of Fame in 2008, Donaghue has three Rochester Senior Masters titles and is a former champion of the Brockmyre scratch singles tournament in Newark. He also placed first in a NYS USBC Senior tournament in 2018.
He will be inducted into the NYS Hall of Fame on June 3 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona.
In other action at the banquet, seasonal leaders were honored, as follows:
High Series, Men, Robbie Hanks (Oak Orchard Bowl), 848; Women, Traci Spanitz (Le Roy Legion Lanes, 733.
High Average, Men, Curtis Foss (Oak Orchard Bowl), 239; Traci Spanitz (Le Roy Legion Lanes), 213.
High Game, Men, 300 by 38 bowlers; Women, Alishia Foss (Mancuso Bowling Center), 300.
High Youth Series, Boys, Ben Sputore, (Mancuso Bowling Center), 645; Girls, Allie Faryna (Perry Bowling Center), 523.
High Average, Boys, Ben Sputore (Mancuso Bowling Center), 183; Girls, Allie Faryna (Perry Bowling Center), 150.
Association Tournament champions also were recognized with plaques.
Open Team -- Nothnagle Drilling (Le Roy Legion Lanes), Kristin Clements, Jeff Nothnagle, Andrew Martin and Polly Nothnagle; Women's Team -- Perry Girls, Montana Bzduch, Joann Van Duser, Katy Bzduch and Rachel Huntz.
Open Doubles -- Steve and Cory Werner (Perry Bowling Center); Women's Doubles -- Roe Smith and Missy Potter (Mount Morris Lanes).
Open Singles -- Matthew Hurlburt (Perry Bowling Center); Women's Singles -- Barbara Casavant (Oak Orchard Bowl, Albion).
Open All-Events -- Jeff Nothnagle (Le Roy Legion Lanes); Women's All-Events -- Traci Spanitz (Le Roy Legion Lanes).
Winners of the grand prize drawing were Kevin Wallace of Stafford, Jason Jennings of Le Roy and Jared Zinkievich of Medina, $500 each, and Dennis Van Duser of Perry, Paul Spiotta of Batavia, William Yates of Churchville and Zachary Farruggia of Mount Morris, $25 each.
Association President Gary Kuchler has announced that the league secretary meetings for the 2023-24 season will take place on Aug. 15 at T.F. Brown's in Batavia and Aug. 17 at Mount Morris Lanes, both at 6:30 p.m.
Guest speaker Patric Donaghue, left, congratulates Ben Sputore of Batavia upon the youth's achievements in Genesee Region USBC bowling this season.
D.J. Hale points to the basket to assist Cooper VonKramer with his shot on Thursday for an Assembly Game between the Pembroke Dragons and the City Honors Centaurs in the Unified Basketball League, which brings together teams comprised of players with intellectual disabilities and players who do not have disabilities so that players might not otherwise get the opportunity to represent their schools in sports are able to take the court in school colors.
It's about sportsmanship. It's about understanding. It's about working together for a common goal. It's about giving opportunity to those who might not otherwise get an opportunity.
That's why Pembroke has, for the second season in a row, brought together a Unified Basketball team and held an Assembly Game at the end of the team's regular six-game schedule so the whole school can join in and cheer for fellow students who don't often get opportunities to hear the applause and pep songs rooting them on.
The Unified Basketball team is comprised of students with intellectual disabilities and students who do not have those disabilities so they can all enjoy competing together.
"I think it teaches them understanding," said Pembroke HS Principal Nathan Work, who is also one of the team's coaches. "I think it teaches them commitment. I think it teaches them to help one another."
The players on the unified team gain popularity during the season because of the recognition they get. Their baskets after games are announced over the PA system at the school. They get to wear jerseys. They know what it means to represent their classmates.
"It's palpable on campus," Work said. "You can feel it. Some of the students are mostly in self-contained classrooms, but they walk around the halls, and they're legends right there with the announcements of their scores. You see the other players in the stands today. They're cheering for kids that otherwise wouldn't have a chance to wear the Pembroke uniform or the Pembroke colors."
On Thursday, the Unified Dragons played in front of the entire school against the City Honors Centaurs from Buffalo. The game had all the hoopla of a homecoming game with the pep band, cheerleaders, and the school's mascot.
Pembroke Superintendent Matthew Calderon said the Assembly Game is an amazing event.
"It's one of those events that you root for both sides, no matter what happens," Calderon said. "You know, kids with special needs are important. We're happy that we've got some people willing to invest the time and make this happen for them."
Right now, Pembroke competes against teams from Section VI because there aren't enough schools in Section V participating in this program of the Special Olympics. He's hoping that will change. Work and the other coaches recently made a presentation about the program to Genesee Valley BOCES, and Calderon said he thinks other schools in Genesee County are considering forming united basketball teams.
"Because of Pembroke's leadership, other teams are getting interested," Calderon said. "Hopefully, if every school in Genesee County gets involved, we could be closer together and play each other and have like a Genesee Region League. I think that could happen in a couple of years."
Photos by Howard Owens.
Pembroke's united team coaches, Nathan Work, Matt Lingle, and Alex Kaminski.
Notre Dame scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to record a dramatic come-from-behind win in their sectional playoff game against Alfre-Almond on Tuesday at GCC.
Loretta Sorochty tossed a three-hitter, allowing two runs (no earned runs) and striking out 14.
She whiffed the side in the seventh to preserve the lead and secure the win for the Irish.
Katie Landers led the way for Notre Dame on offense with two base hits up the middle. She scored the go-ahead run and drove in the game-tying run in the 6th inning.
Mia Treleaven accounted for the other ND base hit.
Sorochty scored the first run in the 6th inning after drawing a walk. When Alfred's defense misplayed a bunt attempt by Cayleigh Havens, Sorochty was able to streak from first base to home. Katie Landers drove a ball up the middle for a base hit, plating Havens, and then she advanced to second on an error by left fielder. Following an Anna Panepento walk, the bases were loaded. Landers scored on a wild pitch.
"I can't say enough about the fight in these ladies to come back like they did in the sixth inning and pull out the win tonight," said Head Coach Otis Thomas. " Hopefully, we can build on this game and play tough Thursday night."
The Irish, the #4 seed in Class D, play the #1 see Keshequa on Thursday.
Also scheduled for Thursday:
In Class C: #4 Oakfield-Alabama vs. #8 Addison
In Class C: #4 Byron-Bergen vs. #1 Bolivar-Richburg
In Class B: #2 Batavia vs. #3 Midlakes at Batavia HS, game time is 5 p.m.
Aaron Treleaven has signed to compete in track and football at Hartwick College in Oneonta next year, while majoring in physics.
He is believed to be the first Notre Dame male athlete to sign for two college level sports.
Aaron has been an outstanding member of our Irish track teams from 2019 thru 2022 winning the B4 sectional championship in the discus in 2021 while earning Genesee Region All-Star recognitions.
He was also a standout swimmer for 6 years at ND where he earned multiple GR All-Star recognitions, won sectional titles and qualified for state competition.
Aaron is an exceptional student who was recently named Co-Salutatorian for the Class of 2023 by posting a GPA that placed him tied for 2nd in his class.
Holley was no match for Oakfield-Alabama in the first round of Class C Section V baseball tournament on Friday, with Holley pitchers giving up 25 hits and 30 rounds to the #2 seed.
The Hornets hit two home runs, by Shaun Alexander and Bodie Hyde, and Hyde collected six RBIs and scored twice while going 2-2. Alexander was 2-3 after taking over for Hyde in centerfield.
Brenden Wescott was 4-5 with four RBIs. David Schnaufer was 3-5 with three runs scored. Cole Kornow scored four times and collected four RBIs while going 2-4.
Five O-A pitchers fanned 13 hitters over seven innings while giving up seven hits, and one earned run.
Also on Sunday in Class C, Pembroke lost to Bloomfield, 5-1. In Class C, Byron-Bergen beat Cuba-Rushford, 8-5.
In today's games,
Class D: #5 seed Elba plays #4 Hinsdale at 5 p.m. Hinsdale.
In Class C: #1 Notre Dame hosts #9 Byron-Bergen at Dwyer Stadium at 5 p.m
In Class B: #5 Batavia plays at Hornell against #4 Hornell at 6 p.m.
In Class B: #8 seed Le Roy takes on #1 Wayland-Cohocton at 5 p.m.
In Girls Softball on Friday, the Alexander Trojans kept their season going with a 20-5 win over East Rochester.
Freshman Ava Yax, along with Sophomores Faith Goodenbury and Brianna Neyman, led Alexander at the plate as the three hits each for a combined 9-11 on the day.
Ava Yax was 3-4, with four RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases, while Faith Goodenbury was 3-3 with a two-RBI double, one run scored and one stolen base and Brianna Neyman was 3-4 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Madison Boyce, Melissa Sawyer, and Carley Shepard all contributed with Multi-hits games. Emily Pietrzykowski extended her hitting streak to 13 games with a triple to right center. The 17 team hits pushed Alexander over 200 team hits on the year.
Madison Boyce picked up her sixth win (6-2) on the bump with another dominant performance where the hurler tossed six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and one walk. She whiffed 11 batters. It was her fourth double-digit strikeout outing of the year and brought her strikeout total to 86 through nine starts.
Next up for Alexander (#5 seed) is the Section V Quarterfinal matchup with Oakfield (#4 seed) on Monday at 5 p.m. in Oakfield.
“The girls did a great job in the box again today," said Head Coach John Goodenbury. "Any game that your team can come out and get 17 hits while your pitcher tallies double-digit strikeouts is going to be a good day. Today was nice for the girls, but we all know what lies ahead of us Monday with Oakfield. We will try to focus on the game at hand, but we all had Oakfield on our minds today. That’s going to be a fun game, and they did beat us twice this season by one run each time, so we just want to go in there, play solid defense and let the chips fall where they fall. We’ve had a fantastic season so far, and we just don’t want it to end.”
