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Season ends for GCC Baseball

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College baseball season came to an end on Saturday afternoon after the Cougars fell to Mercyhurst North East 8-3 in the first elimination game of the Region III Playoffs.

Genesee took an early lead after Shakeel Newton (Christiansted, V.I.) singled to lead off the bottom of the first, stole second and then scored on a fielders choice to give GCC a 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher Ruben Medina (Maracaibo, VEN) kept the lead safe until the fourth inning when the Saints broke through with a solo homerun by Tim Denman to tie the game at one.

Mercyhurst NE took the lead in the fifth, scoring three times on a walk, an error, a double and a sacrifice fly to take a 4-1 lead. The Cougars responded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on an RBI single from Fauchedre Celestijn (Willemstad, Curacao) and a sacrifice fly from Rafael Lozada (Santo Domingo, DR) to make it a 4-3 game, but GCC could not close the gap any further.

The Saints added two runs in the sixth, a run in the seventh and a run in the ninth and set GCC hitters down in order in three out of the final four innings to earn the victory.

(Tyler Koronas (white) slides in safely to third against Mercyhurst North East on Saturday afternoon)

 

Medina went six innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out one.

Newton finished the game 1-4 with a single and two runs scored, Tyler Koronas (Naples, FL) was 1-3 with a single, two walks and a run scored and Lozada was 1-3 with a single and a run batted in.

With the win, Mercyhurst North East advanced to the championship round and defeated Monroe Community College 9-5 in the 4pm game on Saturday. The two teams will play at noon on Sunday, with the winner being crowned Region III Champion.

Genesee finishes the season 28-15.

GCC Men's Lacrosse loses to Monroe

By Andrew Crofts

(Herkimer, NY) The Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team fell to Monroe Community College in the Region III Final Four on Saturday afternoon, 12-11.

Both teams played to a 2-2 tie after the first quarter before the Tribunes outscored the Cougars 5-2 in the second period to take a 7-4 lead into the half.

Genesee scored the first two goals of the second half to get to within one, and from then on it was a back-and-forth game. Trailing 12-9 in the fourth quarter, GCC scored two quick goals to draw within one once again, but could not get the equalizer on their final possession during the final thirty seconds of the game.

Gaehnew Printup (Tuscarora, NY) scored four times on the afternoon, Connor Latimer (Whitby, ON) scored two goals and also added three assists and Jon Gill (Cattaraugus Territory) chipped in a goal and an assist.

At midfield, Marcus Palvino (Spencerport, NY) had three goals and an assist, Tom Owen (Clarence, NY) added a goal and an assist and Spencer Halliwell-Allen (St. Catherines, ON) had two assists.

With the loss, Genesee is eliminated from the Region III Playoffs and will now wait until the selections are made for the NJCAA National Tournament to see if their season continues.

Salvation Army Community Center spring schedule begins May 21

By Billie Owens

The Salvation Army announces its Spring 2012 Community Center Schedule. It begins Monday, May 21. The Salvation Army Community Center is located at 529 E. Main St. in the City of Batavia.           

Open Gym and Game Room                                    Ages 13 and up

            Mondays & Thursdays  6 to 8 p.m.               Cost: $1 per hour

 

Men’s Pick Up Basketball                                          Ages: 18 and up

            Tuesdays 6 to 8 p.m.                                       Cost: $1 per hour

 

Youth Open Gym                                                       Grades 1-8

            Thursdays 3 to 5 p.m.                                    Cost: Free

 

Teen Open Gym                                                        Ages 13 and up

            Saturdays 7 to 9 p.m.                                    Cost: Free                                   

For more information contact: Major Patty at 343-6284 or email at patricia.kurtz@use.salvationarmy.org

Quiet bats doom Cougars

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College baseball team will face elimination on Saturday after falling to Monroe Community College 5-0 in their opening round game of the Region III Playoffs on Friday afternoon.

Genesee, the number one seed in the tournament, managed only four hits on the day and only once had multiple runners on base. Brandon Collins (Toronto, Ontario) was 2-4 and was one of only two Cougars to reach scoring position in the game. Jose Alicea (St. Croix, V.I.) was 1-3 with a single and Fauchedre Celestijn (Willemstad, Curacao) was 1-3 with a single.

(GCC head coach Skip Sherman makes a mound visit in Genesee's 5-0 loss to Monroe CC in the opening round of the Region III Playoffs on Friday afternoon)

 

Starting pitcher Dan Sharpe (Youngstown, NY) threw well, going all nine innings allowing five runs (one earned) on seven hits and struck out four.

Monroe took the lead in the top of the second with a run on two hits and a walk. The Tribunes added a run in the fourth and three runs in the ninth to earn the win.

Genesee will play Mercyhurst North East on Saturday at noon. The Saints lost to Monroe CC 8-0 to start the afternoon on Friday and the loser of the game will be eliminated from the Region III Playoffs.

Sunday's Empire Yankees game shifted to Rochester after Pettitte announced as starter

By Howard B. Owens

It's true, one of New York's premier pitcher's will make a final rehab start with the Empire Yankees on Sunday against the Red Sox farm club.

Unfortunately for Batavia baseball fans, the game has been shifted to Frontier Field in Rochester.

UPDATE: Additional information about tickets just in:

All fans holding tickets to the regularly scheduled Yankees--PawSox game in Batavia on Sunday may exchange their tickets for the same game at Frontier Field. The exchange must be made by 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Dwyer Stadium Box Office in Batavia or the Frontier Field Box Office in Rochester. If any ticket holder can not attend Sunday’s game at Frontier Field, they can exchange their ticket for the Yankees game on June 12 in Batavia or any regular season Muckdogs game.

Batavia Downs getting ready for big Kentucky Derby event

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The staff of Western Regional Off-Track Betting & Batavia Downs Casino are going through final preparations for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby festivities at each OTB and EZ Bet Location in the Western New York Area.  Batavia Downs Casino will host a radio remote and enjoy a visit from their Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas.  Locations of OTB Branches and EZ Bets can be found at www.westernotb.com.

“Staff members will be in each branch to help those unfamiliar with horse betting pick their horses for a chance to hit a big payday, “said OTB Director of Branch Operations, Sean Schiano.  “Prize drawings for Derby shirts and glasses will go on at every OTB Branch.  We’ll also be drawing a winner for a trip to the Belmont Stakes.”

Batavia Downs Casino will host its own Derby Party with a live radio remote from WGR Sports Radio 550 AM.  “We’re thrilled to have a sports talk show live on site as we count down the minutes to the Derby” said Ryan Hasenauer, Director of Marketing. “With the added presence of our ambassador Thurman Thomas, the atmosphere here will surely be one of excitement.”

Batavia Downs in owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. Municipalities that own Batavia Downs Casino include: City of Buffalo, Cattaraugus County, Cayuga County, Chautauqua County, Erie County, Genesee County, Livingston County, Monroe County, Niagara County, Orleans County, Oswego County, City of Rochester, Schuyler County, Seneca County, Steuben County, Wayne County, and Wyoming County. The track is also home to Batavia Downs Casino, featuring over 600 video slot machines. Batavia Downs Casino is located less than one mile from Thruway Exit 48 and is open daily from 8AM-4AM.

GCC Men's Lacrosse Advances in Region III Playoffs

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team opened up the Region III Playoffs with a 20-0 shutout win over visiting Finger Lakes Community College on Wednesday night.

The matchup was the second meeting between the two teams this season, with GCC notching a 23-8 victory on the road against FLCC in early March.

Pat McMahon (Amherst, NY) was brilliant in net, turning aside all 18 shots he faced to record Genesee's second shutout win of the season.

The game was scoreless until the 6:37 mark in the first quarter when a Gaehnew Printup (Tuscarora, NY) goal gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Marcus Palvino (Spencerport, NY) followed with his first of six goals on the night to increase the lead to 2-0, which GCC took into the second quarter.

(Gaehnew Printup #16 fires a shot in the first quarter of the Region III Quarterfinals against Finger Lakes CC)

 

GCC managed three goals in the second period which saw almost an hour delay due to weather. Goals by Jason Harasimowicz (Batavia, NY) , Connor Latimer (Whitby, ON) and Joe Pedro (Batavia, NY) gave the Cougars a 5-0 lead at the half.

The Genesee offense got rolling in the second half with five goals in the third quarter and ten goals in the fourth to cruise to the quarterfinals victory.

The GCC defensive unit made up of Vin Pedro (Batavia, NY), Jordan McElligot (Spencerport, NY), Dylan Hickey (Hilton, NY), Dave Lehman (Edmonton, AB) and Aaron Hayward (Hilton, NY) combined for 12 takeaways and 33 ground balls.

(Members of the GCC men's lacrosse team celebrate with goalie Pat McMahon after a 20-0 win over Finger Lakes CC on Wednesday night)

 

Printup led the offense with four goals and three assists, Jon Gill (Cattaraugus Territory) finished with three goals and an assist and Latimer chipped in a goal and two assists.

Palvino paced the midfield with six goals and an assist and Spencer Halliwell-Allen (St. Catherines, ON) added a goal and six assists.

Genesee advances to the Region III Semifinals and will play Monroe Community College on Saturday afternoon at 3:30pm at Herkimer County Community College.

Yankees ace could pitch in Batavia on Saturday or Sunday

By Howard B. Owens

Yankees ace Andy Pettitte, rehabbing from an injury, is going to make one more start for one of the Yankees' minor league teams before returning to the big club, probably on Saturday or Sunday.

Which team Pettitte will start for hasn't been announced, but one possibility is the Empire Yankees.

The Triple A farm club is playing three games at Dwyer Stadium this weekend against Pawtucket, the farm team of the Boston Red Sox.

So ... there is some chance, perhaps a good chance, that one of the premier pitchers in baseball and a likely Hall of Famer, will be pitching in Batavia on Saturday or Sunday.

Yankees -- Red Sox, maybe Pettitte, warmer weather ... it could be a very good weekend for baseball in Batavia.

GCC Baseball earns number one Seed

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College baseball team locked up the number one seed in next weekend's Region III tournament by splitting a double header with Monroe Community College on Sunday afternoon.

Genesee needed to win only one of the two games on the afternoon and earned the clinching victory in game one, 11-0.

Dylan Grosul (Ontario, Canada) pitched well for the Cougars, throwing a complete game shutout. He did not allow a hit until the fifth inning.

Jean Rodriguez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) scored three runs for GCC and also added a double. Tyler Koronas (Naples, FL) drove in a run and also scored a run.

(Rafael Lozada (yellow jersey) tries to avoid the tag during a play at the plate in game one against Monroe Community College on Sunday afternoon)

 

In game two, Monroe took advantage of a seven-run third inning to overcome a 3-0 deficit and take a lead they would not let up. The Tribunes sent ten batters to the plate in the third inning and went on to win the second game 8-3.

Jose Alicea (St. Croix, V.I.) was 1-3 with a run scored, Brandon Collins (Toronto, Ontario) was 2-3, Bryan Depew (Wellsville, NY) was 1-3 with a run scored and Yuya Osawa (Tokyo, Japan) was 2-3 with a run scored.

Genesee finishes the regular season with the best record in the Western New York Athletic Conference. They will host the Region III tournament, which begins on May 4th, and play at 4pm on Friday. Mercyhurst North East will be the second seed and Monroe Community College will be the third seed in the double-elimination tournament.

GCC Softball falls to Tompkins-Cortland

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College softball team dropped a pair of games to #3 Tompkins-Cortland Community College on Sunday afternoon, falling 4-0 in game one and 11-0 in game two.

The Lady Cougars only managed four hits in game one, all of which were singles. Chelsea Lynch (Attica, NY) was 2-3 in the game with two infield singles. Miki Kawaguchi (Japan) was 1-3 and Abbey Rocque was 1-3.

Alishia Foss (Medina, NY) pitched well, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and struck out one.

(#6 Alishia Foss pitched both games in Sunday's afternoon double header against Tompkins-Cortland Community College)

 

In game two, Tompkins-Cortland built a 3-0 lead early and then blew the game open with an eight-run fifth inning to win via the mercy rule.

Genesee managed only three hits in the second game as Lynch delivered a double and was 1-2. Kawaguchi was 1-2 as well and Alex Miller (Attica, NY) added a single and was 1-2.

GCC finishes the regular season 12-18 and will wait until seedings are announced to see if they advance to the Region III tournament.

Photos: Olympic soccer clinic at GCC

By Howard B. Owens

Soccer players from throughout the region were in Batavia on Saturday for an Olympic soccer clinic. These photos are from a session held at Genesee Community College in the afternoon.

Strong Pitching Propels Cougars

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College baseball team used two strong outings from their starting pitching to win both games in a Saturday afternoon double header against visiting Wilfrid Laurier (Canada). The Cougars won game one 8-0 and won game two, 9-1.

Brandon Collins (Toronto, ON) was 4-5 in game one and scored two runs. Bryan Depew (Wellsville, NY) was 2-4 with two runs scored and Yuya Osawa (Tokyo, Japan) was 1-2 with a run batted in and a run scored.

Sean Stanley (Holley, NY) deliver a complete-game outing on the mound, striking out 12 and kept the Golden Hawks off the scoreboard.

(#18 Leandro Pereira delivers a base hit for GCC)

 

In game two, Kyle Taylor (Ajax, Canada) followed Stanley with a complete-game effort of his own, allowing just one run and struck out four.

Leandro Pereira (Curaca, N.A.) was 2-2 with a run scored, Collins went 1-2 with a two-run homerun and a sacrifice fly, Rafael Lozada (Santo Domingo, DR) was 2-4 with a run scored and Sean Sutton (Toronto, Canada) went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Genesee will play for the fourth day in a row on Sunday when they host Monroe Community College for a double header, beginning at 1pm.

GCC Men's Lacrosse rolls SUNY Delhi

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College men’s lacrosse team turned in another dominating performance on Saturday afternoon as they rolled visiting SUNY Delhi, 27-4.

Jon Gill (Cattaraugus Territory) led all scorers with six goals and three assists. Gaehnew Printup (Tuscarora, NY) added five goals and three assists, putting him over the 100-point mark on the season, giving him a total of 103. Connor Latimer (Whitby, ON), who broke his own school record for most points in a single season on Wednesday night, set the school record for most goals in a single season with 63, breaking his mark last year of 62. He scored three goals and had two assists.

(Members of the GCC men's lacrosse team celebrate a first half goal by Connor Latimer against SUNY Delhi)

Jason Harasimowicz (Batavia, NY) led the midfield with three goals and one assist, Chip Chapman (Batavia, NY) had two goals and an assist and Marcus Palvino (Spencerport, NY) scored twice. Joe Pedro (Batavia, NY), Keaton Taylor-Lazore (Salamanca, NY) and Steve Raimondi (Amherst, NY) each had a goal and an assist.

Vin Pedro (Batavia, NY) led the defense with eight ground balls, one takeaway and one assist. Dave Lehman (Edmonton, AB) had three takeaways and three ground balls.

Rashad Brown (Lockport, NY) and Mike Breindel (Hamburg, NY) combined to win 26 of 35 face offs.

In goal, Pat McMahon (Amherst, NY) and Brady Lawrence (St. Catherines, ON) combined to make seven saves.

Genesee ends the regular season with a 14-2 record and will host a Region III playoff game on Tuesday night, time and opponent to be announced.

Lady Cougars fall to Herkimer

By Andrew Crofts

Coming off of their first win in the two-year history of the program, the Genesee Community College women’s lacrosse team played host to Herkimer County Community College on Saturday afternoon and fell to the Lady Generals 25-1.

Genesee fell behind just ten seconds in to the first half and faced a 12-0 deficit at halftime.

Anna Modera (Geneva, NY) put GCC on the board with the first goal of the second half, but the Lady Cougars could not find the back of the net the remainder of the game and Herkimer cruised to the victory.

(#5 Arielle Lambert fights her way through two Herkimer defenders)

 

The goal for Modera is her 38th on the season. Sarah Bosa (Buffalo, NY) made ten saves in net.

GCC falls to 1-10 on the season and will conclude the regular season at Monroe Community College on Wednesday at 4pm.

GCC Baseball sweeps Ithaca JV

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College baseball team swept visiting Ithaca College (JV) on Thursday afternoon, winning game one in extra innings, 3-2, and winning game two in six innings, 11-6.

In game one, Brandon Collins (Toronto, ON) drove in the first run in the bottom of the first inning with a sacrifice fly to give Genesee an early 1-0 advantage. The Bombers responded with two runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead. Trailing 2-1, Collins led of the bottom of the fourth inning for GCC with a double and came around to score on a hit by Rafael Lozada (Santo Domingo, DR) to tie the game.

The game went into extra innings and the Cougars loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth before Fauchedre Celestijn (Willemstad, Curacao) was hit by a pitch to plate the game-winning run.

(#16 Sean Sutton slides in safely to score for GCC in game one against Ithaca College (JV) on Thursday afternoon)

 

Collins was 1-2 with a run scored and an RBI and Tyler Koronas (Naples, FL) was 2-4 with a run scored.

Dylan Grosul (Ontario, Canada) earned the win on the mound, throwing all eight innings allowing just two runs and struck out six.

 

In game two, Genesee responded to a first inning Ithaca run with two runs of their own to take a 2-1 lead. The Bombers tied the game in the top of the second with a run before GCC scored six times in the bottom of the second to take back the lead for good.

Genesee took an 11-2 lead with three runs in the fourth and allowed Ithaca three runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth before the game was called due to rain.

Shunsuke Sugimoto (Tokyo, Japan) started game two and allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He recorded one strike out.

Jose Alicea (St. Croix, V.I.) was 3-4 with a run batted in and a run scored, Javier Ledesma (Santo Domingo, PR) was 1-3 with an RBI triple and two runs scored and Bryan Depew (Wellsville, NY) was 2-3 with two runs scored.

Genesee will play the second of four straight days tomorrow afternoon when they host Wilfrid Laurier at 4pm for one nine-inning game.

Cougars win WNYAC Title

By Andrew Crofts

The Genesee Community College men's lacrosse team earned the Western New York Athletic Conference title with a win over Mercyhurst North East on Wednesday night, defeating the visiting Saints 14-3.

Genesee took a 1-0 lead on a first quarter goal from Connor Latimer (Whitby, ON), who needed just four points entering the night to break the GCC record for most points in a single season, a record he set last year with 99 points. Latimer made it 3-0 with a goal about five minutes later and then earned a hat trick with a goal to make it 5-1 at the end of the opening quarter.

After taking a 6-1 lead into the halftime break, Latimer assisted on an early second half goal by Gaehnew Printup (Tuscarora, NY), earning his 100th point of the season and setting the single season points record. The Cougars scored eight of the final nine goals and wrapped up the WNYAC title with a perfect 4-0 conference record this season.

(#15 Connor Latimer helps up teammate Joe Pedro after Pedro scores a first half goal against Mercyhurst North East on Wednesday night)

Latimer finished with three goals and two assists, giving him 101 points on the season. Printup added five goals and two assists and Jon Gill (Cattaraugus Territory) chipped in two goals.

Spencer Halliwell-Allen (St. Catherines, ON) and Joe Pedro (Batavia, NY) led the midfield with a goal and an assist each.

Defensively, Aaron Hayward (Hilton, NY) had ten ground balls and two takeaways and Vin Pedro (Batavia, NY) had three takeaways and four ground balls.

Genesee improves to 13-2 overall on the year and will conclude the regular season on Saturday when they host SUNY Delhi at 2pm.

Yankees, Tides game at Dwyer snowed out

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

BATAVIA, NY – Today’s game between the Empire State Yankees and Norfolk Tides has been postponed due to snow. This game will not be made up in Batavia. The Yankees and Tides will make up the game as part of a doubleheader in Norfolk later in the season. Any person with tickets to today’s game can exchange their tickets for any other Yankees game or any Muckdogs regular season game, subject to availability.

Photos: Triple A baseball at Dwyer Stadium on a very cold April Sunday

By Howard B. Owens

The official attendance at Dwyer Stadium on Sunday was 866, but there's little doubt that there were fewer than 200 people left by the time the Empire State Yankees secured a 6-5 victory over the Norfolk Tides.

Bitter cold -- 38 degrees at game time, plus a 10 mph wind -- seems to have kept many fans home, and drove many away even though it was a closely fought game.

Norfolk jumped to an early lead with three runs in the second inning, but the Yankees scrambled back, mounting a three-run lead in the seventh and then pushing across the winning run in the eighth.

Cold weather and the possibility of precipitation led to the cancellation of a planned second game.

If you have trouble viewing the slide show below, click here.

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