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Fighting Irish top Ice Devils 6-2 in cross-town matchup

By Timothy Walton

 

The Falleti Ice Arena was packed with both Notre Dame and Batavia fans who were hoping their team would come away victorious. It was the Notre Dame fans that got their wish as their team had a powerful third period and defeated host Batavia 6-2.

"We were pumped to get out there and play them," said Batavia forward Nate Palmer. "It's always a fun game, but unfortunately it didn't end the way we wanted it to."

Batavia Notre Dame got on the board first as Josh Johnson snuck the puck by Batavia goaltender Adam Kurek on a play set up by Dylan Versage. 

Batavia failed to produce a strong offense in the first period, but came out strong early in the second as Conor Holvey set up Tim Finnell to tie the game at 1-1.

Notre Dame responded shortly after by taking the 2-1 as Tyler Kessler stole the puck and beat Kurek for the goal.

Josh Marr capped off the second-period scoring as he broke down the right side of the ice and sniped the puck over the right shoulder of ND goaltender Tom Dehr.

The third period was all ND as they capitalized four times.

The Irish came out hard and Zach Blew lit the lamp off a set up from Josh Johnson and Dylan Versage.

Story continued after the jump: 

Batavia responded shortly after with a great scoring chance as Josh Marr fed Nate Palmer on a 2 on 1, but Palmer was unable to get good wood on the shot.

"We had some chances but couldn't capitalize on them," says Palmer.

Brett Perfit continued the scoring driving as he put the fourth goal on the board in a solo effort.

Notre Dame's Jordan Difilippo got into a small fight in front of Dehr with Batavia's Tim Finnell, which led to coincidental penalties. After an argument with the referee, Batavia was assessed a bench minor penalty, giving ND the powerplay.

Jack Nenni and Brett Perfit set up Tyler Kessler to take advantage of the powerplay and put ND up 5-2.

Nenni scored shortly after to cap off the scoring at the final 6-2. Tyler Kessler and Brennan Brown were credited with the assist.

"We were very happy with our team's effort," says Notre Dame forward Dylan Versage. "We wanted the win and were all gonna do what we needed to get the win. Everyone contributed and it paid off."

ND vs BHS hockey game to be netcasted live Saturday on The Batavian

By Timothy Walton

It's one of the biggest games of the year. This Saturday the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1-2-1) will host the Batavia Ice Devils (4-6-1-0) at the Falleti Ice Arena in front of an almost guaranteed sold out arena. The netcasting will begin shortly before the game that is set to faceoff at 1 p.m.

The game will be netcast live right here on The Batavian. It will include play-by-play updates and an up-to-date scoreboard and time-clock. Anyone following the netcast will also be able to participate in game polls, and get the chance to ask questions in a chat room style.

This matchup will be the first time the two teams meet this year. Notre Dame will be led by leading scorer Jack Nenni and goaltender Tom Dehr, who again this year, is ranked one of the top goaltenders in Section V. Batavia will be led by Junior forward Josh Marr, who is currently leading the team in points.

Council agrees to lease extension for Muckdogs to play at Dwyer

By Howard B. Owens

In an item added at the least minute to the city council agenda Monday night, the council approved an extension to the Dwyer Stadium lease agreement for the Batavia Muckdogs.

Formalizing the lease agreement extension in a hurry-up fashion was necessary, said City Manager Jason Molino, because it's only been recently that another year of professional baseball in Batavia was "set in stone." 

Once that was in place, Molino said, the New York-Penn League demanded a lease agreement be in place well before the start of the season.

The NY-Penn League has been pretty demanding during the off season, Molino said, and the city has, in response, made improvements to the field and locker rooms.

"You talk about unfunded state mandates," Molino said. "Minor league baseball has mandates of its own."

Near the end of the 2010 season, league president Ben Hayes spoke harshly about the condition of the Dwyer playing field. Molino said the field wasn't in the horrid shape Hayes made it out to be, but the league did have some (valid) concerns.

"We addressed those concerns in the fall and the league is satisfied with the changes that we've made," Molino said.

The renewed lease makes few changes to prior agreements and does not increase the funding burden on taxpayers, Molino said.

The primary change is memorializing a capital expense fund balance with a minimum balance of $20,000, though the city has a $60,000 balance currently, Molino said.

Notre Dame's 4th quarter scoring secures win over Perry

By Howard B. Owens

Notre Dame entered the 4th quarter of the Rotary Club of Batavia Girls Basketball Tournament finals down by 8 points.

All night, Perry gave Notre Dame room for plenty of attempts, but the shots just weren't dropping. That all changed in the 4th quarter. Suddenly, whatever invisible shield had been keeping the ball out of the basket disappeared.

The Lady Irish scored 20 points in the 4th quarter, compared only six points for Perry.

Final score, Notre Dame 45, Perry 39.

Carly Pike had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals for the Fighting Irish (8-0). Pike scored 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter.

In the consolation game, Alexander beat Batavia 56-52.

All-Tournament players: Cheslea Turcer, Alexander; Lisa Redband, Batavia; Karissa 
Schuster and Erica Miller, Perry; Riley Norton, Notre Dame; Carly Pike was named MVP.

Winners photo submitted by Tim Call.

More pictures after the jump, with even more available for purchase by clicking here.

NOTE: For Tuesday's games, I used the wrong pricing sheet for photo purchases. That's been corrected and those photos are available by clicking here.

Perry and Notre Dame dominate in first round of Rotary tournament at GCC

By Howard B. Owens

Perry and Notre Dame will move on to a finals match in the 2010 Batavia Rotary Girls Basketball Tournament at GCC on Thursday.

Both squads won by big margins in first-round action Tuesday.

Perry beat Batavia High 50-31 and the Lady Irish overcame Alexander 60-44.

A few more pictures after the jump.  A total of 75 photos are available for sale by clicking here.

Hoy's hot hand in closing minutes gives Batavia a victory in Lions' Tournament

By Howard B. Owens

With about two minutes left and the Batavia Blue Devils down by five points, the instructions from Coach Buddy Brasky were clear -- whatever you do, don't foul number three.

You don't want to put the ball in the hands of the other team's best player in the closing minutes of a tight came.

Then Batavia's senior guard Ryan Pyatt did exactly what would get him pulled from the game. He fouled Jamell Johnson, number three for Charles Finney.

Earlier in the game, Finney's senior forward scored the 1,000th point of his career. That's how good he is.

It was clear at this stage of Thursday's game, giving points to Finney could possibly sink the home team's hopes of winning the 29th Annual Batavia Lions Club Boys Basketball Tournament. Up to this moment, Batavia never had even had as much as a single-digit lead.

But then Johnson, who had 24 points on the night, gave Batavia a gift. He missed his free throw.

Andrew Hoy, Batavia's all-time leading scorer, on the other hand, would be fouled four times in the final two minutes.

He didn't miss his shots. Not one of them.

In all, during those closing minutes, Hoy sunk 10 straight free throws (two came on a technical foul by Finney's Justin Allison), plus put up two points on a critical jump shot, to lead Batavia to a 53-50 victory.

"I just kept telling myself, have confidence," Hoy said after the game. "I kept reminding myself, I’ve made a million free throws. This is nothing different.

"When you're at the free throw line, you’ve got to make those," the senior guard added. "They call them free for a reason."

Allison's technical foul -- he mouthed off to Batavia's sophomore forward Justin Washington and then to a ref -- is what changed the momentum in the game, both Brasky and Hoy said.

At that point, with 2:30 left, Finney had an eight-point lead and were hitting their shots.

After that, Finney would score two more points (despite having players go to the free throw line three times) and Batavia would score 13, with 12 coming from Hoy, who had 22 points on the night.

"I kept stressing to my kids, the game’s not over," Brasky said. "That’s why we play 32 minutes. You don’t get too high when you go on a run, you don’t get too low when they go on a run. You play 32 minutes and we did.

"We took advantage of the technical and I give our kids a lot of credit for that," Brasky added.

Batavia moves to 7-1 and Finney is 8-2.

Batavia's other top scorers: Justin Washington, 12 (and 13 rebounds), Ryan Funke, 6, and Ryan Pyatt with 6. Spencer Stressing had 3 and Dylan Hodownes and Tommy Prospero each added two.

For Finney, Dan Drummond had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

In the consolation game, Notre Dame beat Dansville 70-45. Vinnie Zambito scored 22 points with seven assists for Notre Dame, now 5-1. Zach Hotze scored 13, Doane McCulley, 11, Mike Pratt, 9, Tom Whelehan, 6. Pratt's 9 came on three, three-point goals.

The Batavia Blue Devils with their championship trophy. Photo courtesy Bev Hoy.

More pictures after the jump (to purchase pictures, click here):

The All-Tournment Team, from left: Dan Drummond, Charles Finney; Vinnie Zambito, Notre Dame; Justin Washington, Batavia; Andrew Hoy, Batavia; Jamell Johnson, Charles Finney. Photo courtesy Bev Hoy.

Washington's shot here, thrown at the basket underhand, was all net.

Photos: Round 1 of the Batavia Lion's Club Basketball Tournament

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Blue Devils will advance to the finals of the annual Batavia Lions Club Basketball Tournament at GCC on Thursday.

The Blue Devils will face the Finney Falcons.

The Falcons (8-1) defeated Notre Dame (4-1) 76-68.

To advance, the Blue Devils (6-1) beat Dansville 87-38.

For Batavia, Andrew Hoy scored 24 points and had eight steals. Other point leaders, Ryan Pyatt, 11, Dylan Hodownes, 11, Ryan Funke, 10, Mitch Francis, 10, Justin Washington, 8. Ryan DiMartino had 10 rebounds.

For Notre Dame, Vincent Zambito, 15, Doane McCulley, 15, Tom Whelehan, 8, Marquis Love, 8, Josh Hotze, 8, Mike Pratt, 8, Zach Hotze, 6.

About 15 more pictures after the jump, and all of the pictures, including another 20 or so, can be purchased by clicking here.

Sabres Hall of Famer Danny Gare offers hockey clinic

By Billie Owens

Buffalo Sabres Hall of Famer Sabre Danny Gare is offering a hockey clinic on Tuesday Dec. 28 at Falletti Ice Arena on Evans Street in the City of Batavia.

Here's the on-ice session times:

  • Sqirts -- 9 a.m.
  • PeeWees -- 10 a.m.
  • Bantams and also Midgets -- 1 p.m.

Gare, a two time 50-goal scorer, will share his expertise on the mechanics of shooting and scoring to young hockey enthusiasts.

Also, his son-in-law, Shawn Pursel -- a certified strength and conditioning specialist
with more than 15 years experience -- will cover strength-training methods for
greater power and speed on the ice. In addition, he'll offer nutritional tips to maximize
player performance.

The clinic is for ages 9-18 and the $30 registration fee includes one hour of on-ice instruction from Danny and 30 minutes of off-ice conditioning and nutrition tips from Shawn.

There will also be handouts and an autographed Hall of Fame picture from Danny. Limited slots are still available.

Contact John Zola at jzola@rochester.rr.com to register.

Blue Devils dominate in home opener

By Howard B. Owens

Senior Andrew Hoy sunk three 3-pointers and scored 27 points for the evening to lead Batavia past Brighton in the Blue Devil's 2010 home opener 64-46.

Batavia is now 3-1 in the young season.

Head Coach Buddy Brasky said Hoy's performance was one of the keys to the Blue Devil's victory.

"Andrew played a great game," Brasky said. "I mean, he was doing it all. He was scoring, he was facilitating, getting other people involved, making passes on transition. He just played well, I thought, the entire game."

Brasky said the team improved its offensive decision making and team intensity on defense and that made a big difference.

The team committed only three fouls through the first three quarters of the game.

“I thought our whole team defense was pretty solid most of the game," Brasky said. "Until the end, we weren’t reaching, we were playing defense with our feet. I thought our defensive position was fairly good.”

The Blue Devils feature Hoy, who in his junior year became the team's all-time leading scorer, as well as sophomore Justin Washington, along with seniors Ryan Pyatt and Ryan Funke. They were all part of a team that contended for a state championship last year.

Brasky thinks this year's squad, if it works hard, can win some big games.

"We need to keep getting better and better," Brasky said. "We're back up in Class A, so we need to keep improving. I think by the end of the year, we can contend for the sectional title, without a doubt, but we have to keep getting better and better."

The Blue Devil's next home game is Dec. 22 against Charlotte. The team will also compete in the annual Batavia Lions Club Tournament at Genesee Community College on Dec. 30.

More pictures after the jump. To purchase pictures from this game, click here.

Ice Devils Fall to Spencerport 4-1, ND ties Brighton

By Scott Grefrath

Photo: The defensive play of Blake Polito was the bright spot for Batavia as he helped out goaltender Brandon Corcoran by diving into the net and swatting away a goal with his hand in the first period.

The Ice Devils played well on Saturday but were outmuscled by the aggressive, physical style of play by the Spencerport Rangers (3-1) at the Faletti Ice Arena.

Spencerport lit the lamp first and then Josh Marr netted what would be Batavia’s only score of the day at 6:51 in the first period. Spencerport would get two more goals in the first period and their 4th and final goal in the second period. Both teams were scoreless in the 3rd period which showcased some nice defensive play from both teams and from the goaltenders, Brandon Corcoran (13 saves) and Tyler Fess (20 saves). Spencerport got two goals from Matt Corey and two assists from Scott Doud. Aiden Connolly and Anthony DePetres also scored for the Rangers.

Batavia falls to 1-3-1 and gets ready to host their Annual holiday tournament, The David M. McCarthy Memorial Tournament, this weekend at the Faletti Ice Arena. The opening game at 5:00 on Friday features Churchville Chili and Sweet Home with Batavia taking on Frontier at 7:00 pm.The tourney concludes on Saturday with the consolation game at 1:00 and the championship at 3:00.

Notre Dame: 4  / Brighton:4 Notre Dame rallied from a two goal deficit on the road to tie Brighton/ER/HFL 4-4. This appears to have been a showcase between two of the best goaltenders in the area. Notre Dame’s Thomas Dehr made 29 saves while his counterpart, Bracket Bourne also made 29 saves for Brighton/ER/HFL. Notre Dame (2-0-2) travels to Geneva (1-5) Tuesday night and then to Wilson Ice Arena to face-off with winless Geneseo/Livonia on Saturday at 6:30 pm.

Ice Devils rally from late two goal deficit to tie Irondequoit 2-2

By Timothy Walton

"Everyone picked up their intensity knowing the game was on the line" said Ice Devils senior captain Tim Finnell as Batavia who found themselves down 2-0 at the start of the third period and rallied to tie the game 2-2.

"We really came together in the third period and we were able to build a lot of momentum" he added.

Nate Palmer and Junior Josh Marr set up Blake Polito for a shot that put Bataiva on the board and within one goal early in the third period.

Sophomore Tommy Grammatico scored his first high school goal with under three minutes left in the game to even the score for the Ice Devils. Trevor Powers was credited with the assist.

"After tying it up we did everything we could to win it, but unfortunately we couldn't pull this one out" said Finnell. "It was a great team effort".

Nick Papas scored five seconds into the seconds into the second period and Kevin Moses added the other goal for Irondequoit (1-0-1).

Adam Kurek made 26 saves for Batavia (0-1-1).

Notre Dame skates by Kenmore 5-2 in home opener at Falleti Ice Arena

By Timothy Walton

Notre Dame goaltender Tom Dehr makes a save as defensment  Luke Calla battles with a Kenmore forward. Below: ND's Josh Halle lays a hit on Kenmore's Tommy Ryan.- Photos by Bare Antalos for TheBatavian

"We're going to be good this year" said Notre Dame head coach Marc Staley.

The player's supported his statement in the first game as Notre Dame lead 5-0 at one point and easily defeated the visiting Kenmore Devils from Section 6 by a final score of 5-2.

Senior Dylan Versage recorded Notre Dame's first goal of the season off a pass from Zac Blew and Josh Johnston. Just a few minutes later Jack Nenni added their second goal off a nicely set up play by Tyler Kessler and Beau Richter.

Kenmore's top offensive line of Billy Moore, Rob Seiler and Mike Coyen responded with scoring chances but Notre Dame's goaltender Tom Dehr denied them the chance to capitalize.

Blew and Versage then helped put the team up by three as they set up Johnston for his first goal of the season.

The scoring didn't stop their as Luke Calla recorded the fourth score for the Irish off a deflection from Brennan Brown. Nenni then recorded his second goal of the night to cap off the scoring for the Irish. Defensemen Brett Perfitt and Richter were credited with the assists on the play.

Kenmore's top line finally was able to beat Dehr in the third period but it was too little too late. Coyne and Moore each had a goal and assist while Seiler added two assists.

The Irish (1-0) are scheduled to host Geneseo/ Livonia next Tuesday at the Falleti Ice Arena.

Dann Bilardello returns for second season as Muckdogs' manager

By Billie Owens

Here's a news release from Travis Sick, general manager of the Batavia Muckdogs.

Dann Bilardello will return in 2011 for his second season as manager of the Batavia Muckdogs. The 51-year-old Bilardello had a record of 45-29 and led the Muckdogs to the Pinckney Division title in his first season as the Muckdogs' skipper.

Prior to managing the Muckdogs, Bilardello was the St. Louis Cardinals' Minor League catching coordinator for three seasons. The former Major League catcher also has four years of Minor League managing experience in the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations.

Bilardello managed the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Carolina League during the 2005 season. Before that, he spent three years managing for the Dodgers in Great Falls of the Pioneer League starting in 2002 and then the following two years with Columbus in the South Atlantic League. He led Great Falls to a Pioneer League Championship in 2002 with a record of 47-28 and 4-1 in the playoffs.
 
The Vero Beach, Fla., resident played all or part of eight Major League seasons as a catcher with Cincinnati (1983-85), Montreal (1986), Pittsburgh (1989-90) and San Diego (1991-92). He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after being chosen in the first round of the secondary phase of the 1978 amateur draft. In 382 Major League games, he batted .204 with 18 home runs and 91 RBI.

Joining Bilardello in the dugout will be Pitching Coach Arthur “Ace” Adams and Hitting Coach Roger LaFrancois.

Ace Adams, 58, will return for his second season as the Muckdogs' pitching coach and his fourth year in the Cardinals organization. His previous two seasons were spent serving as the pitching coach of Quad Cities.

Adams entered the professional coaching ranks in 1997 with the Montreal Expos organization after 13 years as a college coach at Dartmouth (1984), Harvard (1985), Brandeis (1986-89) and the University of Michigan (1989-96). The Wellesley, Mass., native was a traveling batting-practice pitcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1984-85.
 
Roger LaFrancois, 54, will begin his second season as the Muckdogs' hitting coach and has more than 20 years of coaching experience. He has coached or managed at all levels of the Minor Leagues with several different Major League organizations.

A catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, LaFrancois spent eight years with the Sox, and saw action in the Major Leagues during the 1982 season. The Old Saybrook, Conn., resident has been a partner and director of the World Baseball Coaches Convention since 2003.

Mike Petrarca will serve as the trainer for the 2010 season, his first with the Muckdogs. Petrarca will be entering his fourth season in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

 

Fred Haslip to receive lifetime achievement award at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

This information comes from a news release written by Tim Bojarski, for the Western New York Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers' Association.

The Upstate New York Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers’ Association has announced that longtime trainer-driver Fred Haslip will receive its 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

It will be presented to him in the Winner’s Circle during the Upstate Harness Writers' Association's “Night of Distinction,” which will be held at Batavia Downs Casino on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Haslip was one of the most sought after catch-drivers in Western New York during the 1970s and '80s, and was responsible for teaming some of the best horses to race on that circuit during that time.

The lifelong resident of Basom started driving at fairs in 1959 and scored his first pari-mutuel win in 1960.

During his 51-year career he posted 2,585 lifetime driving wins and banked $6 million dollars in purse money -- doing it the hard way, mostly in overnight events in an era where purses were not what they are today.

The list of horses that Haslip has teamed over the years is long and includes names such as: Diamond Sparkler, p, 9, Q1:56.3 ($328,737); Happy Sparkler, p, 9, 1:58.2h ($156,756); Handsome Boy, 5, 2:00.2h ($142,048); Keystone Astro, p, 7, 2:01.1h ($136,204); and Kay El, Jack the Baron, Coaltown Smoke, Flawless Sparkler, Little Commish, Princess Dee Dee, Tarvon, Red Almond, BBQ, Paige Man and Cheryl Grattan.

But Haslip is probably most noted for developing the former double-gaited record holder, Excalibur.

Excalibur, who was purchased as a 4-year-old for the paltry sum of $3,500, in 1972, would go on to bank just under $200,000 in his career. In 1977, Excalibur set the North American record for a double-gaited gelding when he trotted a mile in 2:03.3. That time equaled his pacing record, set in 1974, and those times combined were 4:07.1, which broke a record set in 1939.

Excalibur raced until he was 14, retiring in 1982. In 169 lifetime starts, on both gaits combined, he posted 50 wins -- 12 on the trot and 38 on the pace. The horse was such a versatile athlete that from 1975 to 1977 Haslip raced him on both gaits, switching him back and forth during the year.

The 68-year-old Haslip cut back on his drives substantially in the mid 1990s and for the last 10 years has started less than 50 times a year. He still trains a four-horse stable of his own on his farm, but elects to appoint catch-drivers to do the teaming.

Churchville defeats Ice Devils in season opener

By Timothy Walton

Batavia opened their 2010-2011 season by facing off against the Churchville Saints at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for the Section V Hockey Showcase. After two defensive lapses and two breakaway goals, Batavia found themselves down 3-0 early in the game, but wouldn't back off. Tim Finnell scored the Devils first goal of the season, as he deflected a shot by Josh Marr to put Batavia within two. Marr then rallied to close the lead to 3-2 as he snuck a puck under the pads of Churchville goaltender Dylan Niewiemski.

After the 2nd period intermission, the Devils came out down just one goal, but collapsed as Churchville added four more goals. Josh Marr scored his second goal in the third to end the score at 7-3.

Shawn Easton scored three goals for Churchville, while Tyler MacMillian added a pair and an assist. Anthony Bertolani also added a goal and assist for the Saints.

 Adam Kurek made the start for Batavia and recorded 15 saves. Niewiemski had 20 saves for Churchville (1-0). Batavia falls to 0-1 and will travel to face Aquinas on Wednesday.

Holliday Barn takes five at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

News release from Batavia Downs:

The dynamic duo of  driver Ken and trainer Sherri Holliday had a huge Saturday night at Batavia Downs Casino when they made five winner circle appearances, including winning the featured $9,000 Open with the rages to riches pacer Sand Forever.
 
Just a $2500 claimer at Running Aces Park earlier this season, Sand Forever  made the transition to the Open ranks a winning one when he flew down the stretch to nail the front running Most Happy Rider (Kevin Cummings) by a head in 1:57.3 in the weekly pacing feature. Zackor (Ron Beback, Jr.) checked in third.
 
The win was Sand Forever’s 15th of the 2010 campaign and 25th of his career in 80 lifetime starts. He’s a 5-year-old Stand Forever gelding. He returned $5.80 win, being sent off as the lukewarm favorite.
 
The Holliday’s other winners were Scudder ($10.00), Bruener ($5.50 - - now three for three in Western New York), Masteroftheclass ($2.60) and Nifty Prescott ($18.60).   
 
Last year’s Downs leading conditioner Sherri Holliday began the evening in a tie with Ron Beback, Jr. in the race for top trainer honors. With only two more nights left in the 2010 season her five win lead would now seem insurmountable.
 
Dave McNeight III, a 20-year-old provisional reinsman, had a night he soon won’t forget when he scored the first hat trick of his career. In 24 lifetime drives he’s won six of them and definitely looks like a young man with a bright future.  
 
Another provisional reinsman, Denny Bucceri, had a big weekend going two for two. He’s now won five times in 29 starts this year.
 
Kevin Cummings heads into closing weekend with a five win cushion over Jack Flanigen in his bid to defend his dash driving title. Both were winless on the Saturday program.
 
Racing fans are reminded there will be no live racing next Wednesday; the final two nights of the 2010 season will be Friday and Saturday.  Post time is 6:40 pm.

 

Old-timer Fifty Two Finn trots to another win

By Billie Owens

News release from Batavia Downs:

Owner-trainer Ronald Stebbins Fifty Two Finn solidified his stock for being named Batavia Downs Casino trotter of the year when he went wire-to wire to notch his 6th win of the summer-fall meet, in the featured $8,880 Open trot, on Friday night (Nov.26).
 
John Cummings, Jr., who had four wins on the program, guided the classy 10-year-old Movie Mogul gelding to his 46th lifetime win, holding off a closing Justine Colleen (Jack Flanigen) by a head in 2:00.4, over a racetrack covered in snow.
 
Fifty Two Finn, who made his most recent start at Vernon Downs, was claimed for $15,000 back on September 10 at Tioga Downs. He’s over $60,000 in seasonal earnings and his lifetime bankroll is more than $440,000. He returned $4.90 to win going off as the public choice.
 
Artistry in Rhythm wins Mare Open
Betty Taubers Artistry in Rhythm ($6.40) held off The Grey Filly (Ron Beback, Jr.) in deep stretch to win the co-featured $8,500 Filly and Mares Open pace by a neck in 1:59.2.
 
The 8-year-old Real Desire mare won for the 11th time this season and raised her 2010 earnings to more than $82,000. Ken Holliday was in the bike for his wife Sherri.
 
Trainer Title to Close to Call
After 69 racing programs the battle for the 2010 Downs training title couldn’t be any closer. Sherri Holliday, last years Downs leading conditioner, doubled up on the Friday evening program to tie Ron Beback, Jr. with 57 wins each. In fact there win percentages are identical at 23%.
 
With only three more racing night left in the 2010 campaign, Kevin Cummings maintains a five win lead over Jack Flanigen in the race for dash driving honors. Cummings last years Downs top driver and Flanigen, recently named Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association Western New York Driver of the Year, each drove a pair of winners on Friday program.

 

Dennis Meyers Wins 400 Towers' Annual Ray Ladd Pool Tournament.

By Bea McManis

Nine players vied for six prizes at the 400 Towers' Ray Ladd Pool Tournament, Thursday, Nov. 18.
Dennis Meyers,came out as the winner of this year's double elimination event.
Bob Clark placed second with Dan Grentzinger, third.
Also participating were Joe Battaglia, Sam Rooney, Bill Benedict, Patty Larson, Jason Phelan, and Hank Larson.

Dan Grentzinger       Dennis Meyers      Bob Clark

photo by B.McManis

ND Harriers Perform Well at States

By Eric Geitner

Two members of the Notre Dame Cross Country team represented Section V in the New York State Cross Country Championships at Lakeside Park in Pawling, NY on November 13.  Eighth Grader Anna Warner (1516) was Section V's 5th runner, placing 32nd overall in the Class D race in 21:41.  Sophomore Jeffrey Antolos (553) was also Section V's 5th runner in the Class C race, placing 53rd overall with a time of 18:07.  Both runners finished up their rookie seasons in fine fashion.

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